Crisan and Tori were working in Red's Diner at night, there were little customers on a weekday even at dinner time. Munro, Thelma, and Marcus were there too sitting together with a window side of the restaurant, and Thelma was helping Marcus with his homework and Munro was doing his work on his computer then Regine approached them.
"Hey, how are you guys doing?", Regine asked them.
"We're good, thank you!", Thelma replied to her," what about you, Munro?".
"I might get another cup of coffee later", Munro said to them.
"Great, by the way, are you going to Charlie's marathon?", Regine asked Thelma. Munro suddenly stopped from what he was doing.
"Yes, I'm going", Thelma answered with excitement, "gonna want to maintain my beautiful physique".
"Diddo, I think I've been around pastries for so long", Regine said to her, "I think my junk is big enough to put suitcases".
"Oh, please, you look good," Thelma told her, "Charlie has the hots on you". Crisan and Tori were just finishing up their tasks and walked up to them.
"You guys are going to Mr. Gordon's marathon?", Crisan asked them.
"Yeah, he told us he asked you, kids, too", Thelma asked them.
"Yep, I'm going", Munro answered her.
Then Thelma looked at the two girls, "and you two?", she asked them, "you know it's been a while since you guys run".
"And it can help you with thinking about what you'll do at the art show", Regine said.
"Alright, I'll go, maybe good exercise can help me with my creativity block", Crisan said, Tori looked at her and nodded.
"I guess, I'll go too", Tori said to them.
"Great", Regine said.
"And speaking of the art show, I just finished editing our photoshoot", Munro told them, everyone was surprised and excited.
"Thanks, Munro!", Tori said to him, "can we see them?".
"Sure, check it out", Munro said,
"Oh, I want them", Thelma said to him.
"Sure, I'll just put my laptop here for you guys to see", Munro replied then put his laptop down on the coffee table and everyone gathers around to see the pictures. Munro has his hands on the keyboard of his laptop and pressing the arrow key every two seconds to see the next picture and everyone was amazed at it.
"Wow! you look so lovely here, Crisanta", Regine complimented.
"Thanks, Regine", Crisan said to her and looked at the pictures again.
"These are amazing", Thelma said to them, "you kids did a great job".
"I'll speak for the three of us, so thank you!", Tori said to her then giggled and everyone chuckled. Then Thelma saw something on one of the pictures.
"Hey, that one is something else", Thelma noticed and they looked at the picture she was talking about and it was the picture that Tori and Munro liked and Crisan's eyes open wide when she saw it.
"Yeah, that's the one Munro and I will be presenting and of course, Crisan will be sharing the credit", Tori responded.
"The judges will love it ", Thelma said to Tori.
"Thanks, Mrs. R", Tori replied to her with a smile on her face.
"Yeah, thanks, Mrs. R", Munro said to Thelma," I'm glad that you guys liked it".
"Of course, sweetie", Thelma said to him.
"Well, this calls for some cakes", Regine cheered, "it's on the house. Oleg, come in here and join the celebration", then everyone was surprised and looked at each other.
"Regine, you don't have to do that", Crisan said to her.
"It's fine, plus these cakes will be wasted on a weekday", Regine insisted, "so come on, let's get them out of the counter".
"Alright", Tori answered. They ran to the dessert display and each grabbed a cake, one was a half of blueberry cheesecake, one-third of a strawberry cake and quarter of a chocolate cake then went back to the table.
"Yay! cake", Marcus said with excitement.
"Okay, sweetie, since you finished your homework, you can have one cake", Thelma told him.
"Okay, mommy", Marcus agreed.
Then Thelma turned and looked at Crisan, "you too, young lady", she told her.
"Yes, mom", Crisan reluctantly answered. Tori and Munro looked at each other and started laughing at Crisan.
"You guys too", Regine said to Tori and Munro and they sighed.
"Yes, Regine", they answered her then they cut a piece and began eating the cake.
