‘I like the vulture,’ she says, sidestepping my question.
‘I don’t,‘ I say.
‘I like tattoos,’ she says quietly as if she’s afraid her father might sense her desire for body art and lock her up for good. ‘Can I… can I touch it?’ she says.
‘Sure,’ I say, watching as she moves closer, her outstretched fingertips painted black. The sensation is ticklish as she presses against the rough ink, then she pulls away and smiles to herself.
‘Did it hurt?’ she asks.
‘Every time,’ I laugh. ‘But after a while, you kind of… start to enjoy it?’
‘Do you have any others?’ she asks, earnestly.
I smile. ‘Yes,’ I say, shaking my head. ‘But you’re not seeing those.’
She glows red and blinks. ‘Oh.’
‘I have my tongue pierced too,’ I say, then I stick it out at her and she giggles. ‘And my belly button.’
‘Your belly button?’ she goggles.
I spin around and then slide my skirt sideways, pulling it up and retaining my dignity whilst showing off the little jewel that lives in my navel.
‘What made you want tattoos?’ she says as I smooth down my dress once more and rearrange my hair.
‘I want my body to tell my story,’ I say. She’s about to say something else when a heavy knock sounds at her door. She looks at me in a wild panic, her eyes wide, but I hold up my hand to calm her. ‘Come in,’ I say.
Nothing happens for a moment, and then the door tentatively opens, and Thea’s father appears around the edge of the frame.
‘I just… came to say goodnight,’ he says.
Thea nods and looks away, and for a moment she says nothing, and then just as he’s pulling back she whispers. ‘Night, dad.’
As the door clicks shut our eyes meet again, and she breathes out.
‘Thank you,’ she says.
‘I’ll er… I’ll leave you alone,’ I say. ‘But if you ever wan-‘
‘I know,’ she snaps. I get the feeling this conversation is over. I hesitate for one more second and then reach for the door. ‘Night,’ I say.
No reply.
I go to pull it shut, but as I do she speaks again. ‘You shouldn’t hide them. They’re beautiful.’
I smile and breathe out, and then I close the door, taking a seco-
‘Miss Mill-‘
‘Fuck,’ I gasp, falling away.
Mr Ledger’s reactions are sharp and he catches me fast, supporting me with one hand around my wrist and his other arm cupping the small of my back.
‘I didn’t mean to startle you,’ he says as my heart pounds and my head spins.
‘Jeez, is everyone in this family a fucking ninja?’ I say, forgetting myself.
‘Language,’ he says, and I blush.