Studio 22 | Mary-Kate Olsen

Chapter Fifty-Nine

September 7th 2023 - New York City - Safe Haven Community Centre

"Hey BlueBell." MK greeted me in our spot, she put her cigarette out. "How was your session?" I asked her, picking up her bag and putting it on my shoulder along with mine. "Same old, same old. You?" I shrugged. I talked about dad going back today. So not same old, same old. "It's group." I say instead, she nodded understanding, before lacing our hands together leading us in the direction of the coffee shop.

Our tradition still stands eventhough we're now living together. We still take it in turns to get the coffees and we still mentally judge each other's choice of tables, it's like nothing has changed except we talk about chores that need doing at home and tiles for the bathrooms. It was nice, I enjoyed our Monday morning talks and our strolls back to Studio 22 after. We still took the 'short cut' through the park, though MK has since admitted she wanted to spend more time with me. It was sweet really. I told her I knew it was longer and she got all embarrassed about it but we laughed it off.

"How's Mami?" She asked softly, not wanting to upset me. "She's being militant... So I don't really know." "And Papi?" "Same. Now you know where I get it from." "What are you talking about, you're an open book." She said sarcastically as she opened the door for me. "Whatever." I said as I walked past her heading to the counter to get our usual order. I carry the drinks back to the table, carefully setting them down on the table. Of course she chose a booth, I slid myself across the bench into the corner and settled in.

We both sat there staring into our mugs, the topics of conversation all too heavy to bring up over coffee before work. Nothing else was on our minds other than my parents, Atlas and Sage. I wish work was consuming me, my designs, fashion shows, the fear of flying but it wasn't even a second thought right now. I had gone back to running my days at work on autopilot until I got back to my parents house to try and convince them to rethink their divorce, for dad to rethink leaving us. To piece our family back together again before heading home to my adoring wife to have a late dinner.

"Ashley wanted me to wait to talk to you." MK said tracing the rim of her mug with her index finger. "About what?" I asked, concerned, I was worried they were gonna suggest time off, which is the last thing I need right now. I don't need anymore empty hours to think about my life circling the drain. "Don't look so worried." She chuckled. "Well when you start a conversation with... Both your bosses want a word... You're gonna be a little bit concerned." "So I'm just your boss?" "In some contexts." She rolled her eyes at me. "So?" I questioned. "We wanted to know if you'd consider taking a new position at The Row?" "New Position?" I cocked a brow. "We want you on our designing team... Officially." I had designed a few pieces previously. "Um." Was all I could say.

Outside of Studio 22 MK was my girlfriend and I felt like I was speaking to my girlfriend. It was conflicting, talking about work with her out of the offices. Was I getting this job as her girlfriend? "We should talk about this at work, with Ash." Her brows creased as she looked at me. "I thought you'd be excited about this?" "I am... I just... It's work, we're not at work right now, it feels weird." I was honest with her, it was the only thing I could be right now. Her frown only deepened. "We talk about work all the time at home." "Yeah but not promotions. We talk about to do lists and the latest trends." "How is that any different?" She sits back against the booth. "It just is, okay." "I don't get how." She mumbled, I let it slide because I didn't want to get into an argument about something so petty.

"Are we still going to your parents this saturday?" I asked. "You still want to go?" She asked surprised. "I mean, Dad will be gone. Mami is going to Spain to visit with her parents. Sage is at the centre... Nothing that needs my attention here." I shrugged. "Don't you want to go with Isobel?" "Not particularly... It's not that I don't want to be with her, I just don't want to fly and she'll probably need some space... After you know." She nodded. "Then yeah, we can still go, if you're up for it." I nodded, glad we were talking about something else.