July 15th 2015, Friday

Devon

"Everyone's agreed to come to the festival, what about Ethel?" Elaine asked as I got ready for the day, already feeling too hot as my shirt clung to me.

"She's gonna meet us there, she just wanted to finish off her work at the art studio. Are you guys on your way?" I asked, struggling to put on my shoes with one hand.

"I'm going to pick up Grace and Kelsi now. Mercy's gonna come with Trent and Nick. Then when we get there, we'll swap over so you can go with the boys and Mercy can take your place. I'll see you soon yeah? I'm about to start driving."

"Alright. Just let me know when you're close so I can wait outside." I said, hanging up and going off to find Suzie. She was at the reception half shouting at someone on the phone and holding on to a dictionary and I went to sit down beside her tapping her.

"One second Devon, I've been at this phone call for ages and I don't understand anything." She explained.

"Who is the person and what language?" I asked and she sighed.

"Florist and Spanish." She replied.

"Put the phone on speaker." I said and she did, looking confused.

"Así es que las rosas que quieren?" The woman asked, sounding equally as frustrated as Suzie.

"Si sí señora una docena de rosas sería perfecto; también queremos que al menos dieciséis de la lavanda, el jazmín y los lirios, y también algunos de los magentas. Recién elegido por favor." I explained, reading off the list that Suzie had placed on the table.

"Oh, gracias, gracias, gracias! Voy a colocar abajo de esas órdenes inmediatamente. Gracias por el orden que usted." The woman cried, sounding happy to actually talk to someone who understood. I smiled as Suzie laughed beside me, completely surprised.

"No hay problema señora, gracias por sus servicios; hasta luego!" I said.

"Hasta luego señor!" She called back hanging up, but not before she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay so one quick question, why did you decide to order flowers from someone that doesn't speak the same language you do Suzie?" I asked as she ticked off the flowers from her list.

"I was driving by her place with John and she had the most amazing flowers, how was I to know when I called her she'd burst out with "hola". How in the world do you know Spanish anyway?" She asked, bringing out her address book and ticking off some numbers.

"I was taught a long time ago. How's wedding prep going? You still need to see and approve of the backdrop; so I can quickly paint something else if you don't like it." I informed her and she sighed taking a sip of her coffee.

"Show me now if you can? I'm sure I'll love it anyway." She muttered, but not really paying attention, already dialling another number for another company. I stood up to go and retrieve the backdrop from the playroom and came back to see her with her head in her hands.

"Suzie, you okay?" I asked her and she looked up.

"Elaine said the exact same thing yesterday. Um it's just wedding prep you know, I feel like I'm alone with everything. People are trying to help of course but you know my controlling nature, I need everything to be perfect and especially for my own wedding. I want others to help of course, but I don't know how to ask for it or how to trust people enough you know." I wasn't amazing at making people feel better, not like Elaine, but with the way she looked completely defeated, I knew I had to try.

"Oh Suz, we all know of your controlling nature. But, you don't have to ask for help for huge things, you could ask people to do little things for you like speaking Spanish to the florist or painting you a backdrop for your slow dance." I said rolling out the backdrop and holding it up high to show her what I'd painted. A forest complete with woodland animals and a moon she'd request look as magical as possible which I'd done by adding light trails flailing down on to the ground.

"Oh my God Devon! This is amazing, this is incredible! I don't know what else to say, I'm speechless. This is amazing!" She cried, getting up to touch the painting looking completely enthralled.

"I'm glad you like it; because I spent more than five hours on this and I totally didn't mean it earlier when I said I'd paint something different for you if you didn't like it." She glanced at me, then at the painting before breaking into laughter, accompanied by sobs then hiccups.

"God Devon, I never knew the day would come when it would be you who would try to make me feel better. Thank you Devon, honestly, thank you. God, this painting has like magical abilities or something I feel rejuvenated and refreshed. Now keep it safe artist boy I don't want anything on it damaged, understood?" She warned. I smiled, handing her tissues.

"That's the Suzie I know. I'll guard this backdrop with my life."

"You are a good kid, you really are. And so much more different than you were before and I never want you to change that Devon, when this place no longer exists and you are in University somewhere in another country I want you to always remember to smile and laugh, because let's face it you have a pretty darn good smile. It'd be a shame not to bless the world with that smile."

