Chapter 798: Norwich
Thursday, March 30th, Evening
Silence can be deafening, even on a quiet night; sometimes, it's good to have noise. It could be the TV in the background, simple white noise, or music. Her smartphone sat on a nearby table, a comforting stream of her favorite music filling the room with its familiar melodies.
Kat stood in a corner on a well-used and lover canvas drop cloth. She wore a battered wife beater tank top over a black sports bra and gray lycra workout shorts. She rubbed her bare feet on the rough texture of the paint-stained canvas drop cloth.
She carefully picked up her paintbrush and started to work on her canvas. Kay was experimenting with mixing some more impressionist style into her cartoonish realist style. This was not done to grow as an artist or any other curiosity, but as a way to express the chaos and conflict she was feeling inside. Kay missed Ivy, full stop. There was no other way to write, paint, or say it.
The painting, a basic landscape of the view outside her window, was a chaotic mess, even with the use of watercolors, which some have run from being too wet. The piece reflected Kay's internal conflict. In frustration, Kay threw her brush down on the canvas. Shaking her head, her short hair whipped around, but it didn't work anything out; the fog of frustration and confusion still filled her head.
Kay was reaching for her smartphone while walking away from the now-ruined canvas. The song changed, and Kay paused. As the first notes came to her ears, she smiled. Music had always been a part of her life, like art; with her mom, it seemed like no other choices could be made. But this song made her smile; it was bittersweet. She loved the song, but it reminded her too much of Ivy.
The opening line hit Kay's ears, and it was clear how Kay felt about Ivy. She held back from contacting Kay because Ivy's phone had been disconnected the last time she tried, but the music perfectly made Kay understand her feelings.
Kay started to move to the music. Never a good dancer, she would avoid dancing when she could. Ivy would drag her onto the dance floor. This song was for couples to dance to, but the lyrics were what got to her. But she danced; her motions or dancing could be described as fitting the song.
It was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Kay grumbled and walked over to the door. She checked who was there, grunted, and unlocked the door to let in the unexpected visitor.
Mal stepped into Kay's apartment and looked around. For a long moment, she paused her gaze on the ruined canvas. After taking in the chaotic landscape, she continued studying the apartment. Looking at Kay, Mal took in the music and nodded to the beat.
"Edwyn Collins, A Girl Like You?" Mal asked.
"Yes," Kay said.
"Interesting song," Mal said.
"I like it," Kay said.
"Important question, Corey or Gina?" Mal asked.
"What?" Kay asked, confused.
"You weren't into Deb? Now, that would make a lot of sense, of course; you would be into Deb," Mal said.
Kay shook her head, "What are you talking about?" she asked.
"The three young women in Empire Records," Mal said.
"Empire Records?" Kay asked.
"Yes, it's a movie," Mal said, "This song was on the song track."
"Never heard of it," Kay said.
"Never heard of it? The blasphemy, and how can the daughter of a record label owner not have heard of Empire Records?" Mal asked, her surprise evident in her tone.
"I don't know, lucky, I guess," Kay said.
Mal shook her head, "More like deprived," she said.
"Says you," Kay said.
Mal shook her head, "We're going to have to fix this," she said.
"Fix what?" Kay asked.
"You not knowing anything about Empire Records," Mal said.
"Umm, okay?" Kay asked, confused.
"What do you have for streaming?" Mal asked.
"I, umm, don't really stream," Kay said.
"Ugh, what did wolves raise you?" Mal asked.
"No!" Kay said.
Mal held up her smartphone, "No problem, I got this handled," she said.
"Okay," Kay said.
"Where's your TV?" Mal asked.
"I don't have one," Kay said.
"The comment raised by wolves still stands," Mal said.
"I wasn't," Kay said.
"Why no TV?" Mal asked.
"I don't watch it," Kay said.
"Why?" Mal asked.
"It rots your brain," Kay said.
Mal laughed, "With your brain, that's a good thing," she said.
"Hey!" Kay said.
Mal looked around the living room. She spotted Kay's laptop. "Perfect, we'll use your laptop," she said.
"Why?" Kay asked.
Mal went over to Kay's laptop and started to get set up so they could watch the movie. "So, we can watch the movie," Mal said.
Kay looked at the digital wall clock, "At this hour?" Kay asked.
"Have some place to go in the morning?" Mal asked.
"I have a training session," Kay said.
"Don't worry, I'll drive you in so you can catch a few extra Zees," Mal said.
"I can't let you do that," Kay said.
"Yes, you can," Mal said, "Now get here. The move is starting, plus what do you want to eat? My treat."
Kay sighed and sat next to Mal. Once they were set up so they could both see the screen, Kay pointed to the menu items she wanted.
"Looks like home," Kay said as she watched the movie. Mal laughed.