The next day, swim practice was over in Augustus High School and Gage was still on his trunks wet and was still in the pool settling on the side.
"Great job, everyone", Coach Griffin said to the team, "let's do this again on Tuesday".
"Thanks, Coach", Gage said to him. The Coach left then as Gage was about to get out of the pool he looked up and saw somewhere at almost at the top of the bleachers, he saw Courtney who was watching the swim practice and looked sad. Gage got out of the pool and stood up then waved at her.
"Hey, Courtney", he called her. Courtney put on a smile on her and waved back at him then got down from the bleachers and walked towards him.
"What are you doing here?", Gage asked her.
"What? I can't come here anymore?", she joked and she laughed a little.
"Okay, so what's up?", he asked her again, "why are you here? you know Mr. Griffin might get ticked off if he sees you".
"I just want to watch that's all", Courtney moaned.
"Yeah, I get it", he said to her, "anyways, I'll just go change and let's go walk home together".
"Okay," she said to him with a smile. Later, they were walking together on a windy afternoon and Gage started to shiver, "oh! God, it's cold".
"I guess", she said, "because from all that swimming that your body temperature is dropping".
"Yeah, maybe", Gage said.
"I can't believe I will miss this season's tournament", she complained.
"Just this one, until the next semester", Gage reminded her.
"I know but swimming is my key to go to good colleges", she explained.
"Yeah but I think you'll worry about that next year", he replied to her, "don't stress too much at something that is not happening yet".
"I guess, you're right", she nodded, "it's just that money is tight in our family and I just need this varsity scholarship".
"Keep winning and they might forget about looking at your grades", he said to her, "come on, let's go get a drink of warm chocolate for this cold weather at Patty Cafe, my treat".
"Sure", she responded with a smile. They got the Patty Cafe take-out booth and there weren't any there again.
"Where's that guy again?", Gage wondered and put his in the booth and looked around a little then he pulled back and looked at Courtney and she shrugged, she then noticed that was a table bell on the booth.
"Try ringing that bell", she told him and then he rang the bell three times.
"Hold on", a male voice called out so then they looked at each other chuckled a little. A minute later, that same guy appeared again, Henry, who was looking down and putting on his work cap and apron.
"Hey, sorry for waiting, can I get your order?", Henry apologized, then he looked up and immediately recognized Gage, "Hey... it's you again". Gage remembered him too and gave him a friendly smile.
"Yeah, hey!", Gage greeted, Courtney oddly looked at them, "Henry, right?".
"Yep", Henry nodded, "anyways, what can I get you guys?".
"Two vanilla coffee-to-go", Gage said to him.
"Alright, coming right up", he replied and went back in to make the coffees. Gage then turned at Courtney and they leaned on the wall beside the booth.
"You two know each other?", Courtney asked him.
"Kinda, he was the same guy who was also there when I bought our snacks for our study session a couple of days ago", Gage said to her.
"Oh...", she responded, "by the way, I was thinking about going to that marathon that Mr. Gordon asked us to join".
"Really? you are?", Gage questioned with enthusiasm," then I'll go too". Courtney then looked at him with admiration.
"Awesome", she responded and kept smiling at him.
"We have to start training for it", Gage told her.
"Yeah, we can run around on your block", she suggested to him.
"Good idea", he said to her.
"I can't wait", she said to him softly.
"It'll be fun", he added.
"Yep", she replied.
"I think we should invite Dave too", Gage suggested, Courtney began to freak out inside, "what do you think?".
"Uhmm...", she uttered, trying to think of what to say to not get Dave to join them, "Dave?running?".
Gage then gave it a second thought then cringed a little, "yeah, nevermind," he said, "he might not survive one lap", then they laughed.
"And I'm gonna run circles around you", she kidded him.
"Oh... is that so?", he kidded back.
"Yeah", she nodded.
"Is that a challenge?", he asked.
