“I’m not mad.” I sat down on the edge of his bed and tucked my hands between my knees. I couldn’t meet his eyes. I felt so stupid and childish. Seth squatted down in front of me so he could see my face.
“Look, I think you’re hot no matter what you wear. I’m just trying to bring you into this century.”
I started spiraling a little then, thinking about his friends and how they all dressed really wild and cool—emo haircuts with crazy colors, edgy piercings and tattoos, clothes from thrift shops and vintage finds. Like real artists. Did they think I was a dork too?
“Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” I asked shakily. It was like the curtain had been thrown back, and I was no longer tripping through my own happy oblivion.
“No, of course not.” He shook his head emphatically. “If anything, you’re like an Asian Buddy Holly, and there isnothingcooler than that.”
I sighed heavily, still feeling incredibly foolish, especially that I hadn’t picked up on it sooner.
“Hiroku, don’t,” Seth said sternly but gently while laying a hand on my knee. I understood the sentiment nested in his tone—he was sorry for not telling me sooner, but he didn’t want me to overthink this or blow it out of proportion.
And if Seth was willing to make this kind of investment in my personal style, it was kind of a reflection of his feelings for me.
“All right,” I told him. “I trust your instincts. Do with me what you will. Make me your Barbie.”
Seth smiled wickedly. “That is the hottest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
My parents were somewhat oblivious to my transformation, but my sister was keeping a watchful eye. She’d never comment directly on my new image, but instead, she’d say things like “I didn’t know you liked Soundgarden” or when Seth gave me one of his bracelets, “I thought you didn’t wear leather.”
It was all pretty under-the-radar until Seth took me to get my first piercing. It wasn’t just Seth who went with me but Mitchell, Jeannie, and Sasha too. Caleb had to work or else he probably would have come as well. Even though I generally avoided needles, I was still psyched for this piercing because it felt like their club initiation, and they all wanted to be there for it.
The piercer’s name was Happy, and he had, like, a thousand piercings all over his body, along with tunnel earrings wider than my thumbs. Seth had made some sort of an arrangement where Happy wouldn’t ask for my ID. His piercing office was behind a beaded curtain in his home and resembled an operating room with all of his instruments laid out on blue medical paper. The needles reminded me of knitting needles, only much, much sharper.
As I sat there looking everything over, trying to keep my stomach settled and not shit my pants, Sasha started describing her dual nipple piercing experience that had happened in that same room. Seth saw me going green and told her to can it. He rubbed my back as I determined the gauge and the earring that was to go at the top of my ear, a location I’d selected so my hair could hide it and my parents would hopefully never see it.
Happy was like a meditative monk the whole time, explaining everything in a chill, matter-of-fact way and watching me deliberate with a serene expression on his face. Finally, when I was satisfied with my decision, Happy had me lie back on the padded table and turn my head away from him. Seth squatted down so that he was eye level with me. Partly it was for reassurance, but I think he also wanted to see my expression when the needle pierced my skin. Happy was such a professional that I felt only a hot pinch, a tugging sensation, and a slight burning afterward as he locked the silver loop into place.
Then Seth got a matching hoop in his ear in the same place, which was not something we’d planned, but I believed it was meant to convey his commitment to me and thatwewere something special.
Jeannie told me I’d been very brave, Sasha said this was only the beginning of my piercing career with glittering eyes, and Seth told me I couldnever, evertake it out. Mitchell nodded without much enthusiasm and told me to keep it clean because piercing infections were a bitch. Then the four of us went and got ice cream. They had to drop me back off at my house before dinnertime, even though we were all hyped up and ready to celebrate. I hated that I couldn’t go out with them on the weeknights. I knew they were probably up to no good, but it also meant they were all hanging out and having fun without me.
Of course, I got careless about my piercing, and my sister saw it one night after I’d just showered. She followed me back to my bedroom and shut the door behind her.
“What is that?” She whisper-shouted and flicked my still-tender ear.
“Ow, Mai. What the hell was that for?” The piercing was still healing.
“Do Mom and Dad know about it?”
I gave her a look that saidof course notfollowed withplease don’t tell.
“What’s next, Hiroku? A tattoo?”
“Relax, Mai. It’s just a piercing. I could take it out tomorrow.”
“You should do that before Mom and Dad see it.”
They’d have to cut off my ear before I’d take it out. As far as I was concerned, Seth had claimed me, and that earring was my proof.
“Everyone at school has one,” I told her.
“I don’t.”
That was true. Mai and her friends were a pretty strait-laced, buttoned-up crew. Future Business Leaders of America and all that.
I grinned at her. “I know a guy.”
