2 more weeks pass
Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock.
Christian woke up confused and slighlty annoyed due to the pounding at his door.
"Alright! Alright! Im coming!" he shouted. Throwing on a robe he opened it slowly to see who his disturber was.
"Well! Well! My boy Christian! What kept ya lad?" a booming voice exclaimed.
"Mr...MR. VAN WELDON?" Christian had not been expecting this.
"Yep that's my name son! Say, where the hell you been these past few weeks eh? Ive been worried sick! Tried sendin ya a damn telegram but the post office says they lost it and you haven't come back to check with me personally..."
"Eh, was I suppossed to?"
"Uh nevermind that young man, no worries right? Anyways! I'm here to tell you some news!"
Christian gulped.
"Hey com'on now! Lighten up I say, it's good!"
"Is this about my story?"
"Now now! Don't be too hasty mate! Invite me in! Give me a drink!"
"Oh please sir forgive me for not being more curtious!"
"Eh, please! Just relax son remember?" Van Weldon came in and sat at Christian's dinner table while Christian tried to calm his own nerves and find some liquor. Pouring two glasses of Scotch, Christian joined Val Weldon.
"So, this is where you live huh? Nice view. Kinda small, but nice view."
"Mr. Van Weldon?"
"Ya know, when I was your age I used to live in this nice little place more out West that overlooked the harbor and every afterno-..."
"Mr. Van Weldon, my story?"
"Ahh yes, the story. Huh, the story,... well,... the story is a...a..."
"Yes? Yes" Christian questioned anxiously.
"The story wasn't really my cup of tea mate, ya get what I mean? But.."
"Shit! Jesus! What was I thinking by giving that piece of trash to you?"
"No hold on a god damn bloomin minute boy! I said it wasn't my cup of tea, but..." he paused, " I never said I didn't like it."
"So,...so what does this mean?"
"This means you have yourself a published book."
Christian's jaw dropped and he jumped from the seat of his chair yelling, " BLOODY HELL! I DID IT! OH! Thank you sir thank you soo much!" He grabbed for Van Weldon's hand shaking it as hard as he could.
"Hee hee hee. Eh Christian.I like you kid, ya know that? I have never read anything even half as brilliant as what I read from you. Nobody deserves this more!"
"Oh Mr. Van Weldon, thank you...thank you so much."
"Well, I have more work to get done." Van Weldon arose and started to walk out the door. Christian said one final thank you and saw to it that the man was escorted out ofthe building properly.
His heart was beating a million miles an hour and he couldn't wait for the world to read his story and about Satine.
"Satine! I did it! I did it for you!" he shouted. He wasn't sure if somewhere between the living and the dead her spirit could hear him, but he knew someone who could.
"I have to tell Loreena. She'll be so happy for me I know it!"
For the past two weeks Christian and Loreena had become fast friends. They had spent every waking day in eachothers company discussing anything that came to mind such as music, poetry, politics, society, everything except Satine. Loreena had become a nice distraction from the pain he usually felt, and he grew used to her company on a regular basis. Without her around, he was reminded of his lonliness, and that was when he missed Satine the most.
They found by spending as much time as they had together, they had a lot in common. Loreena was everything that Christian wanted in a friend. She was patient, kind, and easy to talk to as well as intelligent and humorous. It felt nice to have a friend, Christian thought; nice to have someone to talk to when everyone else who had claimed to be his friend, simply just left without a goodbye.
Loreena was sitting on her back patio when she heard abrupt yelling from the other side of the house and loud kocking. She was use to having Christian come over on a regular basis to see her art or sit for tea, but it was still fairly early for him to be at her house.
"LOREENA! LOREENA!" the voice called.
"Hold on!" she replied.
Running towards the front, she saw her visiter.
"Christian? You're early!"
"Loreena, you wouldn't believe what's happened to me...the most amazing thing, I still can't believe...it's astounding!"
"Ok Christian, calm down... What happened?"
"My book! It's getting published! I...I couldn't wait to tell you!"
"WHAT?" You mean your book? My God! Christian that's wonderful!"
Loreena ran up to Chrsitian and gave him a warm embrace. He had not been expecting this much of a reaction from her, but he figured she was just over-excited for him.
