Free Choices by Skyy

room.
    â€œHey. I know it feels like it’s been forever, huh?”
    Denise threw on a wife-beater. “Yeah, but it’s understandable. It’s late in the semester and all.”
    â€œTell me about it.” Lena looked at Denise’s tribal tattoo. “You know I was thinking about getting a tattoo. What do you think?”
    â€œFor real? I know a person if you want to,” Denise said. “Did you ask Brandon?”
    â€œI don’t have to ask Brandon’s permission to do anything,” Lena said as she sat on her bed.
    â€œYeah, okay,” Denise replied sarcastically as she answered the familiar knock at their door.
    â€œWhat’s up, man? Damn! Hey, Lena-licious.” Cooley smiled and stepped past Denise as she attempted to flirt with Lena.
    â€œHi, Cooley.” Lena smiled back. She was used to Cooley’s flirting. It was flattering.
    Carmen walked in the room behind Cooley. “Yo, what’s up, people? I got an A on my Econ paper, so let’s celebrate. So where are we going tonight?”
    â€œWell,” Denise said, picking a shirt out of her closet, “Lena here wants a tattoo.”
    â€œReally?” Cooley grinned. “Yo’ man gon’ be okay with that?”
    â€œWhy do you all keep thinking that I answer to Brandon? I am my own woman.”
    â€œThat’s right, girl.” Carmen gave her a high-five.
    â€œSo what’s up then? We going to get inked?” Cooley asked.
    â€œDat’s on Lena.” Denise smiled.
    Her dimples caused Lena to blush.
    Lena smiled. “Let’s do it.”
    The tattoo shop was more like a hangout spot; more people were there just to kick it than actually get tattoos. Lena felt herself getting nervous as she looked through the tattoos on the walls.
    â€œSo, what do you want to get?” Denise asked.
    â€œI don’t know, something small, maybe a heart. How bad did yours hurt?”
    â€œThey didn’t. I have a high tolerance for pain.”
    â€œI am scared as shit.”
    Denise looked into Lena’s eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand.”
    Denise and Lena gazed at each other. Denise felt her heart beating fast. She knew she had fallen for Lena on day one.
    â€œYo’, you getting tatted or not?” Cooley said, breaking their moment. “Dee, you gonna get something?”
    â€œI was thinking about getting the Ankh on this arm or maybe a cross,” Denise said, patting her left bicep.
    Carmen joined them. “Oh no, don’t get a cross, but the Ankh would be hot. I am getting my Cancer zodiac sign on my back.”
    â€œCancer power!” Lena squealed. “I’m one too. Maybe I will get my zodiac sign too.”
    â€œWell, how about we all get our zodiac signs?” Carmen said.
    â€œI don’t want that punk-ass shit on me,” Cooley said.
    â€œWhy? What’s your zodiac sign?” Lena asked Cooley.
    â€œMe and my bruh are sexy Scorpios. You know what they say about Scorpio and Cancer.”
    â€œNo. What do they say?” Lena questioned.
    Cooley laughed. “Lena, I don’t tell, I show.”
    â€œMaybe I should get Brandon’s name. I think he wou—”
    â€œHell no. You bet not!” Cooley said. “Don’t put no nigga’s name on you. Girl, please. That’s like the number one rule. Do you think he would get your name on him?”
    â€œI don’t—”
    â€œHell no, he won’t. Why? Because you aren’t his wife or his baby mama. You are still replaceable.”
    â€œOK, on that note I think I am going to get my Ankh and I am going to go first.” Denise sat down in the chair.
    Lena watched in amazement while Denise got the large tattoo, which covered up a nice part of her biceps.
    Denise didn’t flinch. She got her grandmother’s name going across the arms of the Ankh.
    Denise noticed the look on Lena’s face.
    â€œSee, I told