Good Afternoon! Or good whatever to those of you not yummy timezone! Chapter 9 is here - ta dah! Major brownie points go out to the reader who spots the Rizzles line!
Anyway, onwards...
Chapter 9 - Exhibitionists
"Oh my God, Aiden! I have to leave in half an hour and I have NO CLOTHES!"
She was once again throwing clothes around her room. Spencer had spent the day relaxing, believing she owed herself the time to watch a film while doing her nails and having lunch. She then did her minimal make-up and straightened her hair to within an inch of its life. Before she knew it time had flown by and she was left with zero suitable clothes.
"Aiiiiidd-en!" She wailed through the apartment.
"What Spence?" He replied as he walked to her room while pulling his skinny black tie into place. "Wow! Naked Spencer," he threw his hands over his eyes and spun around, "woman! My eyes! They burn!"
The blonde laughed and pulled on an oversized t-shirt over her black lace underwear set. "I do have clothes on and it's not like you care. There, I'm covered."
He separated his fingers across his eyes to check, then dropped his hands. "I don't care, but I'm gay for a reason babes, I don't wanna see all that body!"
"Oh shut up and help me, fool."
"What are we working with?" HE asked while lifting dresses off the pile and holding them up. Each seemed very much like the other - dress like. "I don't understand what the problem is…?"
"The problem is, that I have nothing to wear!" She said while gesturing to all the seemingly perfectly good outfits now decorating her bed, floor and furniture.
"Well, that is just silly, you have plenty. Here," he threw a purple strapless dress at her, "try that on."
She whipped her t-shirt off and pulled the dress over her head. She wiggled it into place and looked down. She felt like an avocado. It was a big no-no, just like everything else. "Urgh no, Aiden, I look stupid. It's too….purple." She pouted as he turned her around to assess the dress from all angles.
"Hmm, the style is nice enough. Doesn't scream 'I'm a serious artist' though. OK, take it off."
"Good stupid dress." As outfit 4 million bit the dust, Aiden threw a red dress over his head and into her arms. "NO! It's red" She launched it onto her bed without even trying it on.
"This?" Another one came at her.
She held it up and pulled a horrified face. "Aid, its a cat-suit!" That also made it all the way to her bedside table before stopping.
"I have the winner. This. On. Now." He passed it back to her, taking care not to catch a glimpse of lady-flesh out of the corner of his eye.
The dress was black, simple and understated. It was knee length and classic cut, with two delicate straps and a low neckline. There were no bells and whistles, no sparkles or waistbelts. It was just a dress. Aiden didn't know much about women's fashion but was well aware of the LBD phenomenon and its ability to save each and every clothing drama. "You changed yet?" He asked while still facing away from the girl.
"Almost," came the muffled response as clothing was moved into place, "ok, done."
He turned around and came face to face with a truly stunning lady. His girl was all grown up. No baggy jeans and scuffed Converse. Make-up was all in place, softly applied to highlight a slim face with sparkling blue eyes. Ashley didn't stand a chance against this force of womanly womanlyness.
"Aiden, say something."
"I...urm...Wow."
The blonde giggled nervously and ran her hands down her sides, anxiously smoothing creases that did not exist. "It's a good dress then?" She asked shyly.
The boy took a step forward and lifted the nervous hands in his own, bringing them to his face. He placed a gentlemanly kiss on one knuckle of each hand and tugged her closer to him. "You are gorgeous, my friend." Spinning her on the spot to assess every angle, he smiled and gestured to the wardrobe. "Final hurdle….shoes."
With 15 minutes to go, Spencer and Aiden were in the taxi, heeled, booted, suited and scented. After a short journey they - carefully- climbed out of the doors and met Chelsea at the entrance, her reaction mirrored Aiden's.
"Spence, oh my….just...look at you, beautiful."
Entrances were made, drinks were handed out and chat commenced around the pieces. The exhibition was a collaboration with the art department. Every artist had their section, there were 15 in total and each wall told it's own story.
One painter had decided to express human form through eyes and eyes only. There were sketches to start with. They expressed happiness with the creased corners, sadness as a perfect tear rolled out, fear as pupils sat large in the frame and all these moved into vibrant paintings whose colours reflected the emotion. It was simple, yet powerful. Aiden remained stood at this storyboard in awe until a hand touched the bottom of his back and leaned into his arm.
"You like?"
"Chelsea, these are yours?" He said noticing the name plaque at the side for the first time.
"Yeah buddy, this sista's got soul!" She giggled and squeezed his arm.
"They're amazing."
"Why thank you."
"Is this a style of painting or do you just call it Chels 2013?" He asked, turning to look at her.
"The sketches are just sketches, there is no real style to that. Using pencil is personal, especially on that basic level. You just draw what you see and not what you think you see. The painting though, thats based on the Fauvist movement - it means 'Wild Beasts' - see how the paint strokes are erratic but still make the image whole? They don't seem to tie together and the colour is barely blended. The closer you look, the less it looks like anything," she tugged him backwards from squinting at the paint brush marks, "so stand back to appreciate it properly! I enjoyed painting them, I think that helps, show's even more passion."
"Well, whatever it is that makes you this damn good, don't stop!"
Aiden stuck out his elbow and she placed her arm through his. They walked around the room slowly, having lost Spencer half and hour ago to all the arty types who wanted to fawn over her work, the pair just mooched and appreciated. Chelsea was stopped on occasion but didn't release Aiden. For all her bravado in their social circle, she was a private person and her art was too close to her heart to discuss openly with strangers. She liked to let them draw their own conclusions.
"Where is she Aid?" The painter asked when they were alone once more. He knew instinctively who she was talking about, it had been on his mind too.
"I don't know, I figured she was coming when I saw her."
"Oooooh man if she doesn't show….Imma gunna…" Before Chelsea could verbally whoop the ass of the invisable Ashley, Aiden stopped her.
"Girlfriend, we already had that chat."
The girl looked at him and nodded as a sly smirk appeared on her face. "Oh Aid, you big over-protective softy, you're cute as anything you know that?"
The boy nodded like a child and blushed. Glancing at his watched, he noted the time- it was already 9.15pm and she was late. The pair just hoped that their blonde friend hadn't noticed the absent member and was just enjoying the limelight that she entirely deserved.
A moment went by and both friends turned to look at eachother with the same look - "Spencer is gunna be so pissed off."
Anyone spot the Rizzles reference? Leave me a review guys, I need the love :)
