Maybe She'll Say Yes

"I know, you're always in a big damn rush," Craig said. Craig turned his attention back to the TV. "Fuckin' batter, learn to hit!"

Audrey's sister Trish set her car keys on the kitchen counter.

"Sorry, I guess I should have warned you," Trish said.

"No worries," Audrey said, and walked into her bedroom, humming happily. She emerged now fully dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, which her father would likely complain were too tight on her.

Audrey walked down the hallway, turned, and walked back into an empty bedroom, her oldest sister Katie's old room.

There were paintings adorning the walls of Katie's room; the legacy of Audrey's mother. Audrey slowly walked around the room, admiring each of the pieces. There was one depicting Katie, when she was only ten, holding a doll. Audrey looked to the next painting. which showed an eight-year-old Trish, holding a beach ball and smiling. Audrey walked past many other paintings, a self-portrait of her mother, a painting of her father. And finally, Audrey's eyes rested on the only unfinished painting. The face and body had been etched out; clearly depicting Audrey when she was only five years old. Audrey's mother had succumbed to Multiple sclerosis before she could finish it. It was her greatest regret; not being able to have a finished piece for each of her daughters, but the damage to her nerves had prevented her from making the brush strokes she needed to finish the painting.

Audrey reached out and touched the surface of the painting, feeling the rough sensation of the paint strokes.

"Audrey, do you want any of this chicken salad?" Trish said, walking down the hall. "Audrey? Where are you?"

Trish peered into the bedroom-turned-art-gallery.

"Oh, here you are. What are you doing?" Trish said, entering the room.

"Just looking at Mom's paintings," Audrey said with a smile.

Trish walked to Audrey's side and admired the paintings. Trish rarely entered this room anymore, no one from the family did very often, but whenever they did they couldn't help but take another look at works from a time past. Trish looked over at Audrey, who hummed cheerfully.

"What are you so happy about?" Trish asked.

"Because I'm going to model again," Audrey said.

*****

Alex opened the door to his studio and turned on the overhead lights. They flickered momentarily before illuminating the small dingy art studio Alex has set up in the storage shed behind his parent's house. Several of his art pieces were set up against the wall while the center of the room served as his work area. He had his own lighting kit, an easel, writing desk, and even a cot nearby for when he needed to relax and let his mind wander.

Alex opened his book bag and removed several books he'd collected from the campus library and the bookstore. He was in need of inspiration.

He flipped open a book he'd purchased featuring several pin-up pictures from the 1950s. Alex loved the quaint and innocent poses of the doe-eyed models; he thought they looked sexier that way.

Alex had a fruit basket, a table and a chair to use as props. Somehow he had to find something that would compliment Audrey.

Alex stayed up for hours, browsing his books, finding nothing that piqued his interest. Nor was he any closer to figuring out how he was going to ask Audrey to take off her clothes.

Not finding anything helpful in his books, Alex flipped open his laptop and browsed through the Internet. Classic nudes, contemporary, there were plenty of ideas from which to choose. Alex needed something that would capture the ideal he felt Audrey best represented. Joy, happiness; Alex felt all kinds of emotions when he saw Audrey. He managed to stay awake past three a.m. before he conked out, dreaming about what he was going to do when Audrey arrived the next day.

*****

"Oh Shit!" Alex said when he awoke at 10:45 the next morning, lying on the floor of his studio. His cell phone showed three missed calls from Audrey.

"Shit, shit, shit," Alex muttered, groggily pulling himself to his feet. He flipped open his phone and called Audrey, waiting frantically for her to answer.

"Hello?" Audrey said.

"Hey, Audrey it's Alex, sorry I overslept," Alex said, wiping drool from his chin.

"Hi, sorry, I was trying to tell you I might be late today," Audrey said. "I need to buy a gift for a four-year-old's birthday I totally forgot I have to go to this afternoon."

"Oh, you do?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, it's not till 4:30 though, will that be enough time you think?"