"Christian...do you know what this means? You could be famous!"
"Well, I don't know about that, but listen,...I was thinking...I'm gonna need a cover for my book."
She cocked her head in puzzlement, not entirely sure what Christian was suggesting.
"Loreena, you're an artist. You could paint one for me. Just think, everyone'll see your work."
"Christian I don't know...I.."
"You have to! You're the only other person who's read it."
Christian could see that she was showing a little guilt.
"Christian, I still...I still don't know what I could do. I mean I was never there."
"You could paint Satine on the cover, while in the background, you could have the can can dancers and the Moulin Rouge!"
"Christian, you described her beautifully in your book, but it wasn't enough to get a good idea of what she really looked like."
"Then I'll help you. Nobodyknew herbetter than me."
Loreena was considering the thought now. She took a breath.
"If you insist, then I'll do it."
"Oh! I knew you would! Loreena, thank you!"
He grabbed her hand and gave it a rushed peck, and started running.
"Wait! Chrsitian..where are you gong?"
"Com'on! Let's get started!"
Loreena came up to Christian's apartment carrying a small canvas, paints,and paintbrushes. She set her materials on the dining table in front of the window she began to prime the canvas. Chrsitian brought her a drink and some bread. After the prime coat was dry, Loreena waited for instruction from Christian on how he wanted the cover.
All day Loreena painted, and Christian watched her every stroke. She was at such peace when she was painting and displayed a grace so uncommon among artists. The setting sun twinkled in Loreena's eyes, and Christian found himself almost captivated by their shimmer. When the sun set lower and she couldn't see as well, Loreena asked Christian to turn on a light. In doing so he saw that it was nearing the end of day by his clock and he still had to talk to Van Weldon again once more.
"Loreena, it shouldn't take me too long, but I have to leave and manage some business. I hope you don't mind."
She slowly looked up and nodded. "Ok" was all she said. Her painting was nearing it's finish. "I should be done shortly."
2 hours had passed and Christian had taken way longer than he expected. In frantics, he rushed along the dark and lifeless streets as fast as he could back home. "She's probably mad at me! God knows she would have left by now!"
On his way home, Christian came across a flower shop that was getting ready to close. Perhaps he could buy Loreena a little something in case she was still there. He didn't think he was showing enough appreciation for what she was doing for him anyway. Maybe this would help.
Opening his apartment door and setting down his coat and hat, he called out, "Loreena, I'm home!" Nobody answered and Christian went about his way through the rooms. Coming to his living room he saw the moonlight beaming in through the open window and there, sleeping peacefully on his couch was Loreena. The girl had more than likely become too tired to go home on her own.
Chrsitian grabbed a nearby blanket and was about to cover her with it when he got another thought. Carefully, he lifted Loreena up and cradled her in his arms. Creeping over to the bed, he placed her upon it, letting wisps of her hair fall across her face. With his right hand he gently pulled them away and with the other hand reached for the sheets. He wanted to make sure that she was kept warm. He sat on the side of the bed watching her sleep, and it was then a soft, pleasant feeling like warm sugar spread across his mind. Christian realized that he was starting to really care for Loreena. Not a paternal caring since he was only a few years older than Loreena, but a deep, sincere caring.
Leaning over, Christian kissed her on the forehead. She didn't stir. Rising off the bed Christian placed the bouqet of flowers on the adjoining nightstand for her to see in the morning, left the room, and closed the door behind him.
Christian took off his shoes and shirt and sat by the window sill looking up at the moon. He had almost forgotten about the painting and looked over to see how it finished. By the faint light of the night sky he saw it. The finished painting. It was amazing, and the sort of eerie part of it was that she had painted an exact replica of Satine. Now that the story and cover was finished, Christian breathed a sigh of relief. But wait, what about a title? Biting his lip, Christian came up with one simple idea. His book should be called A Story About Love. Perfect he thought.
Christian's mind wandered away from him now. He too was becoming very sleepy, his concious slowly melting into dreamland. Before he went completly off to sleep, his mind put out one more thought. This wasn't of Satine like usually, but of Loreena. Christian sleeply smiled and then was out.