Funky Furniture Fun (Attn: Shay and Ana)
Wren got in and pulled the piece of paper with the sketchy directions and address of the store off of the dash board and handed it to Shay. "You get to navigate!"
Wren followed the directions Shay gave and they found the funky little store in no time. Instantly Wren was enthralled. The outside of the building was bright red, and a giant, plush royal blue wingback chair was perched caddywompus on the roof of the building just above a sign that read Kelly's Basement. Wren assumed that referred to the odd bits and pieces of furniture that could be found in most people's basements. "How fun is this place?"
She asked her companions as she parked a couple slots down from the door. A young woman with dark curly hair, dressed in a black mini skirt, white corset blouse, orange and black striped tights, and big chunky mary-janes was pulling a sale sign out the front door. She waved at them and made a beckoning motion with her arm. Wren gave her a wide grin, turned off the car, hopped out and held the seat for Ana.
"Well, I could walk...it wouldn't be any trouble, but ok. I'd like to see the whole enchilada before taking off."
She smiled at Wren, and moved in the direction indicated. Russ had even calmed down again, sensing his mistress would be taking care of him shortly. That she had a patient puppy did not escape Shay's attention.
Wren opened the door to the lobby and stepped inside. The plastic crinkled under her feet, reminding her to step carefully lest she fall...again. She moved to one of the murals and moved the plastic aside. She smiled warmly at the painting of Greek ruins as seen from inside more greek ruins, with blue sky and fluffy clouds dominating all.
"Joey painted these. So far they're my favorite."
She pondered for a couple moments in silence as Wren guided them to what looked like a lobby. She remembered what happened to two friends she'd had recently... One died and one didn't seem she could get past her feelings and instead indulge in a friendship... She didn't begrudge Rorri her feelings but didn't quite understand them...
But looking at Joey's paintings she felt her heart pause. Did she smell salt water? She took a couple steps closer to view the mural clos-
And found herself on her back, breath short, eyes a little sparkly and a slight ringing in her ears.
"Wow...just...wow! Cute, nice ass, and he paints like this? Incredible."
And then her newest friend was lying on her back, on the floor, at Shay's feet.
Her quick reflexes had Shay kneeling down, putting Russ on the floor, and checking Ana immediately. Being on the police force had allowed Shay to train and enhance her already speedy reactive qualities, and now she was putting them to use as she wondered what had caused Ana to...faint?
"Ana? Ana...are you okay? What happened...did you faint?"
Feeling her neck for a pulse, Shay hoped it was just a matter of low blood sugar, maybe from not eating enough...or even...
"Are you pregnant, hon?" Sure it was a highly personal question, but something had to have caused the girl to fall over...and Shay was only inquiring from a medical point of view. Not that she had much medical training beyond the extensive first aid from the police academy.
Feeling Ana's head, Shay didn't think she felt overly warm or cold, but Shay's hands were a little cold, so she couldn't be sure.
"Can I help you sit up? Would you like some water...maybe you need some juice?" Not that Shay had any in her purse, but she was still trying to get some facts together.
"Sorry buddy we can't do that in here."
She looked over at Shay and Ana and then down at the wiggling puppy.
"Shay there is a little bit of grass outside I'm going to take him to play in it. Do you think I should call 911, or is she going to be ok. Maybe I should call 911 anyway."
She gave the little dog's ears a good scratching to try and keep him from peeing on her, while she walked toward the door.
Blinking slowly, she called out as her peripheral vision saw Wren walking away, "No, no, don't call 911, I just slipped, I'm okay. I was so absorbed in it - you know how it is, when you see a particularly moving piece - I didn't pay attention to where I was walking." She continued to giggle softly.
One of Shay's questions finally filtered through, followed by a couple others that had been taken rapid-fire. "No, I don't need any juice or water, thank you, and I'm perfectly fine. And besides," she said raspily as she rolled to her knees to stand, taking moment to focus on Shay, "Hard to be pregnant when one is still a virgin and mostly untouched."
Shay didn't want to over-react, and from what she could see Ana was okay. Why she had fallen was quickly explained as well. Her new friend was apparently just not too careful on her feet. But the comment on her sexual status was surprising, given Ana was a very friendly and engaging young woman.
