endlessly

27

"How have you been? I haven't heard much from you since you started your new job," Lilah says to Tatum. They sit in a little coffee shop, catching up before Tatum has her date with Emma.

"It's been good. I'm sorry I haven't texted you recently, I've just been so busy with my bosses," She says. She can't say who her bosses are because of the NDA. Although, she's planning on asking Mikey and the girls if she can tell Lilah.

"It's okay, I get it. Midterms are kicking my ass right now," she jokes.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I just have a lot of monologues to prepare and a dance," Lilah explains.

"Damn, that sounds rough. Our midterms are next week. Honestly, I should be stressing too but I'm not," Tatum smiles as she takes a sip of her mocha.

"I'll send over my remaining stress to you next week!" Lilah laughs, "We should hang out sometime when you're not working."

"Definitely! I'll talk to my bosses and I can let you know, their schedules can be wonky," Tatum explains, "So who took my place in the dorm?"

"No one. I have the whole room to myself right now."

"Wow."

"I know right? I'm hoping no one else moves in cause I don't know if I would get along with them," Lilah says.

"You got along with me," Tatum points out.

"True, but it's not the same," She dramatically says. Tatum receives a text from Emma.

"That's my boss, I have to go, but I'll text you tomorrow," She says.

"Okay!" Lilah hugs Tatum before she leaves the coffee shop. Emma waits around the corner in her car. Tatum gets in.

"Hey," She smiles.

"Ready for our date?" Emma asks excitedly.

"Of course!"

"Good, it's gonna be so awesome!" Emma insists. She begins driving to the studio where they will have their date, "So, we're going to this place. You get to drink wine and paint."

"That sounds fun!" Tatum smiles, "I can't paint for shit, but the wine sounds nice."

Emma laughs, "I can't paint either but it's okay. There's a person who guides us with what to paint and mo one will care about our painting skills after we have wine anyways."

"True," Tatum replies. At the studio, there are about five other women who sit at their tables either by themselves or with people they came with. Canvasses in front of them, along with a paint palette, some little tubes of paint, and of course, brushes.

"Okay, let's get started right away with drink orders," The painting instructor announces at the front of the room, "There's a little menu on next to your canvasses and I'll be coming around to get them in a few minutes."

"What wine should I get?" Tatum asks. She doesn't drink regularly so she doesn't know what's good or bad.

"Do you like white wine or red wine?" Emma asks, looking at the menu.

"What's the difference?"

"Well, one is obviously red and one is obviously white. How about, I order you something and if you don't like it, we can try something else?" She suggests.

"Yeah, that sounds good," Tatum smiles. She sits directly next to Emma at the same table.

"And what can I get for you two?" The instructor asks.

"Can we each get a glass of Sauvignon Blanc?" Emma asks.

"Mmhm, I'll have that right out for you," She smiles.

"Thank you," Tatum says, "You got white wine?"

"I thought you didn't know the difference?"

"I don't, but I know what "blanc" means," She chuckles.

"Oh."

Their wine comes out a moment later and Tatum takes her first sip, "Oh, this is good."

"I'm glad you like it," Emma smiles.

"Alright, ladies, let's get started. If you need more wine, just go ahead and go back to the counter back there. They will get you more," The instructor says, "We're going to paint a sunset today, so we're gonna start with black paint. I know it sounds weird, but trust me. And you're going to paint the canvas black from the middle to the bottom."

Tatum and Emma follow the instructions, watching the instructor at the front of the room. She's got her canvas set up so everyone can see it. Tatum takes another sip and smiles at Emma, who looks so focused on her canvas. Tatum thinks she looks so cute.

As they continue painting, Tatum notices that whenever Emma concentrates on smaller detail, she sticks her tongue out to the side. The brunette takes the opportunity to snap a picture of it.

With time, they get drunk, Tatum giggles at Emma, "Your bird on the painting is chubby."

Emma pouts, "He's cute!"

"Chubby is cute!" Tatum replies, trying to make Emma smile, "Look at mine."

Emma peers over at Tatum's canvas to see that with each glass of wine, her painting starts to become a little more... abstract. The two girls giggle at Tatum's painting. Tatum has had more to drink than Emma who wants to be able to drive them home.

"You can add some final touches to the sunset by using white," the instructor says, "But whenever you are finished painting, you are free to go! Please find responsible rides home and be safe!"

Everyone thanks the instructor as she comes around to collect the wine glasses.

"Are you done, Emmy?" Tatum drunkenly asks. Emma smiles when she hears Tatum use her nickname.

"Almost. I'm trying to fix my chubby bird," she jokes, still painting on her canvas.

"I like your chubby bird," Tatum pouts, "There's nothing wrong with him."

Emma smiles, "Okay, I'll leave him. Are you ready to go?"

"Mmmhm," Tatum stands up and grabs her canvas with two hands, even though some of the paint is still wet.

"Tatum! Oh gosh," Emma sighs as Tatum puts the canvas down, paint staining her hands, "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

She leads a giggling Tatum to the bathroom in the studio and begins to wash her hands. Emma, who stares down at Tatum's hands, doesn't notice the girl staring at her through the mirror.

"Emmy?"

"Hmm?" Emma answers without looking up.

"I love you," She giggles. Emma's head snaps up to look at Tatum.

"What?"

"I. Love. You," Tatum repeats slowly, smiling. When Emma doesn't say anything, Tatum becomes offended, "Say it back, Emmy!"

Emma knows that Tatum is only saying this because she's drunk, "I love you too."

"Yay. Can we get ice cream?" She immediately asks.

Emma snorts, "Yeah, okay."

Tatum claps with wet hands and runs out of the bathroom. Emma realizes that Tatum must also be a runner when drunk. She quickly grabs the brunette's arm and takes her toward the exit.

"Our paintings!" She exclaims.

"I'll come back for them, I promise," Emma says. The painting instructor overhears the conversation and comes to the rescue.

"I'll help bring them out. Then she won't forget," She says, grabbing Emma and Tatum's canvasses carefully.

"Thank you," Emma smiles. She leads Tatum out to the car and buckles her in the passenger seat. She opens the trunk to put the canvasses in, "Thank you for the help, I really appreciate it."

"Of course. Drive safe."

"I will," Emma waves as she gets into the car. She starts the car and turns to Tatum, "Still want ice cream?"

"Yes, please."