It’s late at night. Despite that Arthur and I somehow managed to master precisely three sleeping positions for maximum comfort, we can’t fall asleep.You’d think we’d be more excited that our situation seems to be changing, and don’t get me wrong I can’t wait to sleep in a king-sized bed again, but in a way, we’ve fallen into a rhythm. Oddly, even the drudgery of life can become a comfort.“How do you feel about becoming a famous artist?” Arthur asks, stroking my hair. I laugh because even still that idea seems completely ridiculous, even with the opportunity only one good sale away.
Almara’s PovI just finished my latest painting when Arthur entered the room. He has his head down and eyes glued to his phone, which has been his usual posture for the last week ever since Roman said he would be giving Arthur’s share of the funds to Robert.Of course, Robert has been posting every extravagant item he’s purchased, every decadent meal, expensive designer clothing bought, and every other good that money can buy. “Falling into the comparison trap again?” I ask, dunking my brush into a cup of murky water.
Almara’s PovArthur and I are still riding Friday night's high. We’re sitting in the parking lot of the diner which opens in approximately fifteen minutes and Derek is going to start his day off with me quitting.The parking lot is empty except for me and Arthur’s old worn-out car that has served us for the better part of the year, and while anyone on the outside looking in wouldn’t guess it- it feels like we have the whole world and endless possibilities stretched out before us.
Almara’s PovPerhaps I’ve spoken too soon. It’s nearly noon, meaning we’ve been looking for a potential art school to set up shop at for the past six hours and so far the last three places we looked at have rejected us.The first place we looked at used to be an apartment complex, but before that it was a steel-making business. It was a beautiful building with lots of historic character, exposed brick, and industrial accents with metallic spiral staircases and large windows.
Almara’s Pov“It’s coming together.” I hear someone say over the sound of Arthur hammering away. By the last strike of the hammer, I’d say Arthur recognizes the voice and isn’t happy about it.I peak around the side of the building from where I’m leaning on a ladder painting and see Roman standing below us, hands on his hips.He looks out of place in his ten-thousand-dollar tailored jet black suit with midnight blue cufflinks standing among slabs of woo
Almara’s PovOur savings might be depleted, but the school is up and running. Mostly. Arthur and I finished the project six months later than we thought we would and only being able to get so far when my paintings were selling.But finally, it is finished. The final result is a simplistic three-story building with stained glass windows along the edges of the building that give the entire structure a warm glow. Where there isn’t glass there’s Bess-inspired cobblestone. It’s a beautiful combination of rustic and modern.
Almara’s PovThe damage is worse up close. At least from the parking lot, there was some distance between me and the wreckage. Now that I stand mere feet away, I can see the hate seeping out of every blow that our poor building suffered.What’s worse is, that several students have already shown up before Arthur and I could make the phone call to tell them classes were canceled. The looks on their faces pains me the most. I had to duck away because their sympathetic condolences only made it hard for me to breathe.
Almara’s PovIt’s been a week since the vandalization. We got most of the mess cleaned up, of course not before images of the wreck made their rounds circulating on social media.It’s incredibly hard to read the public. Some feel bad for us, others say we deserved it, and a small portion agrees if any members of the hurricane pack deserve to have their possessions wrecked it should be the billionaires: Roman and Robert. Very little does anyone think that this shouldn’t happen at all.