The Aftershock
11
READ AUTHORS NOTE VERY IMPORTANT -_-
-HARRYS POV-
“So where exactly are we going?” Zayn asks from the back seat.
“To the art gallery on King Street. I got a call from the dude a couple days ago and he wants to see one of my paintings. If he likes it, I could get paid a shit load of money and it will be on display in his gallery. If I get this dude, it will be my biggest success yet.” She grins her beautiful smile as she stops at an intersection.
“What painting is it?” I ask. She was amazingly talented even back in the day, so I am not surprised she made a profession out of it now.
“Um it’s something I painted from a picture Brie took of Mary Lou. It’s in the seat next to you Zayn if you want to uncover the sheet.” Joey glances behind her and points to the big, square-shaped canvas in the back seat. It had a white cloth covering it so the artwork wouldn’t be destroyed in the car.
Zayn carefully reveals the canvas and I could feel the breath get stuck in my lungs.
It was a carefully crafted picture of a small girl and a small boy cutely kissing. The little girl was wearing a blue bow in her hair and the boy was dressing what looked like a train conductor’s outfit. He had on stripped overalls and a hat. They looked to be sitting on a dock with the pond spreading out behind them. The autumn woods sat above the pond and a blue sky resting on top of the red-orange leaves.
(http://www.daydaypaint.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1609 )
It was absolutely beautiful.
“This is amazing Joanna. You have come so far.” Zayn stammers in complete awe.
I was speechless. I literally didn’t have words to describe that ecstatic thing I was feeling. She is utterly one of the most talented people I have ever met in my life. You can tell Joey worked so hard to get to where she is now.
“Awe thanks guys. It means a lot hearing that.” Joey blushes a little and smiles.
After about ten more minutes, we reach a tall building that looked like it was from the 1800’s. The dark brick on the outside looked worn and the rusty shutters went up to three floors. A giant glass case was on the right side of the double doors. Inside it had three signs that read ‘SCULPTURES ON THE FIRST FLOOR!’, ‘PAINTINGS ON THE SECOND’, and ‘COFFEE HOUSE AND INDOOR PLAYGROUND ON THE THRID!’. There was a painted person sculpture under the first sign and coffee prices under the third with an empty spot between them. There were random art sculptures scattered in the large lawn. My favorite was a giant boom box tall enough to reach the second story windows made of thousands of hubcaps.
“Woah.” Zayn gasps.
“I know right! Let’s just hope he likes my painting.” She lets out a large breath and climbs out of the car, grabbing her painting from the back seat in the process.
Zayn and I follow Joey into the rickety structure. The gallery must have been closed because there was only one other car in the parking lot and the inside was deserted. As we walk towards the middle of the first floor, I hear footsteps echoing on the floor.
“Hello?” Joey calls out.
“Joanna Parker is that you?” a man calls out from the other side of the large open room.
“Yes sir.” She answers back looking around.
“I am sorry sometimes I get lost. Where are you?” The man sounds like he is an older gentleman. Probably in his mid sixties or early seventies.
“Marco!” Joey yells and I chuckle at her silliness.
“Polo!” The man yells back clearly amused by Joey’s outgoing-ness. She wasn’t always this outgoing. I can remember the first time she moved to London and would barely speak. I loved that innocent twinge to her and still do.
“Ah! Darling there you are!” Suddenly an older man, like I suspected, wobbled over to us from behind a giant elephant made of stamps.
“Hello Mr.Patterson! How are you doing?” Joey shakes his hand.
“I am great! Who are you friends?” He asks patting Joey’s hand that he was shaking and eyes Zayn and I with a petite smile on his wrinkly face.
“This is Harold and Zayn.” I glare at her subtlety as she says my full name. “They are my old friends from London.”
“Please just call me Harry.” I smile at the small man and shake his shaky hand.
“Oh I know you two! You guys are on my granddaughter’s bedroom wall. What is the name of that silly band she loves so much? Um…Two Infections? No, that’s not right.” He pats his chin with his fore finger as Joey tries to stifle a laugh.
