The Finer Arts

* Scene: I * Misguided

Narrator:

It was a strikingly beautiful day. Soft white clouds roamed freely in a bright blue sky. The green trees danced carelessly with the wind while basking in pure rays of gold. Meanwhile, that dingus over there- is about to trip and smash her face into a tree.

Nova:

"Fuuuuuc-" That hurt, dammit. Where did that tree come from? I rubbed my forehead brushing any wood chips off but, I can feel the bark impressions. I pout a bit as I pick my phone off the ground. No cracks in the screen. I sigh in relief. I open my messaging app and continue my text to the boyfriend.

Jacob: "where r u?"

Me: '@ ur mom's house -eggplant emoji-"

*Send*

I chuckled to myself, I'm so maniacal.

I stretched, relief shooting through me as my back popped. 247 times, I counted.

Just as I stood up my phone started ringing. Jacob appeared in bold white font.

"Hey baby" I answered.

"hahah you're so funny. I'll tell your dad." His sarcastic laugh always made me smile, that asshole. "...who is actually here right now. In our apartment." Jacob continued and my face dropped. "What the hell? I'm at the park right around the corner. I'll see you in a few!" I couldn't help but exclaim as I hung up and bolted for the apartment. I turned the corner and stopped dead in my tracks.

Uncle Scott stood there pushing his cart in the same direction. He has a long red beard, with more grey than I remembered. He hasn't gotten rid of his old black Timberlands, or Slipknot hoodie. His shoes and shirts have seen better days for sure; They're mostly kept together now by duct tape and dental floss. Even through main Street traffic and the rattling of those cursed cart wheels I think he heard me gasp.

He looked up and started waving, "hey 'dere shweety!" My face burned from embarrassment, but we made eye contact so it was a little too late to run now. I waved back sheepishly, "He-" A car drove through the road between our separated sidewalks so I started screaming. Purely out of aggravation. "HEY UNCLE SCOTT!" It was silent. No cars to provide rhythm, or dogs to fill in vocals. Silence. He chuckled and just like that started crossing the road. "You din't need ta screen." A car came flying up the hill and this raggedy ass was taking his sweet freaking time crossing the road! "Uhm, Uncle you should hurry o-or you know what -" seconds were ticking by and I froze like a deer in headlights. "th-there's a car coming!" My head whirled with adrenaline and fear. A wave of voices and memories crashed into my subconscious. I couldn't think straight.

*squeak squeak squeak thump*

"heydidyouhea-icantbelievethe-igotthepromo!"

It was everywhere.

*squeak squeak squeak thump*

"aretheysti-whydoesmydickbur-isfourinchessma-!?*

It wouldn't stop.

Please just. Make. It. Stop!

"ey shweety, you a'ight? " His croaky worn voice and the end of those cursed cart wheels squeaking broke the cycle. Thank. God. I sighed in relief and realized I was crouched on the ground holding my head. I breathed, trying to regain composure as I stood, "heeey, how's it going?"

"it's a'ight. Rode down 'er fer yer college party." Wait. what?

".. wait. what college party?"

"yer dad invited me to yer place to celebrate yer college acceptance letter! " He started hobbling away as I froze in place.

Oh.

Shit.

I haven't even told Jacob I got accepted.

Oh s**t. s**t. s**t. s**t! But wait, there's more! My dad AND uncle are at MY apartment. My dad was the one who invited uncle Scott in the first place. Those two don't do well together in the same state. I hit the panic button.

Do I try to stop him?

No, that means Jacob is spending more alone time with my dad. I bit my lower lip. That's no good either.

"Now hold on! Why hasn't Dad called me to let me know he's visiting MY place? " I grabbed the edge of the basket as I stood in front of it; Which was a very bad idea. I think I'm caught up on my tetanus shots. It didn't phase Uncle Scott one bit though, "Cus it's a surprise!" He shook me loose from his cart and scooted around me. I admit defeat and follow his feet as I look up my dad's phone number. I haven't looked at his contact picture in a long time. Instead of a wave they came in like a faucet this time.

