Chapter IV

 

    The house was already starting to warm up.

    “Ay ‘ow’s it been lady? Damn it feels like it’s been so long since we last hung out.”

    “It’s tough when you live on the other side of the city,” Cecelia retorted, still grinning at her close friend. “Even when it’s someone like you.”

    Giorgio was a stocky man in his late thirties, with hair all over him and a gut like a trucker. He spoke with a rasped voice and a rough Long Island accent. His small rectangular frames sat at the bridge of his large nose, from where he proceeded to slide them back up his face.

    “Aw shut up,” he said with a burly chuckle. “I’m just glad we can be together now. It don’t matter the distance.”

    “Oh stop, I’m not feeling guilty.”

    “You got ‘nything to drink?”

    “Water, Coke, some craft sodas ‘n’ decent beers in the fridge, then over there there’s a few wines or spirits if you’d like.”

    “I’m not classy enough for wine. Hand me a beer will ya? Anything’ll do.”

    As Cecelia opened the fridge to grab a Bud Light, the doorbell rang. Restraining herself from stretching her arm to meet Giorgio’s hand, she quickly snatched his drink, passed it to him, and opened up her house to another friend of hers: Silver Ennox.

    “Hey Cici,” peeped a shy voice as the slender guest shuffled inside.

    “Hey, Silver. Have you been doing good?”

    “A little better,” responded Silver with a sigh. “Still kinda figuring things out, you know?”

    Cecelia nodded. “Come on in now, stay awhile. Relax,” she told in a calm voice as Silver kicked off their shoes and had a seat on the couch.

    “We ever meet?”

    “N-no...”

    “Giorgio Bisognin. Just call me George though.” He extended his arm as Cecelia left the room to retrieve some of her entertainment platters.

    “Silver.”

    “Nice to meet you Silver. You want anything?”

    “Some water would be good.”

    Hearing this, Cecelia filled a glass for her friend before heading back into the family room with the veggie tray and bowl of potato chips. Seeing the mixed nuts, she brought them out with the water, confident that they’d taste as they should.

    The doorbell rang as Giorgio sipped his beer. A curvy brunette stood on the other side, her skin pale and her eyes an inspiring gray. She carried a purse whose exterior reflected some of the light from her car’s pure white xenons.

    “ZOE! Oh my god!” Cecelia’s right arm practically sprang forward into a position between them. She shook her hand hard. “Get in, come on in! I even made something just for you! J-just wait here!” chimed Cecelia as she closed the door behind the beautiful fashion designer. She then dashed to the kitchen where she placed her blueprint art on the breakfast table and quickly transformed herself into a pitcher of ice water. A droplet crept over the pitcher’s tinted glass lip and careened to the tile floor where it took on Cecelia’s native appearance. Removing the water from her conscious force, she carried it and Zoe’s gift back to the family room.

    “I hope you like it...”

    “Wow... I’m impressed.”

    “Thank you...” replied Cecelia, trying to prevent herself from blushing. “It took me a while but um, you know I’m a really big fan of yours...”

    “You’re really too kind.”

    “Ay Cici? Come on sit down will ya? No need to be in two places at once.”

    Damn, snapped Cecelia internally as she made one last check to set the blueprint apart from her conscience. As she filed the thoughts in her brain, she heard Silver compliment a pecan.

    Now she could start to let herself relax, much to the wishes of Giorgio. Even Zoe, whose abstract designs made her come off as uptight initially, wasted no time getting comfy and meeting the others. She struck up talk with Giorgio and Silver as Cecelia turned on the TV for the Cowboys-Eagles game. The shapeshifter concealed her pride at her art and snacks, then grabbed herself an A&W.

    Zoe and Giorgio stepped outside to the back porch for a cigar. Silver chuckled, and Cecelia shot her a smirk. The two talked over the audio of the football game; jobs, hobbies and wishes popping up in their conversation. The usual suspects of catch-up, coffee table chatter.

    A smile was elicited from Silver when Cecelia said they looked and felt a lot more confident. “You’re doing great,” she complimented.

    “I got a ways to go,” they replied. “But thank you.”

    That electronic chime was heard once more.




Speed and stress can sometimes impact the quality of items Cecelia chooses to emulate. Hopefully this pitcher has some 'handmade' appeal to it, but the craftsmanship is lacking compared to most of the other items Cecelia shifts herself into.