“It’s One Direction.” Zayn chuckles and shakes Mr.Patterson’s hand as well.
“Oh yes! I am terribly sorry.” Mr.Patterson scratches his head where grey hair pokes out and giggles.
“It is quite alright, sir.” Zayn and I answer in unison.
“Well, Joanna if you will just follow me back into my office that would be great.” Mr.Patterson grins kindly and leads her into his office while Zayn and I explore the Gallery a little.
-NIALLS POV-
Caleb was really nice to us and made some of the male models bring over a large plush couch to the corner of the room so we got to watch the whole shoot. I wasn’t paying attention to the shoot though; I was giving my daughter as much attention as I could give her before we have to leave tomorrow. It is going to be tough leaving her. I am already getting super attached.
“Da-Dee! No!” Mary Lou squeals as I put my lips on her cheek and blow loudly, making a farting sound. I lay her down on my lap and dig my fingers lightly into her sides. She laughs and squirms.
“I can’t hear youuu.” I chuckle and continue to tickle her.
“Please stop Da-deeeeee!” Lulu squeaks and I release my fingers from her as she pants and giggles.
I continue to make funny faces to my daughter to get her to smile. Her toothy grin makes me get butterflies. Why did I have to be such a dick when I was 18? Why did I leave the two best things that ever happened to me? I am such an idiot. I loved Brie with all of my heart so why did I leave? I was scared. I was so scared that this beautiful child would ruin everything we had going for us and our careers. I was absolutely wrong. Brie has had to take care of this child as a single parent and she still has an amazing career. I mean she is a model for Christ sakes.
“NIALL!” Someone smacks the back of my head. The baby giggles at my pain and I scowl at Louis. Obviously he had been trying to get my attention for a few minutes.
“Watta hell was that for?!” I growl at him and he just points his finger towards the other direction. I follow his gaze and my eyes land upon Brie chatting with some of the other models but now she was dressed like one. Her bright red lingerie made my mouth water. Jesus Christ she is so beautiful.
“I need Brie please!” Caleb calls out from behind the camera equipment. She smiles at the girls and excuses herself before heading over Caleb. She goes in front of the camera and lies on the couch as Caleb gives her minimal instructions on how to pose. Brie didn’t need much help though. She did perfect on her own.
“Mommy!” I hear a giggle and look down to my lap to find that there was no small child there anymore.
“Uh Ni?” Liam mumbles patting my shoulder. When I look back up I see the toddler waddling towards the couch where her mommy was.
Shit.
“No! Mary Lou, come back!” I scramble up and take off towards the set but I was too late. Little Lulu had reached Brie.
“You little buger, what are you doing over here?! You were supposed to be with Daddy and Uncle Louis and Uncle Liam.” Brie grabs the child and stands up.
“I be mommy!” Mary Lou scrambles from her mother’s arms and climbs back onto the couch. She stands up and plants her hands on her hips, smiling largely at the camera. Caleb chuckles and takes the picture and as soon as the flash went off, she changed her pose to a duck face. We were all laughing by now and Brie had even stepped out of the shot so Lulu can have her model moment. Caleb went along with it and kept shouting things like “You go girl!” or “That is so fierce momma!” and “Work it baby!”.
“Alright that’s enough you trouble maker.” Brie picks her up and giver a big kiss on the cheek, leaving bright red lip prints from her lipstick. “Lou, come get her please.” Brie hands her off to Louis.
“Lew-ee!” Mary Lou wraps her petite arms around Lou’s neck.
“You were a natural Lulu!” Louis gushes as he sits back on the couch with Liam and I.
“Just like her mother.” I grin and poke Mary Lou’s cheek.
-HARRYS POV-
“So where exactly are we going?” Zayn asks from the back seat.
“To the art gallery on King Street. I got a call from the dude a couple days ago and he wants to see one of my paintings. If he likes it, I could get paid a shit load of money and it will be on display in his gallery. If I get this dude, it will be my biggest success yet.” She grins her beautiful smile as she stops at an intersection.