"Maybe it is", she said to him then she laughed and Gage started laughing too.
"You got me there", he chuckled.
"Yeah, I mean you can't beat me", she joked again, Gage snickered and shook his head.
"You are competitive", Gage pointed out to her.
"I love a good race", she said to him.
"Your vanilla coffees are ready", Henry appeared again with the two coffees placed on the booth.
"Oh! thanks, Henry", Gage said to him and then paid him. Gage grabbed a cup and gave it to Courtney.
"Sure, no problem", Henry said to him, "here's your change".
"Alright, we'll go ahead now", Gage said to him, "thanks again". Gage and Courtney were starting to walk away.
"By the way, tell that super hot friend of yours that you were with last time that I said hi", Henry said aloud referring to Crisan. Gage and Courtney continued walking but they turned and weirdly looked at him. Courtney then looked at Gage with a confused look and Gage shook his head as he turned back.
"What's he talking about?", Courtney quipped.
"Oh... nothing, he was talking about Crisan....", Gage explained to her.
Courtney felt not good when hearing her name, "church girl? she was with you? when was this?", she questioned him.
Gage oddly looked at her, "kinda, I was buying our snacks that time and we bumped into each other over there a couple of days ago", he told her.
Then it hit her, "Is that why you're late that time?", she asked.
"Yeah, we ended up talking that I almost forgot why I was there", Gage chuckled, Courtney became irritable.
"I see", she groaned.
"That guy thought that we're together", he added with a snicker as Courtney was green in envy.
" Sounds crazy", Courtney replied.
"Yeah, it is", Gage said, "but I did enjoy talking with her", Courtney's grip on the coffee was so tight that she might crush it.
"Oookay", she responded then she scratched her head, "anyways, do you want to go to Mr. Gordon's house with me to sign up for the marathon?".
"Sure, let's do it on Saturday on our running session", he replied to her.
"Yay!", she said with glee but even happier when Crisan was not a topic of their conversation.
The next day at St. Rebecca's school, Crisan and Tori were at the study area doing their assignments.
"What did you get at number five?", Tori asked her.
"Negative seven", she answered.
"Okay, got it", Tori confirmed her work.
"What's the answer to number nine? ", Crisan asked her.
"Two", Tori replied.
"Check", Crisan muttered.
"So when are you signing up for the marathon?", Tori asked.
"This Saturday, I guess", Crisan answered, "why? ".
"Well, we just haven't seen Mr. Gordon for a while and I'm kinda nervous to go to his house alone", Tori explained.
"Yeah, okay", Crisan replied, "we can go together".
"I miss the house parties though", Tori added.
" Me too", Crisan agreed, "especially the stroganoff".
"Damn", Tori expressed aloud and she suddenly slapped her mouth close, Crisan gasped, then they both looked at each other and realized what Tori just said and some of the students in the room were looking at them and laughed even the moderator, who was a nun, stared at them but she just smirked and wagged her finger at her then Tori whispered to her, "sorry". Crisan giggled on the side. A minute later, everyone got back to their doing their work. Tori felt embarrassed but she laughed it off a little with Crisan.
"Ahem... so...", Crisan uttered and trying to hold on to another laugh then cleared her throat again, "since Munro will be going to should ask him too if he's going to sign up with us?".
"Oh... yeah, I can just text him", Tori said.
"Right", Crisan nodded.
"I think I need new shoes", Tori thought, "let's go shopping on Friday after work".
"Of course", Crisan accepted, "I want to buy some work-out shorts or maybe leggings anyways".
"Go with shorts", Tori suggested, "flaunt them long legs". Then the moderator was walking around to see what the students were doing and happen to walk to their table, stood behind Crisan and heard their conversation.
"Ahem...", the moderator called out their attention, Crisan flinched a little and her eyes popped out and she felt her presence behind her and Tori stopped talking and slowly looked up to the moderator with her eyes wide open.
