The Art of Starting Over

The Learning

“So how’s your first hangover?!” My dad yells with an amused face, so loud, my head feels like it’s splitting in two. “Ugh dad please, don’t you love and care about your only child?” I moan putting my head on the dining table and wrapping my arms around it. He chuckles opening the fridge and placing a gatorade in front of me with a bottle of ibuprofen. “Gavin dropped this off this morning he said this was his hangover cure.” I peeked my head out and grabbed both willingly. “What’s for breakfast this morning?!” Stephen yells from behind me and I groan and put my head back down. “You guys must not love me after all.” Dad and Stephen both laugh at me and Stephen pats me on the back. “Of course we do but one of the joys of being a parent is well it’s torturing your kid.” He says chuckling, I roll my eyes and smile. “I have to start getting ready for work.” I stand up and make my way to my bedroom, today I decide to go with a simple dress heels and a cardigan with only mascara and i throw my hair in a ponytail. I slowly make my way out of my house when I get a text. ‘Greasy food and lots of water - xoxo Gav’ I smile sending back a quick thank you and head to the nearest burger place.

Today was a lot of groaning back and forth between me and Gina when we spent our whole lunch with the curtains in her office closed and spread out over her two lounge couches for clients, by the end of the work day we were both feeling a bit better and decided to catch some dinner with the gang. “Sevyyyyy.” Nadia sang. “Tell me about Mr.Curls you spent all night talking to at the bar?” She asked and eyebrow raised towards me a smile on her lips. “Oh I forgot nothing really I just drunk ranted to him and gave him my i********: he has’t dm’d me yet, maybe he has a girlfriend.” I say picking at my pasta plate frowning. “He did seem cool, but honestly I’m not ready for all that yet.” Nadia nodded placing a ravioli in her mouth. “If he’s a good guy he’ll wait, you’re definitely worth the wait and nothings wrong with starting out as friends.” Gavin said stealing one of Nadia’s raviolis she elbowed him playfully. “Get out of here.” She said through a full mouth, I giggled. “I just need my friends right now anyways, I’ve missed you guys and my parents so much, I’m just focusing on myself, my parents and my friends.” Ember placed her hand on mine. “We will always be here through thick and thin girlie.” Gina groaned in agreement, poor girls still going through it. “Embers right, you have us, loving family and a good job f**k men, who needs them, I’ve done fine without them.” Cali says giving me a kiss on the cheek, Ember rolls her eyes. “Babe that is not the same but I do agree.” I nod and smile. “Me too.” Nadia and I walk home after dinner, arm in arm reminiscing about the walks home from school we used to take and laughing. “Hey Sevyn!” A deep voice yells from behind us, we both turn around to a heap of curls as Noah put his hands on his knees catching his breath. “I’ve been trying to get your attention for 3 blocks.” He gasps out. “God for 2 women in heels you guys sure walk quick.” We both look at him trying not laugh. “Um not in a creepy way, I just live down this way too and um I’m not following you I was just walking home from work, and I saw you and I was trying to see if you guys wanted to walk together but I was pretty far behind and-“ I put my hand up both of us erupting with laughter. “You don’t need to explain yourself Noah.” I giggle out. “You’re so funny I can’t believe you ran all the way over to us, you must have really wanted to talk, huh?” I tease raising and eyebrow. “I’m going to go take a taxi or something my feet hurt, I’ll leave you guys to it, I’m Nadia by the way.” Nadia smiles as they make introductions and starts trying to hail a cab. “If you murder her, I’ll come find you I know your name now!” She shouts from the sidewalk as we’re walking away, I giggle but I know she means it, Noah swears he has no such thing in mind and promises to protect me from any potential sketch balls on our way.

“So I’m glad I ran into you actually, such a big city but a small world sometimes, your i********: is private by the way.” He says smiling playing with a curl between two fingers. “I totally forgot I did that so I didn’t get harassed by any of my ex’s friends.” I say palming my forehead. “It’s okay, I tried to message you and I realized but maybe now you’re sober I could get your number or something.” He looks at me sweetly I hadn’t even noticed last night he’s got the sweetest looking honey brown eyes, that just make you want to trust him. I gave him my number and engaged in some small talk and jokes. “What do you do for work?” He asks “I work for my friends dad’s company making websites and graphic designs for advertisers.” He nods and whistles. “Pretty and a computer nerd, you’re full of surprises.” I smile blushing. “What do you do?” I asked shyly. “I’m an artist, you can actually catch my work in a few galleries all over the US and some in France, I do mostly paints and sculptures, some photo work on the side my parents own a few photography studios, they do work for some important people so they’re always traveling thats why they left me their old house they’re never there, they’re always… somewhere else.” He sighs. “But I do a lot of work with their smaller clients here in the city.” I listen enthusiastically watching the shift in his mood as he tells me, I don’t wanna step out of line and ask about his distant parents, so I decide to keep it light. “Seems like you’re really passionate about art my parents would love you, you should meet them sometime, they actually have a few houses around the city but their favorite is the art district, they actually probably know your work.” I say enthusiastically and he blushes, his eye lighting up. “Well I’d love to meet them, what are they like?” I tell him about my wild child parents and how wonderful they are. “Okay actually I know just who your parents are they actually own one of the galleries where I bring some art, I’ve met your mom, Nancy? Before wonderful lady, really warm energy.” He says as I spot my house coming up I nod. “Well this is me, it was nice walking with you maybe we can walk again sometime.” I say wishing the conversation didn’t have to end, it almost felt like we could talk about nothing and everything for hours. “I’d like that Sevyn, I’ll text you hopeful to see you around.” He winks and starts walking back the way we came. “Where do you live?” I shout after him, he turns around with a grin running his fingers through his bundles of curls. “About 3 blocks back that way, just wanted to keep talking.” I laugh and wave him goodbye before going inside. What a goof. I think taking off my heels and leaning against the door.

