Here’s a scene I didn’t ultimately need, being able to get the information out in another way, but I did like the conversation between Andrew and León. It would have occured right after Celia’s first painting lesson. Enjoy!
The taco truck Andrew brought León to was one of his favorites.
“This one’s always busy. Best in town,” he said before biting into his first taco.
León looked at the heads bent closely together, people at tall tables shifting from foot to foot as they jockeyed through conversations. It was nice to feel some urban energy again.
“I’m still getting used to all the space out here,” he replied, turning his drink in his hands. “There are still crowds like this on any New York street. Here, you have to find patios to pack into.”
Andrew grinned. “LA is more relaxed, though,” he said. “Busy, but not so much hustle.”
“I miss hustle. I’ve been having trouble sleeping up at Celia’s. It’s too quiet.”
“Well, she’s way up there. There’s plenty to do downtown.” Andrew gestured expansively around the room. “Like her, or him, or maybe her.”
León laughed, shifting on his chair but not following Andrew’s gaze.
His friend leaned in over the table. “How’s the painting going?”
“Not good. I think I’m still getting used to the place. I’m not feeling any real inspiration.” León tucked his hair behind an ear and scanned the space as though a muse might appear from the crowd.
“I could drive you out to see some sights. What type of thing usually gets you going?”
“The right shape, I guess.” León’s gaze turned inward, recalling a recent example. “Movement, transition. A moment that shows a story.”
“City or nature?” When León didn’t answer, Andrew sat back. “You want to see something organic or structured?”
León came back to the present. “I guess nature. I’ve done New York. There’s more scenery on this coast.”
Andrew was admiring a woman walking by. “Sure is.”
León grinned. “Will you stop that?”
Andrew turned back, lowering his head and fixing his friend with a serious look. “You should ask Celia to do some poses for you. You could get fifteen studies in fifteen minutes, right in your own place.”
“Celia, really?” León snorted. “I need something honest, stripped to the bone. She’s way too inhibited.” Andrew’s know-it-all expression was annoying. Fine, he’d seen her and León hadn’t, but come on. Celia being expressive?
“Dude, she’s honest. Have her do some in your next lesson, you’ll be shocked.”
“Oh, come on, I could barely get her to identify a calm feeling today.”
Andrew shook his head. “She’s got all the feelings in her, León. She just never admits to them. Posing is different, it’s like the fact that it’s a job gives her permission.”
León considered. She did like doing jobs.
“Her body is really honest,” Andrew insisted, “and she knows the angles artists can use.”
León recalled that transition in her today, from tense to relaxed. It had caught his eye, her artless movement signaling feelings she probably didn’t even notice. Still.
“I don’t want to involve her in my painting,” he said. “She’s dying to mother someone, and I’m too close at hand. I don’t want the complication. When you turn down food from her, it’s like you kicked her dog.”
Andrew laughed. “Ah, but have you seen her light up when you ask to be fed?” They both chuckled, León ruefully. He’d used the tactic twice already. “You know, I don’t invite myself over all the time because I’m greedy. It makes her happy to feed people.”
“You don’t hate it, either.”
Andrew sighed wistfully. “I could barely eat in restaurants after she and I dated. I was too used to having my tastes catered to. It’s addictive, being taken care of.”
“Count me out, “ León said. “I’m not getting tangled up that way, not now. I have to work. I’m not skulking back to Mom and Dad this time.” His faint smile was strained. “That pool house gives me a little longer, and I have to focus.”
Andrew raised his drink in a salute. “You work. I’m going to enjoy life.”
León clinked his glass, wishing he had time to play too.
