Mama's Boy

♊21♌

The worse thing about the showcase, Aiden had come to realize, was that there was no way for her to determine whether her pieces had been purchased or not. She spent a lot of her time walking around the gallery, going to view the other artists' works before doubling back to her section to spy. And to add fuel to the fire, the buyers weren't all too vocally opinionated, meaning Aiden couldn't gauge what they were thinking. There were so many times throughout the night when she wanted to impersonate an auctioneer and sell the damn things herself. She was sure she could do it; Aiden could be quite the charmer when she wanted to be.

Toward the end of the night, she found herself right back at the bar. She sipped on her water as she watched the buyers laugh and converse. She hoped one of them would talk about what they'd seen or what they'd bought, so she could at least get an idea on what they were all going for, but it was to no avail. Aiden huffed and ran her fingers through her hair, her fingers getting caught in a few tangles. While she finger-combed her tresses, Malia, along side Hailee, emerged from the glass doors with a small crowd of people surrounding them and drinks in their hands, looking like movie stars. Aiden sneered at the sight. Malia was supposed to be her friend and there she was, living it up with the enemy.

Aiden then paused in thought. Was Hailee really an enemy of hers? She wasn't too sure, but that didn't stop the feeling of betrayal that was swirling within her.

Malia's brown eyes connected with Aiden's blue ones. Hailee's new friend looked pleased to see the blonde, clueless to the cold-shoulder she was bound to receive. The Costa Rican moved over to Aiden with a smile on her face. Malia wrapped her arms around Aiden's shoulders in a hug, which Aiden did not return. Nor did she smile.

"Well, hello," Aiden spoke.

"Heeeeeyyyy, chica," a giggly Malia responded.

Aiden scowled. "Are you drunk?"

"No, silly! I'm happy." Malia waved for the bartender and took a seat. "Tonight was wonderful. Everyone did an amazing job. And I heard there were a lot of offers. One piece was sold for almost $5,000, can you believe it?"

"Where'd you hear all this from?" Aiden wondered.

"Word travels, Blondie." Malia said as if it was obvious.

Well hell, I must not be on the map, Aiden thought sourly.

The clicking sound of heels caught Aiden's attention and she turned to see Hailee, as equally ecstatic as Malia, strutting their way.

Aiden rolled her eyes. "There's your best friend."

Malia frowned then looked in Hailee's direction.

"Hey, y'all!" Hailee greeted with a drink in her hand. She took a small sip of the substance before studying Aiden. "Well, don't you look nice."

Aiden rolled her eyes before picking up her glass of water and turning to Malia. "Malia, tell your friend that if she wants, I can kindly refer her to the nearest otolaryngologist. Because if recall correctly, I specifically told her not to speak to me."

"Actually, illegally blonde, you told me not to speak to you unless it was a greeting." Hailee shrugged with a smirk on her face. "And I greeted you."

"My apologies. Let me make this clear to you now, then." Aiden snarled, stepping into Hailee's face. "I do not want you to address me in anyway, shape, form, or fashion. I don't want you looking at me, I don't want you saying my name. Bitch, I don't want you breathing my air if we're in the same city, let alone the same room. Do. Not. Speak to me."

Hailee chuckled, before placing her drink down on the counter bar. "Who in the hell do you think you talking to?"

"I'm talking to you, bit-"