The rest of our date wasn't awful, but it wasn't amazing either. When he kissed me inside his car before dropping me off, I felt nothing. Throughout the whole movie, he was either texting on his phone to his buddies or checking the time. It's like he couldn't get out of there fast enough. I'm not ready to put the brakes on our relationship yet, but I'm a lot closer than I was before. I've never broken up with someone I wouldn't even know where to start.

I can't dwell on it today because dad and I are going to Lou's for my tattoo or piercing. I'm still heavily debating on going through with a piercing first.

Saturday mornings in our house are quiet. Everyone is always doing their own thing. Hearing dad's voice as I reach the first floor makes me almost jump for joy, thinking about our day together. Thoughts of last night vanish. I can't stop smiling. Hanging out with dad again has ignited this happiness inside of me that was dying to get out. Everything going on suddenly becomes non-existent.

I stop suddenly in the doorway to the kitchen. I stare at dad dressed up in his business suit. There's no way he's wearing that to Lou's. My heart sinks deep into my stomach as he spins to find me absently staring at him.

"Dad, did you forget?" I ask, my voice shakes a little.

He sighs. "No, I didn't."

I can feel the bad news rolling off him like a dense fog.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart, but I have to go to a press conference today. It's a big one. One that will hopefully save my career. I'm so sorry."

I take a deep breath to try and control the raging emotions I'm feeling right now. I want to be angry with him, but I understand that fixing things with the community is important too. I just hope it is not more important.

"Oh, it's uh - it's okay." I attempt to smile, but I probably look crazier than anything.

"You should go. We'll go again in a few weeks to get another." He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Maybe we'll both get a tattoo." Walking over, he hands me some money and places it gently in my hand.

"Okay, yeah."

"Sorry, sweetheart." He leans down and kisses the top of my head. He lingers for an extra moment, and I almost lose myself right there, but I hold back.

Lucille makes me some breakfast, but I have a hard time enjoying it and end up throwing most of it away. I'm trying my hardest not to be heartbroken about today. There are plenty of other times we can do this. I'm mostly disappointed because I was looking forward to it. Who knows when dad will have another free day?

***

I drive close to Lou's and sit in my car for a few extra minutes. On the drive over, I decided I'm going to get my nose pierced. It's simple and small and won't grab too much attention. When dad and I come back, I'll make sure to have a great idea planned out for a tattoo. I check around the street for Flint's car and don't see it. In a way, I'm relieved because I'm not sure if I'm ready to talk to him or not.

The door jingles as I step inside the dimly lit tattoo parlor. Buzzing catches my attention, and I glance over at the row of booths set up along the right-side wall near the entrance. I stop dead in my tracks, catching sight of the rainbow hair girl I saw last night with Flint. She's giving a tattoo to a man in a leather jacket doodling a tattoo on his calf.

"I'll be right with you," she says, not looking up.

"Okay." There's a weakness in my voice, and I try to clear my throat.

I stroll over to the old worn-out brown couch in the front of the store. I'm nervous. Even though I'm legally allowed to do this on my own now, it's still scary.

Rainbow hair glances over her shoulder at me, and it's like she knows exactly who I am.

"Are you here to see..."

"No!" I cut her off so fast her brows go up, questioning my outburst.

"I'm just... I'm here ... I want to get my nose pierced," I say.

Her focus remains on me for a few moments before she turns back to the man she's working on. Then, I catch her lifting her phone and typing quickly to someone in the corner of my eye. I get this awful feeling in my gut, and I'm starting to think this was not a good idea.

I jump to my feet. I'm halfway to the door when I hear, "Marnie."

I gasp at the sound. There's no way I can leave now. I stare at the door and count to ten before turning to face him.

Flint closes the large space between us. His eyes flitter over my face like he's trying to read me. I try to smile and act like everything is peachy. Like my dad didn't cancel and like my date didn't totally suck last night. It's easy to play the role of the "it" girl in school, but here in front of Flint, I feel as if I might break.

His eyes narrow at me, his face fills with concern. Then, with no extra space between us, he reaches out and takes my hand in his, rubbing his thumb over the top of my hand. His touch is far more comforting than I expected. For a brief moment, I close my eyes. When they flutter back open, he's focused on me.

