Over the next couple of weeks, Celadine and I grew to become great friends. She literally was the most interesting person I knew. She would tell me stories of her travels all over the world, insisting that I accompany her on the next trip she took. Every day I would enter her office and she would have assorted chocolates or cakes, cookies, even a variety of candies once. I quickly realized that she was trying to figure out what my favorite things were after the assortments began to narrow down to simple caramels, chocolate chip cookies, and red liquorices.
Wednesday night had rolled around. Julie was working at the library, my project only needed a few finishing touches and Celadine didn’t need me at the gallery. I was totally relaxed as I thought about the carefree night ahead of me. I grabbed the popcorn out of the microwave and headed for the couch. I had rented a couple of movies and was set for the night. Just as I was curling up with my blanket, and a heap of pillows, the phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Avery?" inquired an alarmed but familiar voice.
"Yes," I confirmed. "Celadine, what’s up?" It was unusual that she would be calling me. If she needed me at the gallery Mona would usually call.
"I'm very sorry to bother you on your night off, but I need you here," Celadine insisted. "If you are free and able, of course," she added politely.
Of course, I would come and she knew that I would do anything for Celadine and the gallery. "Um, sure, what time do you need me?" I asked.
"As soon as possible, please," she answered. She sounded so awkward on the phone as if she barely ever used it.
"Um, okay, I can be there in twenty minutes or so," I informed her. I remembered that Julie had my bike because hers was in the shop. I'd have to walk. I didn't mind though, it was only a few blocks.
"Can you come sooner?" she asked, a bit of desperation to her voice now. This was so unlike her.
"Okay then, ten minutes?" I guess I could take the bus for ten minutes. I mean, how bad could I get?
"Very well, see you then." And she hung up. I stood there and stared at the phone in my hand for a few seconds. That was so weird.
Once outside, I put on my earphones and waited for the bus at the stop right out front of the shop. It felt weird, silly actually. I had never taken the bus before, aside from the school bus a few times when I was a kid. That quickly came to an end when I realized I didn't like being called "Barf Girl" anymore.
The bus pulled up and I immediately became nauseous. I let out a deep breath of air and took in another before I walked up the two steps. After depositing my bus fair, I quickly searched for a seat next to a window. I slid into one right by the back door. Good enough.
I was dizzy already, my ears were ringing and I was sweating profusely. I knew people were looking and whispering about me, but I ignored them. It wasn't hard; I was focusing on not losing it all over the bus floor. I could smell the faint hint of metal, dirt and layers of body odor. All of which were not helping the situation.
My knuckles were turning white from gripping the edge of my plastic blue seat, all the while telling myself 'Avery, you can do this, only a few more minutes. You can do it' over and over in my head.
I heard a slight chuckle and I couldn't help but look up to see who was getting a kick out of my agony. The guy sitting right across from me was laughing at me. I was so embarrassed. I wouldn't have cared, normally, but this guy was kind of cute and I looked like an idiot about to barf all over him.
I tried to pull myself together and wiped the sweat off of my face as gracefully as I could manage with a shaking hand. No luck. I needed to barf. I felt my stomach just inching its way up. Every part of my body was screaming for me to get off of the bus. I jumped up and rang the bell, nearly missing the cord and falling on my face but managed to grab onto the pole.
The cute guy had another chuckle at me, his messy jet-black hair falling down in front of his eye. What a jerk! I shot him a quick glare over my shoulder and then pushed my way through the back doors. I didn't realize that the bus hadn't completely stopped and gone tumbling into the bushes where I threw my guts up, so to speak. The driver came to the door to see if I was okay, I wasn't done yet so I just gave him thumbs up.
As the bus was pulling away, I glanced up and saw the cute jerk in the window, laughing, as he gave me a little mocking wave. I cleaned myself up the best I could and was relieved to see that I was on the same block as the gallery. Thank goodness. I quickly made my way to the entrance.
"Avery!" Celadine cried as she scurried toward me across the marble floors of the showroom. "Thank goodness you are here!" She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the back room. The sudden movement finished me off and I threw up once more all over the showroom floor. I wanted to seriously crawl under a rock somewhere.
Celadine gasped and jumped back. "Avery, darling, what's wrong?" she asked. "You shouldn't have come if you are ill."
"I wasn't. I got sick on the bus," I managed. "I'm so sorry, Celadine."
"Sweetheart, do not be sorry," she assured me. "You cannot help bodily functions." She patted me on the arm and her cool hand felt really nice. Celadine snapped her fingers and motioned to the concierge to come and take care of the mess.
"Come upstairs to the loft and get cleaned up," Celadine insisted. "I have a change of clothes there." She led the way to the back and up a set of stairs that brought us to an exquisite condo. Geez, I felt like a bum standing here in my dirty grass stained pants and puke shirt. I stood in the entryway as Celadine disappeared into the bedroom. She came back moments later with a towel, change of clothes and a toothbrush.
"Here you go darling," she said as she handed me the pile. "Bathroom’s over there."
"Thanks, Celadine." I headed in the direction that she pointed. The bathroom was huge. Every square inch was covered in a white marble, much like the showroom downstairs, and the pedestal sink was carved from a hollowed stone. In the center of the ceiling hung a gigantic shower head, so I guess you could just stand anywhere and shower, very cool.
The change of clothes was a guy’s jeans and shirt, which was strange. Oh well, I was grateful for the clean clothes but not as grateful as I was for the toothbrush. I got cleaned up, rolled up the pants legs and tied the bottom of the shirt, and emerged back out to the condo where my boss was waiting for me with a glass of ginger ale.
"You're a lifesaver Celadine. Thank you," I graciously said. "I haven’t got sick like that in a long time."
"Do you often get sick from motion?" she inquired.
"No, not really, only in enclosed vehicles. I can go in my aunt’s convertible. That's why I drive a bike," I explained. "I think it may be a claustrophobia thing or something."
"Hmmm," was all she had to say. She must think I’m nuts. "I'm glad that you are feeling better," she added. "I have work for you to do."
"Oh yeah, what was the big emergency?" I asked. "You sounded freaked out on the phone."
Celadine looked a little embarrassed. "Well, I think it would be best if you just came with me."
The big emergency turned out to be an unexpected shipment of art supplies. The crates were all over the showroom. She had a local daytime showing there tomorrow and I was the only one who knew where the paperwork was.
I spent an hour or so receiving everything and putting it away as I went. When I was done I headed to Celandine’s office to get her to sign off on it. She had my clothes washed and neatly folded for me when I entered.
"Aw, thanks," I said. "You didn't have to do that."
"It was the very least I could do after what you went through to come here for such a minor task," she assured me. "I am very lucky to have you, Avery. I hope you consider staying here for a long time. I would be happy to have you work for me as long as you like."
Wow, I was flattered. Of course, I would stay here, for as long as she would have me. "Thank you, Celadine, I’m touched. I feel lucky to have you, too."
She smiled. "See you on Tuesday then?"
&nbs
p; "Of course. You don't need me this weekend?" I asked.
Her face changed then to a slight frown. "No, my brother is in from out of town and I’ll be spending time with him," she explained. “You have yourself a wonderful weekend, sweetheart." And she pecked me on the cheek.
"I will thank, you too," I replied, and pecked her opposite cheek. I gave a brazen smile and wave to Mona on the way out. She just glared at me.
CHAPTER NINE
ALL HELL