“What painting is it?” I ask. She was amazingly talented even back in the day, so I am not surprised she made a profession out of it now.
“Um it’s something I painted from a picture Brie took of Mary Lou. It’s in the seat next to you Zayn if you want to uncover the sheet.” Joey glances behind her and points to the big, square-shaped canvas in the back seat. It had a white cloth covering it so the artwork wouldn’t be destroyed in the car.
Zayn carefully reveals the canvas and I could feel the breath get stuck in my lungs.
It was a carefully crafted picture of a small girl and a small boy cutely kissing. The little girl was wearing a blue bow in her hair and the boy was dressing what looked like a train conductor’s outfit. He had on stripped overalls and a hat. They looked to be sitting on a dock with the pond spreading out behind them. The autumn woods sat above the pond and a blue sky resting on top of the red-orange leaves.
(http://www.daydaypaint.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=1609 )
It was absolutely beautiful.
“This is amazing Joanna. You have come so far.” Zayn stammers in complete awe.
I was speechless. I literally didn’t have words to describe that ecstatic thing I was feeling. She is utterly one of the most talented people I have ever met in my life. You can tell Joey worked so hard to get to where she is now.
“Awe thanks guys. It means a lot hearing that.” Joey blushes a little and smiles.
After about ten more minutes, we reach a tall building that looked like it was from the 1800’s. The dark brick on the outside looked worn and the rusty shutters went up to three floors. A giant glass case was on the right side of the double doors. Inside it had three signs that read ‘SCULPTURES ON THE FIRST FLOOR!’, ‘PAINTINGS ON THE SECOND’, and ‘COFFEE HOUSE AND INDOOR PLAYGROUND ON THE THRID!’. There was a painted person sculpture under the first sign and coffee prices under the third with an empty spot between them. There were random art sculptures scattered in the large lawn. My favorite was a giant boom box tall enough to reach the second story windows made of thousands of hubcaps.
“Woah.” Zayn gasps.
“I know right! Let’s just hope he likes my painting.” She lets out a large breath and climbs out of the car, grabbing her painting from the back seat in the process.
Zayn and I follow Joey into the rickety structure. The gallery must have been closed because there was only one other car in the parking lot and the inside was deserted. As we walk towards the middle of the first floor, I hear footsteps echoing on the floor.
“Hello?” Joey calls out.
“Joanna Parker is that you?” a man calls out from the other side of the large open room.
“Yes sir.” She answers back looking around.
“I am sorry sometimes I get lost. Where are you?” The man sounds like he is an older gentleman. Probably in his mid sixties or early seventies.
“Marco!” Joey yells and I chuckle at her silliness.
“Polo!” The man yells back clearly amused by Joey’s outgoing-ness. She wasn’t always this outgoing. I can remember the first time she moved to London and would barely speak. I loved that innocent twinge to her and still do.
“Ah! Darling there you are!” Suddenly an older man, like I suspected, wobbled over to us from behind a giant elephant made of stamps.
“Hello Mr.Patterson! How are you doing?” Joey shakes his hand.
“I am great! Who are you friends?” He asks patting Joey’s hand that he was shaking and eyes Zayn and I with a petite smile on his wrinkly face.
“This is Harold and Zayn.” I glare at her subtlety as she says my full name. “They are my old friends from London.”
“Please just call me Harry.” I smile at the small man and shake his shaky hand.
“Oh I know you two! You guys are on my granddaughter’s bedroom wall. What is the name of that silly band she loves so much? Um…Two Infections? No, that’s not right.” He pats his chin with his fore finger as Joey tries to stifle a laugh.
“It’s One Direction.” Zayn chuckles and shakes Mr.Patterson’s hand as well.
“Oh yes! I am terribly sorry.” Mr.Patterson scratches his head where grey hair pokes out and giggles.
“It is quite alright, sir.” Zayn and I answer in unison.
