It was the day after Jaime had proposed to Jess and the, now fiancés, were at the Fuentes household. Erica and Jess have decided to spend the day together to strengthen their newly formed friendship. Jess was going to take Erica in to town and do a spot of shopping and go to lunch. Erica had some other things to take care of which she needed Jess’ help with.
“Ready?” Erica asked as she came into the kitchen wearing a Jack Daniels tank top with a pair of stone wash skinny jeans along with a black pair of vans. She hadn’t really expected San Diego to be so hot so hadn’t really packed appropriately. She would probably buy some shorts while in town.
“Ready, let’s go” Jess called out. The girls both kissed their men goodbye and walked towards the door. “Have fun” Mike and Jaime said at the same time.
“We plan to” Erica smiled in the boy’s direction and exited the house.
When they got in the car Erica pulled a newspaper from her bag. “Hey Jess, before we go shopping there are a few places we need to check out, do you mind driving us there?” Erica asked.
“Er, sure thing. Where are we going?” She was confused with Erica’s request but decided to go along with it.
“Well you know those secrets I have with Vic? I’m going to let you in on them but you have to promise to not say a word to any of the boys?” Erica needed to know she could trust Jess with this before telling her what she and Vic had been planning.
“I promise, now let me know, I’m intrigued” She nudged Erica’s arm before pulling out of the drive.
“I want to look at a few apartments about 20 minutes from here. There on the same street so we don’t have to go far between either of them.” She looked at Jess with a smile beaming across her face.
“OMG, are you moving here? Jaime said you were moving to Chicago. What?” Jess didn’t quite know how to respond.
“I had planned on Chicago but I didn’t count on creating such important relationships with these guys and I don’t think I could bear to be on the other side of the country. It’s going to be a surprise for the boys except Vic. He helped me with this first surprise so I hired him for the next one too” She chuckled.
“I will not say a word. I’m excited though, we can become besties and everything” She joked.
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“I liked the first one but it had too many walls. I’m so used to everything being open planned I’m not sure I could get used to being divided off. You know?” Erica asked Jess as they exited the coffee shop with their iced lattes.
“Yeah it did feel really cramped in there. The 2nd one was nice too but I don’t think there was enough light. The windows were so small. But I don’t know what you think”
“I agree, I need light I’m not a vampire. I’ll just see if Vic has found anything else and we’ll look before I go home.” She sighed, a bit disappointed that neither apartment suited her. She really did hope that Vic had something else.
“Hey, can we check in here a moment?” Erica requested as she pointed towards a tattoo shop called ‘THINK INK’ catchy title, Erica thought.
“Are you looking at getting a job too?” Jess wondered.
“Yeah, I want to secure everything before I come over here so I’m not stuck looking for work or a place to live, I like to be organised.” Erica informed Jess.
“Makes sense” Jess replied as the two entered the shop.
It was a nice shop, floor to ceiling windows. Open planned. 6 work stations with a generally positive vibe about the place.
“How can I help you ladies?” A deep but nice voice asked from behind the reception desk.
“Hello, I’m Erica and I was wondering if you had any vacancies. I’m looking to move here in the next couple of months and would prefer to have a job before I get here” Erica told the guy.
“It just so happens that we do. My boy Neil here, is leaving us at the end of the November. He’s moving to New York and when he goes we’ll have an opening and since you say you’ll be here in a few months this could work well. Have you been tattooing long?” The man asked.
“3 Years. I happen to have my portfolio with me. I carry it everywhere out of habit. I sketch whenever I have spare time.” Erica pulled out the sketchpad and passed it over the counter.
“I’m Damien by the way” He held out his hand and Erica shook it. Jess had sat in the waiting area as the two artist stayed in conversation. “Wow, these are really good. I think we may have just found Neil’s replacement.” He looked up with a genuine smile on his face. “I couldn’t help but notice you’re English. Do you have all the right paperwork to work in America?” Obviously he wouldn’t be able to hire Erica if she didn’t.
“Actually, I’m a dual citizen so I am very much allowed to work in America. I was originally going to be moving to Chicago but I made friends over this way and couldn’t leave them” She let out a small laugh and Damien nodded. “Okay, great. If you want we can fill out papers now so you have a job ready and waiting or you can come back when you move here?” He carried on turning pages, amazed with Erica’s artwork.
“Now sounds perfect. I like to have things organized so this would be one weight off my shoulders when I get here” Erica was so happy right now. More than glad that she stepped foot in this shop today.
“I’ll just go get the forms and we can go through them in a minute” Damien headed in to the back office.
“Shit, I pretty much just got a job. I’m just waiting to fill out some forms and its official. This is insane!” Erica enthused towards Jess. “Congrats girl, we just need to hope Vic has found you an apartment and you are sorted to move to SD!!” Jess gave Erica a quick hug before Damien joined them in the waiting area. “Here you go” He said. “Just fill these out and hand them back to me when you’re done” He smiled and focused his attention on a customer whom had just walked through the door.
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“We’re back” Erica shouted through the house. “In the garden” Vic shouted the girls made their way through and joined the boys who were currently in the pool, all except Vic who was getting a drink from the table.
“Those 2 apartments were bad. Please tell me you have something else” Erica sighed and sat on one of the garden chairs next to Vic.
“As a matter of fact I do. We can go check it out tomorrow. I think you’ll like this one.” He smiled.
“Good, because today I got a job and I need an apartment to go back to at the end of a busy day” Erica said as she got up to go into the house. “WHAT?!” Vic shouted but it wasn’t loud enough for the guys in the pool to hear. “Where? How?”
“Jess and I passed a tattoo shop in town and I asked if we could check in there, see if they had anything going. It turns out about the time I’m coming over someone is leaving so the owner looked through my portfolio, never have I been happier to be carrying it with me, and said the job was mine for when I get here. I filled out some paperwork and I will start on November 28th.” She whispered to him. By now Jess was sat at the side of the pool with her feet dangling in the water.
“Well done you. You really don’t waste any time do you?” He chuckled and Erica went in doors.