An Alchemist’s Love

Drunken Texts

By the end of the evening, Genavie had polished off three black cocktails. The medicinal taste that was once bitter now tasted sweet.

"Gee, your breath reeks of licorice" Claire giggled, pushing her best friends face in the opposite direction.

Genavie glanced around the room, the night had properly settled in and it was quickly approaching midnight. The room was filled with beautiful young men and women with red eyeshadow, and gold lipstick. They lounged about across furniture like throw blankets, rather than sitting regularly in their seats. It was as though they were made of cashmere, a fromlesss decoration used for interior design and an occasional cuddle.

The other patrons were mostly men and women in their 40s, they wore whatever attire they wished, some in trench coats while others in minimalist geometric sweats. Claire and Genavie watched from within their pillow fortress, snuggled up in a dim lit corner that no one noticed.

"When worlds collide, universes don't even notice." Genavie said, turning to Claire "It is funny that we think we know people and their habits, but all these little butterflies and their lepidopterists (butterfly collectors) hide in this little town house, drawn to the flame."

Claire casually reached out and took the fourth cocktail from Genavie's hand. She had a tendency to get poetic a couple drink before becoming a belligerent drunk. Best to stop the party while it was still fun.

Claire smirked, "Butterfly enthusiasts and their little needles, pricking every pretty thing they see."

Genavie's smile widened, "I love it when you play along!"

They began to chat again occasionally watching the patrons, but they had come so many times that it was of little interest anymore.

While the girls were lost in their own little world, a man in a grey suit entered the bar. He carried an umbrella, even though there was no rain, and a briefcase that was made of old beaten leather. Beneath his 3 piece suit was a perfectly pressed and starched white dress shirt with the initial "K" on the collar. He made his way to a table in the opposite corner from Genavie and Claire and watched them intently. He took out a small pocket watch and turned the dial three times before tucking it back in his pocket. He then fidgeted a bit before reaching into another pocket and pulling out a small camera. He turned it on and zoomed in on the girls when his lens went black. Standing before him was an old man with a short ponytail peppered black and white. He wore an apron and round spectacles that framed the fury in his eyes.

"I'll be taking that," Richie said, palming the camera and yanking it from the suited man's surprisingly firm grip. "There is no drink here for you or your kind" Richie whispered under his breath, "so get on out of here and don't be bothering those fine ladies. Trust me, you wil regret it with every fiber of your being."

Richie stood smiling ominously while blocking the man's line of sight of the girls. He waited patiently until the man slid off his chair and made his way back out the door. The man moved a little bit too fluidly, like water babbling across a slick surface. Richie followed behind the man, making sure he was not loitering nearby before letting down his bravado. It was time to close up for the night, but first he had to make a call.

Genavie and Claire climbed out of an Uber at her apartment complex on Lennox Hill, they had decided to leave the Volvo at the parking lot and collect it in the morning. Genavie lived with her mother in New York, as she could not justify coughing up the money for a studio. When the elevator arrived at the apartment she was suprised to see the kitchen lights were still on. Her mother was sitting on a bar stool looking out across the skyline when they entered. Upon hearing them she turned to them, a meek smile on her face. For a moment she looked harrowed and strangely old in the evening light, but it quickly vanished as she saw Claire.

"We'll look what the cat dragged in!" Ellalise exclaimed, rushing up to bring Claire into a tight embrace. "Come ladies, hydrate!" She said, walking over to the fridge and taking out a bottle of our favourite sparkling water. Ellalise, a gracious?" she offered.

"A god send!" Claire replied. "How is it you look stunning even in your night gown ?"

Ellalise was wearing a loose magenta smock with a peacock feather pattern along the collar. It was so large it came off both her shoulders and rested around her breasts. She wore nothing beneath, exposing her perfectly tanned (with no bikini lines) skin. The bottom of the smock was sewn into shorts, creating a romper like aesthetic.

"Oh this old thing, I just reworked some of my maternity clothes. It was for a workshop on upcycling clothing. You would have looooved it." She replied to Claire.

Genavie was often asked if she envied her mother's beauty, but she could honestly respond "no". Her mother worked hard at everything, and beauty was the one thing she embodied effortlessly. To be jealous of her beauty would be to deny her other achievements in life.

"You girls must be exhausted, drink up and go to bed. I had a sneaking suspicion we would have you coming over tonight, so I prepared the guest room."

Claire ran over and hugged Ellalise again, "you are the best!" she said, before chugging her drink, waving Genavie a good night and rushing down the hallway.

There was a moment of stillness before Ellalise turned to Genavie.

"How was your night?" She asked

"The usual, went to a bar, had a few drinks."

"I saw your tutor today."

"Oh right, mom, about that. Is it necessary? I don't think I need a tutor."

"It's all already arrange Gee. Can you just give it a chance?"

Genavie paused before replying, "fine, I will give it one more chance."

"Thanks love," she said, walking over and kissing Genavie on the forehead. "I am exhausted. I will see you in the morning."

Genavie watched her mom climb up to the second floor of the apartment and then disappear down the hall. Genavie walked over to the large sofa that faced out to the bay. It was her favourite spot in the house because it had double height ceilings and tons of plants.

laying on her back she whipped out her phone and began texting Flyn. It took a couple different drafts, but she managed to write: "Hi, send me that reading list. I am free Monday morning. Does that work?"

She put her phone away but was surprised to feel it buzz a few moments later. It was 2 AM, why was Flyn still up?

"Okay, Monday works. Forget the list for now, shall we meet at 9 AM?"

"Wow, dude, 9 AM? Why so early?"

"The latest I can do is 10 AM"

"Gotta hit the gym?" She snarked, probably encouraged by the booze.

"No, I work out at around 6 AM, you are welcome to join, hahaha" he replied.

"My bootie just fiiiine without ya'" she replied without thinking.

There was a bit of a pause before she got the reply "haha"

What a lame response, she thought, then put her phone on silent and fell asleep on the couch.

When Flyn received the last message from Genavie he didn't know how to reply. He started with "Cause it don't know what it's missing!" which was vastly inappropriate for a tutor to say to his student. Plus it was condescending. He then tried "I teach many subjects", still too sleazy. He tried a few more before settling on "haha". The moment he sent it he knew how lame it was. There was no point deleting the message and resending, that always look sketch A.F. So he let it be and then went to bed.