chapter 3.46
Siobhan
"Are you sure you don't want me to do part of the presentation? I don't mind," I said, trying to squelch the nausea. I hated standing up in front of people and speaking. Crystal and I were ready to give our group project presentation. My hands were already shaking.
"Are you sure you don't want me to do part of the presentation? I don't mind," I said, trying to squelch the nausea. I hated standing up in front of people and speaking. Crystal and I were ready to give our group project presentation. My hands were already shaking.
"Look, I got this. I know you hate speaking and it won't do our grade any good to hear your nervous voice warbling."
Smiling, I said, "Okay...and thanks, Crystal." I couldn't believe how well Crystal and I were getting along. In all my entire growing up years until now we'd been enemies. She was actually being decent and thoughtful. Crystal was never thoughtful about others' feelings. Maybe I'd misjudged her? And maybe this could be a new beginning to a sisterly bond somehow. I'd hoped so anyway.
Crystal started out talking about our theme and reasons for each part of the collection. She was so confident and focused, I was proud to have her represent our creation.
When she was finished, it was the question-answer part of our grade. "Excellent work, ladies," Professor Damon gushed. I was overjoyed he seemed to like it. "Now, how did this collaboration work out? Who did what?"
"Well," Crystal answered, "I...um...drew the models, worked up the collection itself based on Siobhan's pieces."
"I see," Professor Damon said, nodding. "And what pieces were Siobhan's and which are yours?"
Without missing a beat, she said, "They're all mine. Siobhan just inspired two."
My blood froze when I heard her say, "mine."
"Are you suggesting that Ms. Day didn't participate equally in the project?"
"Well, that's inevitable when dealing with my genius. Her pieces were inspirations, but she was too busy over the weekend to help and so, I decided to step in and edit her pieces so they'd fit in with mine. It's my brilliance that brought it all together. I breathed life into them, if you will."
Oh my god...she was totally thowing me under the bus. Before she could spew out another lie, I said, "The yellow maxi and the blue evening dress are mine as well as the whole inspiration to A Summer's Eve, which I titled as well."
Glaring at me, Professor Damon retorted, "So, you inspired two dresses and titled it while your classmate designed four other pieces, drew the art, and basically did most of the work. Is that what you're saying, Ms. Day?"
Shit.
I was totally screwed.
How could I explain that I was swindoled by an egomaniac who wouldn't allow me near that collection with an editing pen. She didn't believe in the opinions of others to make her work better. It was her imagined genius all on its own. But how could I have foreseen that she'd actually say the whole collection was hers? Didn't she know that she'd get downgraded for that as well? My God. Her mental illness didn't even allow her to understand reality.
She was going to sink with me. What an idiot!
Face on fire, I scurried back to my seat after even more harsh words from Professor Damon. I'd be lucky to pass this class with the grade he was going to give us.
"What a fucking whore," I breathed, so angry I could spit venom.
"You should have gone with me and Fashionista, babe," Tulip whispered. "I'm sorry she did that to you."
"Well, not as sorry as she's going to be. I am so done with her. She's crossed me for the last time."
Jayden
I'd always known Crystal to be an egotistical, narcissistic bitch, but I never thought she'd out herself in front of our whole design class.
And hurt my poor Shiv.
I'd never seen Siobhan so mad. I'd seen her sad, desperate, dejected, beside herself (thanks to Seth, who got a face full my fury after what he did to her--E had to hold me back. I was definitely going to throw my first punch even if it did ruin my manicure and soft as a baby's bottom fingers.)
Ready to stick up for Siobhan after class, all my worries flew out the window.
My babe was all fired up. Heaven should have helped Crystal because hellfire was about to rain down on her.
Sticking her nose in the air, Crystal bumped Siobhan with her shoulder so hard she stumbled backward. "Oh, excuse me," she said in her tacky way as if she really didn't mean to bump her.
But instead of shrinking back as Siobhan usually did with Crystal, Siobhan pushed her.
"What the hell, Siobhan?" Crystal yelled.
That's all it took. Shiv's wrath unleashed. "You had to screw me over back there. It was beyond you to think of that collection as ours because everything you touch is yours. Is that what goes through your petty mind?"
"What the freak is wrong with you, Siobhan? You did next to nothing so you don't deserve any credit. I only told the truth."
"The truth? You didn't tell anything near it. Truth is you can't stand that anyone else might have a better idea or design than you so you suffocate them out until they cry uncle and do your bidding. I'm so over your narcissism. You need to check yourself into an insane asylum before someone does you in for good."
Voice low, laced with contempt, Crystal threatened, "You dare to call me insane?"
With a maniacal screech, Crystal lunged at Siobhan, yanking her hair.
"Oh, shit!" Tulip yelled.
Those were my thoughts exactly. Siobhan was a tiny beanpole of a woman. This was not going to go well.
"Take it back!" Crystal yelled.
"Not until you fly off on your broom!"
By that time, our class gathered around to watch. I hoped Professor Damon wouldn't come out to find them literally at each others' throats. Or well, tearing each others' hair.
Pushing Crystal off her, Siobhan got in a right hook.
Smack!
