A Smile and a Chance

3 THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS

*UNEDITED

All paintings are supposed to be like that, right? To be life-like?

"You okay, Liam?" Olivia asked as she probably noticed my silence.

"Yeah...I just thought she looked like someone I know."

"Are you sure? I think it's impossible that you'd meet her."

"Why? Is she just a product of your imagination?"

"No...she's our model, but-"

"Hey, does she model in the nude too?" Brandon interrupted and Olivia glared at him like death rays just shot out of her eyes and immediately raised both his hands in surrender.

"By any chance, is her name Maia?"

"I'm not sure, I never really got to talk to her much. She's always in a hurry to leave, from what I've heard it's because she has another part time job to go to." Olivia replied.

"Hold on. You mean, Maia? The same Maia you had lunch with? That Maia?" Leon asked and suddenly everyone was waiting for me to give my reply and then pointed to the painting. "That's Maia?"

I nodded. Leon was in disbelief and satisfied at the same time, from the look on his face I can definitely tell, he thinks Maia's gorgeous. I'm one hundred percent sure, that the woman in the painting is Maia.

I wanted to see her again. I wanted to ask if she didn't get kicked out of her apartment because of the $35. If she got kicked out, I probably won't be able to forgive myself. Maybe I should have let her steal that flirty woman's wallet.

It was several hours later that Olivia and her dad, Uncle Vic decided to go home (and like always, Uncle Vic was late, he was supposed to pick up Olivia but came two hours later) and I was able to catch up with them in the driveway.

"You're still going to that painting class, right?" I asked Olivia as her eyebrows met in the middle in super slow motion, dubious as to why I asked that question.

"Knowing you, you're not really interested in the painting class but the woman in the painting." She replied and stepped out of the car, crossing her arms in front of her chest as a smirk formed on her lips.

"Olivia," I said in a warning tone. I didn't want to get teased right now.

"Geez, you sound a lot like your dad when you do that." And she sighed out loud. "I see you're finally interested in women." She continued.

"No, that's not it...I kind of owe her $35."

"You?! You owe her $35?! How did that happen?!"

"Come on, Olivia. It's a complicated story." Of course it is. How would you explain that Maia's a thief without raising more questions?

"Alright, alright...we have another class in two weeks. Although I'm not sure if she'll be the model again."

"I can visit, right?"

"Even if we do not allow visitors, our instructor will let you in because you're Liam Maximillian. Classes are in the afternoon at four. You can drop by anytime until 7PM."

I thanked Olivia before she went inside the car again.

"But really, Liam, $35?"

"Please take her home now, Uncle Vic. She's had too much red wine. Drive safe."

___________________________________________

Two weeks felt so slow for me. Usually I'd say it's been a month already, but now, I just found myself saying 'it's only been three days?'