"I'll remember that Suzie, don't worry. And you too, remember that you can ask for little things. Painting's not the only thing I'm good at, cooking, cleaning, charming young ladies from following you around asking about your wedding dress." I said, referring to when her bridesmaids had come to the home for the fitting and wouldn't leave her alone until I came to give her food and they focused their attention on me instead. She laughed, actually looking more relieved and stress free. I glanced down at my phone as a message from Elaine came up telling me there were almost here.

"You cocky little shit. Fine I'll remember, you go have fun now. I'll see you when you get back. You can help me with the wedding invites." She said. I smiled, making my way outside, but not before I hear her dial her phone and timidly say:

"Hello, mum? Wanna help with the venue?"

I sat down on the pavement, feeling irritated by the sun and the heat as my phone bleeped with an email.

"The California College of the Arts." I muttered, heart beating fast as I read through the email just as I heard a car horn, alerting me that Elaine was here. Still focused on the email, I stood up and made my way to where the cars were parked. Mercy got out of her car, and came over to Elaine's and getting in.

"Tell Nick to please keep his eyes on the road." She said to me as Elaine waved from the car. I smiled, going over to where the boys are and getting in beside Nick.

"Mercy said to keep your eyes on the road." I said to Nick. He laughed, speeding off and easily over passing the girls.

"Elaine and him are having another competition, who can get to the festival first. Just go along with it." Trent informed me, rolling his eyes and putting on his earphones. Kyle waved at me before also putting on his earphones and looking at the window. Which left me with having to talk to Nick.

"So um, Elaine, you and her are always competing huh?" I mumbled, feeling awkward.

"You know about her bad asthma and her poor oxygenated brain and everything? Well, she was always frail as a child, me and Mercy were friends long before we started dating and Elaine practically lived at their house. And because of how frail she was, Janet used to baby her and neither Mercy nor Grace allowed her to lift a finger. They were all worried, but I saw something different in Elaine, she didn't want to be babied or treated like she was frail.

That's when I made up the water football thing and we grew close. Through that, people started to see that she wasn't as frail as they all thought and they treated her less like a damaged child. So yeah we started to compete but it's all in good fun, she is honestly like my sister and I would protect her through anything. I won't flat out threaten you like Mercy and Grace, but do treat her right please?"

"Always Nick." I didn't know what else to say, not being exceptionally good at making conversation with people that weren't children or Elaine.

"I know you will, she totally likes you and anyone that gets lucky enough to be liked by Elaine would be a fool to leave her."

"I know." I answered as her car sped by, complete with the girls shouting and blasting music. Nick sighed, speeding up more, but still not passing Elaine. I used the moment to gather up my thoughts. The email from the university had talked about being interested in admitting me, but I needed someone to write me a reference. Since I didn't have normal schooling education, it was important for me to get a reference in order to actually be able to progress forward. Being a good artist would never be enough if I didn't have anything to show for it.

And that meant I needed to make my project as amazing as possible to fully complete my apprentice and actually get the reference I needed. I had meant to make Suzie's wedding the final project but I didn't even know if that would be enough or if I needed to do something bigger. I was pulled out of my thoughts by Nick stopping off by a petrol station.

"We're gonna stop here for a bit before we head off to the festival. Get anything you want yeah?" Nick informed me, and I nodded, getting out and going inside the store.

"Devon, they have the kit kat aisle here!" Elaine called from somewhere in the store and I followed the sound of her voice to see her crouching and stocking up on chocolate.

"The girls say I owe them for almost killing them with my driving. Kit kat's behind you." She said struggling to hold up all of the chocolate.

"What if I wanted a Twix?" I asked, picking up a handful of kit kats.

"Oh please, I know you. And because I know you, what's bothering you?" She asked, leading the way to the cashier.

"Um, I just got the email back from the university. They need the reference from the apprenticeship before anything else, and I don't know what kinda project to do for the actual reference if that makes sense."

"I thought you were doing Suzie's dance?" She asked as we waited in line.

"Yeah, but I don't know if it's big enough for my final project. I need this to be the most amazing thing I've ever done in my life."

"Devon, no matter what you end up doing, it will be amazing you know that. And you will get that reference, I know you will." She assured me, dumping the chocolates on the counter when we got to the front.

"Feeding an army?" The cashier, a boy who looked around our age asked her and I swear I actually saw her glare.

"Just a bunch of angry teenage girls; Grace included." Elaine answered.

"Ah I understand; you guys are still friends I see." The guy replied.

"Of course, no one could ever come between us, but you know that."