"Way to go, Siobhan!" Tulip cried. "Whoop!"
Maybe I wouldn't have to get in between them after all, I thought. I worried I'd have to pull Crystal off somehow, but Shiv was tougher than she looked.
Stunned from the blow, Crystal stared stupidly up at Siobhan as she gripped her. "I'm only going to say this once, bitch. Don't talk to me, don't look at me, and don't breathe around me ever again."
Shoving her backward, Crystal tumbled to the ground.
Tulip smirked and got in Crystal's face, pointing. "Yeah. What she said."
I couldn't help but laugh. Wrapping my arm around Siobhan's shoulders, I said, "Girl, I think that deserves a drink. My treat."
"I think I'd like that," Siobhan said, brushing off her dress.
"I get to buy her the second one then!" Tulip added.
*****
Theo
Siobhan called, saying she had a surprise for me today. She'd been in such a good mood ever since she'd had it out with her stepsister a few weeks ago. I didn't get how getting a D on a project would put someone on such a high for so long, but she said it was worth the pain so she had an excuse to punch Crystal's lights out.
Go figure.
"Are you ready?" she said, practically jumping up and down.
I couldn't help but laugh at her. "What's in that pretty little head of yours? I have a feeling you're up to no good."
"I just need you to have an open mind. Okay?" She put her thumb up and winked.
Uh oh. Now I knew I wasn't going to like it.
Once we arrived at her friends' hair salon, I knew exactly what she was up to. And she was right to worry. I didn't have an open mind. Not for this. We'd gone round and round about it, but I wasn't going to budge. Tattoos had no business in an upscale establishment. It was fine on paper for our business class, but the clientele we were catering to at our gym and spa weren't the tattoo type and having it there could run some of them off.
"Siobhan...you know my thoughts on this," I whispered so her friend couldn't hear. "Seeing it isn't going to change my mind."
"You could at least witness what they do."
"Hey, guys!" her friend, Matthew, greeted us. "Welcome to Do or Dye."
"Hey, Matthew," Siobhan said. "Thanks for letting us take a look at your place. Theo's a little squeamish when it comes to tats."
"Well, he's come to the right place. Let me show you around."
I had to stop myself from shaking my head. Matthew was the epitome of the kind of person that wouldn't become a member of Hot Bod, our full service body shop. He looked like a punk. God, what was she thinking?
He led us to a room with a huge light that read, TATToo. That looked cool, but it didn't change people's opinions or prejudices.
"We only hire the most talented artists that are certified. That's important to make sure it stays upscale. We have some very famous clients. Actors, rock stars, you name it come here. In fact, our last client was Sean Roberts. You know him, right?"
"Well, he was a friend of my dad's," Siobhan said. "He took me out once, but I haven't kept up with him. So what'd he get?"
Matthew laughed. "A rose on his ass! He didn't want something he'd have to cover up for his acting gigs."
"See?" Siobhan looked at me hopefully. "Famous people like tattoos."
"Siobhan..."
Matthew broke in, "W-why don't I make you two a drink? We have a nice bar and club here. We rock it on the weekends and have live bands. It's great."
I walked into a dive, so dark and grungy. It wasn't doing anything to change my mind. I knew why she wanted a tattoo part of our business. Her father had been littered with tattoos. His body was famous as being a canvans for some of the biggest talent. They had even done documentaries about the artists that inked his body, but it just didn't fit. None of my friends had tattoos. And I grew up in the upper eschelon of society. Those were the people who would pay for our high membership price point. Why couldn't she leave the business decisions to me?
Siobhan was used to getting her way. It was my fault. I admit it. I never stood up to her before. But I was not about to budge. She should follow my lead at least on this but she wouldn't and it was pissing me off.
She tried to soothe me with small talk about the place, but my anger was rising and I was in no mood.
"What's wrong, Theo?" she asked.
I couldn't keep it in any longer. "You know what."
Shooting out of her chair, she said, "So you won't even consider it even after you've seen how nice that part of our business could be."
"You want to talk about this here? Really? Because I doubt your friend is gonna want to see us fight."
We both marched out of the salon. I crossed my arms.
"Just give me good reasons why you won't consider it. This place is nice, but I can make it even more upscale. The skin is a part of the body people like to style. Why turn your nose up at it? You're being a snob....plus you know this is important to me because of my dad."
"I know business, Siobhan. You know design. Leave business matters to me. I know what I'm talking about. The type of clientele that we're servicing are snobs when it comes to tats. I can't change people just because I think they're fine. And it pisses me off you won't believe in me."
"It pisses me off you won't believe in me!" Siobhan turned on her heel and stormed off.
Sighing, I pulled her arm, stopping her. "Baby...come on...I do believe in you. You know that, but..." God...I couldn't take her being mad at me. This was our first real fight and I hated it.
"Come here," I whispered. Woodenly, she allowed me to kiss her forehead. "I'm sorry."
"You are?" she asked.
"Yeah...if you want tattoos that badly, I won't hold you back."
Softening, a tear trickled down her face. "I love you."
"Me, too."
"Let's not fight anymore," she whispered through tears.
"We won't, babydoll. I promise."