"But leggings or jogger pants are better options", Tori nervously stated in front of the moderator who was still glaring at her and Crisan nodded her head briskly out of panic. The moderator smiled at them and went down to their level.
"It's alright, girls, just tone down the volume", the moderator told them in a kind manner, "and I preferred shorts too", then she stood up again and as she was about to walk away, she gave them a wink. Tori and Crisan looked at each other in disbelief. Later, school ended, The two girls walked home together.
"Wow! Sister Andes was unbelievable", Tori whispered.
"I know", Crisan answered and still in shock, "Although I heard someone said that they were gossiping with Sister Marielle about Sarah's boyfriend cheating on her".
"No way", Tori gasped.
"Yeah", Crisan confirmed.
"And I thought Valak is sinister", Tori kidded and Crisan laughed. Then the wind started to blew stronger and they both shivered.
"Damn it's cold", Crisan quivered.
"Crisanta", Tori jokingly gasped, mimicking Sister Andes.
"Sorry, Sister", Crisan humorously replied then they giggled, "I'm craving for cream matcha, let's go to Patty Cafe".
"Okay", Tori said. They got to Patty Cafe take-out booth and again no one was there.
"Where is that guy", Crisan wondered. Tori noticed the table bell.
"Trying ringing that bell", Tori suggested. Crisan rang the table bell three times, then someone popped at the booth.
"Hi", Henry greeted them with a big smile on his face, Tori and Crisan jolted. Henry looked at Crisan and recognized her and his smile got bigger and showing his teeth. The two girls were uncomfortably looking at him, "Hey! it's you again".
Crisan got to her senses but Tori was still weirded out, "Hi!... Henry, right?" Crisan greeted.
"The one and only", he answered then tried to charm her, "for you". Tori and Crisan were snickering.
"I'll have cream matcha medium to-go", Crisan told him
"Sweet... just like you", he flirted, Crisan was trying to hide her smile Tori looked away and trying to contain her laugh, "and you?".
"Minty mocha medium to-go", Tori replied and continue snickering.
"Luscious, like you", he teased her, Tori was flattered, "alright, I'll be right back". Henry got back in to make the drinks they ordered. Tori turned to Crisan and gave her a smirky look.
"He's very friendly", Tori pointed out with a chuckle.
"Yeah, and he makes delicious cream matcha", Crisan replied.
"Well, I can't wait to get my mint mocha", Tori said, "he seems cute".
"Yeah, I guess he is", Crisan thought.
"Why does he seem like he knows you?", Tori noticed.
"He was the same guy who gave me my drinks the other day but that's all", Crisan explained.
"Oh okay", Tori followed. Then the wind got stronger and the two girls shivered,
"Wow! I think winter will be coming early", Crisan noticed as she stretched her sleeve to cover her cold hands.
"Hope not, I'm looking forward to the marathon and I'm not sure that I can do it with the snow", Tori said.
"I'm looking forward to buying that running shorts to flaunt my legs", Crisan replied then they giggled.
"That's right!" Tori praised then they high-fived. Crisan then looked somewhere afar and recall something.
"It's been a while since we run", Crisan said.
"Yeah, it is", Tori nodded.
"Do you remember those times that we go to different outdoor trips?", Crisan asked.
"Yep, I miss those camping trips even if we had to do our business at the bushes", Tori replied.
Crisan snickered, "and telling horror stories", she added.
"That is why we need porta potties", Tori grunts, "it's hard knowing that the guys might be watching you".
"Can't argue there", Crisan said, "but I like it when we swim by the lake with the waterfalls when we hike Lance forest".
" Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that", Tori recalled, "especially when we swung on this rope, I wonder if it's still there?".
"Probably, although I think Wally must've... you know... loosen it up", Crisan thought.
"Right", Tori cringed, "anyways, why don't we go with Mr. Gordon and his running member?".
