To the Moon and Back

Alex's POV

The next day we were playing in Santa Cruz and we arrived in the morning so we had free time till late afternoon.
As I did not want to hang with the guys I went down to O'Reillys Tattoo shop to see Adam Barton, he had done a piece for me before and I just wanted to look around and have a chat.

I was lucky because when I entered the shop Adam was free and we sat down drinking coffee and talked about tattoos.

Suddenly I had an idea and pulled out my phone to show him a photo.

"I like that one" he said once he had a look at it. "That would actually make a good tattoo."

"That's what I wanted to hear" I replied smiling "can we do it right now?"

"Sure, come over here and we do the sketch and you tell me if you like it, depending on the size we could do it in one go. Does it have any special meaning for you?" He asked while he was making his station ready for me.

"Yes" I said smiling looking at the photo of the shark and the rocket graffiti on my phone screen, I stroke the image with my thumb. "My wife did this, it is her signature animal, her nickname is Sharky."

"I didn't know you were married?" He asked surprised.

"Well, it's brand new." I couldn't stop smiling because I am so proud.

"Wow, congrats, man. You should bring her in next time, I would like to talk to her, I think she has a somewhat quirky but cool drawing style. So where should this one go?"

I pulled up my shirt and point to a little area on my waist. "There! She wrote her name on that spot when we first met." I am still grinning like a fool.

Adam looks up at me and shakes his head. "Sounds like she is your favourite addiction. Lucky guy. Well then, let's do this."

A couple of hours later I leave the shop with a little grinning shark on my waist and her street name underneath, although it hurts a bit I have to touch the spot all the time because it feels like she is with me now.

When I get back to the venue and enter the bus Rian is sitting on the couch and gets up as soon as he sees me.
"Alex, where have you been? I was worried about you, look I am sorry about what I said yesterday, of course I am happy for you, the both of you. It is just that I am concerned because I feel you are not totally committing to the band anymore. And it wouldn't be the first time a band breaks up because of the band members partners working against it. You know, the Yoko Ono effect."

I don't believe he has just said that and I snap immediately.

"Let me tell you something." I growl bringing my face close to his. "I wanted to stay in Australia, I would have stayed with Charlie and left the band but she told me that she would not let this happen, she said she would not let me throw away everything I worked for, she was prepared to let me go, she never spoke of marriage, it was me that just went ahead and put her into the situation and she nearly said no in front of the marriage officiant. So don't you dare and make her responsible for any problems this band may have."

I straightened myself and looked down at Rian, he had his eyes fixed on me and his mouth hung open in shock, then he blinked a few times as if he needed to clear his head and asked me in a low voice. "You would have really left the band?"

"If there wouldn't have been any other way, yes I would have left the band to be with her." I confirm although I'm not completely convinced myself. "Anyway I don't get why I have to justify every decision I make in front of you guys. What I do in my private life is none of your business and you better stay out of it in the future."

"I am sorry that you see it that way, Alex. I really want us to stay friends in all of this." He looks at me with a worried expression.

"Well Rian, if you want us to stay friends then act like one." I tell him and turn to walk towards the back lounge. I need to speak to Charlie to calm me down.

I call her on Skype and she picks up after a couple of rings.

"Hey Mr. Gaskarth, how are you?" She smiles and she looks a lot better today so I relax a little and smile back at the screen.

"Hey Mrs Gaskarth , you look beautiful today and I love you. How has your day been?"

She hesitates for a moment and I raise my eyebrows at her.

"What is it?" I ask getting worried.

She rolls her eyes at me. "No reason to get worried. I did a cool thing today but maybe you think it is stupid." She bites her lip and looks at me from under her side fringe.

"Charlie, don't bite your lip, you know that turns me on and you are too far away for that." I scold her. "So tell me what did you do? Maybe I don't think it is stupid at all."

She gets up and I only see her middle part then she lifts her shirt and I look at her exposed waist and there on the exact same spot as mine is a small tattoo in ornate cursive writing saying 'Alex'.

She sits down again. "I wanted to have your full name but it was so painful that I couldn't take it, I swear this is my first and last tattoo. What do you say? I just needed to have you with me."

She looks at me with big eyes because she sees me staring at her in disbelief.

"Wow, Charlie, this is weird." She frowns at my comment "I mean it's cool but it's totally weird." I quickly correct myself and get up lifting my shirt to show her my new tattoo.

She starts laughing. "This is not only weird this is creepy!"

Then she comes closer to the screen and whispers. " but imagine the two tattoos pressed up against each other"

"No Baby, stop it. That turns me on as well." I groan hiding my face in my hands.

"It seems there is hardly anything that I can do that doesn't turn you on." She giggles and her eyes shine like stars in a night sky.

Jack bolts into the room. "Alex, Rian told me you two had a fight again. This has got to stop, you guys have to....oh, hi Sharky, sorry I didn't want to interrupt, how are you? Good to see you." He stands there smiling waving awkwardly. "Uhm, I guess we can talk later. See you soon Sharky."

He turns and leaves.

Charlie looks at me with raised eyebrows. "What is Jack talking about? Why did you have a fight with Rian? I mean of all people. What happened?"

She sounds worried.

"Nothing really, just forget what he said, it doesn't matter." I don't want her to be bothered by the attitude of my friends.

She huffs. "And you think I believe that."

She seems to think for a moment. "Can I please talk to Rian?" She asks.

"Why? It doesn't concern you at all. You don't have to get involved in this." I try to change her mind but this is almost impossible with my wife, I know this by now.

She doesn't reply but sits there with her arms crossed and just waits for me to get Rian. I don't intend to do so and just keep seated and try to look at her as if nothing has happened.

After a moment she bends forward coming closer to the screen.

"Alex, I think I know exactly what's going on and I really want to talk to Rian, can you please get him?" She speaks slowly and clearly that means she is about to get mad at me, which I don't want so I give in and get up with a defeated sigh.

"Whatever." I say and throw my hands in the air.

Rian is still sitting in the front lounge drumming away on his practise pad, he looks up surprised when he notices me.

"Charlie would like to talk to you, she is on Skype in the back lounge." I announce with a sour face.

He seems taken aback but gets up immediately to follow me to the back and I notice how he ruffles his short hair and straightens out his shirt to make himself look presentable.

I have to fight a smile secretly pleased knowing that this makes him nervous.

Notes

Awwwww!