"Hey," he says calmly. "You, okay?"

I nod and smile, but he's not convinced.

"Great, I just uh... wanted to get my nose pierced. Dad was supposed to take me." I pause, trying to gain composure. His grip tightens over my hands. "But he had to work."

"I'll get you set up. Then, Stella will finish the piercing for you."

He leads me to the chair in front of the man getting the tattoo.

"Do you want a stud or a ring?" he asks.

"Stud, I guess."

He grabs a shiny metal stud from the drawer and places it on the table. I observe him mulling over a checklist in his head of everything he needs. He leans over and cleans the space on my nose with an alcohol swab. If he came any closer, I could kiss him. I fight the urge to touch my lips as the memory of my birthday surfaces.

Stella's footsteps interrupt my thoughts. She stands beside me, carefully inspecting Flint's progress.

"You'll be piercing customers in no time." She smiles.

I wonder how old she is if she's already doing tattoos or piercings. She must be several years older, so I'm curious as to what her relationship with Flint is.

My heart beats wildly in my chest. I had my ears pierced when I was little, so I don't remember how it felt. Flint stays on the outer side of the chair while Stella makes her way towards the counter and leans over on my left.

"You're so pale, Marnie. Are you sure you're, okay?" he asks.

I give a stifled laugh. "Yes, I'm okay."

My arm rests on the armrests of the chair, I stare straight ahead, not wanting to look at either of them. I don't know if it's the nerves or the weird way I felt last night when I saw them together.

Stella shows me the spot she's going to mark with a purple marker. She holds a small hand mirror up, and I give the thumbs up. She reaches for the large needle. I take a deep breath as it pierces my skin. I gasp. Flint rests a hand over mine and tightens his grip while the needle just sits there as she adds the stud.

It's over in under thirty seconds. It stings as she cleans around the area, then she lifts the mirror again.

"Perfect. Thank you, Stella."

She gives a weary smile and returns to the man behind me, getting his tattoo.

"Looks good on you," he says. "Do you like it?"

I sit up and take the mirror hanging over the counter and look from side to side. I'm relieved it's over and excited with how amazing it looks.

"I love it!" For the first time all day, I smile like I mean it.

"It suits you, Marnie."

I hand him the gift card and the extra cash to pay for the piercing. When he grabs for it instead of just taking it, he holds my hand again.

"Sorry about how I was last week in class," he says. "I was not in a good place...."

I stare up at him, hoping he'll explain.

"Things have been pretty bad at home," he whispers like he doesn't want Stella or the man in the chair to hear. "The prompt kind of sparked something inside, and I didn't mean to take it out on you."

I glance down at our hands. He's holding on even tighter as he explains like he's the one who needs comfort and not me.

"It's okay. Mr. Shepherd was not happy on Friday."

"I know."

"I'm just glad you're okay." I get to my feet and let go of his hand.

"You don't have to worry about me, Marnie. I've got this."

"I should uh... go. Um... thanks for the piercing."

He nods. Without another word, he takes the money and card and heads over to the register. I gave him the exact amount with the gift card. I'd follow him to the register, but I'm craving fresh air.

The moment I'm outside, I lean against the building and take a deep breath. It takes me several minutes before I can manage to walk to my car.

"Marnie, wait!" The bells over the door jingle as he exits the shop.

"Here, these are the instructions for your piercing." He hands them to me, but it's like he has more to say. He doesn't let go, and I don't either.

"I um..." he rubs the back of his neck with his free hand. "I know we're just - whatever this thing is between us ... friends or something, but there are two people in my house that miss your presence very much."

I smile at the thought of Connor and our cupcake making.

"Just two, huh?" I tease, trying to break the tension.

He chuckles. "Maybe three." He winks. "There's a family reunion coming up, and if we're still talking by then, I'd love for you to come with us. Connor asked me the other day when he'd see you again, and I didn't know what to say. But, of course, you can say no...."

"I'll think about it."

His jaw drops. "You will?"

"Yeah, of course, don't look so shocked." I laugh.

He gives a small smile and finally let's go of the papers. "I guess I'll see you Monday," he says.

"Yeah," I whisper. "See you Monday."