Waterline

Hardwork to Smartwork

"How are you going to express to PJ your feelings?" Darrel asked he dreaded saying that but now that the plans have changed the problem didn't get solved. Libby slowly looked up, she completely forgot about the objective. She had to give a small thought before coming up with another plan. "I got it! You deliver all the frames and then I give mines to PJ, I can even make a note on the back," Libby smiled at her new plan. She almost forgot her whole reasoning for those projects, good thing that Darrel reminded her.

Libby and Darrel both spent the next few minutes painting the picture frames. Barely a word was exchanged between the two. "How do you like it?" Libby flipped her frame to show Darrel her accomplishment. Only the bottom part was complete but it still gave a lot of character. Each monster had a unique expression or quality and was given a vibrant color. Darrel found it to look fit. "It's perfect, Penelope would love it," Darrel told her. Libby's smile grew as he said that. "I can't wait for her to get it!" Libby told him.

Time went by quickly as usual. It was almost 12 and Darrel didn't want a repeat from yesterday. "We should clean up, it's already late," Darrel said. Libby turned her head towards the clock and nods. "Yeah, I don't want to deprive you from your sleep," she told him. Darrel smiled as he got up and started to clean the area. He cleaned out the paints that he used them he put the other material under the table. The portraits were still on the table, even the ones that weren't painted yet.

"You can leave the picture frames on the table to dry," Libby said, she truly didn't mind the mess. She doesn't have many people visit her house, she referred to go to their houses. Libby looked at both of the picture frames. They had a different aesthetic. One was childish and colorful while the other was old fashioned and literate. Darrel had the whole frame painted brown and light shading to show that it was an old paper. That was all Darrel could actually do. He had to wait for the paint to dry before he wrote the words on it.

"I hope you have a good night," Darrel waved as he was about to leave.
"Oh, wait!" Libby stopped him. Darrel turned around and looked a bit confused.
"Are you going to see Albany perform tomorrow?" Libby asked.
"Yeah, are you?" Darrel asked her, he wasn't sure where that question came from.
Libby nod her head then ask, "Are you going to work tomorrow?"
"No," Darrel answered. Libby turned out to be excited to hear that.
"How about we work on the project earlier then ride together to the concert?" Libby suggested. She was hoping he would agree but she wasn't going to pressure him.
"Sure, I would like that," Darrel responded. This could be a good moment to spend time with her and not have to work on a project.

Both of them exchanged their goodbyes and left for the night. Darrel had the same reaction as usually. He wished he could talk to Libby a bit more instead of working in silence. Darrel hopes that the next day would involve a bit more talking.

The next day

Ashley sat down next to the speaker. She plugged in each cord to their appropriate spot. All morning she worked on setting up the equipment for the band. Jonas was busy assigning this time for each performance. He had different people singing tonight but he wanted Albany to be the real star. They were going to play three songs. Two close to the middle and one to close the concert. It was the first that Albany gets to perform with other singers and bands playing. Hopefully, it turns out well for them.

Ashley had a lot more work to do. She's already been through a lot. She walked around the seating area to get to every speaker. It didn't help that the morning had a burning sun. Ashley fixes each speaker as the sun tormented her. Then she got greasy from cleaning the backstage that was filled with junk. It was a rough morning but there was still a lot of work to be done.

The sound of a honking trunk made Ashley stop what she was doing. She walked towards the backstage exit. Outside was a truck and she knew who it belonged two. Toby got out of his car to greet his girlfriend. "How has your morning been?" He asked her.
"Tiring..." Ashley sighed. It was mostly hard work all day long.
"Yeah, and this sun isn't forgiving," Toby commented. It was a hot day, Toby was already starting to sweat. "We should get my drums unpacked," Toby said. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Oh, god! I regret that!" Toby bellowed. He then started spitting the sweat and grease that was on Ashley. Her reaction was just laughing at his misery.

"I don't have time for this tomfoolery," Ashley teases as she climbed up the bed of the truck. Ashley and Toby both worked together to get the drum set out of the truck. Then they had to set it up on the stage. The drum set had to stay in the back so it can be invisible for the other artists when they play. Moving the drum set is too much work and hooking it up to the speakers also wastes time. It was best to leave it on stage.

Toby helped Ashley reassure that the speakers are working. She had to do a lot of walking to hear each speaker. Then had to check the sound quality. Jonas loved having his theatre working perfectly. No one could blame him, he wouldn't get much money if he had a reputation for being a bad theatre. Ashley dragged herself up the stairs and back to the stage. A huge sigh escaped from her lips as she slumped on the floor. "Why does it have to be this day for the sun to come out?" Ashley questioned.
"The sum god must not like you," Toby teased. Ashley playfully rolled her eyes at him.

Jonas walked towards the stage and was grateful to see Toby and Ashley. "Did you check all the speakers?" He asked her.
"Yeah, all of them are in good condition," Ashley reported to him.
"You worked hard. My sister bought juice pouches and made cookies. You can have some then go home and rest cause I'll need you when the concert starts," Jonas told her. He ushered for them to go backstage. Ashley and Toby both went backstage to see a small cooler full of juice pouches and on the table was a plate filled with cookies.

Ashley grabbed a juice pouch and then took a drink. It felt great for her to finally cool down. Toby went straight for the cookies. "Hey Ashley, this is my sister Molly," Jonas walked in with a girl with brown hair that sorta looked like him.
"We've known each other for a while," Ashley told him.
"Oh, really?" Jonas questioned.
"You two are related?!" Toby commented but no one gave him too much attention.
"Yeah, mom would always visit her parents and we would hang out with each other," Molly explained.
"When was this?" Jonas asked her.
"About a year after you went to Silverfish Boarding School," Molly said.
"Makes sense," Jonas concluded.
Molly smiled and said, "I'm going to walk around the boardwalk."
"Be safe," Jonas told her.

Ashley and Toby both snacked on cookies and drank their juice pouches. Jonas watched the two, he was starting to get upset that Logan wasn't here with him. The two of them acting cute together makes him miss being in a relationship. The way that Ashley teases Toby by stealing all the cookies he was about to eat. Then watching Toby squirt the juice pouch on Ashley. It looked so much fun.

"You can go home and clean up but make sure to be here by six," Jonas told Ashley. He has everything else settled and decided that Ashley should get a small break in between. "Yeah, I need to clean up," Ashley looked down at her messy clothes.
"I'll drive you," Toby said.
"Obviously, we live together and you need to go home too," Ashley teased him.
"I wasn't planning on getting my car seat dirty," Toby told her.
"Who cares?" Ashley said.

The two of them went back to Toby's truck and drove back home. Toby didn't care about his seat. Ashley was able to clean up and rest for the rest of the day. Toby stayed with her and they both got to rest before the concert.