"Should be enough," Alex said.

"So anyway, where's your studio?" Audrey asked.

"Oh, it's-" Alex fumbled about his studio, almost knocking over the stack of books on his desk. He had to think a second before he could remember his own address. "Five five oh five Melbourne, it's in the storage shed behind my house."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I finish shopping. Hey, do you know if kids like Veggie Tales anymore?"

Alex paused.

"Um, I honestly could not give you a qualified opinion on that," Alex said.

Audrey laughed.

"You're funny, Alex."

"Thanks," Alex said, scratching his head. He wasn't trying to be funny. That was honestly how he talked sometimes.

"See ya at noon-ish," Audrey said.

"Bye," Alex said. He hung up his phone. He now had an hour and fifteen minutes to prepare for his project., and just remembered something in his dream that told him exactly what he needed to do. What was it?

He was in such a frantic mood when he woke up Alex completely forgot what he had just dreamt. Something Audrey had said brought it back. Gift for a kid?

The light went on in Alex's head and he took out his phone again.

"What up, bitch?" This was Steve's usual telephone greeting.

"Hey Steve, I need to borrow your truck," Alex said.

*****

Fortunately Alex didn't have to wait long for Steve. Alex could hear the thumping bass from Steve's speakers before he'd arrived, and was pleased to see Steve's black Ford pickup bounce up the gravel driveway, making the marijuana leaf-shaped mirror ornament twirl about. Steve screeched to a stop and Alex hopped into the passenger seat.

"Thanks dude, I owe you one," Alex said, wrapping the seatbelt across his body.

"So where's this thing we're picking up?" Steve asked.

"The park by the pool. You know, the one across the street."

"Where we saw that hot mom with the tight pants that one day?" Steve asked.

"Yeah," Alex said. "Your memory serves you well."

Steve backed out of the driveway and took off down the road.

"So'd you get that chick to pose for you?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, she actually agreed to," Alex said.

"Really? And she was all ready to get her gear off for you? Fuck yeah," Steve said.

Alex sank into the leather seats a little deeper. Now he had to hear it from Steve too.

"Well, actually, I haven't told her yet about being nude," Alex said.

Alex braced himself for Steve's reaction.

"Why not?" Steve asked.

Alex looked at Steve's face. Steve didn't appear shocked, just genuinely curious.

"Oh, I just didn't get to it yet, I'm gonna though," Alex said. "Hopefully she'll be okay with it."

"She will," Steve said. "She's got a nice body. Chicks with bodies like that love to show them off."

Somehow, Alex found that reassuring.

"So did you hook up with that blonde chick at the pool yesterday?" Alex asked.

"Yeah she came back to my place last night," Steve said. "She had some nice-ass-titties. I let her give me head, ooh, she knew how to suck a dick, too. And then she starts jawing about how she loves me and shit and how I'm not like any guy she's ever met, and I told her I already had a girlfriend, and she started crying. Dude, I fucking hate that, when chicks cry, it pisses me off."

Alex nodded in agreement, although he hadn't ever made a girl cry that he could remember.

"So what'd you do?" Alex asked.

"After that we fucked and then I told her to go home," Steve said. "She started crying again and told me I'm a jackass, and I said whatever, and she left. Her pussy was blown out too, I'm glad I used a rubber."

Alex stared out the window. He wondered why guys like Steve had no problem getting girls, and it was near impossible for him. He didn't feel sorry for the girls that Steve hurt. Not when he'd been rejected by countless girls in favor of guys like Steve so many times, only to watch them walk away crying. Alex dismissed it as the way things worked.

Alex actually enjoyed hearing about Steve's escapades, even though he secretly hoped one day Steve's girlfriend would find out about them.

"Here it is," Alex said, pointing out the window. "I hope it's still here."

Steve stopped his truck in front of the playground. To Alex's delight, the uprooted swing-set remained discarded at the park's border.

