The Love Rectangle

Chapter 7

I wake up to a text from Sean. It's a kissy face and princess emoji. I shoot off a winky face back. What am I doing? This is complicated even though it shouldn't be. There's Mike and Connor and Jen and Brian and Sam- when all it should be is me and Sean.

Kat knocks on my door before letting herself in. She glances at Sam's bed to make sure she's at class before speaking.

"Sam is pretty pissed that you were at Sean's last night. She nearly had a heart attack after Brian called her," Kat says flatly. "Cee, don't let her bother you. Do what you want. Sean doesn't like Sam. He likes you. You just need to decide if you like him."

I cover my head with my blanket and groan.

"I do like him. There's not much to dislike except for the fact that he's still involved with his ex WHO happens to be dating my good friend. It's killing Connor, I swear. I've never seen him so gloomy. He's totally in love with Jen, and I think she's playing him."

We sit in silence for a minute.

"Not to make this all about me or anything, but can we talk about the studio tomorrow tonight?"

Oh no, I almost forgot that I promised to help Kat with her art assignment tonight.

"Yes!" I try to sound sincerely enthusiastic.

"You said you were down for anything, right?"

"Kat, you're my best friend in the whole world. You're not even judging me for getting wrapped up in these soap opera circumstances. I'll do whatever you need."

I'm sincere about this part.

"OK, I need you at the studio at 7. Be sure to eat a little something before you get there. You can shower, but don't wash your hair. Oh, and you may want to throw some extra abs into your workout today and tomorrow."

She winks and jets off before I can question anything. I don't really care what she has in mind. I'd do anything for her.

The next evening, I grab Kat's favorite vanilla latte on my way to the studio, and arrive promptly at 7. There are tons of art students feverishly working on canvases, paper and other media I can't identify. Kat is frazzled. She always gets this way when her creative juices are flowing. She air kisses me, and snags the latte without so much as a thank you. She is in the zone.

"Go put these on, and come right out."

She hands me a matching brown bra and panty set. It's an unusual brown color, but the lacy fabric is kind of cute, I suppose. I raise an eyebrow, but Kat shoves me toward a dressing screen before I can protest. The next thing I know I'm standing in underwear in front of a studio filled with arts students who I don't know. Funny enough, no one seems fazed by my practical nudity, which is actually reassuring.

"This is Ty. He's a photographer, and we're working together for this exhibit," Kat hurriedly introduces me.

Ty is very moody and very gay. He adjusts lighting and backdrops while Kat starts teasing up my hair. She turns a fan on me, and sprays massive amounts of extra-hold hair spray. The end result is very messy and very big hair, but Kat seems pleased with the outcome.

Apparently, I am her canvas today. She has plans to paint my entire body in henna-like paint. Then Ty will photograph me. Some of the pictures will be full body poses to showcase Ty's skills while some will be closeups of Kat's paintings.

The paint is cold at first, but I get used to it. Kat is amazingly talented, and I'm in awe of her designs. Some are mancala-like shapes and others are small landscape scenes. She starts on my feet and works her way up to shoulders, stopping at the base of my neck. All of my skin is a patchwork of paintings.