The Mermaid Tale "If I Could Stand"

A Day With A Portrait

Today I had somehow got lucky. Alessandro had invited me over once again to watch his paintings come to life. It was strange trying to analyze all the details of his creations. He would sketch something so elementary and kiddish, and seconds later it would turn into something out of a museum.

"You're so talented. How do you do it?" I ask admiringly.

He smiles and wipes paint of his cheek.

"I told you I've been doing this for so long."

I smile. I know I have to keep a distance from him because of his girlfriend. My question is why did he invite me? Does his girlfriend have a problem about this or am I just his friend? I couldn't help but think about these things.

"Do you bring people here often? Or is it usually yourself?" I ask curiously.

He sighs and puts his paint brushes down. He picks up the scalpel and starts sketching something else.

"Well, I bring a lot of my friends here, but they don't care much for my art. You might be the only person who actually pays attention to them."

I blush.

"Where are your parents?" I ask realizing I've never seen them.

"They usually are on business trips. When they come back I'll invite you over for dinner so you can meet them."

I smile again.

"Is modeling art?" I asked trying to see his perspective.

He shrugs and then thoughtfully looks in the air.

"It maybe considered art for some people. You had to model for your pairing remember? I guess in a way it is art."

"Yesterday Andrina took me to this place and I modeled for some pictures."

"That's really awesome. You'd be a perfect model."

"You think so?"

"Of course."

"Why do you think so?"

I walked in front of him and spun around. Do not come off as flirtatious Anastasia.

"Well I guess your hair is a good factor. And you're pretty tall for a girl. You have great facial features. I guess that sums it up."

I nod.

"I hope your right."

"Just be careful. The modeling world can be negative."

"How?"

"Well, you're appearance is judged a lot. You're supposed to be trying to sell something your body. When your modeling clothes you have to be fit and perfect looking for the agencies to buy you as their model. If you're not meeting certain standards people reject you. It's kind of sad."

I nod. Andrina hadn't told me any of that but I'll keep it in my mind.

He turns his painting around and again something so lovely meets my eyes. He was a perfect creature.

"That looks so magnificent Alessandro!" I said smiling my head off.

"It could've been better. I should add some birds or some form of an animal."

I smile and admire for a couple of seconds and then look around at all the paintings he has on the wall. They were everywhere. I still saw the picture of the mermaid. I tried to avoid that one.

"You know I still never found out if that mermaid was real or not." He blurts out.

Can we not.

"Maybe it was a figment of your imagination."

"I don't think it was. It looked so real. Ever since I saw it I just have to keep trying to remember."

"You'll come to realize the answer eventually."

My phone buzzes and I see over fifty texts from Andrina.

"Hey I think I have to go." I say sadly.

"It's all good. You need a ride home or anything?"

"No, I'm good. I have my bicycle."

He chuckles.

"You and your bicycle."

I smile and head out his painting room and down the stairs. I had to admire his house for a few more moments before leaving. As I was about to leave something strange catches my eye. I look closely into a small room that is hard to notice. It blends in with the walls. There was a key in the keyhole but the door was open. He must of forgot to lock it because it was definitely meant to be locked.
  I look up to the stairs quickly to see if he's coming but he is still painting. I walk over to the room and peer in and my eyes seem to dry out. The walls were filled with pictures of me....or the old me. There was a red haired mermaid on a rock just like me everywhere. It was slightly terrifying. He must be obsessed. Has his girlfriend seen this?

I run out the room and out the house and hop on my bicycle. My heart was pounding with a strange excitement. I had no idea what to think.

***
"When I call you, answer your phone please." Andrina says as I walk into the house.

"Sorry, I was busy."

"Where were you?"

"At the meadow."

"Lies. I knew you were at his house."

I rolled my eyes.

"What's going on?" She smiles and walks over to me with a text message. It was from the agency.

"They want you to come back for more shoots!" She squeals.

I smile.

"Aren't you excited?"

"Well, yeah it's just I'm not sure if I want to be a model." She narrows her eyes at me.

"Why is that?"

"Well, I'm just not sure."

"Okay well you need to make your mind up. They want you there next weekend. They want you to take some random pictures of you outside and stuff."

"I just don't really want to do it right now."

"Please try giving me a slow yes rather than a fast no."

"Okay I'll think about it, but I want to go to bed now." I said running upstairs.