What They Can't See. || H.S

Chapter Three: Friday Afternoon

Today as I head back into Muse, I notice a new woman sitting at the desk where the one before use to. "Where is Pattie?" I Ask approaching her, and she smiles. I am pushed back a bit seeing not many people give smiles around here.

"I am Susie, I work the front desks Friday through Sunday." she smiles and puts her hand out for me to shake, I do so but tread lightly. She was not as old as the others in here, she could easily been the same age as me. After introducing myself I excuse to go assist to Mr. Styles. In the elevator I adjust the belt that seemed ever so tight on my waist. I went through my mothers closet and found what look like business slacks just incase he decided to continue with the hand work.

I walk into the area to see he is no where to be found and I 'hmph' at the fact that I am always here before this odd ball. I see a paper taped to his still blank canvas and approach it.

' Vienna, I will be at my second location all day today. Please join me I will still need you there. -styles'

The address was posted below it, now when I am casual he wants me outside this office? I grab my bag and jacket with a swing and head out.

-

The streets were a wild walk and I was now convinced that I was lost. I found a bench and sat down to massage my feet that that were red from the walking. I sigh, placing my back against the bench while feeling hopeless in ever finding this place. I close my eyes and just decide in giving up, It was easy and less painful on my feet that way.

"Hard at work?" the voice of my boss fills my ears and I open an eye to glance at the man who had a cigarette between his lips, pulling off his hat and it in his hand. I sit up, look around me and notice I was not smart enough to even see the location was right behind me. "I was lost and well, now I'm not." I grab my things and stand but he is not ready to go back in just yet, he still had drags from his paper to finish. He looked at my pants, which make me try to fix any folds that happened from the hike he sent me on. "Don't those feel giant on you?" he asked with a upper flask of his teeth, I guess thats his version of a smile.

"I was expecting you to give me more slave labor today so I wanted a more appropriate fit." I say, watching his semi-smile fall. My jokes or banter to most were not funny seeing the humor in it all was too soon and offending. But laughter cures all in my opinion. He drops his ended cig to the floor with his foot falling behind to squish it to ashes. "Lets go in now eh?" I follow him into the building, the sounds of fans blowing against wet walls just freshly painted. He walks past them to the back that he already seemed to be working on.

The walls were dry with marked holes, paintings already hanging in some places. I approach them, wanting to touch so badly but knowing I shouldn't. "Are these yours?" I turn back to him, he walks toward me and I face back to the work. "Yes, some of my favorite works."

One was an outdoor setting: clouds, trees and hills but something about it was different. His color choice was so dark, as if you saw how everything looked through his eyes and how even the most beautiful sceneries still can be ruined by how our minds are set. He noticed me starring, "penny for your thoughts?" My hand holds my chin and I look at him then back to the painting.

"it's -" He finishes my sentence like I had did when we first me. "gloomy." he says. I look back at him and finish my thought, "Beautiful."

-

He gives me a tour through the rest of the building before stopping in his place and glancing at his wrist watch. I rarely saw nice ones but his was definitely beautiful. "You got room for food? I believe there is a dinner somewhere around here." He goes to glance out the window as if it would be right in front of him. "yes, but I have no money-" "I asked if you had room for food." he cuts me off. I nod, and he grabs his hat, before going to the door and holding it open. I stand there, till he says "well, come on now." Was he inviting me to a lunch? I have never had lunch with.. A man, a white man, or even a white man who was in charge of paying me. I walk out the open door and comment on his manner, "You know using your voice once in awhile would really clear up what you want. You should speak up about things you want."

We walk down a street and approach a metal Dome shaped place labeled "Moe's Hole!" the ding of the door occurs and harry walks to a booth seeing it's self seating.

Is he serious right now?

Sighing, I pass by the whites only section and go to the counter booths that wrap around the middle. I rest my head onto my hand and question how disappointed I was to sit alone, but a free meal makes it not as bad. I hear the familiar boot click come up behind me. "Do I smell or something?" he face looks confused to why I have abandoned him. "I can't sit there." He looks confused as if segregation wasn't a thing in his world. Maybe it wasn't. I face back to the light up signs around the milkshake machine as I feel a butt be placed onto the stool next to me. He takes off his hat and places it onto the counter top. My head still resting onto my hand I tilt my head to look at him and give a faint smile, surprisingly getting one in return.

-

Almost three hours, I don't know how but we have been here for almost that Long and every second was an enjoyment. After our meals he ordered me a milkshake and I was so thankful. Sipping on the straw, he grabbed one from the container in front of us and dipped it in. "Hey!" I act defensive to his approach. He laughs, more like a chuckle but still a friendly affect from the one and only styles. "Wow, that's quite good." he pulls out the straw and runs it through his tongue and lip to get off any that was left on it before placing it on top of the area we rested on. The more people that came in the more eyes that glanced, I noticed each one but he seemed to not even look. Like he wasn't afraid to be seen here with me. Even people who had sat at the counters of my color gave looks, much harsher in my opinion. As if they questioned why I would want to ever be seen with him.

I glance at the watch on his wrist and see it says three O'clock, the bus has left and the next one wont be coming till five. The man, who held a disgusted look, threw the check onto the counter at Styles. He was not phased, placing a five dollar bill onto the paper. "You finished?" I nod, as he grabs his stuff. "You're not gonna wait for change, you're giving him a two dollar tip?" I try not to show as much concern but he pats my shoulder. "His attitude shows he obviously need some kind of kindness."

Walking out the clouds above become grey and we walk back to his second location once again. "Alright you're finished for the day, you can leave if you like." I gulp before nodding but taking a chance to ask. "I know its much but do you mind if I wait inside for awhile, the next bus wont be coming till five and I hate just standing outside." He turns to me and wrinkles his forehead, "Five? You would wait here till five for the bus?" I nod. He closes the door back and pulls out his keys.

What was he doing?

He walks around to the side and I follow him to reach a black 1951 Lincoln. It was beautiful and obviously described his personality quite well. "I'll take you home." He says getting in and I put my hands on my hips. "What? Do you not want a ride?"

Sarcastically, I comment "Yes, I am just wondering where this car was when we had to walk to a diner four blocks from here." He laughs low and I go to the right side to get in. The engine starts and purrs at us. He rolls down his window and pulls out a grey box pressing a button, causing a pop of cigarette followed by him putting it between his lips and pulling the rest of it out from the container. He lights it, blowing out the window.

"Where to?" I was so focused on how elegantly he smoked. Most men look rough and unpleasant but he did it so effortlessly. "Oh, yea uhh make a right."

Going down the road the view was the same from the bus but better, it was through an open window and the wind hit my face as my hair flew in the wind. "Do I have a dog or a lady in my car?" he comments, Ouch. I sit back down and close the window. I look down at my hands and wished to somehow get rid of the moment. "I was only playing.." he says.

He pulls up to my tiny tan home, parking. "Last stop of the day: home." he says facing me before putting his hand out for me to shake. I smile and do as his action asks. I look back to see a face peaking out from the curtains, most likely my mothers. "Thank you for today, and the ride.." Eye contact was never my strong suit but with him that's all I could ever do. Looking away was like a sin. "Thank you as well, the company was needed." I jump out of the car, almost tripping as I step from the Lincoln to the ground. He backs out and I begin walking to the door before I hear, "Wait, Vienna" I look over to see him reaching out the window, signaling me to come back.

"Yes?"

"Will you be needing a ride tomorrow?"