Chapter 6|The Fight

"Yeah, thank you, Mark." Anais said chuckling as Mark picked up her books scattered on the floor.

"Sure, no problem." Mark said, smiling. "So, I was thinking, maybe we could come up with concepts down at my studio. You know, for the project."

"Studio?"

"Yeah." He said nervously, scratching his head. "But if it's not okay with you, we could--"

"No, no! I think it's great! Also the fact that you own a studio, I mean wow!"

"Yeah, haha," Mark chuckled nervously, "my parents bought it for me a year ago, for my birthday. It's nothing."

"No way!" Anais said sounding surprised.

"So, I was thinking maybe 7 tomorrow?"

"Yeah, that would be great!"

"Okay, great, I'll pick you up at your dorm!"

"See you around." An stopped to tell him the number of her dorm room but he was already gone.

***

"I don't like this guy." Jesse stated.

"Oh, come on, it's for our fashion portfolio."

"Our?"

"You know what I mean!"

"I'm telling you, I don't like the way he acts around you."

"You haven't even met the guy!" Anais chuckled at his remark.

"I don't have to!" Jesse said defending his earlier statement.

"Don't worry, it's purely professional. You can trust me." She assured him.

"It's not you that I don't trust, it's him." He stated with full confidence. She rested her head on his chest and listened to the calmness of his beating heart.

"It's getting late. I have to get back to my dorm or the door will be shut."

"Ughh," Jesse groaned, "I hate curfew." Anais chuckled and gave him a peck on the lips then walked away. "I miss you already!" Jesse shouted which made An chuckled.

***

The knock on the door was answered and standing on the opposite side was a well-dressed Mark Hammond.

"Oh wow! I may be a little under-dressed for this. How fancy is your studio?"

"Sorry, I came from a meeting." Mark said nervously and they both laughed.

"So where is this studio of yours?"

"It's noticeable."

"Noticeable? Wow."

"What?"

"Nobody describes a place that way."

"We're here."

"Huh! That wasn't so far." She looked up to see the big bright letters. "You own Paul Wrights and I'm paired with him!"

"Well, not me, my grandfather is Paul Wrights."

"No offense but when you said studio I thought it was like a studio apartment and you're Mark Hammond." An stated.

"My real name is Mark Wright. Hammond is my mom's maiden name and my design studio."

"Why didn't you--"

"I wanted to see if I'm worth more than my last name, you know." He said smiling down at her. "Please don't tell anyone."

"Your secret is safe with me! Can you imagine that? Paul Wrights is your grandfather!" She exclaimed as Mark opens the door for her.

"Mhmm...I can." Mark said nonchalantly and Anais chuckled at his remark.

"You're Wright, it is noticeable!" She said and they both laughed.

"This way." He said gesturing to a door in the far corner at the back. When they reached the room, Mark opened the lights to the dark room and Anais walked towards the dressed mannequins.

"Your design?"

"It's just an outline, not entirely finished."

"Even the outline is good, no wonder you're a Wrights." Anais said sliding her fingers across the fabric on the mannequin.

"So, uh, do you have ideas?"

"Yes, I have a few sketches here." An took out her sketch book and handed it to Mark to see. "But I'm sure yours are better."

"No, these are actually nice. I only came up with some concepts."

"What are they?"

"I was thinking maybe chic designs for casual wear then vintage accessories."

"I like that!"

"Yeah?"

"Maybe we can also add a bit of boho to it but still retain the elegance." Anais said then she took her sketch book and started drawing out an outline of her idea.

They talked all night coming up with ideas and concepts for their fashion portfolio.

***

"So you ready?"

"Hells yeah!" Anais grabbed her bag from the floor then the phone rang. "Oh, I'll be a minute." She said pointing a finger to Mark before walking to the other end of the room. "Hey babe, what's up!"

"You and me date night tonight. We'll watch that movie you love, the..." Jesse said while snapping his fingers struggling to remember the movie. "It starts with a 'd'."

"Divergent?"

"Yeah that one!"

"Aw babe, I can't, remember?"

"What? Why?" Jesse said with a hint of disappointment.

"I have to go with Mark to the studio."

"Again? But you already went the last week and also the other day."

"I know but it's only for another month."

"Month? Come on, An, it's a weekend." Jesse whined.

"Yes. We really need to get this done."

"Fine, but I'll pick you up at eight. Deal?"

"Okay!" Anais said chuckling. "See you, later. Bye! Love you!"

"Love you too."

***

"Okay. I. Am. Done!" Anais exclaimed. "But five more designs to go."

"Oh see, there's an easier way to do that." Mark went nearer to An and stopped beside her. He grabbed a chair and sat beside her. "Here let me....you can thread it like this three times."

"Oh yeah." Anais said looking at his work. "Oh you're running out of thread, let me just get it." Anais said reaching for the thread.

"Oh no it's okay, let me." Mark said also reaching for the thread.

They both reached for the thread but Mark was still holding the needle as he reached. Anais accidentally knocked down a glass of water on the table and hit her finger on the needle.

"No it's okay really. OW!"

"Oh no--are you--I'm so sorry!"

"No it's okay..." She said getting a piece of tissue and wiping the blood. "THE FABRIC!" Anais exclaimed and swiftly pulled the pile fabrics before the water could touch it. She pulled so hard and so sudden that she bounced back on her chair but Mark quickly caught her back and their weight caused them to fall back onto the floor. They looked at each other and laughed.

"I am so sorry about that." Mark said, recollecting himself. "How's your finger?" He asked, giving her a hand. They sat upright and side to side.

"Don't worry about it, it's just a small scratch." They were sitting so close to each other that Anais could hear his heartbeat.

"What the hell is going on here?!" They both looked up to see a confused and impatient Jesse.

"Jesse, it's not what it looks like." An began explaining.

"Oh yeah?! To me, it looks like this asshole is seducing my girlfriend!" Jesse screamed.

"Jesse, stop!" An said trying to calm him down.

"Hey, man, you should listen to your girlfriend. There was nothing happening here."

"NO YOU LISTEN TO ME!" Jesse lunged at Mark and started wrestling him while An stood helplessly screaming at them both to stop. The fight went on until the attention of the security guards were called to break them up.

"You should be thankful I'm not pressing charges." Mark said wiping off the blood from his busted lip. Jesse was thrown out of the place and an angry An followed behind.

"What was that back there!" She started.

"That's funny! You're mad at me!" Jesse scoffed. "At least I was doing something!"

"What are you saying?!"

"HE WAS ABOUT TO KISS YOU AND YOU DID NOTHING!" Jesse screamed and walked away leaving Anais tearing and trembling from what had just happened.

»»————-　★　————-««

"That day marks our first big fight. I am so terribly sorry for that day. You might not know this but I went drinking after I left you on that street all alone, crying and desperate for me to be there." He said and few tears slipped down his cheeks but was overshadowed by the raindrops. "I'm so sorry I left you there all alone."