You're Always You

Chapter Twenty

Lydia Petrov

Lydia was glad to see that David hadn't showed up to work the next day. She had enjoyed her time talking to him... but after talking to Richie, she wasn't convinced that it was really worth it. Lydia didn't want yelled at that anytime soon again if she could help it.

At least, that was the hope. Lydia hated seeing Richie mad or upset - especially at her.

...She felt like it was out of her control when things like that happened.

However, fortunately, Lydia had the evening off. She had to work the afternoon for Monica's shift, but the evening was free.

Vacant.

To top it all off, it was free for her to do whatever she liked.

Richard had another meeting that evening about the new property he was purchasing. It didn't involve Lydia, therefore Richie told Lydia that she was on her own for dinner. On her own for the evening, really.

And Lydia was bathing in that fact.

Since she was by herself, and didn't have to work, Lydia immediately called and uber and had it drive her to downtown New York City. Just walking around the city made Lydia happy.

There was so much... life. So much activity. So many things to do. So many people playing instruments - though, less now, given the sun was practically set. However, New York City rarely slept - especially the part near downtown.

It was beautiful, in Lydia's opinion.

Lydia would've been just fine sitting and watching the large screens change from one image to another. The videos showing alongside pictures and advertisement.

Or, as Lydia was walking and looking for, shows.

Seeing one of the many theaters, Lydia smiled happily. She gazed up to look at what was currently being performed and what was going to be in the future. Though, one fo the things that made Lydia most happy was all of the brochures and pamphlets that seemed to be tucked just inside of the doors.

...

And Lydia took every single one that was available.

Happily, Lydia began to walk down the street with the papers in her hands. She loved broadway, but could never afford actually seeing any performances. They were expensive. Lydia hoped that for her next anniversary with Richie he would consider purchasing some.

At the same time, knowing her boyfriend, he wasn't going to. Richie wasn't a broadway fan, much like he wasn't a museum fan or fan of art. If anything, Lydia pictured that her boyfriend would try to find an anniversary gift that would be cheap or free for Lydia.

It was why Lydia suspected that he was going to be taking her out with a spray paint can to go graffiti some more.

There were very few walls that Lydia had sprayed her art onto, but the ones that she had made her smile. Even still, Lydia had restrictions. She tried to not spray them on random houses but rather government property - like bridges.

Every time Lydia saw one of her pieces of art, she gave a big, cheeky smile.

Seeing her art plastered around everywhere, like it was in a museum, was a beautiful thing for Lydia. Lydia could only hope that maybe one day an actual museum would want to take her work.

...Not the side of a bridge.

Having her head burrowed down in the broadway pamphlets, Lydia only occasionally looked up. If people passed her papers, she took them with a happy smile - regardless on what was on it. Lydia had received papers mixing between a guitar player to a flyer talking about joining the Mormon church.

...Lydia doubted that they would accept her knowing her career, but she wasn't that interested to begin with anyway.

The flyer that really caught Lydia's attention most, even more than the broadway performance pamphlets, was the flyer about the new museum opening up. Lydia let her eyes glaze over the words on the page, eating up every single thing that it said.

It was also what prompted her to pick up her phone and dial Sasha's number as she walked down the street. Lydia gazed at the pamphlet with a smile as she walked, eventually finding a bench to sit herself down on. The phone continued to ring and ring until it, eventually, just became crushing sadness that Sasha hadn't answered.

Which... made Lydia remember that Sasha was technically working. That even though Lydia wasn't working, Sasha still was.

Picking herself up from her short sad state, Lydia instead opted to dial another dancer friend. Rather, ex-dancer, but it was on her mind. That, and Lydia was confident that Monica wasn't working.

Lydia leaned back against the bench and ignored the busy sounds of the city as the phone rang to Monica, who answered shortly. "Hello?"

"Hey!" Lydia said, perhaps with a bit too much enthusiasm when Monica answered. "Are you busy?"

"No... where are you?"

"Downtown," Lydia said, brushing it off slightly. Her thumb ran across the opening museum flyer and hummed softly into the phone. "...Anyway, how are you?" Lydia asked first, deciding to check on Monica before suddenly questioning her.

"I'm good. Davie helped me figure out what I'm doing with my life, so. No more wasted college, which is a plus." Monica said proudly into the phone, which made Lydia smile for her friend.

That, and Lydia was a bit jealous. Here Monica was, getting her life together while Lydia at twenty-nine was stripping for money.

Life takes people different ways, she supposed.

"What did you decide to do?"

"Fashion design."

Lydia gave a hum and nodded her head. "You sure were particular on what you wore when dancing," Lydia added with a soft chuckle. "But I think that would be good for you. As long as it feels right."

After a moment of silence, primarily because Lydia was humming in thought out loud, Lydia spoke again. "...Hey, so... what are your opinions on museums?"

"Museums are dope. Don't really get to go much, but I'm not opposed. Why, you want a museum buddy?"

"Actually, yeah." Lydia said with a soft laugh into the phone, dropping her head somewhat. "There's this new museum opening next week that I'm excited for. I wanted to go, but Richie wasn't interested in it. I thought I would ask you and Sasha, but Sasha's working, so... I called you to ask first."

"Boys are terrible for doing cool stu-okay, except you, Davie, geez-doing cool stuff with. Richie's whatever. Girl power."

Lydia gave a soft laugh and hung her head somewhat. She ran her thumb over the flyer once more. "Okay. Well... I'll send a picture of the flyer. If you're free, I would be happy to go with you. If not, it's no big deal. I can ask someone else." Lydia smiled, looking back up to watch the people walking by.

"My schedule has become wide open, if you can believe it. I'll totally go. Sounds fun~."

The woman's grin widened more. "That's fantastic," She said giddily into the phone. "No idea how your schedule got so free, though." Lydia joked into the phone, though a slight frown crossed her face. "...I'll see if I can beg Richie to give me time off on opening day. I've been working your shifts as well as mine right now. So... if I can't on opening day, maybe... the day after? Or something?"

"...I'm still sorry about that. But yeah, whatever day works."

Lydia nodded, despite Monica not being able to see. Lydia was sorry for it, too. "Perfect," Lydia said happily into the phone. "I'll talk to you soon, Monica. Goodbye!"

* * * * * 

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XOXO Alice