Chapter Text
It’s funny to think that a simple piece of paper with fancy script could turn me into a nervous wreck yet it did. During my normal afternoon routine of perusing through the mail I stop to open an embossed envelope. My heart flips in my chest when I see who the invitation is from; my ex Norman Reedus. He’s having an art show in a few weeks. I’m not sure why I’m so shocked he invited me we parted amicably in fact I was still in love with the man. Placing the envelope on the coffee table I decide not to dwell on it and continue on to the rest of the mail.
When the time comes for the show I push aside all of my nervous thoughts, dress in my favorite white halter maxi dress with the long slit on the side and flat iron my coarse natural curls until they hang long and silky down my back. Very satisfied with what I see in the mirror I leave home and walk to the gallery reminding myself that I can turn around at any time.
As I approach the building my anxiety almost gets the best of me I’m tempted to turn back as my stomach rolls nervously. But looking through the window I can see his artwork hanging and it’s piqued my curiosity. I give my invite to the doorman and enter the large gallery music is playing that can only be described as Normans play list. Metallica’s Welcome home (Sanitarium) blares from the speakers and I smile immensely at the older patrons that are grimacing from the hard rock. I end my people watching and start to walk the floor stopping to scrutinize each piece of art.
Pride bubbles up in me as I look at all the works created by my ex, I realize he completed most of these while we were still together. I stop the waiter to get a glass of champagne and enter the multi-media room. At least a dozen screens fill the room, all of them are playing his short films in a scattered rotation. Visceral and Chaotic just like him I stay and watch a few of the films before stepping back out onto the main floor. My steps are halted however by the image that’s directly in front of me “Oh my god” I mutter aloud moving in closer to the enlarged picture.
There I hang in all of my post coital glory.
Legs askew, damp black satin night gown rising up above my thighs, pearlescent essence of Norman running down my chin, and thankfully that’s where the photo ends keeping me anonymous. The black and white adds a nice touch to the risqué portrait. It brings more out of the photo right down to the sheen on my coffee brown skin. A lump catches in my throat as I read the title of the picture ‘Heaven’.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d show” that familiar husky voice speaks softly behind me. His voice is like a finger running up my spine “Honestly I wasn’t too sure myself” I say turning to face him. He unabashedly lets his eyes linger over my body “You look good Aayla, I’m glad you came” he replies I give him the once over and feel utterly the same about him. “Likewise” I respond his eyes twinkle as he continues to stare at me I feel so exposed under his gaze. He clears his throat “How have you been” I’d be a lot better if I didn’t miss you I think, but instead say “Good just been working a lot, and you”. “The same on a break from filming right now though” he tucks an errant strand of hair behind his ear.
“You’ve really out done yourself with this art show it’s amazing I’m very proud of you” a blush creeps across his cheeks. “Thank you; I’ve always valued you and your opinion” it was now my turn to blush but luckily my rosy cheeks were not noticeable. “By the way thank you for keeping me anonymous” I gesture back to the picture with a smirk causing Norman to break into a smile.
“You always were my favorite piece of art” we both laugh at his corny line it felt good to laugh with him again; I never realized how much I missed it until then. “Always a charmer” I retort he’s interrupted before he can respond “Norman we have an interested buyer I need you to finish the deal” the man says apologetically he nods to the man and asks for a minute. “Sorry about that he’s my seller; Do you have any plans for later” the only thing I planned to do after this was to have some shots and watch late night TV so that I wouldn’t think about him. “None that I can think of why” I question “Stick around we can go to the atlas for old time sake” and then he’s gone following behind his seller.
I don’t have to wait around for him I think to myself knowing that was a blatant lie because I want to spend as much time with him as I can. So I hang around enjoying glass after glass of free champagne, I venture back into the multimedia room and lose myself in the myriad of screens. I’m so engrossed that I don’t hear him come behind me again “Let’s get out of here” he mumbles into my ear. My nipples harden immediately feeling his lips so close to my ear.
I face him composed and place my empty champagne glass on the floor before following him out of the gallery. It’s after midnight as we walk the first few blocks in silence, Norman reaches his hand out to me holding me close to him so that I don’t get sucked into the crowd that’s over flowing from the bar we’re passing. That boyish smile curves on the corners of his lips “Have you been to the atlas recently” he asks I shake my head no “Too many memories” I didn’t mean to say that aloud. His grip tightens on my hand and he pauses mid step pulling me to him in a strong embrace. Warm breath tickles my ear as he makes a confession of his own “I’ve longed to hold you all night. I never could get enough of you” my body instantly relaxes into his.
“I honestly thought I was doing the right thing by ending our relationship, you deserve someone that’s not gone for months at a time, and I certainly didn’t expecting you to drop everything to be with me” he continues. I sigh and a small tear slips from my eye I pull away from him in an effort to break from the melancholy “Damn you we could still be together if you weren’t such a good actor” I joke earning a smile from him; we re-link arms and continue on to the diner.
The familiar bright neon lights of The Atlas diner are a welcome sight he holds the door for me to enter and I see that nothing has changed on the interior of the establishment. Norman grabs two menus and walks us over to our old booth. While we wait for service we quickly peruse the menu already knowing what we want. “Good morning folks, can I start you off with a drink” the older waitress asks she dutifully writes down our food and beverage order. She leaves and returns with our coffee and then leaves us alone again to place our food order.
Norman stares at me thoughtfully while he sips his coffee “Thank you for gracing me with your presence tonight” he says sincerely I smile and place my hand on his and tell him “No problem” and as he places his hand over mine I marvel at how comfortable we still are with one another. Our breakfast comes out shortly thereafter and we continue to catch up with one another while we eat. By the end of the meal the effects of the day are finally catching up with me and I start to feel fatigued. He pays the bill and leads me back to the street “Where are you staying” I ask trying to stifle a yawn. “Home. Will you stay there with me tonight” his question hangs in the air as I think it over. The best thing for me to do tonight would be to return to my own apartment and go to sleep , but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.
“Let’s go home then” is my response and he wraps me in his arms tucking me into him as we walk the short distance to our former shared home. Again the feeling of rightness plagued me, I didn’t want these feelings especially since I had no idea what this night would lead to. As if sensing my anxious thoughts Norman places soft kisses across my forehead soothing me. We part once we reach the building so that he can retrieve his keys from his pocket and unlock the door. He moves aside to let me into the apartment and nothing has changed it still looks the same as it did when I lived there.