Seeing immediate danger had passed, Shay looked at Wren with 'I told you so' eyes, and grinned. Nodding at the suggestion of taking Russ outside, Shay didn't doubt Wren could handle the small mutt. Shay thought that would be easier given her proximity to the prone girl on the floor.
"Sure, if you don't mind...I'm sorry he's such a baby still." At least she had attempted to get him out of there. And nothing bad had come of his overstaying his welcome...yet.
Helping Ana as she stood up, Shay kept a reassuring hand on the girl's back, just in case. It wasn't that she didn't believe the plastic sheeting on the floor contributed to Ana's fall, but she couldn't help but think there might be a little more to it than that. Especially since the incident at the furniture store.
Once she felt confident Ana wasn't going to tumble again, Shay walked over to Wren, and held out her hands.
"Here, I really do think I need to get him home. At least next time I'll know better, but you guys have been incredibly patient with him, and me as a new mom." Shay's eyes crinkled at that thought, and grinned. "I'd like to keep feelings pleasant, by not giving him an opportunity to ruin that impression."
"Ok I'll leave 911 for when blood is spilled."
She chuckled softly and opened the door. She crouched dow and was about to let Russ down when his mommy asked for him back. She stood back up and handed the now whimpering pup to Shay. "I don't think he was very happy with being teased with freedom again."
She chuckled and scratched Russ's ears again. She held the door open further and stepped out onto the porch. It was finished, with the swings hung at forty-five degree angles to the building, and the mission statement next to the door. It was a very cozy little porch, and she hoped lots of friendships were made on it.
"Are you sure you want to walk Shay? It's not an inconvenience to drive you, but if you would rather I didn't at least let me get you a taxi."
Wren felt bad that Shay felt the need to walk home, when Wren had been the one to insist on dragging her friend so far from home.
"It's really fine silly...you forget I was out walking when all this started!" She laughed teasingly as she reminded Wren. "I used to jog five miles a day...walking a few won't kill me. And I may even run by city hall on the way, and pick up a license for this little guy. If he were to ever get loose, I'd really hate for anything to happen to him. He does have one of those tracking chips implanted, but...well...he still needs a license."
And though she had intended on taking care of that matter at a later date, she didn't see any reason why she couldn't do it now.
Putting a hand on Wren's shoulder, Shay leaned in and kissed her friend's cheek.
"Really...trust me...it's no bother. I'm just sorry I didn't leave this guy at home when I had the chance. But we'll have to get together again, if not before the studio opens, then after...lunch...or another spa day?"
Shay then repeated the parting gesture with Ana, and gave her newer friend's shoulder a friendly shake.
"And you missy...it was nice meeting, but please...be careful with what you eat, and where you walk?"
Shay waited for a look of acknowledgement. Sometimes she couldn't help playing mother, it just seemed to ooze out.
"And if you don't go after Joey...well...just don't let him slip away without at least seeing if there's more there."
So her recommendation was a little cryptic, but she didn't think Ana would have difficulty catching the meaning.
"And we will need to get together again too...maybe for that same spa day?"
Giving both women a short wave, Shay slipped out the door, and walked in the direction of city hall. When she got to the first intersection with a traffic light, she stopped and called Alexi. Hoping he might be able to meet her for dinner later, she left a message on his cell. That would give her time to take care of doggie matters, get home and freshen up before hand.
"Alright you mighty little mutt you, lets get you made legal."
(Shay out)
"Ok, but just this once." Chuckling she held the door open for Shay and watched for a moment as the blonde set off with her puppy in tow.
"Well the only thing left is the office want to see that, and then we can decide what to do from there. Unless you're ready to return home too."
Wren felt suddenly desperate for some time with a female friend. She missed spending time with friends. Drev was a great friend and lover, but he was not a woman. And a woman's company seemed just perfect for her right now.
The novelist's further words confused her though. Letting Joey slip away without seeing if there's more? More what? She waved at Shay as the woman left with puppy and looked at Wren when the dancer spoke. "Office sounds great, we can figure out where you're going to hide your gimungous chair. Are you hungry? I'm slightly hungry, it's getting on to lunch and all I had this morning was coffee." She saw a cloud in the taller woman's eyes... it almost looked like... Anxiety? She remembered looking in her mirror when Aishe had joined her at her old apartment and remembered kind of looking the way Wren did at that moment. "My treat?" she asked hopefully, though truthfully she couldn't tell if Wren was wanting her to stay, or wanting her to go.
