The rain was pouring hard, but not cats and dogs hard, thankfully. I made a sharp right turn, stepping onto Elana's walkway. She lived closer to the diner than I did. I frantically rang the doorbell and pounded the door with my fist once I made my way to her porch.
She answered, pulling open the door in shock.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Elana exclaimed. Her reflexes were pretty slow despite her shock, but she eventually opened the door enough to let me in.
"You look... wet. Not the good kind of wet," Elana said swiftly, turning around. She was already hurrying off to get a towel.
"Yeah, I had no idea I had to walk home considering I got a ride to the diner," I said loud enough so she could hear me in the other room. I was drenched. I couldn't decide if the heavy, wet denim sticking to my legs was worse than my socks sloshing in my shoes with each movement.
"Here, dry off," Elana tossed me an old and tattered towel which I gratefully used to dry off. It smelled like vanilla and lavender, which I surprisingly liked.
"Mind telling me what happened?"
Elana stood in front of me with her hands on her hips, head cocked, ready to listen.
"Okay, so I was being serious about that prostitute thing last night and this morning Marcus asked me to breakfast. I was in, but then I realized prostitute girl was going with. I call her brunette now, but turns out brunette girl had an engagement ring on. Also, the whole breakfast Marcus barely made eye contact with me and then told me to call him as he left me in the parking lot," I took a deep breath in. I didn't even know my mouth could move that fast.
"That's weird. The whole ring thing is weird too," Elana reached up to scratch her head and push her glasses up on her nose.
"Yeah, really weird. Marcus also only offered to pay for brunette so I had to use one of my last twenties from my profit," The towel did a great job drying off my hair and I felt better instantly.
"You know, Ari, they could just be friends. Since she's a woman, maybe he felt compelled to help her this time," Elana spoke in a matter of fact tone. "So you're saying that when we go out alone, I'm the girl in the relationship?"
I pointed to myself after slumping the towel over my shoulders.
"Shut up, that's not what I mean, idiot."
Elana's arms were now crossed against her chest.
"Do you want me to take you home now?" She grabbed the towel from around my shoulders.
I noticed her breakfast sitting on the table by the couch, along with her tv which was muted.
"Uh yeah, that would be nice. Sorry to interrupt your breakfast," I nodded in the direction of her food.
Elana shrugged her shoulders and yawned at the same time. She tossed the towel onto the floor next to the couch.
"C'mon buddy," She happily said.
Elana started to walk through the kitchen to the garage and I followed her.
I truly felt bad getting her car seat all wet, but she insisted it was okay. Once at home, I pointed out Marcus's car to her before leaving.
"See? Looks like they got home just find without me," I said, my voice a bit higher than normal. I started to open the door.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Go paint or something," Elana yawned again, rubbing her face with her hands.
"Alright. Thank you so much, you're the best."
I blew her a kiss and shut the car door, running up to my porch were it was dry. Good thing I left my phone here.
With a short movement, I unlocked my door and took a step inside.
Dry. No rain. Perfect.
First, I checked my phone which was clean of any messages or missed calls.
Then, I made my way to the bathroom where I desperately needed a shower.
I was pretty sure grass was glued onto my ankles.
I made sure the water was just right before stepping in, since it usually fluctuates 20 degrees if you turn the knob even a millimeter.
Showers were probably one of my favorite ways to think and brainstorm.
It was only noon, so I planned out my day.
Shower, paint, relax.
I could only hope it would pan out that way.

The grass was gone from my ankles. I felt refreshed. I almost took a double shower, if you count the rain as one shower. I was ready to paint and maybe even release some stress by doing so. However, we all know what happens next. The phone.

"Hey," I sighed loudly into the phone.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I guess so. It's been a long day already," I said quietly.

"Do you want me to come over? You still sound upset."

"Please, I miss you," I grinned while I lied.

I switched the phone off, smirking quietly.
Within 20 minutes, Dom showed up.
I peeked outside my blinds, watching him walk up the cement in the rain which was now a drizzle.

