Serendipity

15- Christmas Lights

Chapter 15

[Bay's pov]

"There's this one, this one, and this one; you choose." Diana held up three dresses, and laid them on her bed.

"Actually, I think I'm fine with what I'm wearing. You get ready, I'll wait." I said, waving my hand.

Diana responded by rolling her eyes and muttering a quiet 'fine', while disappearing into her closet.

Meanwhile, I walked over to the mirror, examining my hair. I put it back, so it was in a curly ponytail. My bangs stopped just above my eyebrows, which I absolutely loved.

"Ready! My make-up is done, I've gotten dressed, my art is in the car, what else... I've got my phone, I think that's it! Bay, I'm ready; are you?"

"I've been ready." I said, watching Diana. As she emerged from her walk-in closet wearing a red dress, heels, and her hair was left down to cascade down her shoulders. "Do you happen to had a cardigan?" I asked, looking down at my short-sleeved dress.

"I have jean jackets; I don't wear cardigans." She said, applying a bit more mascara.

"Oh, right." I deadpanned, nodding.

"Okay, let's go!" She grinned, and stretched her arm out behind her, beckoning me towards her direction.

We stepped outside into the cold night air, the wind whipping at us.

Diana quickly unlocked her car and pulled open the door, sliding quickly inside as I did the same. I closed the door, breathing in the familiar scent of lilac and cheap air freshened that somehow worked together to make the car smell quite lovely.

I put my messenger bag at my feet, taking my phone out of it and instead putting it on my lap.

"Off we go!" Diana exclaimed, starting the vehicle.

My phone vibrated on my leg, and I immediately picked it up, looking to whom it was from.

From: Marshall: 'Have any plans for tonight?(:'

To: Marshall: 'I'm actually going to see an art show tonight.'

From: Marshall: 'What's it called?'

I set my phone down, trying to recall if Diana had told me the name of the show. After deciding that she hadn't told me, I asked her.

"Uh, it's called Gurgison Art Show. Named after the man who hosts it." She replied, nodding as if confirming to herself that it was, indeed, called the Gurgison Art Show.

To: Marshall: 'It's called the Gurgison Art Show.'

From : Marshall: 'See you then!(;'

'See you then'? I wondered what that meant; was he attending the art show as well? Maybe he's coming to support a friend.

Then, it clicked. Marshall is an artist; he's a part of the art show.

A sudden feeling of excitement came over me, and my lips tugged up into a small smile.

"What're you smiling about?" Diana asked in a teasing tone.

"Ah, nothing, I actually really don't know." I quickly answered, even though I did know.

I was excited to see Marshall.

I sighed; what was he doing to me?

"What's on your mind?" Diana asked, interrupting my internal war.

"Huh? Nothing."

"Oh c'mon, Bay, you're smart, you should know that I'm not going to let it go that easily." She softly said, turning the corner.

I didn't respond, just sat quietly, twiddling my thumbs.

"Fine don't tell me. But I will find out, Bay Rivera, I will find out!" She pumped her fist in the air, grimacing.

Not soon enough, we were at the place of the art show. Diana excitedly skipped around to the back of her car, pulling out as many canvases as she could. My flats scuttled across the pavement as I made my way to Diana, picking up the remaining paintings and sculptures.

The cold wind whipped at me, causing my now unruly hair to fly around my head.

I clutched the art to me as I hurried to the door of the place; it was a dark purple barn lit up on the outside by Christmas lights of only yellow. My messenger bag slapped against my hip as I speed-walked, Diana already walking through the doorway. The doors stayed open; and from the inside, I now saw that the ground was made of dark wooden planks, the ally's were painted a calming gray color, and there was light classical music playing from somewhere in the room.

It smelled of paint and clay, and those Christmas lights were strung all across the beams and walls, creating a sense of calamity and inner peace.

"My section is right over here," Diana motioned towards a space in the corner with a table and a small stack of index cards.

I followed her over, and asked what the cards were for.

"Labeling," was all that she said in response.

The barn was quickly filling up, and I was starting to look more and more for Marshall. I didn't want to seem desperate, but I couldn't help it- I was excited to see him, and I couldn't stop myself. I began to walk around some, stopping to look at each booth.

I stopped at one that particularly caught my attention- it had paintings of people and objects, but the colors were so... bright and colorful. I didn't see one sad painting.

"That one's my favorite." A voice said from behind me, causing me to spin on my heel.

As soon as I saw who it was, a smile became evident, and I watched as he grinned as well, wrapping his arms around me in a hug.