Chapter 11

I slowly woke up, pulling the sheet over my head to shield my eyes from the sun. My eyes widened as I realized I was in a stranger's bed, and that I had spent the night there. I lowered the sheet, looking around the room. It was a decently sized room with large windows along the wall. The brick walls, along with the rustic windows, lead to an industrial look. The bed I was in was low to the floor, maybe not even having a bed frame at all. Unable to delay any longer, I rolled over, facing where Johnny was the night before. But he was gone. I had no idea how long he had been gone or where he was due to him not being in the room. I took a deep breath, gaining the courage to face him.

I slipped out of the bed, collecting my clothes off the floor, and putting them on, before walking to the door and cautiously opening it.

"Hey." Johnny looked over at me with a smile as I was flooded with the scent of breakfast. "Just made food. Hope you're hungry."

My stomach growled, answering for me.

Johnny laughed. "Good. I'll make you a plate. Take a seat." He motioned towards the couch, with a coffee table in front of it. It didn't take long for Johnny to set a plate of food and, what seemed to be, orange juice in front of me. He set up his own plate and took a seat next to me, immediately digging in. I followed suit, too hungry to complain.

We chatted as we ate, mostly talking about my art and how I haven't had the ability to paint recently. Johnny offered up his studio to me, saying he'd love to give me a space to do it again. I profusely thanked him and grew more excited thinking about it as breakfast went on. Eventually, we finished eating. We began cleaning up before he showed me to the studio.

"Get comfortable." Johnny motioned for me to sit as he grabbed out a new canvas.

He provided me with paints and brushes, giving me everything I needed. I sketched out what I wanted to do, using an older picture as reference. Johnny left the room before returning, licking a paper before sealing it. "The real thing I better, but you're still a damn good artist. Usually use yourself as reference?" He asked, sitting down next to me, holding the rolled paper out to me.

"Yeah." I looked at the joint for a few moments before saying to hell with it and throwing caution to the wind, taking it from him. Johnny held the lighter up to my lips, setting it on fire. I inhaled deeply, before passing it back to Johnny, who took a hit.

We stayed like this for some time, increasingly getting higher and working on the painting. Occasionally Johnny would point out a place that could be improved, adding to the art.

My phone in my pocket began to ring, pulling me out of the zone and back to reality. I pulled it out and looked to see who was calling, seeing it was Mr. Wolfe. "My boss." I explained to Johnny before answering. "Hey."

"Lili. Good. I was worried about you after you disappeared."

"I told you I left with a friend."

"That you didn't introduce me to." He corrected, making it obvious he was just being protective.

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to worry you. Alder just…got under my skin and I needed to leave."

"You could've at least found me before going."

"I'm sorry again, Marco." I replied earnestly.

"Well, are you alright, at least?"

"I am. I'm at my…friend's place painting."

"Friend?" Johnny smirked, causing me to wave him off.

"Alright. When will you be back?" Mr. Wolfe asked, pulling my attention back to him.

I glanced over at Johnny, putting my hand over the mic. "How long am I allowed to be here?"

"Long as you want." He shrugged

"I'll be back tomorrow. Back before Lark gets home."

"That's good, because I have some work to do tomorrow, around the time she'll be dropping him off."

"No problem. I'll be home in the morning tomorrow."

"Thank you, Lili. I'll talk to you later." With that, he hung up.

"Friend?" Johnny laughed.

"I guess you're the closest thing to one I have right now." I shrugged with a small smile. "Even if I did use it a bit liberally."

"Oh, I see how it is." Johnny nudged me. "I give you my weed and yet we're not fully friends yet?"

"Takes a bit more than that."

"I guess I'll have to work harder then."

----

I looked around us. Johnny had brought me to Dupont Underground, an art installation in what seemed to be an old metro station. "So?" I stood up on my heels, looking over at Johnny. "We barely know anything about one another."

"Is this a date? Are you trying to get to know me?"

"Date? No, but trying to get to know you, yeah." I shrugged casually. I didn't feel the most comfortable wearing last night's clothes, so Johnny had allowed me to borrow a pair of cargos and a hoodie. Mr. Wolfe would hate the outfit, but I actually liked it.

"What is there to really know?" Johnny asked nonchalantly.

"I dunno. Probably enough to make up a complicated edgy guy."

Johnny laughed. "I suppose you've got enough in you to make up an edgy chick."

"Maybe…" I moved back and forth innocently. "You get to go first though."

"Fine. Dunno what to say." He shrugged. "I'm from Chicago, moved here a while back after getting a job from some rich business guy to paint a mural in his home that took a couple months to complete. Liked it, so I stayed, making rent by selling my art."