"Elaine I said I was sorry." He answered and she grabbed her stuff and paid.

"And Grace said she didn't care. Look Jessie, it's not up to me. I stick with what my best friend wants, but it was nice seeing you again." I quickly paid for my kit kats before following her outside.

"You know everyone."

"Yeah but don't tell Grace about this, she'd rather not remember him. I'll tell you the details later. And don't worry too much about the project yeah? I mean obviously it's important and everything but you'll do great, I trust you. Just paint whatever makes you want to be an artist forever and I promise it'll be the best thing you will ever paint." She assured me, giving me a brief hug before going over to where Grace was shouting at her.

"Whatever makes me want to be an artist forever." I muttered, going over to where Nick was parked and getting in, offering Kyle and Trent some kit kats. My mind was still on Elaine's advice as Nick came back and we started driving towards the festival, as I desperately tried to think of what could possibly inspire me and make me want to better myself as an artist.

When we finally reached the festival grounds after battling with the traffic leading up to it, we found a parking spot as close to Elaine's car as possible before meeting up with the girls at the entrance of the festival.

"When's Ethel getting here?" Elaine asked, entwining our fingers as we all entered, Nick leading the way.

"Um I'm not sure, I guess she's gonna text me."

"Okay, I hope she has fun today. I don't want her feeling left out in any way. And I have told Grace to behave as well, so hopefully no problems."

"Elaine! Elaine! Oh my God!" We look over to Grace waving excitedly, and realised we'd slow down and the rest were way ahead of us.

"What's gotten you so happy?" Elaine asked when we reached them and Grace pointed to a stall that looked like any ordinary one.

"Holy- oh my God! Triple chocolate mint kinder fudge ice cream!" Elaine cried, letting go of my hand and running to the stall with Grace in tow.

"Um those combinations do not sound amazing together." I commented to Nick who shrugged and rolled his eyes.

"She's loved it since she was a child, only God actually knows why." He commented, as we walked towards the stall. I could hear Elaine animatedly ordering for the ice cream, looking so happy as if she couldn't contain it within her body. The man at the stall must have sense the happiness because he gave her the ice cream free of charge and even a little ice cream cone key chain.

"Have a nice day young lady!" The man said as Elaine thanked him over and over again. She was smiling so much I'm pretty sure her cheeks must have hurt and even then she didn't stop, holding on to the cone as if it was the most precious thing in the world. Her happiness seem to gravitate through the entire group and I'm pretty sure everyone was smiling at this point.

"Will you actually have the ice cream of stare at it like it's a fucking gold coin?" Nick asked, breaking the silence and once again leading us towards one of the rides. Elaine fell into step beside me, finally licking the ice cream and her smile that came after, complete with the sun shining on her face and her eyes sparkling brought back the advice she'd given me earlier. I felt something I hadn't for a long time, my fingers actually itching to paint, draw or sketch something. It literally felt like I had all the world's inspiration in my body and I needed to put it and contain it on to paper.

Maybe that was what DaVinci felt when he painted Mona Lisa; maybe he too got the entire world's inspiration just from seeing her.

"Whatever makes me want to be an artist forever." I mumbled to myself. If being an artist meant getting to paint someone like Elaine; no, actually paint Elaine for the rest of my life, then I would not mind.

"Did you say something?" She asked, shifting the ice cream to her other hand and holding on to my hand.

"Elaine, remember when you agreed to let me paint you." She laughed.

"I didn't exactly agree, you kinda coerced me, but yeah?"

"Um would you actually let me? Paint you? I think I know what to do for my final project and it involves you."

"Oh, um. I mean I don't mind in anyway at all, but won't your apprentice thing mind, you using me for it? I don't want my face to-"

"To do what? Elaine they won't reject me based on your face, you are more than beautiful enough, and I thought whatever I painted would turn out amazing. Are you doubting me mi cariño?"

"Using my own words against me, nice one. Okay then paint me however you like Devon. Paint me like one of your French girls." I laughed, already thinking of a concept.

"Oui oui, I totally knew you would say that. Can we start, tomorrow if you don't mind? After we come back from visiting Esmee?"

"Of course, my house or? Anything special I need to wear, do I need to look any different than I usually do?"

"Actually I'm thinking the forest, you know the one. And I'll text Grace your clothes."

"Rude! I can dress myself. And since when were you and Grace best friends?"

"Why? Are you threatened Elaine?" She looked up, squinting against the sunlight and smiling.

