Circles - Post Malone

Thirty Six

"Ok, so that is the bokeh effect. See how the background is soft and slightly blurry but your subject is in focus? It makes it pop," Nessy explains. Dahlia follows what she is doing on her camera and takes a photo of an ant crawling along the bar top. "Oh wow. Ok, I can see what you are saying," Dahlia says as she inspects the photo.

"You have the rest of the afternoon off, right?" Nessy asks as she starts packing her stuff up. "Yes, Friday is a free day," Dahlia answers as she snaps a few more photos of random objects. "I want you to spend the afternoon in the sunshine taking random photo's and then tomorrow we can go through them and I will tell you where you have gone wrong or right," Nessy instructs. "Ok," Dahlia says absent-mindedly as she stalks a moth that lands on a backlight display on the bar. "Oh wow! You clean up nice!" Nessy suddenly says breathlessly from behind Dahlia. Dahlia frowns at her odd statement and then turns around. She should not have. Her mouth drops open,

Austin is standing in front of them in a midnight blue three-piece suit and crisp white shirt. The suit looks like it was stitched by angles who then hand-delivered it to Austin and then draped it on his body themselves. Dahlia may need to see a psychologist about her weird view about Austin in suits. Dahlia puts her camera down because the sight of him has made her palms sweat and she is afraid she is going to drop her camera. Holy fucking hell.
"Have you painted your nails the same color as your suit?" Nessy breathes out and then fans herself. Austin smiles and looks at his nails. "Apparently it's the small things that make all the difference," he says.

"Ok, I have to go. I have a fan club meeting and they need to know about this," Nessy says, "do your homework," she instructs Dahlia and gathers her stuff in a bit of a flurry. But then stops and looks over at Austin, "just one more look...yes, lovely," she says then scurry's off. Austin watches her go with a chuckle. Dahlia can't tear her eyes away from him though. He looks amazing. She picks up her camera and takes a few snaps of him. Austin turns to look at her when he hears the clicking of the camera and she manages to take a shot of him smiling at her softy.

"What's the occasion? Why are you dressed up like this? Who dressed you up like this?" Dahlia may be a little frazzled and can't help the string of questions. Austin lets out a nervous laugh and then steps forward, taking her camera and then her hand. "It's Friday, we have a date. And as to who dressed me like this - the twins. They said they have it on good authority that I can pull off a three-piece...think they are right?" Austin asks while walking with Dahlia to the back door of Sweet and Sour. "Yes!" Dahlia says way too quickly and with way too much enthusiasm. She has no chill. She clears her throat and shrugs. "Well, I suppose you look good...to people who care about that stuff. Not me though. To me you look like...like...uh...like..." she tries to find an insult that fits but truth be told she can't. Her brain is not working with Austin standing so close to her in that fucking suit.

"Shut up, Dahlia and get in that bathroom," Austin says pointing to the staff toilet near the back door. It's a nasty bathroom, Dahlia refuses to use it and there is not a chance she is going to use it or do anything with Austin in there now. "No, it's gross in there, and besides - I like the idea of going on a fucking date but I definitely don't like the idea of fucking in a nasty staff bathroom," she says. "Dahlia, you do my head in sometimes...most times. But will you for once not make my life difficult? Just get in the bathroom," Austin says.

"Fine, but I am not fucking you in there," she says and opens the door. The twins are inside with big grins slapped on their faces and Dahlia suddenly feels claustrophobic. She turns to face Austin who is blocking the door. "You better have a good fucking explanation for this shit show," Dahlia threatens. Austin shakes his head and rolls his eyes with a fond smile. "Dahlia, I am taking you on a date and we are going to do all that cliche shit. Dress up, walk in the park hand in hand, feed the ducks, have dinner, ride a Ferris wheel and kiss at the top," Austin explains. "I thought you hated that shit," Dahlia says. Austin shrugs, "I lied," he says then closes the door, leaving her alone with the twins.

She turns around and faces them. Both of them are standing side by side and smiling at her. Paris opens his mouth but Dahlia raises her finger in warning. "Not a word. Not a sound. Just get on with whatever this thing is," Dahlia says. The twins step aside and a lovely dress hanging from a hook on the back wall comes into Dahlia's view. It's black with a splattering of black beadwork across the front. It has thin spaghetti straps over the shoulder and when Paris takes it off the wall and turns it to show her the back, Dahlia sees that it's open in the back with a criss-cross pattern.

The twins usher her into the dress and it takes Dahlia a second to recognize herself in the mirror once it is on. The dress is figure-hugging, showing off her curves in the best way. She looks like one of the girls in the fashion magazines Nessy is always bringing around. The twins sit her down on the toilet and fuss with her hair and make-up and then both gasp as they take a step back and take in their work. "If I was a man I would not be able to keep my hands off you," Orlando says. "You are a man," Dahlia says. "Oh yes! Sorry it's just the sight of you makes me stupid," Orland says. Dahlia rolls her eyes and then stands in front of the mirror again. Oh shit. "I don't know about this...I feel a little overdone," she says looking at herself.

"Well I think you look beautiful, Dahlia," Paris says. The twins often joke and have a rule about never taking life too seriously but the way Paris just spoke was so genuine, so matter-of-fact that it takes Dahlia aback a bit. "Come on," Orlando says and opens the bathroom door then the back door into the back alley, and points for Dahlia to go through. She steps through and looks around the empty alley for a moment. Is she alone? But then she hears a sound behind her and turns. Austin is standing with his cigarette frozen halfway to his mouth which is hung open a bit as he stares wide-eyed at Dahlia.

"Well fuck me," he breathes out and shakes his head obviously trying to get his brain working again. "Ok," Dahlia says with a smile and a little curtsy. Austin lets out a belly laugh and then offers her his elbow which she takes. "Oh that will be happening later tonight but first  let's go do some cheezy overrated romantic crap."