"Sounds like a pretty nice life." I smiled slightly. That's kinda what I envisioned my life with Alder was going to be like before he cheated on me.

"Has it's ups and downs. Your turn, girl."

"Born in Colorado, grew up with a lot of siblings and a drunk father, moved out when I started art school at eighteen, moved here with my ex, broke up, and now I'm a live-in nanny for the guy on the phone."

"Living the high life, I bet."

"Not really." I shook my head. "I like well, but a lot of my job is cleaning up after a toddler or keeping the house clean or cooking meals. Not a lot of luxury. More like live at home mom who gets paid."

"Do you like being a pseudo mom?"

"I guess so. Lark, the toddler, is a good kid."

"And your boss?"

"He's…complicated." I titled my head to the side in thought.

"How so?" Johnny walked over to take a seat on one of the benches. I followed him and sat down, taking a sip of my warm drink.

"He's…very forward with me. About wanting to have sex. Maybe it's cause I fucked my art teacher, so I don't mind and I'm use to it, but it still seems very unprofessional."

"Is he hot?" I looked over to see Johnny smirking.

"Are you interested?" I raised an eyebrow, a smile growing on my face.

"If he's got money, sure."

"I've only seen him with women, or I'd offer him up to you."

"Too bad." Johnny laughed. "So, Alder's your ex and also was your art teacher then?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"How'd that happen?"

"I went in one time to get some help with a project and next thing I knew he was taking my virginity." I shrugged weakly. "I guess I was just young and gullible. Turns out he did it to a few of his other students too." I shook my head, wrapping my arms around myself.

"He cheated on you?"

"Yeah. That's why we broke up, well the main reason. Alder would probably say it's my fault though. He somehow always made it my fault, not matter what it was."

"Sounds like a shithead."

"He was." I nodded. "But I did love him at one point. He was my first for everything and he took advantage of that. But he did help me with my art. That much I appreciate."

"I get it." Johnny nodded sympathetically. "Well, I'm sure you'll find a guy better than him."

"Like you?" I laughed.

"Sure, but doesn't have to be." He shrugged, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me into a side hug.

----

"I'll have to ask my boss, but damn do these premade boxes make dinner that much easier." I looked over at Johnny as we in the sink cleaning up the dishes left over from dinner.

"That's what I'm saying." Johnny nodded in agreement. "That's why I use them."

"So smart." I shook my head. "I need these in my life."

We finished up cleaning the dishes and moved to the couch. We began watching some random TV show Johnny had already started until his hand crept over, touching my inner thigh, causing goosebumps to form.

"You down?" He glanced over at me.

I nodded, shifting on the couch to pull the pants off. We both were now off the couch, stripping down, before meeting back up to kiss in the middle. Johnny tasted like the beer he had been drinking.

"Get on the couch. I'll be top this time." I instructed, watching as he laid down on the couch, his head on the armrest. I looked over his lean body once more, unable to help myself.

"You gonna get on or just look?" Johnny laughed.

I rolled my eyes, crawling onto the couch, sitting on his thighs. He was already somewhat hard and with a few strokes from me he was ready. I moved, straddling over him before lowering myself down, letting out a breath as I did. I placed my hands on his chest, using them as a way to push up off him, going in rhythm with his thrusts. Before too long, Johnny's stomach muscles stiffened, along with his grasp on my hips. It didn't take him much longer to finish, leaving me hot inside.

"Let me go to the bathroom real fast." I got off Johnny and walked to his bathroom, returning once I had cleaned myself up. I sat back down on the couch next to Johnny.

"Damn." Johnny exhaled deeply, before finally standing up off the couch and walking over to the bedroom, before returning a few moments later. He sat back down next to me, wrapping a blanket around me, which I needily huddled in. "Cigarette?"

I thought for a moment. I had already gotten high today, might as well. "Yeah."

He handed me one, lighting it up before doing the same for himself. He leaned back in the couch, putting his arm behind me. "So, any dreams or aspirations?" He chuckled quietly.

"Actually? Yeah."

"Tell me about it."

"I wanna go overseas and study art. I wanna go everywhere, but realistically Europe. Tour around, see all the museums I can stomach, fuck around, backpack, hitchhike. Just go wherever life takes me."

"Sounds like fun." He smiled over at me. It seemed really genuine.

I inhaled deeply before releasing my breath. "Maybe someday."

"I hope so, Lili." He squeezed my shoulder gently. "But even if it doesn't, you're more than welcome at my place anytime you want."

"I appreciate that, Johnny. Really." I looked over at him.

"Why do you look so sad?" He watched me with a sideways smile.

"You've just been really good to me, and it means a lot."

"'Course." He squeezed my shoulder again.