"Threatened by what? Neither of you would ever do anything that would hurt me. Besides, I think the whole world knows just how much Grace likes Trent. I mean seriously." She replied glancing at Grace and Trent, both of them in a deep conversation.

"How long have you known Trent, Kyle and Kelsi for?" I asked as Nick led us to the line for a rollercoaster, which the people of Devon always hyped about each year.

"Since year seven, when Elaine still had braces." Kyle answered.

"Oh God, don't even bring that up, I literally looked like absolute crap in year seven. Like do you remember that one ponytail hairstyle I used to do?" Elaine answered as I heard my name being called from behind. I turned around to Ethel waving and rushing over, squeezing between the people in the line to get to us.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late, I just had to do some work on my piece." She greeted and I glanced at Grace who was scrutinizing her from head to toe.

"You're here now and we only just got here as well. Guys, this is Ethel." I introduced. After everyone had introduced themselves, Elaine jumped over the rope keeping everyone in line.

"Elaine don't you dare." Grace said.

"Every one of you know I'm not good with heights at all. Besides, it makes it even now, everyone can pair up."

"That's not fair, who's Devon going to go with!"

"I'll go with him!" Ethel quickly inputted and I quickly glanced at Elaine to see she was smiling.

"See? Everything's perfect. I'll wait here with anything you guys don't want to take." She said, glancing at Grace who looked annoyed.

"I'm going with Ethel, Devon is going with Trent." Grace stated, physically pushing Trent towards me and then grabbing Ethel. Even Ethel couldn't protest to that, no matter how short Grace was, she had a way of looking threatening.

"I would have loved to go with you. Devon's real pretty high up you know." I whispered to Elaine.

"You know I always feel safe with you, but me and heights aren't best friends." She whispered back.

"How about when we finish here we go on the Ferris wheel? The view's still pretty amazing." I suggested as Grace dumped her bag over Elaine's head.

"Oh yes! I can tolerate that kind of height. You guys have fun yeah?" She replied as one of the attendees showed us to the seats.

"Remember to smile for the camera guys!" I hear Grace's voice from somewhere before the cart zoomed upward, completely taking me for surprise. And somehow all throughout the ride all I could hear was Grace's voice screaming for Trent at the top of her lungs.

"Next time Trent, you're staying with me." She instantly said as we got off the ride and went over to the photo booth. Elaine came over to join us, handing Grace her bag back.

"But how." Kyle muttered, glancing at me. I stared back in confusion as Kelsi pointed to the pictures.

"How in the hell of the world does this guy manage to look good in everything. Compare my face to his please." I looked at the pictures from left to right, Grace's mouth was completely opened, and Mercy looked like she was breaking Nick's arm with the way she was holding on to it. Only I looked completely normal. But I also didn't want to tell them the reason I looked normal was because of my past and how used I was to festivals and carnivals.

And normally I would have made up an excuse, but my mind immediately wandered to my mum and the last festival I'd gone with her before she left. She'd finally seem normal again, buying me anything I wanted, going on rides with me and laughing like we used to, I finally had a sense of hope that maybe things would start to be normal again.

"Hey let's head to the food court please, I need something in my stomach after that freaking ride." Mercy complained.

"Um, me and Devon will meet you there yeah? We'll just quickly go to the Ferris wheel." Elaine said, as usual noticing my discomfort. Luckily no one tried to question it and she held on to my arm, leading me away from the others.

"Thanks El." I muttered and she nodded, not trying to press me for any details, which I was really thankful of.

"Tell me something about you, your most fond memory." She said instead, a way to divert my attention.

"My most fond memory. Does it have to be about the past? Or could it be sort of present?"

"It can be anything and in return you can ask me any question you want and I will answer you completely sincere and truthful." She replied.

"Okay then. My most fond memory is definitely on December 9th 2014, when we first met and I saw your smile for the first time. That's when your smile became my favourite thing about you."

"You remember the date; I won't stop smiling now. I hope you know that."

"Good. Because I need you to keep smiling. Always. Now you tell me your fond memory."

"I've never been able to choose one, I have so many, like our first date, watching the sun rise with you, Grace's twelfth birthday, my mum and me going to the beach. Okay my turn, if you could change anything at all about life in general, what would it be?"