“Well, Joanna if you will just follow me back into my office that would be great.” Mr.Patterson grins kindly and leads her into his office while Zayn and I explore the Gallery a little.
-NIALLS POV-
Caleb was really nice to us and made some of the male models bring over a large plush couch to the corner of the room so we got to watch the whole shoot. I wasn’t paying attention to the shoot though; I was giving my daughter as much attention as I could give her before we have to leave tomorrow. It is going to be tough leaving her. I am already getting super attached.
“Da-Dee! No!” Mary Lou squeals as I put my lips on her cheek and blow loudly, making a farting sound. I lay her down on my lap and dig my fingers lightly into her sides. She laughs and squirms.
“I can’t hear youuu.” I chuckle and continue to tickle her.
“Please stop Da-deeeeee!” Lulu squeaks and I release my fingers from her as she pants and giggles.
I continue to make funny faces to my daughter to get her to smile. Her toothy grin makes me get butterflies. Why did I have to be such a dick when I was 18? Why did I leave the two best things that ever happened to me? I am such an idiot. I loved Brie with all of my heart so why did I leave? I was scared. I was so scared that this beautiful child would ruin everything we had going for us and our careers. I was absolutely wrong. Brie has had to take care of this child as a single parent and she still has an amazing career. I mean she is a model for Christ sakes.
“NIALL!” Someone smacks the back of my head. The baby giggles at my pain and I scowl at Louis. Obviously he had been trying to get my attention for a few minutes.
“Watta hell was that for?!” I growl at him and he just points his finger towards the other direction. I follow his gaze and my eyes land upon Brie chatting with some of the other models but now she was dressed like one. Her bright red lingerie made my mouth water. Jesus Christ she is so beautiful.
“I need Brie please!” Caleb calls out from behind the camera equipment. She smiles at the girls and excuses herself before heading over Caleb. She goes in front of the camera and lies on the couch as Caleb gives her minimal instructions on how to pose. Brie didn’t need much help though. She did perfect on her own.
“Mommy!” I hear a giggle and look down to my lap to find that there was no small child there anymore.
“Uh Ni?” Liam mumbles patting my shoulder. When I look back up I see the toddler waddling towards the couch where her mommy was.
Shit.
“No! Mary Lou, come back!” I scramble up and take off towards the set but I was too late. Little Lulu had reached Brie.
“You little buger, what are you doing over here?! You were supposed to be with Daddy and Uncle Louis and Uncle Liam.” Brie grabs the child and stands up.
“I be mommy!” Mary Lou scrambles from her mother’s arms and climbs back onto the couch. She stands up and plants her hands on her hips, smiling largely at the camera. Caleb chuckles and takes the picture and as soon as the flash went off, she changed her pose to a duck face. We were all laughing by now and Brie had even stepped out of the shot so Lulu can have her model moment. Caleb went along with it and kept shouting things like “You go girl!” or “That is so fierce momma!” and “Work it baby!”.
“Alright that’s enough you trouble maker.” Brie picks her up and giver a big kiss on the cheek, leaving bright red lip prints from her lipstick. “Lou, come get her please.” Brie hands her off to Louis.
“Lew-ee!” Mary Lou wraps her petite arms around Lou’s neck.
“You were a natural Lulu!” Louis gushes as he sits back on the couch with Liam and I.
“Just like her mother.” I grin and poke Mary Lou’s cheek.
Notes
WOW you all must really hate me. I know I haven't updated in a month. I just have absolutely no motivation for this story anymore. No one comments and its makes me feel like I suck at writing or something. Please please please comment. It really means a lot to hear your feed back even if it is harsh feedback. Even just two or three comments motivate me enough to write.
ALSO it would really mean a lot if you checked out my other story. I actually update that one more than this one.
AND IF YOU HAVE IDEAS COMMENT THEM OR MESSAGE ME BECAUSE IDEAS HELP ME UPDATE FASTER!
I love you guys so much.
xxxxx
Gabi <3
Update soon pleaseeeeeeeeee???????
12/6/14