"Sure, I guess we can go with them", Crisan shrugged, Tori felt something was up.
"What's up?", Tori quipped then she thought, "is it because of 'he' might be there?", Tori referring to Gage and gave Crisan a teasing look.
"No... not that...well, not only that", Crisan answered with a sigh of a smile, "it's actually...".
"Hey, girls! the cream matcha and minty mocha are ready", Henry interrupted then Crisan and Tori walked to the booth and got their respective drinks and paid for it.
"Thanks", Crisan said to him and Tori started to take a sip.
"Wow! I didn't know my minty mocha can taste any better", Tori commented, Crisan was a little surprised that she was kind of flirting with Henry.
"That's why I'm here", Henry boasted to impress her.
"Are you new? How come I never saw you before?", Tori asked him.
"Yeah, I am. The owner is my aunt", Henry said to then.
"Oh okay", the two girls followed and a little stunned.
"Yep...", he nodded.
"So how are you doing so far?", Crisan asked her.
"I'm good, I like the atmosphere here and it's fun to be in this little take-out booth", he answered.
"Nice", Crisan responded then she sips her drink, "well, I'm enjoying this cream matcha more and more".
"Glad you liked it, I did make some little adjustments", Henry explained.
"Whatever it is, it's good", Tori said to him.
"Thanks", he said to Tori then looked at Crisan, "So... where's that other friend of yours?", Tori got confused at what he just said and Crisan just stared at them blankly.
"What's he talking about?" Tori questioned Crisan, who was still frozen at her place.
"He's talking about Gage", Crisan muttered to Tori.
"The tall, dark skin guy that you were with the other day", Henry described and Tori's mouth dropped.
"You were with Gage?", Tori muttered back to Crisan, "how come you didn't tell me this earlier?", and Crisan couldn't answer her.
"I don't know", Crisan shrugged at Tori looking guilty.
"I told that guy, to say 'hi' to you for me", Henry said to her.
"Uhmmm... I didn't get the message," Crisan told him,
"Oh", Henry expressed his disappointment.
"We kinda barely know each other", Crisan clarified to him.
"Wait, really?", He quipped.
"Yeah", Crisan bluntly nodded at him, "We just met last week".
"Oh, I just thought...the conversation and all", he said to her. Crisan was stunned that he was listening and Tori gasped then grinned.
"Conversations? like what?", Tori asked him but glared at Crisan with her face began to look bright red and her hands clench together.
"I don't remember exactly because I was making their drinks but I remember it was sorta deep", he mentioned but he knows that Tori was just teasing Crisan, who seemed relieved. Tori's face looked sour but she knows that Henry was just being kind since it was not his place to reveal those conversations and Crisan would tell her later.
"I see", Tori grunted in response and Crisan smiled and snickered at her, "well, we better go, thanks again with the drinks", then she held Crisan's hands.
"Yeah", Crisan agreed, "thanks, Henry, we'll see you around".
"Alright, I'll see you, girls, next time", he said to them, " then Tori walked away and pulled Crisan with her and still holding their drinks.
Later at night, Crisan was in her room again and checking out her Facebook and her Spotify was playing the song 'Rainbow' by South Boarder and hummed it. She was about to lay on her bed but then she noticed something out of the ordinary, there was a parcel. Crisan was surprised then looked confused that there's a rigid type box wrapped in kraft paper tied by a string like a simple ribbon. She sat on her bed then decided to open the parcel so she unties the string then ripped the kraft paper off on the box and opened it and she gasped and her eyes popped from what she saw and it was a notebook size sketchbook, old box of pastel chalks, an art clay, paintbrushes that looked used but still good and a box of watercolor paint which looked messy then she saw an envelope and there was ' to my lovely daughter' written on the front and it was placed above the items so she picked it then opened the envelope and there was a letter that said,
' Dearest Crisanta
A little birdy told me that you will enter at an Art Exhibit. Nothing makes me happy than to see my Crisanta join at such an event. During my travels in Europe, I have seen impressive masterpieces that someday you will be known for as well and someday, I want us to travel together in these magnificent wonders of a country. Also, I happen to meet with Madame Emel, your favorite artist and I told her about you and your love of art and show her your works, she was flattered and impressed that you have such talent then I asked if she can do a portrait of you and so I gave sent her a photo of you then she accepted to do it sayinig that you beauty is unique.