"I know you're expecting the obvious, but no I wouldn't change the relationship between me and my mum, it hurts but at the end of the day, it happened. And I'm just going have to try to let go. No, what I would change is not being able to know my dad. It would have been nice to speak to him if only once. You?" I asked as we got to the Ferris wheel where thankfully there was barely a line. We settled in to one of the seats before she turned to me.

"I want to know my name, not my birth mother, but my actual name. I love the name 'Elaine' trust me, but as weird as it sounds I just want to know the name I was given at birth. Was I even given a name? That's all I want to know. I don't know why life has to be so complicated Devon." She sighed, as the Ferris wheel started up. She held on to me, scooting closer and looking out over the festival grounds.

"I've always wanted my own family, a big family with kids I'll always remind I love every morning. With children I can cherish and protect and just make them feel important every day of their lives. No one in our family will ever feel lonely." I muttered, immediately realising what I said. She glanced up at me and I felt dizzy for a moment, watching her comprehend what I'd just said. She smiled, resting on my shoulder.

"No one in our family will ever feel lonely, we'll make sure of it. As long as our kids take all of your features. Little versions of Devon with bright violet eyes, that's like my ideal world." She muttered, and I exhaled, feeling like I could breathe properly again.

"No they need to have your eye colour, it's a must. Though I think my eye colour is dominant, Lucinda said that anyway." She shot up so fast, I felt like she would fall off.

"What did you just say? Lucinda. Lucinda who?" She asked, eyes going wider than I'd ever seen in my life.

"Um, Lucinda? That's my mum's name. Oh I realised I never told you that but yeah, Lucinda's my mum's name. Babe you okay?" I asked, as she looked completely mortified, and actually started to break some sweat.

"Lucinda. Your mum's name is Lucinda. Oh my God your mum is called Lucinda." She whispered, looking completely horrified.

"Elaine?" I asked again. She glanced at me, as if forgetting I was there.

"Devon. Um is it okay putting off visiting Esmee tomorrow? I need to go somewhere super important, but I'll make it back in time for the painting yeah? Is that okay?"

"Of course, it's fine. But tell me, are you fine? Elaine you don't look alright."

"Oh God. Um, no I'm completely fine don't worry about me. Do you feel better?"

"Yeah, thank you. I'm starving though and now I really want nachos. Are you sure you're fine Elaine?" She didn't reply and I turned to her to see she was frowning like she always did when she was thinking deeply about something. Even when we finally got back down, she still looked deeply in thought. I stopped her as she started walking towards the food court.

"Elaine, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Tell me something about your mum. Anything, like physically." She demanded.

"Um okay? She has a birthmark, right underneath her left eyelid, and it has this weird but cool heart shape to it I guess." I replied, confused as to why she wanted to suddenly know about my mum. She seemed to perk up hearing that, smiling, but not quite genuine.

"Alright, let's go get some food! And maybe we should go on that roller coaster, I'm feeling pumped." She said, though I noticed she didn't sound genuine either. But I knew if she wanted to share it with me, she would. So I smiled, hoping I'd get her mind of whatever was bothering her.

"Okay, but you're not backing out on that roller coaster now that you've said it. You're trapped." She laughed, holding on to my arm.

"Well you make me feel safe. I need to get used to it if I want to fly out of the country. Speaking of, guess who is a finalist for the writing competition?" She muttered as we started walking, shrugging like it was no big deal.

"Guess who knew you would be a finalist? It's you, Elaine Preston. I'm really proud of you." I answered and she beamed up at me, her normal smile.

"Thank you. I actually found out this morning but I just haven't had the time to talk to you; summer's flying by too fast." She whispered, frowning.

"Hey don't give me that look, we still have August." She sighed, nodding.

"I know, but I have grad prep, uni prep and writing prep you know. I need to start working on another piece of work to submit to the judges in September." I nudged her, pulling her closer.

"It's us Elaine, we'll make it work, and we always do. Yeah? Me and you." I assured her and she stopped walking to look at me.

"Devon, can you promise me whatever happens tomorrow, you'll remember that. It's me and you, whatever happens, even if you feel like pulling yourself away from me, even if you revert back completely into how you were last winter, even then, please remember it's me and you." She said, looking so desperate and even a bit scared.

"Elaine what's going on?" I asked.

"Just promise me, please." She said again. I nodded, pulling her into a hug and she held on to my shirt tight, as if she didn't want to let go.

"I promise Elaine, me and you."

*

a month or so later, i finally update! so what did y'all think about this chapter? comment your thoughts and don't forget to vote if you enjoyed it!