"That sounds great. I'd ask if you want to see if Joey wants to come, but I really would rather just leave him to his work. He's taking a couple of days off next week and needs to get as much done as possible before then."
She locked the front door and picked her way back to the door they had entered through. They crossed back across the dance floor, past Joey still on his ladder in the bathroom, and back into the ladies dressing room. She opened the only other door in the room and stepped into her office. It was a color riot. Purples, yellows, greens, reds, blues, and oranges splashed the walls in geometric patterns, delineated here and there with black and white. It was both relaxing and invigorating, like those wall sized canvases in art museums.
"Welcome to my cave." Wren giggled and stood in the middle of the room. "I plan to put the desk over there and a screen to the right of it to change behind. I have this really cool bench to put back behind there to. Then over in this corner I'm going to hang black bead curtains and put a futon and that chair. That way I have a private closed off space to nap or read."
This was her favorite room, outside the dance floor. She hoped to spend a lot of quiet hours here.
Arching a brow at Wren she giggled, then entered the last room with her new friend. "This looks awesome. Cozy, yet functional. An office and a retreat in one. I can completely imagine you playing Dancer Hermit in here after a long day." Ana wandered the room, standing first where the desk would stand and then over in the corner where the futon and chair would hide. "A nice little get away."
When she returned front-and-center to stand side-by-side with Wren, she mused thoughtfully, "You know, if you were considering yoga, you could perhaps set up some sort of business deal with a nearby spa... maybe..." Her voice trailed off. "Was just a weird idea that popped up, I have no idea how you would broach that sort of deal. Not that I want to make your business more difficult for you," she said that last raspily as she nudged playfully against Wren's side.
Wren gave her office another look and breathed in the new paint smell. "So what do you want for lunch. There's a little coffee shop nearby that had great sandwiches, there are a few restaurants in the opposite direction. I think there is an italian place and possibly that other one is greek, but I don't know. I've never been in it. There's also the mall up in the Meridian Towers." Wren wrinkled her nose. "On second thought I'd rather eat somewhere with a patio. Oh we could go down to the marina!"
"Well, I have had Italian a few times this week; after a big dinner on Sunday I've been living off the leftovers. While that wouldn't be my first choice, I certainly wouldn't mind trying somewhere other than Rizzoli's on Seventh, especially what with having a new friendly company type person to enjoy it with! Though I would never turn down good soup and I don't think I've ever had anything Greeker than broiled lamb once for Christmas."
"And the Marina is more something we might do as a dinner date. Admittedly that's all I'd ever been there for, I'm not too familiar with their lunch offerings." Ana paused in her rambling, unable to remember if she'd had a point, and decided to create one on the fly. "I think you should choose, though, because it's your studio and your tour. But it's still going to be my treat." Ana nodded with a firm set to her lips as she gazed up at the taller Wren, eyebrows raised expectantly.
"Lets go to the waterfront area. I'm sure we can find something fun down there."
Ana's smile was enough for Wren. She gave a girly kind of sound that she had absolutely no name for and headed out of the office.
"I just need to tell Joey we're leaving."
She walked into the hall and ran smack into wall o' Joey.
"Oh! Um, sorry." She took a step back and looked up at her assistant. "Yeah, Ana and I are leaving now. Did you get what ever was broken fixed?"
He gave her that belly melting smile of his and nodded. "Yeah, it wasn't any big deal, just some electrical stuff. Weren't there three of you?"
"Yeah Shay left already, her puppy was getting restless."
"Ah, he was a cute dog, but I could have done with out the shoe christening."
They both chuckled, and he reached up to brush a lock of hair from her face. That flustered her a bit. It was gestures like that that made her wonder if he he felt thing for her he shouldn't or if he was being "big brother" to her. She took a step back and blinked up at him several time.
"Um, well I've got to go. I'll call you later. Have a good day." She turned around and ran into the door jam leading into the ladies dressing room. A noise of surprise left her and she took a step back and went through the door properly, her hand pressed to the spot on her forehead she'd hit. At Ana's side once more she smiled at her friend with one eye closed in pain.
"Shall we?"
She turned around wondering what the hell just happened and found Joey standing in the door way watching Ana. 'Huh.'
"You two have fun."
We're the words that followed them out the back door. In the car Wren rubbed the spot on her head once more and then drove them to the marina area of town.
((Ana and Wren out with permission))