____w.___ h.____ y._

____yo.__ u.__

________DRIP.__.

___co.__uldn't._DRIP.__

________stay.___.go.

daddyiss-ddyissues-cautionwetfloo-

Silly voices, they don't know what they're talking about. My head feels like it's about to explode, but I dial his number. * ring.. ring..* Expresso. I thought to myself then chuckled a bit, priding myself in my child-like humor.

Until I heard his voice. "Nova? uh.. hi." I stepped on a stick and broke my concentration on what to say, and my surroundings. I really don't want to run into another damn tree; I felt my forehead wondering if there were still impressions. Nope, all good. "Hey dad.. look, so I ran into your favorite hobo. He informed me that.. you're at my house..?" I drew nervous circles on the outside of my thigh. "s**t, f**k, motherfucker ruined the surprise! God damn good for nothi-" he uttered more profanities into the phone. "did you.. tell Jacob anything about the... college situation?" My question seemed to take him off guard.

"College situation?.. what college situation? OH! Have I told Jacob about your acceptance letter to Southeastern Arts Institute? ... In fact, no I haven't. Hey Jaco-" I watched the world crumble around me as I faded into hell. I deserve this. Goodbye cruel world, tell my pups I love them. Tell my dad not to bury me under a tree. I don't want birds shitting on my tombstone all the time.

Jacob is going to kill me. I raced home, leaving my uncle in the wind. I raced up the stairs and to our door. As I took a minute to regain my breath I found myself thankful; Good luck getting your stupid cart up those, I thought to myself.

I turned the knob and walked in to- I don't know how to describe it other than, hell itself. Jacob swiveled around to face me from his computer desk. His usual stoic, warm, and understanding face is now sour and cold. His thoughtful, curious dark green eyes are now hurt and hollow. My heart got ripped from my chest looking at him. My best friend, boyfriend, lover, the best dungeon master a girl could hope for, on the game table or the bedroom, of 8 years was looking at me like he's never seen me before. I couldn't peel my eyes off Jacob.

I pushed through my dad and embraced his lanky frame. "I'm so sorry, I should've told you sooner. I was waiting for the right time. " By now I'm sobbing into the turn of his neck, inhaling his cedar scented shampoo. I loved it, it complemented his pheromones nicely and I could never get enough of it. I've missed it dearly since we haven't been sleeping together. He's been sleeping on the couch the last few days, so I've been starved of cedar.

"Nova, it's been a month since you received the letter. I found it in the closet. " He points to it on his desk. Sure enough, it was the acceptance letter I received about a month ago. Signed, sealed and delivered.

On his computer screen he was looking into the University I was going to. I was at a loss for words. Jacob had plenty to say though, "When is enrollment and whatnot?" I tightened my grip around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. I mumbled "August" into his shirt. He sighed, annoyed. He plucked me off his shirt like a little bug and had me repeat myself. "So you were just going to let the lease end and leave me? Is that it?" Jacob tightened his grasp on my shoulders and shook my arms a bit, but never raised his voice. His eyes were getting red and glassy, ready to cry too. "No! I'd never do that! I was thinking you could move to Shickasaw with me! " My voice is growing in pitch and desperate love.

I cannot contain myself around this wonderful young man. He is my world and I would take a bullet for him. "Then you told me you got accepted for the school here in the city. I don't want to get in the way of your dreams! " My eyes are shut tight as tears are wet my shirt. I couldn't see the relief on Jacobs face as he pulled me to his chest. Wait. I'm confused. I felt him exhale a sigh of relief as he pushed his face against the top of my head. "I'm sorry I overreacted like that. You know things have been rough for us for a while now and so.. I thought the worst." He chuckled before continuing, " I can take online courses, I am studying to be in IT after all. Their online courses must be pretty solid." I jump up with excitement. "So we can look for a place in Shickasaw together? " He nodded in confirmation.

I have been resurrected from hell and now, I cry in the arms of an angel; also staining his Red Hot Chili Peppers shirt with mascara.

The gleeful moment didn't last long. My dad spoke up. "Well, what are you going to study ?"