My phone chimes and the butterflies in my stomach are hopeful that it’s Noah.

‘Sev omg that boy is adorable I watched you guys walk past my house sooo cute and he’s tall just like you like ;)’ Nadia texts me and I giggle. ‘I think I will keep it casual with him for now but idk i do like him just not looking to jump into anything.’ I put my phone down and sprawl out on my bed, this is a problem. I do like him, I like him a lot but I have to take things slow before I get myself into a situation, I don’t care to be in again. My phone chimes again. ‘So I don’t mean to be too forward and I know you probably need more time but I have a showing coming up at an upcoming gallery this weekend would you like to go as friends? -Noah’ I smile and save his number thinking of what Gav said earlier, there’s nothing wrong with making new friends even if it doesn’t go anywhere. ‘I’d love to.’ I reply then double text Nadia to fill her in. ‘Awesome it will be hard to keep my eyes on the art when the most beautiful piece will be right next to me but I’ll try’ I blush at his response and feel the butterflies creeping back up, this calls for another shopping trip. ‘omggg sevyyyyy okay im more excited about this than u but this boy gives me good vibes.’ I smile wider knowing Nadia approves she usually never approves of anyone I like she hated Ritchie from the moment she saw him. I text her back a smiley face. ‘I guess I have to wear a bag over my head so I don’t distract you.’ I reply to Noah. ‘Lol don’t do that I think it would be a crime to hide your beauty, I’m sure all eyes will be on you tho will make me feel good when i have the prettiest girl in the city on my arm.’ Wow I hide my face in my pillow imagine a guy who actually wants to show me off instead of keeping me locked inside a house. ‘In that case I’ll wear my best rags… only in the city :(‘ Before I can even swipe out of the chat his 3 bubbles pop back up. ‘oops I misspoke the galaxy.’ I roll my eyes and grin. ‘Okay now that’s too far, you ever see an alien babe? kinda hot.” I get my shower things together as I wait for a reply. ‘Actually I’ve seen many and you outshine all of them even the martians arguably the hottest of the alien babes.’ I laugh out loud at this one. ‘Well I’ll take the compliment I’ll talk to you later I’m going to shower and go to bed, I’m still nursing a little hangover.’ He tells me to feel better and sends me the details for the show this weekend.

Nadia facetimed me three times while I was in the shower, I quickly dry off, lotion up and throw on a big tshirt before calling her back. When she picks up I see she’s standing on my porch. “Girl if you dont let me in your house right now.” I laugh then hang up and run down to let her in. “Let me see your phone.” She says with a grin and scrolls through my chats with Noah. “Ugh you guys are melting my ice cold heart, I don’t want to sound pushy but I am routing for him, he seems like he gets your sense of humor which dickheads who shall not be named didn’t.” I nod, she’s right Ritchie never thought I was funny. “I’m not sure I just I like him, he’s cute, he’s so sweet, and I feel like I could talk to him for hours.” Nadia nods happily. “Well make sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket but I do like him.” Just then my mom comes down and greets Nadia, we fill her in about Noah. “Ah yes I have met him, a wonderful artist with a good head on his shoulders, I know his parents too, really lovely family, they do work with the Madonna, they used to do bowie too you know, all the greats.” My mom says sitting us down at the kitchen island then grabbing some ice cream for us all to enjoy. “Please do invite him for dinner sometime, I believe he’s a good italian boy your father could make his grandmother’s old recipe.” Mom said digging her spoon into some chocolate ice cream. “Well don’t start planning the wedding just yet mom, I just met the kid.” She smiles at me and wags her spoon my way. “Yes but I have a good feeling about him, you know he teaches boxing to inner city kids in his free time.” Jeez this guy is everywhere. “Nancy how do you know that?” Nadia says laughing, somehow my mom knows everything about everyone in this big city my friends and I used to joke she was the inspiration for Gossip Girl. “You know how I just know things, I forget how I find out but I find out everything I could probably work for the fbi at this point, speaking of did you hear about Charles and Elizabeth from the Upper East?” She asks eyes wide we both shake our heads, she leans in and says in almost a whisper like we’re bugged. “Their kid, just 16 killed them in their sleep, bludgeoned them with a baseball bat, absolutely horrible if you ask me but it’s like what what point do you ask yourself maybe it was the parents fault.” I almost choke on my ice cream. “That’s insane.” Nadia and I say at the same time looking at each other. “I used to tutor that kid, he did always seem troubled and angry.” I mutter mom nods and we continue conversing about random gossip from around the city. Eventually Nadia heads home and mom and I head back to bed, before that mom whispers in my ear. “He’s a good boy Sevyn I know you’re worried I know you’re scared, but give him a chance.” I nod and give her a big hug. Before I pass out I text Noah a quick goodnight, and he facetimes me we talk for a bit and before I know it I fall asleep on the line.