*This is just for fun short story and not meant to be taken as professional advice.
Lila had always wanted to get her belly button pierced, ever since she saw her older sister's cute gold ring with a tiny heart charm. She thought it looked so cool and sexy, and she wanted to have one too. But her parents were very strict and conservative, and they would never allow her to do something like that. They said it was too risky, too painful, and too expensive. They said it was a bad influence and a waste of money. They said it was not appropriate for a 16-year-old girl.
But Lila didn't care what they said. She had saved up enough money from her part-time job at the bookstore, and she had done her research online. She knew how to choose the best jewelry materials, how to take care of her piercing, and how to avoid infection. She had even found a reputable piercing studio near her school, where she could go after class without her parents knowing. She had everything planned out, except for one thing: how to convince her best friend, Mia, to go with her.
Mia was the opposite of Lila. She was shy, quiet, and timid. She never did anything adventurous or rebellious. She always followed the rules and listened to her parents. She was afraid of needles, blood, and pain. She didn't like the idea of getting a belly button piercing at all. She thought it was too scary, too dangerous, and too permanent. She thought it was not worth it.
But Lila was persistent. She begged, pleaded, and bribed Mia to go with her. She said it would be fun, exciting, and empowering. She said it would be a bonding experience and a way to express themselves. She said it would be the perfect gift for their friendship anniversary, which was coming up soon. She said it would be a secret that only they would share.
Mia was reluctant, but she couldn't say no to Lila. She loved her best friend, and she wanted to make her happy. She agreed to go with her, but only as moral support. She said she would not get a piercing herself, and she made Lila promise not to pressure her.
Lila agreed, but she secretly hoped that Mia would change her mind once they got there. She thought that maybe Mia would see how cool and beautiful the piercings were, and how easy and quick the process was, and how happy and proud Lila was, and she would want to get one too. She thought that maybe Mia would surprise her with a spontaneous decision, and they would both walk out of the studio with matching belly button rings.
They decided to go on a Friday afternoon, after their last class. They took the bus to the piercing studio, which was located in a small shopping mall. They walked in, and they were greeted by a friendly receptionist, who asked them to fill out some forms and show their IDs. Lila had prepared a fake ID, which she had bought online for $50. She handed it to the receptionist, who scanned it and nodded. Mia didn't have a fake ID, but she didn't need one. She was only there as a spectator.
They waited for a few minutes, until a young woman with purple hair and multiple piercings came out of a back room. She introduced herself as Zoe, and she said she was the piercer. She smiled at them and asked them to follow her. She led them to a small, clean, and bright room, where there was a reclining chair, a tray of instruments, and a display of jewelry. She asked Lila to sit on the chair, and Mia to sit on a stool next to her. She asked Lila what kind of piercing she wanted, and Lila pointed to a picture on the wall, showing a standard navel piercing with a curved barbell. Zoe nodded and said that was a good choice. She asked Lila what kind of jewelry she wanted, and Lila looked at the display, where there were dozens of options, in different colors, shapes, and sizes. She saw gold, silver, rose gold, titanium, stainless steel, and more. She saw rings, barbells, studs, and more. She saw hearts, stars, flowers, butterflies, and more. She was overwhelmed by the variety, but she quickly made up her mind. She chose a rose gold barbell with a pink opal stone on the bottom ball. She thought it was simple, elegant, and feminine. She thought it matched her personality and style. She thought it was perfect.
Zoe smiled and said that was a beautiful choice. She took the jewelry from the display and placed it on the tray. She then proceeded to clean Lila's navel area with an antiseptic wipe, and mark the entry and exit points with a pen. She asked Lila to check the marks in a mirror, and Lila nodded. She said they looked good. Zoe then asked Lila to lie back on the chair, and relax. She said she would explain everything she was doing, and that it would be over before she knew it. She said it would hurt a little, but not too much. She said it would be worth it.
Lila nodded and tried to calm herself. She felt nervous, but also excited. She looked at Mia, who was holding her hand and giving her a reassuring smile. She felt grateful for her best friend's support, and she wished she could share this moment with her. She wondered if Mia would change her mind and get a piercing too. She hoped she would.
Zoe put on a pair of gloves and picked up a hollow needle from the tray. She said she was going to pierce Lila's navel, and that she wanted Lila to take a deep breath and exhale when she told her to. She said it would help with the pain and the bleeding. She said she was ready, and she asked Lila if she was ready too. Lila said yes, and she closed her eyes. She felt Zoe pinch her skin, and she heard her say "breathe in". She did as she was told, and she felt a sharp sting, followed by a dull ache. She heard Zoe say "breathe out", and she did as she was told. She felt Zoe insert the jewelry, and she heard her say "done". She opened her eyes, and she saw Zoe smile and give her a thumbs up. She said she did great, and that she was finished. She said she would clean the area again, and put a band-aid on it. She said she would then give her some aftercare instructions, and that she should follow them carefully. She said she should avoid touching, twisting, or changing the jewelry, and that she should clean it twice a day with saline solution. She said she should avoid swimming, bathing, or wearing tight clothing, and that she should watch out for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pus, or pain. She said she should come back in six weeks for a check-up, and that she should wait at least six months before changing the jewelry. She said she should enjoy her new piercing, and that she hoped she liked it.
