chapter 3.31
Warning: NSFW--one fashionable butt shot. ;)
Theo
It was great to see my cousin, Camden again. He was a few years older than me and I hadn't visited with him since his wedding last year. He'd just graduated law school, got into a prestigious firm and has a gorgeous wife. If only my life could end up like his.
"How's married life treating you, Cam?" I asked over a game of chess. My class started in about thirty minutes. Cam and I decided to play a game and catch up a little. He was staying at my place this week.
"Oh, man. I wished I'd married Ava two years earlier. Who said the first year would be the hardest? How about you? Are you dating anyone?"
"Naw, but I'm working on it."
He stared straight at me. "Working on it. What? She doesn't like you yet or something?"
My eyes wandered over to the prettiest girl on the planet. She was chatting up her art professor. Siobhan was great at sketching designs. Her stuff blew me away.
Catching my eye, she waved. I mouthed for her to come over since I wanted her to meet my cousin.
"What? Is that your girl?" Camden asked.
"You got it. Check her out. She's right over there. The blonde."
"Dude. That's some seriously hot bacon right there. She likes your nerdy ass?"
"You have to ask? Theo Wolff is fly, man."
My cousin shot me his you're-full-of-shit smirk.
But right on cue, Siobhan came over and said, "Hey, Theo. What's up?"
I said, "Just chillin with my cousin, Camden Wolff. Hey, Cam, this is Siobhan Day."
"Nice to meet you, Siobhan," Cam said.
"Nice to meet you, too, Cam. I can see a family resemblance."
"Are you kidding, Siobhan," I said, trying to sound all hurt. "The only thing I have in common with his ugly mug is he copied my haircut."
Shrugging, she said, "I think he's cute."
Damn! Did that mean she thought I was cute?
"Why thank you," Cam said. "I'm definitely cuter than Theo."
Turning toward me, Siobhan said, "Meet you in the library after our next class?"
"I'll be there."
She waved at us then slipped out of sight.
Once she was out of earshot, Cam said, "Dude. You're shitting me. You're gunning for Siobhan Day? Jackson Day's daughter?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Haven't you read the tabloids about her family? The drug addiction and suicide of her father? The alcoholism of her mother? I'd step away from that train wreck. You don't need that shit in your life."
His words cut me. "So, her family is messed up? That doesn't mean she is. Siobhan doesn't have problems like that. She's a very intelligent, highly successful person. How can you judge someone you don't even know?"
We exchanged barbs until I got so angry I told him off and left our game. He needed to butt out of my life. He didn't know Siobhan like I did.
*****
We met up in the library, working on our latest project for our Entrepeneur class. We were to design a business model and defend it against others in class. I was creating our business blog while she was researching our business' viability. Unfortunately, today, she seemed distracted.
Out of the blue she'd start giggling.
It was a welcome change from the gloom that usually descended on her since that blow out with her boyfriend. I wondered if they'd gotten back together because she was almost a different person now. Very giddy.
"What's so funny?" I asked. "Did you get back with your ex or something?" I kicked myself for not asking her out sooner but I wanted to give her space--time to get over him. Looked like I was too late.
"No way. I'll never get back together with him."
Just then her phone buzzed with a text. She instantly started to giggle and then furiously tapped out some message.
If it wasn't her ex then who the hell was it? No one should put that kind of smile on her face but me.
Glancing over her shoulder, I peeked at the exchange.
Shit.
Someone else was sniffing around, chatting her up.
And that bastard's name was "Jackass".
*****
Siobhan
Today was a special moment in my fashion art class. We had a VIP from the Council of Fashion Designers International, Madame Fern Mills, visiting. She was going to view our designs and choose the best one, offering a $10,000 scholarship and an opportunity to show two designs at the Fall Fashion Fest in November. We were all salivating to get heard. Each of us chose a different genre of design. Mine was Evening Elegance. I was pretty proud how it turned out.
Crystal elected to do avante guard. She came up with some take on harlequin meets pinocchio. I thought it was hideous, but she was so proud of "her baby". She told everyone in class they'd better watch out because the prize was definitely going to her.
Professor Damon was looking at her work and giving his thoughts. This was our last critique before Madame Mills came in to view. If we needed to change something, we had 24 hours before we showed to her.
Crystal said, "As you can see, my vision takes us beyond the expected into the dream world of fashion."
Professor Damon only grunted.
I had to stifle a laugh. Crystal was so proud. She had no clue her design was a hot mess. For some reason, her talent was getting stifled by what others said about her work. Instead of going on her pure vision, she kept asking other people and they all would give different opinions that were very negative until she put herself inside of a trite cliched box. It was sad to see. But then karma's a bitch. Right?
But in the middle of Crystal's moment with the professor, Tulip unveiled her piece. The topic: Summer Beach Wear.
Taking one glance, we all collapsed in shrieks of laughter.
Fashionista's glorious tushie was winking at us all!
"I call it, 'The Empress's New Clothes'. You might be tempted to focus on the bottom of the ensemble, but let me assure you, there's just as much pleasure to be had on top!"
Oh my God. That just made us HOWL!
Needless to say, Crystal was so PISSED at Tulip for ruining her moment. "What the hell is THAT?" she screeched.
"This? Why it's the first animal-friendly leather piece designed for summer! Fashionista, take a bow, you beautiful hunk of man-boy, you!"
"Aww...you flatter me too much, Tulip." Fashionista shyly bowed his head. "Can I have it when you're done? E will go crAAAAzy!"
The professor took one look at Tulip's painting and started chuckling, too!
I wanted to snap a picture of Crystal's face. It was priceless. Tulip never ceased to delight.
It took about fifteen minutes for us to settle down after that and then the professor didn't have time to finish his critique with Crystal.
She was so livid, I thought she was going to throw a punch. Luckily, Tulip got out of class alive.
*****
Seth
I told Siobhan I would pick her up after class today. I had a hell of a date planned for us. Ever since that night at the festival, I couldn't stop thinking about her. And that was new for me.
When she stepped out onto the plaza, my breath flew out of my chest.
She was the definition of drop dead gorgeous.
And I was worried I was going to be the one to drop dead.
"Hey, beautiful," I said, trying not to wrap my arms around her right there. I couldn't wait for this night because I was definitely going to kiss her. That jerk ex of hers dampened our night, so when I took her back to her place, I decided it'd be best if I waited. I didn't need her thinking about him when she was kissing me.
My mission tonight was to drive that British bastard out of her mind.
"Are you ready?" I asked, drinking in her gorgeous face.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she said. She trapped me with her eyes. I was fucking in trouble with this one.
"If it isn't lover boy himself!" Jayden exclaimed. "Oh, Seth, you've got to see the amazing artwork of my ASS that was exposed in class today. Its total fashionable epic-ness will be the talk of Fashion Fest. I'm thrilled!"
"What the hell are you talking about, Jay? What makes you think I want to look at your scrawny ass?"
He threw his hands on his hips. "Your loss then. Don't blame me if you get a present hanging from your ceiling."
I laughed at the nonsense Jayden spewed. Taking Siobhan's hand, I asked, "What is he talking about?"
"Oh...well, Tulip painted a portrait of his butt. This international fashion VIP loved it and gave Tulip a $10,000 scholarship. The lady said if Tulip was that bold with her ideas, she couldn't wait to see her designs." She shrugged. "So I guess his ass is going to be famous now. They're going to use it on all the publicity posters."
I shook my head. "Really? Huh. I'll never understand fashion."