Ike and I were walking the streets of London, with Jason in tow. "What about that place?" I asked, pointing to a small building with a sign that read "Paul's Piercing Pub."
Ike shook his head. "There's NO WAY you're getting pierced at a place that calls itself a pub. Let's keep looking."
I was about to speak when I saw something out of the corner of my eye, or rather someone. He was, in a word, gorgeous. As we passed one another, we made eye contact. I turned around and began to walk backwards. Mr. Gorgeous did the same.
Noticing my attention had been diverted, Ike looked over his shoulder to see what I was gazing at. When he saw Mr. Gorgeous, he shook his head and laughed.
"What?" I asked innocently. I knew full well though that I had been caught with my hand in the cookie jar, so to speak.
"Nothing. I was just wondering about Steve."
"Steve's fine."
"Oh?"
"There's nothing wrong with window shopping," I defended myself.
"Interesting analogy." Ike gave me a wry smile.
"I borrowed it from Danielle."
"How is she, anyway?"
"Good. She's volunteering at a hospital. She figured it was the best thing to do, being pre-med and all."
Ike whistled. "So, she's smart."
"Very."
He nodded his head. "Now, how are you all related? Tamara, Danielle, and yourself."
"Aunt Tam is my dad's baby sister. Danielle's dad is MY dad's older brother. My mom is an only child, like me."
"Do you ever get lonely?"
I shrugged. "Sometimes. But Lisa's got four brothers. After spending an extended period of time with them, I'm thankful I get to go home to a quiet house." I stopped walking. "What about this place?"
"Looks okay to me. Let's go ask Jason. Yo, Jason! What do you think?" Ike asked the bodyguard, pointing to the body piercing place.
"I doubt you'll run into crazy fans there," was the response.
I laughed. "No, not safe for him. Safe for me."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"I'm getting my bellybutton pierced."
"You are?"
"Don't worry. I have my mother's permission. You will in no such way, shape, or form be held responsible," I assured him.
"Well, okay," he reluctantly agreed. "But I'm going in with you." Then he turned to Ike. "Do your parents know about this?"
Ike shrugged. "It's not really their decision to make. Becca's not their daughter. They have no say."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure he remains hole-free," I said, holding the door open so Ike and Jason could enter the building.
We entered a small room. It held a cash register and several glass cases containing all sorts of "body ornaments," as they were labeled. I began looking for the bellybutton rings. "Hey, Ike! What do you think of this one?"
He came up behind me. "It's nice. Hmm... I like that one better, though."
"Really?"
He nodded his head.
Just then, a girl with bright purple hair emerged from the back room. The little clothes she was wearing were black, and she had more holes in her than a piece of Swiss cheese. Ike immediately put a protective arm around my waist, fearing this creature would be the one to pierce me. We both let out a sigh of relief when she walked up to the cash register, revealing that she was just another paying customer. As she left the place Ike whispered to me, "if you EVER do that to yourself, I'll hunt you down and kill you."
"Can I help you?" asked a relatively normal-looking guy. He appeared to be around twenty-three and was INCREDIBLY scrawny. Hmm... someone's not eating his Wheaties.
"Yes, I'd like to get my bellybutton pierced," I told him.
"Okay. Did you see a ring you liked?"
"That one," I answered, pointing to the ring Ike liked.
"Okay," the twig said, removing it from the glass case. "Now, if you'll just come with me into the back room, we'll get this done."
"Come with me?" I whispered to Ike.
He nodded his head and took my hand as we headed for the back room. "Nervous?"
"A little."
"Just lie down on the table," said the piercing twig, pointing to a table straight out of a doctor's office in the center of the room. "I'll be with you in a second."
I laid down on the table, and Ike took a seat in the chair. He scooted down so he could hold my hand. "Just squeeze if it hurts."
All I could do was manage a weak smile.
"Roll up your shirt, please," the twig instructed. "I'm gonna brush some of this around your naval," he said. "It'll disinfect the skin to reduce the chance of infection."
As the guy brushed the cool liquid around my bellybutton, I began to giggle. Ike gave me a wierd look. "It tickles," I explained.
"Okay, now hold still," said the twig. As he began to pierce my naval, I squeezed Ike's hand like there was no tomorrow. It wasn't so much because it hurt. It was more like because I was petrified. I looked at Ike. His teeth were clenched. What can I say? I got a good grip.
"There. All done," the piercing-happy twig announced.
I sat up and inspected my newly-pierced naval. "Looks good," I commented to him.
He nodded his head in agreement, adding, "you have a really cute bellybutton."
"Umm... thank you," I replied.
When we entered the front room, Jason stood up. I got a pamphlet on caring for the hole, and a small tube of ointment to apply everyday for the first two weeks. I paid, and we left. Once we were out on the sidewalk Ike said, "you have a really cute bellybutton," mimicking the guy from inside.
"You dork!" I said, playfully shoving him.
He shoved me back, and I began to chase him down the streets of London, with Jason in tow.