Studying Arin

It was another typical day working at the Nut when Arin walked in. She had her boyfriend Matt in tow, a guy who had the look of a coke addict and likely was a coke addict but still had the sweetest disposition of all of Arin's boyfriends to date. Arin waved to me and shot me a brief smile before dragging Matt back to the beer cooler, her long hippie skirt twirling airily around her legs as she went. I smiled and waved back as I rung up my next couple of customers. Slowly the line in front of my register dispersed and I was free to wander the store.

I made a beeline for the beer cooler.

"Hey," I called to my friends. Arin and Matt turned, both of their faces lighting with smiles when they saw me.

"Hey!" Arin said, prancing around Matt to come hug me. I easily folded her small frame into my own before releasing her and taking a step back. "How're you?" she asked cheerfully, letting Matt drape his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm good, good. I saw Cassie yesterday. She says hi." Arin snorted.

"Has she got a job yet?"

"Nope."

"Guess she's still living the dream."

"Yeah, I guess." We were quiet for a minute before she remembered something and practically jumped out of her skin.

"Check it out!" she said excitedly, turning around and lifting the back of her light yellow tank. "I got a new tat this weekend. I finally got that appointment with Joe and he did some sick work." I leaned forward and peered at the tattoo before smiling and nodding in approval.

"He definitely did a good job. I really want to get one of my own soon."

"You so should!" Arin jumped, turning to grab my arm. "It hurts like hell but it's so much fun! I think I'm going to go back to Joe's shop and see if he'll pierce my nipples." A devilish smile lit on her face and she slid her eyes toward Matt and then back to me. "I wouldn't mind him staring at my tits for twenty minutes. He's a hot piece of ass if I ever did see one."

My eyes widened. I turned to Matt and he laughed.

"Hey, if she wants to go through that fuckin' pain she can do it. I won't stop her. Besides, she knows I'm a better lay than Joe Haley." I put my hands up defensively and raised my eyebrows, looking away from my friends.

"You're insane, Ace," I muttered, but a smile lit my face. I wasn't all that surprised.