Forever Glamorous

Chapter 9

AFTER GOING FOR A small swim, consuming way too many chips and a good amount of questionable beer, Aura set her eyes on Tyson.

He sat by himself, sipping on his beer and staring at the ocean. Aura shook her head and made her way towards him. She plopped down beside him and brought both of her legs to her chest. They stayed in silence for a minute, just taking in the scene in front of them.

The soft crashes of the waves enticed her. It brewed a calm peace within she hoped to enjoy more often. It was further accentuated by the warm oranges that painted the sky. It shifted into a bright pink as she sighed at the heavenly view.

When she turned to Tyson to see if he was enjoying the beauty of nature, she realized he was more into the blanket under them than anything else.

"What's with the gloomy face?" she finally asked.

"Who says I have a gloomy face?" he retorted, looking up at her. He took another swig of his beer and turned back towards the ocean. The faint waves created a whimsical song for anyone walking by to enjoy. Aura wanted to wrap herself in a fluffy blanket and fall asleep right there, but it was clear that Tyson wasn't in the same dream-like trance from the view.

"Okay, seriously, what's up?" she continued.

Tyson sighed and let his shoulders fall. "You ever feel like time is running out?" He looked over at Aura, who started picking at the sides of her nails. It was a feeling she knew all too well.

"Yeah," she whispered.

As a makeup artist, she feared that she wasn't going anywhere with her skills. Her social media had never blown up like others. She had a degree in cosmetology, but, other than that, she had no real achievements. She managed to live by getting gigs here and there. Prom season was always a blessing because she got a long list of teenage girls who wanted to look good for their special night. Otherwise, she spent her time trying to land a legit job or become recognized for her abilities. Sometimes she felt like she would never make it, and life was but a bitter joke, but she had hope.

"I try to remember that everyone has a different path." Aura shrugged. She tried not to measure her success, or lack thereof, with anyone else's, although it proved to be difficult when everything was so accessible online. "I'm trying to win my race, not anyone else's."

"Who knew Aura Chandler could be so wise?" Tyson teased.

Aura shoved him playfully. They continued poking each other, laughing like little kids, before settling down again. She continued chuckling every once in a while as Tyson shook his head at her.

"What brought this on though?" she asked after they settled down. He swirled his beer, shrugging at the question.

"I really thought I'd be something big by now," Tyson muttered.

Her eyes settled on the tight grip on his plastic cup as she grasped the meaning of his words. She interlaced her fingers together and stared over at the horizon.

"Tyson, you are doing something with your life," she spoke up. "You have a business. You are providing for your family. That is big." Her eyes found his in the new darkness of the night settling over them.

"Yeah, but you know what I mean," he continued. "It's just that a few buddies of mine recently graduated and they all landed big jobs, you know? And I just wonder if that could've been me. I'm happy for them, I am, I just..."

"You're just trapped in the toxic cycle of what if's," she finished for him.

He released a breath and nodded. She had a similar feeling whenever she stalked old classmates online. She stopped doing so when she realized how harmful it was for her. She shouldn't care about anyone's life but hers. If they succeeded in life, good on them. They worked for it, they deserved it. She would be working for her big break too, and she hoped that she'd get it soon.

"I wanted to study architecture," Tyson added. "This was the next best thing." He shrugged, swishing the remaining beer in his cup around.

"So why don't you study architecture?" Aura leaned back, staring at his side profile from a better angle.

He shrugged again. "Because I can't. I have Nana to think of. I don't have money to study."

Aura bit down on her lip. "You can look for scholarships, consider loans, raise money...You can look for an online program if you want to stay with Mrs. Smith. There are options, Tyson. If you want it, go get it."

He shook his head again. "It's harder than you think, but I like your confidence."

Aura was about to suggest more alternatives when Daniel and Corey went over and offered them more beer. She declined, but Tyson took a bit more. She realized she hadn't seen Juniper or Sofía in a while, but, when she looked around, they were splashing each other in the water accompanied by a few other guys and girls. She considered joining them, but she felt more inclined to stay with Tyson than deal with new people. 

She stayed quiet, and Tyson didn't seem to want to continue talking about his fears and lost dreams. She frowned, wanting to do something about it, but knew she couldn't. Sometimes life wasn't too glamorous, and they all had to learn to live with it. But she liked to think she could make it glamorous.

Find glamour in the non-glamorous. Maybe you didn't get the job position you liked, but at least you have a job. Maybe that person rejected you and you were madly in love with them; well, sucks on them, their loss, now you can find someone who'll love you unconditionally.

Life wasn't about sulking at the dullness, it was about accepting the dullness and always hunting for the glamour. Because how else would life have meaning?

You can't have good if there isn't bad.

But gazing over at Tyson, she realized he didn't view the world that way. She didn't blame him. He had lived a difficult life, losing both his parents tragically and living with his only grandmother. She had no doubts that his past demons still haunted him, and would continue for who knows how long.

Aura just hoped that in the few weeks she was there, he could see her as a light in his life, and not another dull moment that weighed him down.