"Hey!" I smiled brightly and opened the door for him, trying to sound happy.
"Aw, Ari, I forgot how cute you are," He walked a little faster, entering my home with a huge smile.
"Nah, I'm not that cute," I shrugged. Dom laughed and hugged me halfway through my sentence, kissing my cheek.
"I can't stay long at all, I have work. But I'm glad I could see you.."
He whispered into my neck while I felt his fingers trail up my back. Geez, this guy was desperate. Nobody does this during a friendly greeting hug.
"I'm glad you could stop by," I spoke slowly, uncertain whether to really be glad or not. I broke the hug fairly quick, kicking the door shut with my foot.
"So, tell me what's new," I looked towards Dom, and he shrugged.
"Work has been good, life has been good. Just a little lonely," Dom looked at his feet, shrugging.
"I'm here most of the time though, and you know you can come whenever," I regretted it immediately. I chuckled quietly, trying to fill in the silence. Dom started to move closer. I wasn't about to be all mushy with him. I guess when he asked to come over, I only wanted him to come over because I missed having Marcus around. I don't even care what he has been up to.
"Lonely? Come on, go outside. Go places. I'm sure you'll meet someone," I was really trying my best to give some mediocre advice, but Dom didn't take it too well.
"Oh, well I'm sure it's easy to go out and do things when you don't even have a job," Dom mimicked me as he spoke. I knew this would happen, his temper is way worse than mine. An apology will follow in a few days, just like when he 'shoved' me.
"I'm just saying. You have to have some extra time laying around somewhere," I crossed my arms. Dom glared at me, "Time isn't an object, Ari. Maybe if you worked hard trying to keep alive you would know that."
His face was turning red.
I didn't even think that this conversation would make him so mad. But then again, I know Dom and I also know that stupid things make him mad.
Dom looked at the digital clock under the TV, sighing loudly.
"I guess I should go. I have to work, earn some money," He gave me a half hearted wave goodbye, and left within a second, the door sending a breeze as it slammed shut.
"It was nice to see you," I spoke fairly loud, but I knew he wouldn't be able to hear me.
My eyes rolled again and I watched the outside world, making sure he was completely gone. The rain had stopped, leaving the sun to shine. I headed out into the yard with my sketchbook. The second thing on my fantasy list that probably won't happen was, in fact, paint.
I sat in the grass under the small dogwood tree planted at the very end of my property line. It gave nice shade. I started to draw some random doodles, which to my surprise looked like faces.
I remembered that I had to call AJ and Lisa's to check up on what paintings she wants delivered. I was hopefully getting paid this coming Friday.
In the midst of the peaceful sounds of nature and thought, I heard another sound I would rather not have heard.
Brunette's voice traveled down the pavement like a lost marble.
"See you soon, Marcy," Brunette waved, and Marcus blew a kiss. A car was waiting to pick her up. I didn't even notice the sound of the car come to pick her up. Maybe because it was a 100,000 dollar car.
Two things made me feel uneasy.
One, Marcy.
Two, 'Marcy' blew her a kiss.
I continued to examine the scenario. The people in the car definitely looked like parents. They waved to Marcus through the rolled down window, and the older woman driving blew a kiss back.
Maybe she was kind of like how Elana is to me. Except, they act a lot different.
"Ari?"
Marcus shouted down the yard, even though there was no need to, "I didn't even see you there." He smiled and waved. I didn't know what to do, so I waved back and stuttered as words started to fall from my lips, Yeah, come down." Marcus walked down to greet me. It was at that moment I realized he had to be hiding something. I could feel it in my stomach.
"Who is that girl? You know, she never introduced herself," I said with slight annoyance, glancing up at Marcus from my sketch pad.
Marcus squatted in front of me, laughing quietly as he ran both hands through his hair.
"You mean, YOU never introduced yourself?"
Marcus looked at me with big eyes, pointing his finger at my chest. "I guess that's true,"
I nodded one shoulder up and dropped my sketchbook to pick at the wet grass, "She could have done it first, though."

"She doesn't like you. You were sort of rude," Marcus told me. I rolled my eyes, telling myself to stay calm.
"Yeah, because you two were all over eachother at breakfast. You didn't even look at me or try to include me in any conversation," I said while throwing the grass I plucked.
"Alright, but a better question is why are you sitting in the grass? Your butt is going to be soaked," He said, like the only question that needed to be answered was this one.
I felt the wet droplets of rain on my fingers from playing with the grass.
"God damn," I mumbled. I grabbed my sketchbook and stood up, angrily stomping up to the porch.
"Hey, watch your mouth young man," Marcus was still squatting in the same spot, a sly smile on his face.
"Tell me one thing, Marcus. Why does she have a ring on?" Marcus looked perplexed, but didn't dodge the question or shrug like I thought he would.
"I guess we will have to save that story for another day," He said while slowly standing up.

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