• Chapter Three:

    All of a sudden Broady paused "Tarja, won't your boss be angry that you got another rather visible tattoo?"

    "I'll wear sleeves." Was the weary reply. How many times had Lexi asked her that? "Besides, it's not like it's on my leg or something."

    Criss, who'd been silent for awhile watching Broady work, asked "Why would getting it on your leg be worse that on your arm?"

    "I'm a dancer, sometimes I act too."

    "Ballet?"

    "Stripper."

    "Broady! I work in theater- usually dancing but I double as an understudy when we can swing it."
    "That's cool." Criss played it cool but he really thought that this "kid" in front of him getting a tattoo like she didn't feel it was pretty awesome…and she was a dancer.

    "Are you working now?"

    "Yeah, we're starting rehearsal tomorrow actually." She smiled genuinely happy about the show- something that was not lost on Criss…or Broady. "It's like a rock opera, but without the opera."

    Both men looked at her…"Huh?"

    She laughed. "We're doing a musical but we're using existing modern rock and heavy metal to tell the story . I'm so stoked for this!"

    "Criss, did I mention that the hot tempered redhead is also a metalhead- no drugs though, right kid?"

    "Just shut up and tattoo me!" Tarja sighed in mock exasperation.

    "No."

    "What?"

    "You're done." Broady said as he wrapped a bandage around her arm.

    "It looks great!" said Criss while admiring both Broady's work and Tarja's pale arm.

    "Thanks." He turned to Tarja "You know the drill, now get out of my shop and give a man some peace! Redheads!" he muttered "Nothing but trouble!" Criss laughed quietly beside him.

    "Whatever. Thanks for the ink, man! It was nice to meet you Criss."

    "You too. Break a leg with the show!"

    "Thanks!" Tarja paid for her tattoo, said goodbye and left the shop.

    Both men were silent for a few minutes, staring at the door and thinking about Tarja but for very different reasons. Criss was sure he was in love- she was so different than the girls he usually ended up with. Broady, however was focused on protecting the little punk he'd taken under his wing after her mom split. Broady was shaken out of his musings by Criss.



    Chapter Four:

    "So, Tarja…?"

    "Forget it buddy, she's just a kid. You're old enough to be her father, let it go."

    "You seem awfully protective of her, usually you're happy to let people take what comes at them- why is she different?"

    Broady stared into space for a few minutes. "You remember Tanya? We went to school with her…"

    "You two dated for awhile…" Criss stared at his friend "Tarja's not your daughter is she?"