Free Choices by Skyy Page A

you it doesn’t hurt.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    Lena heard Carmen shouting obscenities from the other chair. She was finished in 15 minutes with a small Cancer sign on her lower back.
    Cooley decided to get her labret pierced; Lena had to admit that Cooley looked good with it.
    Denise’s tattoo was finally done; she admired it in the mirror.
    â€œThat is hot,” Lena said.
    â€œYou like it?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWell, it’s your turn.”
    Lena sat down in the chair. The tattoo artist laughed at her trembling body.
    â€œGive me your hand.” Denise smiled.
    Lena grabbed Denise’s hand and looked in her eyes; suddenly she didn’t feel scared anymore.
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    Lena dropped them off at the dorm and headed to Brandon’s room. The athletic dorm was always filled with groupies on weekends. She walked around to one of his teammates’ rooms. Lena saw Brandon sitting on the bed next to a girl. The girl moved over when she saw Lena’s angry face.
    â€œHey, baby. I wasn’t expecting you.” Brandon jumped up; his teammates turned their attention to the drama.
    â€œWell, that seems obvious.” Lena folded her arms.
    â€œCome on. Let’s go to my room.”
    â€œLet’s not.” Lena turned around. “Enjoy the rest of your night.” She walked off, leaving Brandon calling her name.
    She turned around to see him running up to her.
    â€œBaby, don’t do this.”
    Brandon, what the fuck were you doing? Is that the kind of bitch you want?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen why was she all over you? Do you not respect me at all?”
    â€œBab—”
    â€œFuck it! How about I just break up with you now so these scandalous bitches can have you?” Tears rolled down Lena’s face.
    â€œBaby, it wasn’t like that.”
    â€œAnd to think I was about to get your name tattooed on me. I guess I am still replaceable, after all.”
    â€œBaby, you not—Wait, you were going to get my name tattooed on you?”
    â€œYes, but I didn’t, ’cause of shit like that.” She turned around and showed him the little ankh in the middle of her back.
    Brandon wiped the tears from Lena’s face. “Baby, I love you. You are the only woman for me. Those bitches don’t mean anything. And I am going to prove it to you. Just let me prove it.”
    â€œDo whatever you want, Brandon. I am going home.”
    Lena got in her car. She cried the whole way home.
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    â€œLena, what’s wrong?” Denise jumped up when Lena came into the room crying.
    â€œIt’s over. It’s over.”
    â€œLena …”
    â€œI go over there to show him my tattoo, and he practically has a bitch sitting in his lap.”
    â€œLena, come on. Are you sure?”
    â€œYes, I am sure. I am so glad Cooley talked me out of getting that tattoo.”
    â€œLena, you know how women are. They are just hoes.”
    â€œRight, Dee, I know that a bitch is going to try anything, but he should have known better. I just want to go to sleep.”
    Denise wanted to beat the hell out of Brandon, but she knew it wasn’t her place. She turned the TV onto Will and Grace. Lena called Denise her “Will.”
    Two hours later there was a knock at the door. Denise opened it to see Brandon standing there.
    â€œIs Lena here?”
    Denise opened the door.
    Lena sat up in the bed. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œLena, you are the only one for me. There was only one way I could think to show you.” Brandon pulled his shirt off.
    â€œBrandon!” Lena put her hand on the large cross on his biceps. Her name was tatted above it. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
    Denise felt sick to her stomach.

Chapter 8
    Denise awoke to the sound of the phone ringing at 4:23 A .M.
    â€œHello,” she answered, pissed that anyone would be calling so early.
    â€œBaby.”
    She could hear