She paused for a while since she felt like she was in a dream and couldn't get a sound coming from her mouth then she continues to read the letter.
' A week later I went her studio to get that painting and also she handed me her materials that made her the artist she is today.'
Crisan stopped again to search for the portrait so she took the rest of the item and placed them on her bed and saw a white square and flat box then she took it out and opened the box and reached her hands in it and grabbed it then pulled it up and she taken aback since it was a portrait of her from her head to her shoulder made by chalk with her resting face with a slight pout and her beautiful brown wavy hair and she was wearing something with a pink tulle with an off-shoulder effect and was surrounded by peonies and roses with different shades of pink. Crisan was happy and was in awe and then she noticed on the bottom right corner, there was a signature of Madame Emel, "Wow!", she expressed then resume reading the letter again.
'And someone even told me that you have been having a problem with what you'll be making so hopefully this helps to inspire you.'
Crisan felt in fondness and happiness then she read,
"I love you always, Dad". She puts down the letter then picked up the art supplies and placed them on her shelf with the other she had then also placed the painting of her by her study vanity table then sat down and got into her laptop then immediately opened her Gmail account and began to write a thank you letter to her dad.
Later at night, Crisan was in front of her easel then placed the canvas on it and fill up a cup with water and grabbed the watercolor put it on the side. She was holding a brush then she realized she got nothing so she exasperated then her hands clenched together out of stress after that she grunts out of frustrations and covered her face with her hands, "I see you got the gift from your father", Thelma said, Crisan flinched and turned to the doorway and Thelma was standing there with her arms crossed and a smirk face.
"Oh... Hi mom", she responded with a sigh then put down the brush, "yeah, I love it, little birdie".
"He called to ask how are you and I thought you told him", Thelma pointed out.
"No, I forgot, I just have been caught up with things", Crisan moaned, "I just sent an email to say thanks".
"That's good, so what's with the grunts?", Thelma asked her.
"I still can't think of what I'm going to do for the art show", Crisan whined.
"Sweetie, you still have time", Thelma reminded her.
"I know but I was hoping that I got something as early as possible", Crisan said to her.
"Look, don't stress yourself", Thelma said to her, "art is not a pressure, it's from inspire".
"Right", Crisan nodded.
Thelma then noticed the painting that was made for her by the vanity, she was in awe, "that's a beautiful painting, was this in the package that your dad sent?", she asked.
"Yep", Crisan answered her with a smile.
"It's beautiful", Thelma commented.
"It is, it was made by Madame Emel", Crisan said to Thelma.
"Oh, your favorite artist", Thelma pointed with astonishment, "she made this?".
"Yeah", Crisan replied to her, "dad met her in his flight to Europe".
"Your dad really loved you for him to do that", Thelma impressed.
"Yeah, dad do alot for me since...", Crisan impressed.
"That doesn't matter already", Thelma interrupted then held her hand, "he just wants you to be happy".
"It worked but I still got nothing to work on", Crisan said.
"Maybe there's a lot going on in your life right now", Thelma thought.
"I guess", Crisan replied, "I'll just do this another time".
"Try not to stress yourself", Thelma advised, "Try doing different activities, like that marathon, it's been a while since you run".
"Yeah, I still beat Tori though whenever we race", Crisan boasted, "maybe I do need a new outlet refresh my artistic mind".
"Yeah", Thelma replied to her softly, "come on, why don't you just help me with dinner".
"Okay mom", Crisan answered then walked out of the room together.