Chapter 5 Javonte
I just signed up for all those classes with Lily, but I’m not about to sit in there and paint every day.
I learned something, though, at that last event she put on in the garden, and that’s how much work she has to put into this. She has to move the chairs and the tables and the paint and the canvases, and she’s been doing this all this time by herself.
I’m sitting in the parking lot of her next event, waiting for her to show up.
I don’t plan to say any words to her. I’m just going to casually walk up and start unloading tables for her.
Her van pulls into the front of the building. She’s at another museum.
This girl gets around with this van. It’s actually amazing.
She told me the story of how this started, how she just wanted to have a creative outlet and hang out with some friends, and now she’s got people all over the city who want to pay to be in a class with her to paint axolotls and landscapes and puppies.
She’s built something here, and I haven’t been around to see it or support her.
She opens the back of the van and grabs way more chairs than it looks like she can handle.
Shit, I’m supposed to be out there.
I hop out of my car and head toward her. “Hey, let me help you,” I call out.
She stops, sucks her teeth, rolls her eyes, then keeps walking.
I don’t go to her or say anything else. I grab two tables and follow her in.
She doesn’t say a word, and I shouldn’t be watching the way that skirt swishes on her ass, but it’s a great skirt and a great ass.
“How are you setting this room up?” I ask her when we’re inside.
She lays the chairs against the wall and heads back out.
I pull the legs out on the table, stand it upright, then run back out to the van.
She may not want my conversation, but she’s going to take my help.
She’s struggling with a table, and I take it out of her hands, grab another, and walk past her with both of them into the building, set them up and go back out for more.
I do this for all ten tables and twenty chairs, taking every load she tries to carry in until the task is done.
“How do you want the setup?” I ask her again when everything is inside.
She doesn’t answer.
I never knew her to be this stubborn. I kind of like it.
She starts arranging the tables. I watch her for a bit, catch on, and start adding the chairs, two at a table, like I’ve seen her do at the other events I’ve been to.
When the place is all set up and she’s putting the canvases and easels on each table, along with the paint brushes, I go to leave.
“I’ll be back to help you break everything down.”
As I walk out the door, she’s staring at me with her hands on her hips. Her face is still neutral everywhere except for her eyes.
Her eyes look curious.
And that’s better than looking hateful, so I’ll take it.
These last about 90 minutes. I could go run around until she’s done, but I’m not playing it like that today. I’m going to sit in my car and chill until I see someone leave with a canvas in hand. Me and my social media accounts have some catching up to do anyway.
I skip right past my DMs. There’s nothing but trouble in there. I used to look for fun. The attention was gratifying in a way. Now, it’s tired, and some people are desperate.
Zea: Why are you stalking Lily?
I look around my car even though there’s no way she could be anywhere near me. She doesn’t have her license yet.
Me: You stalking me?
Zea: You added me to your LifeCircle.
You went yesterday and now today.
Me: You stalking Lily?
I’m trying to win her back.
Zea: By painting?
Me: No.
Zea: By showing up at her job.
Damn.
Me: No.
Zea: Then how?
I’m still figuring that out.
Me: Stay out of my business
Zea: When are we hanging out again?
This girl is a trip. She popped up out of nowhere, and now, honestly, she’s one of my favorite people. Yeah, she’s constantly asking me for stuff, but what teenager isn’t? And I got it. My baby sister doesn’t have to struggle...or depend on our raggedy ass dad for anything.
If she has a problem, it’s because I’m not around. And I intend to be around. Her mom’s cool, smiling in my face a little too much for comfort, but most women do that when they see me anyway.
Not Lily.
Me: What do you want to do?
Zea: Eat.
She’s a foodie for real.
Me: Let me guess...Somewhere expensive
Zea: I’m trying to decide if I’m bougie or not.
Me: Tell me when and where.
Zea: I’ll try to not have it be during your Lit with Lily Stalking times.
Me: I’m blocking you.
Zea: We have a house phone.
Me: Damn, how old is your mom?
Zea: Shut up!
I laugh and set my phone down.
Zea showed up in my life at the right time. I wouldn’t have had the capacity to be the brother she deserves at any other point in my life. I’m just now becoming the kind of man Lily deserves. I need to make sure she sees it.
A group of women walk out holding canvases.
I open my car door, step out, and head in.
Lily’s talking to the last few people in the room.
I walk to the other side and start folding up chairs and leaning them against the wall.
There’s still easels and paper plates with paint and cups of brushes on the tables. I’ll follow her lead on those.
“I didn’t ask for your help.”
Lily stands behind me looking a smidge less annoyed than before.
“I didn’t ask to help.”
This pulls a smile from her pretty face. I know I’m not in yet, but that’s a crack in the wall.
She collects the cups of dirty paint water and pours them all into an old paint bucket that’s on wheels. I stop what I’m doing, and watch her
“You don’t just pour that down the drain?”
She doesn’t look up at me. “It’s full of microplastics. I evaporate the water in a system I built in my backyard, then toss out the paint particles.”
“I didn’t know any of that.”
“You don’t deal with paint as much as I do.” She continues pouring the paint in the bucket until all 20 cups are empty, and I go still, just watching her work.
She gathers the easels next. They go in the white bin on wheels. Her system is down pat. Minus the heavy lifting, she doesn’t need any help.
“So now you’re just watching me?”
I chuckle. “I’m stunned. You really got this down.”
She puts her hands on her hips. “I have to have it down. I’ve been doing this for 4 years by myself. I tote this stuff around almost every day.”
That’s why her shoulders and back are so strong. My girl is putting in work.
“I never knew you were doing all this”
She turns away from me and starts putting the brushes in a container.
Because I didn’t pay attention or care...not like I should’ve.
I stop asking questions and start breaking down the tables she cleared.
“The tables go on the left side of the van. It’s unlocked.”
I grab two and head for the door, wondering how many trips it takes her to get this done. I set the tables in the van and walk back into the museum. I take another load and another until all the tables and chairs are in her van.
She’s pushing the bucket towards the door when I walk back in. I step in, brushing her hand with mine, and take the bucket from her. “I’ll take this.”
I glance around the room. “You got it from here.”
Lily’s bright eyes stare up at me. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“I know.”
I take my keys out of my pocket as I walk towards the door. If I stay, I’ll say too much. I look back once I’m at the door.
She’s still standing there. I force myself to turn away and keep walking to my car. I don’t look back again.