The First Date IV

• Separated, they walk and gaze through the paintings and sculptures with admiration, except for one. Marc has never understood nor could he appreciate art. His mind has always been numbers. He sees beauty in algorithms and mathematical formulas.The Sistine Chapel is just a church with drawings of people that do not quite look like people to him. Now, he must be able to share his opinions on pieces that he does not comprehend.

            Marc reaches for his phone and the   

            types; 

               HELP! I’m in front of a painting 

            with three colours. Red, blue, and orange. 

            I have no idea what I'm looking at. 

            Shit...she’s on her way towards me. SEND

           James checks his phone and sees the 

           S.O.S message from Marc and types; 

              I see the colors of Armenia and its uses 

           reveals the dark history of the armenian 

           people. I feel sad when i see this 

           painting. Say that. SEND

           Marc quickly reads it and Niki pops out behind him.

Niki: Enjoying yourself?

Marc: Yes, i am actually

Niki: Good...I’ve seen you in front of this piece for quite some time. How do you feel about it?

Marc: I feel sad...an underlying hurt with this piece

Niki: Hmmm...Why sad?

Marc: Look at the tri-colours used. I see the Armenian colours and the history of pain behind them.

Niki: How did you know the artist was Armenian?

Marc: I didn’t but i felt the painting

Niki: Wow...keep admiring. I'll continue my rounds.

Marc: OK!

• Thank You! I think she bought it. SEND

• NO problem...and yes i see. SEND

• Niki walks towards a focus James. Fingers fiddling on beard, James cannot seem to grasp the sculpture. 

Niki: Do you not like?

James: excuse me?

Niki: The sculpture...Do you not like it?

James: I cannot seem to find the words to describe what I am seeing. Is this yours?

Niki: It is mine indeed...express yourself.

James: I feel an internal battle. As if it were shouting out “ order cannot derive out of chaos”...I’m overwhelmed with emotions

Niki: I completely understand how that goes. Please...i’ll leave you to them

James: Thanks!

• Niki shockingly walks to Shae. Dodging through the crowd with haste.

Niki: Girl...what is going on right now?

Shae: what do you mean?

Niki: James gives me a vibe that he truly appreciates art but i don’t see that in Marc. Yet, he just said one of those most precise comments on a painting.

Shae: James definitely has beautiful vibes.

Niki: Beautiful? Hold up...Are you feeling the best friend?

shae:Hahaha No...i just find his mysterious charm intriguing.

Niki: I know the best friend...i was texting to see if he remembered me but clearly he does not.

Shae: What do you mean, you know James?

Niki: We slept together

Shae: Wait...What...When?

Niki: Girl...spring of my Junior year.

Shae: Wait…Mystery boy you could not get over?

Niki: Yup...We spend damn near a semester together. Now he doesn’t even know me.

Shae: I am shooketh…James isn’t giving me the vibe that he is acting.

Niki: Whatever...I’ll go start these auctions.

• In disbelief, Niki walks away heading straight to the bar. Marc walks over to James.

Marc: So what do you think?

James: The art is dope...I like.

Marc: I meant Shae

James: I know

Marc: Stop playing

James: Hahaha...She’s great...so far no red flags.

Marc: Ok good. What about Niki?

James: Niki is vetting us...She’s being a great friend. She’s going to report everything she does not like about you.

Marc: what about you?

James: I think we’re safe on that end. So far i don't believe that I’ve rubbed her the wrong way

Marc: Oh!

James: We’re good so far.Plus.. Shae will tell you if things didn’t go so well. 

• Giving him a quick tap on the shoulder. James instructs Marc to go to Shae. “Make her smile laugh, and ask her to share her thoughts on the art and the night…continue getting to know each other. I’ll join you two later.” Marc nods in agreement then walks down the hall. 

Marc: Do you like this piece?

Shae: I'll be honest...i don’t understand art much. Niki is the only reason i’ve ever gone to any of these things.

Marc: Please don’t tell Niki...i don’t understand any of this either. I just wanted to impress her.

Shae: Do you…

Marc: hmmm...what did you say? I couldn’t hear.

Shae: i was saying...Why didn’t you just say that you weren’t an artsy person?

Marc: You invited me...I also knew Niki didn’t like that i called her rude.

Shae: Hahahahaha… Yes, she was pissed about that comment.

Marc: James was right about that.

Shae: James seems to know her very well.

Marc: He reads situations quite well sometimes.

Shae: Hmmm...Did he say anything about Niki?

Marc: who? James?... No, he likes the art and thinks you are great. 

• hugs her from behind.

Shae: Awww how kind! I find him super nice yet very mysterious.

Marc: That’s basically James in a nutshell. Mr. Mysterious.

Shae: Let’s go get a drink. 

Marc: Great idea!

• All laughs and hand holding, Marc finally did something that worked out. He took a risk and showed affection to the woman that he feared he would chase away by being too affectionate. They sipped the night away, but Shae’s mind could not forget what Niki had mentioned to her. Was James really play acting? Does Marc know? She thinks sinking deeper into conversation. A few minutes later, James shows up behind them.

James: Bartender...single Makers Mark neat and a water. Please and Thank You!

Marc: Hey man!

James: Hey you too...looking cute together i see.

Marc & Shae: Hahahaha…

James: it’s ending soon no?

Shae: The auctions just ended. It’s practically over.

James: Thank man, keep the change...so what’s the plan for the night?

Marc: it’s still pretty early... Want to do something after?

Niki: Shae is accompanying me to this secret art show.

James:  Jesus...scared me just now. Didn’t you see coming.

Niki: I know you don’t see me.

James: huh?

Niki: everything is sold...Mr.Jones is taking care of clean up. We can leave

Shae: sounds good 

• They finish their drinks and head out. “ What a night tonight was...so much fun.” James says turning towards the ladies. “ Invite me to the next one.” Niki smiles, “ I guess this is goodnight.” “ goodnight ladies,” says Marc as he reaches for a hug from Niki and James follows hugging Shae. Marc then turns to Shae getting a goodnight kiss and James gives Niki a hug thanking her one last time for a wonderful time. “ I hope you remember me now,” Niki whispers loud enough for everyone to hear as she pulls away from James. “ Thank You for coming...both of you.” Tension and confusion rose as James smiles as the ladies walk away to their car.

Marc: What was that all about?

James: I don’t know… “ I hope you remember me now.” What does that even mean?

• Shae with a worried look in her eyes stops Niki in her tracks

Shae: What was that?

Niki: I don’t know…I couldn’t hold it in.

Shae: What if he really doesn’t remember you? Spring of your junior year was literally two years ago. 

Niki: I wasn’t just some girl he was messing with. I’m not memorable is that it?

Shae: That not what i’m saying

Niki: How would you feel if some guy you liked acted like you never met?

Shae: I really can’t answer...i don’t know...let’s just go!

Niki: Let’s do that...i’ll drive

• Lyft driver finally pulls up and  they get in, but James could not stop thinking about Niki’s words. He pulls out his phone and goes into his contacts. Searches Niki Kandu/ Oluwaniki Kandu. No results. James never deleted or blocked a contact but could not remember what he could’ve possibly saved her as. That’s if he had her as contact to begin with. “ I can’t put my finger on it. Do I really know her.” He thinks as he turns to Marc and notices Marc staring down at his phone, reading a massive text.

James: Is it Shae?

Marc: uh huh!

James: What does it say?

Marc: I’m trying to make sense of it.

James: forward it to me

Marc: Ok...you should be receiving it now...done

James: Thanks...Oh Shit!