Page 120 of Black
The thirty or so people in the gallery all had their eyes turned to us, and both Darren and Violet came to stand beside Black.
Seeing her in her Goth clothes, surrounded by her friends, made it sink in how different we were. Cia was a creation of my imagination – the perfect girl I wanted her to be – but Black was someone else. Someone who was more comfortable with freaks like Darren and crazy people like Violet than she would ever be with my kind.
“I’m sorry,” I said and felt it deep in my core. I truly was sorry. Sorry that I had done this to her. Sorry that I had tried to mold her into something she clearly didn’t want to be. But most of all sorry that the woman I had wanted to marry and share my future with didn’t really exist. With a last glance into her moist eyes I walked out the door, and only then did I realize that I still had a glass of wine in my hand. Without even thinking I smashed it to the ground and growled in agony.
?∞?
Cia
“I can’t believe you sold all your paintings,” Daniel said and put his legs up on a chair. I was still in awe of the eight thousand dollars in my hands.
Only Violet, Daniel, and I were left when Darren closed the door and locked it before he came to join us in the back of the room.
“Is it normal for people to pay cash?” Violet asked Darren.
He shrugged. “Sometimes… but not usually. I don’t care as long as they pay.”
“Here,” Violet handed him a glass of wine.
“You know how some people say that size doesn’t matter?” Darren asked Violet.
“Size?” she repeated with a flustered expression on her face.
“Yeah, it’s not true. Size does matter.”
I looked over, confused over how the conversation had taken such a turn.
Darren arched a brow. “I’m telling you, size matters a great deal. No one wants a small glass of wine. Fill it up.”
With a slight headshake and a smile, Violet filled his glass completely.
“Thank you, my dear,” he said. “I will say that except for the matrimonial drama, I thought it was a perfect night.” Darren crossed his legs and leaned back his head, taking a big swig of his red wine.
Violet turned to me. “How are you feeling?”
I had been two inches from crying all night, but had managed to put on a brave face the entire time.
“I always knew this would happen…” I said in a low voice and crossed my arms protectively. “He never loved the real me.”
Darren made a dramatic sigh. “You know, darling, it has taken me a long time to become this fabulous, and I had a few stops in Normalville trying to fit in before I found my tribe in Come-as-You-are-Ville. You really should see it as a blessing. It’s better to see him for what he is than to waste your time and maybe have children before you find out down the road.”
“That’s right,” Daniel agreed. “And just for the record, we all like you no matter how you dress.”
Darren took another sip. “Since I’m the oldest in this group and most likely the smartest” – he grinned – “I’ll give you a piece of world-class advice.”
“I don’t know if you’re the smartest, but you’re definitely the most conceited,” Violet said with a chuckle, but Darren just put his hand to her mouth and shushed her.
“No, honestly, this is supreme-quality advice and you are all extremely fortunate that I’m willing to share it with you.
“All right.” I furrowed my forehead in concentration. “Then let’s hear it.”
Darren leaned forward, and a scent of his strong perfume hit my senses.
Like a true showman, he made sure he had our full attention before he spoke in a solemn tone of voice. “You should only fall in love with a person who enjoys your madness. Not an idiot who forces you to be normal.”
There was a moment of absolute silence.
“That’s it!” Darren said and leaned back again.
