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needle. It’s even bigger than the tongue one and for a moment I feel like I’m going to pass out. He paints a black dot on my stomach with a marker and then places a clamp in the fold of skin.
    At that point, the point when I’m ready to completely wimp out and beg for mercy, Sean grabs hold of my trembling hand. I look over at him and he smiles at me. A pure, beautiful, genuine smile of support and encouragement.
    â€œJust look at me,” he says. “It’ll be easier that way.”
    The pain is hot. The needle burns through my skin and I bite down not to scream in agony. It’s quite possibly the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my entire life—including the time I broke my arm in third grade. I squeeze Sean’s hand tightly, my nails digging into his palm and I try to concentrate on looking into his eyes. Losing myself in their beautiful blue.
    And then it’s over. I survive. And I have a cool new piece of silver jewelry embedded in my body.
    â€œWhoo hoo!” I cry, jumping up. “I did it!” Unable to stop myself, I throw my arms around Sean in celebration. He laughs and hugs me back, carefully, so as not to bump the piercing.
    â€œNo sex for twenty-four hours,” Todd instructs, causing both of us to pull away from our embrace and blush deep red.
    â€œWe’re... not ...I mean, um,” I stammer. Ah, hell.
    Â Todd nods knowingly and I get the feeling he’s thinking the lady doth protest too much. But “That’ll be twenty bucks,” is all he says.
    I pay him and the four of us walk out of the shop. We hit the diner next door and order burgers, fries and Cokes. (Starr orders a yogurt smoothie to numb her tongue.) We chat and joke and laugh during the meal. Starr and Eddie get into a big debate about the current economy and who’s respoinsible. While they banter and bicker, Sean and I poke fun at them from across the table.
    We’re having such a blast, I lose track of time. For a few blissful minutes, I totally forget about my commitments. About The Evil Ones and the torture they will have planned for me if I get home late with no good explanation as to where I have been.
    We walk out of the restaurant and I realize it’s now nearly six o’clock and I have to get back home. Starr grudgingly agrees to go with me, after she says her good-byes to Eddie. I’m a bit disturbed to realize her good-byes include jamming her tongue down his throat at the bus stop. After all, she just met the guy! Not to mention that said tongue was recently traumatized by a large needle.
    I laugh a little, embarrassed, and turn from the major PDA-age. Sean rolls his eyes and takes me by the shoulder, leading me a few yards away.
    â€œLooks like Eddie finally met his match,” he says with a chuckle.
    â€œHe’s not a jerk, is he?” I ask. I don’t know why I feel the need to worry about Starr. Of all people, she doesn’t need a protector, that’s for sure. Especially not someone like me. But I can’t help being a mother hen.
    Sean shakes his head. “Nah, he’s cool. Just loud.” He smiles. “That’s nice of you, though. To look out for your friend.”
    I shrug. “She’s not even really my friend. In fact, I’m not even sure she likes me much.”
    â€œNo?” Sean asks, reaching over to brush a lock of hair out of my eyes. “Why wouldn’t she like you?”
    His sudden close proximity starts doing funny things to my pulse. Does he want to kiss me? I swallow hard and drop my gaze to the dirty sidewalk. I’m such a wimp.
    He puts a finger under my chin and tilts my head up so I’m looking into his eyes. Gulp, this is it. He is going to kiss me! I’m going to be kissed by the gorgeous Sean. I can feel his warm, peppermint breath on my face.
    â€œWell, I like you,” he says with a grin. “I mean, just FYI.”
    â€œDo you?” I ask, regretting the