Lila looked at her navel, and she saw the rose gold barbell with the pink opal stone. She thought it looked amazing. She felt a surge of happiness and pride. She loved her new piercing, and she couldn't wait to show it off. She thanked Zoe, and she gave her a hug. She said she was very happy, and that she did a great job. She said she would follow her advice, and that she would come back for a check-up. She said she appreciated her service, and that she would recommend her to her friends.
Zoe thanked Lila, and she gave her a hug back. She said she was glad she was happy, and that she did a great job too. She said she was welcome, and that she hoped to see her again. She said she was proud of her, and that she had a beautiful piercing.
Lila got off the chair, and she looked at Mia. She saw her best friend's eyes widen, and her mouth drop. She saw her expression change from shock, to awe, to admiration. She saw her smile, and she heard her say "wow". She said she loved her piercing, and that it looked amazing. She said she was proud of her, and that she was brave. She said she was happy for her, and that she was lucky.
Lila smiled back, and she hugged her best friend. She said she loved her too, and that she was amazing. She said she was grateful for her, and that she was supportive. She said she was happy with her, and that she was lucky too. She then whispered in her ear, and she asked her a question. She said she had a surprise for her, and that she wanted to share it with her. She said she had bought her a gift, and that she wanted to give it to her. She said she had bought her a matching rose gold barbell with a pink opal stone, and that she wanted to ask her if she would get a piercing too. She said she knew it was a big decision, and that she didn't want to pressure her. She said she understood if she said no, and that she would respect her choice. She said she just wanted to offer her the option, and that she hoped she would say yes. She said she thought it would be fun, exciting, and empowering. She said she thought it would be a bonding experience and a way to express themselves. She said she thought it would be the perfect gift for their friendship anniversary, which was today.
Mia looked at Lila, and she felt a surge of emotion. She saw her best friend's face, and she noticed the sparkle in her eyes. She saw her new piercing, and she admired the way it suited her. She saw her gift, and she was touched by her gesture. She heard her question, and she was surprised by her offer. She said she loved her piercing too, and that it was beautiful. She said she was proud of her too, and that she was brave. She said she was happy for her too, and that she was lucky.
Mia thought about Lila's surprise, and she considered her options. She thought about getting a piercing, and she imagined how it would look. She thought about the pain, the risk, and the commitment. She thought about the fun, the excitement, and the empowerment. She thought about their friendship, and she remembered how much they meant to each other. She thought about their anniversary, and she realized how long they had been together. She thought about their future, and she hoped they would stay close.
Mia made up her mind, and she smiled at Lila. She said she had an answer for her, and that she wanted to tell it to her. She said she had a surprise for her too, and that she wanted to share it with her. She said she had decided to get a piercing too, and that she wanted to do it with her. She said she knew it was a big decision, and that she was nervous. She said she trusted her, and that she was ready. She said she wanted to accept her gift, and that she was thankful. She said she wanted to have a matching rose gold barbell with a pink opal stone, and that she wanted to say yes. She also said she thought it would be something that they could remember this day with.
Lila and Mia hugged each other, and they felt a rush of joy. They said they loved each other, and that they were best friends. They said they were happy, and that they were lucky. They looked at each other, and they saw their matching rose gold barbells with pink opal stones. They saw their expressions change from shock, to awe, to admiration. They saw their smiles, and they heard them say "wow". They said they loved their piercings, and that they looked amazing. They said they were proud of each other, and that they were brave. They said they were happy with each other, and that they were lucky. They then took a selfie, and they posted it on social media. They said they had a surprise for their followers, and that they wanted to share it with them. They said they had gotten piercings for their friendship anniversary, and that they wanted to show them off. They said they had gotten matching rose gold barbells with pink opal stones, and that they wanted to tell them why. They said they had done it to celebrate their friendship, and that they wanted to express themselves. They said they had done it to have fun, excitement, and empowerment, and that they wanted to inspire them. They said they had done it to remember their bond, and that they wanted to cherish it. They said they had done it to say yes to life, and that they wanted to live it. They said they had done it to be themselves, and that they wanted to love it. They said they had done it to be happy, and that they wanted to share it. They said they had done it to be lucky, and that they wanted to spread it. They said they had done it to be amazing, and that they wanted to be it. 🌸