"Yes, it's still there!" Alex said. "You think they'd care if we took it?"

Steve shook his head.

"Nah, I used to steal stuff from construction sites all the time, they never came looking for it," Steve said. Some questions about Steve's life were best left unanswered.

"Okay, help me lift it into your truck," Alex said.

Alex and Steve walked over towards the uprooted swing-set. Steve turned his head towards two young women pushing baby strollers down the sidewalk.

"Check it out! Two no-problems at three o'clock!" Steve said.

Alex looked towards the chicks. They weren't bad looking at all. Alex had to smile at the fact that no matter how big of a hurry he was in, he always had a few seconds to spare for ogling. Alex loved being a male.

"No problem," Alex reiterated. He shook his head quickly and resumed his attention on the swing-set.

"On three, ready?" Alex said. "One, two, three!"

Alex and Steve lifted the swing-set by its legs and carried it towards Steve's truck. They hoisted it above their heads and over the truck's tailgate.

"Okay, let's get this back to the studio," Alex said.

*****

Alex and Steve had to do some difficult twists and bends but eventually managed to get the entire swing-set through the door of Alex's studio. They plopped it down in front of Alex's desk, shaking it a few times to ensure it was steady.

"I got to hand it to you, Alex," Steve said. "A naked chick on a swing is a fuckin' sexy idea."

Alex bit his lip and smiled.

"Hope my piece is just that when it's done," Alex said. He checked his watch. It was five minutes to noon.

"Hey thanks man, but Audrey's gonna be here any minute," Alex said.

Steve raised his eyebrows.

"I help you lug that shit around in my truck and you're not gonna let me watch her take those titties out?" Steve exclaimed.

"Sorry, don't think it would be good form for a dude to be stroking himself while I'm trying to make art," Alex grinned.

"You know I wouldn't be rubbing one out, I'd be on top of that shit!" Steve laughed.

"Nice dude, but seriously, get the fuck out," Alex said.

"Alright, but I expect a full report from you this evening!" Steve said, pointing at Alex with an outstretched arm. "You will let me know that you got your dick wet because of my help!"

"Sure," Alex said.

"Peace, pimpin," Steve said, and walked back out to his truck.

Alex looked around his studio. He had his materials set up. He had inspiration. Now all he needed was the girl.

Alex paced around in his studio. How was he going to phrase this? What was he going to say to her? Alex sat down at his desk and tapped his fingers on his desktop. One minute till noon.

Alex shut his eyes and let out a sigh. Maybe if he just relaxed, the answer would come to him. Alex took a breath, and smelled that sweet smell from the pool yesterday. Not the chlorine, that sweet herbal smell of Audrey's hair. And footsteps- Alex could hear footsteps on the grass, approaching his studio. And finally he heard the sound of tapping on his studio door. Alex turned around and looked into the open doorway. Audrey was here.

*****

She stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe with the biggest smile Alex had ever seen. She had sandals on her feet, and each of her toenails were painted bright crimson, with a beaded bracelet around her left ankle. She wore a red halter-top, cut nice and low enough to expose her generously sized cleavage. Below her halter-top, she had about two inches of exposed skin showing; she had very tanned and toned abs. Upon her hips she wore a short blue jean skirt with slits up both sides, revealing her firm and smooth thighs. She had a small white purse wrapped around her right shoulder, and a butterfly ring around her left middle finger. Her long blonde hair was tied back into a ponytail and fluttered in the afternoon wind.

"Hey there," Audrey said. Alex's pulse raced as he admired her beauty.

"Hey, come on in," Alex said.

Audrey sauntered into the storage shed and looked around in curiosity.

"Wow, this is your studio, huh?" Audrey said.

"Yeah, take a look, tell me what you think," Alex said, standing up to greet her.

Audrey walked around the studio, admiring the pieces Alex had displayed . She smiled in amazement at each one.

"These are SO good, Alex!" Audrey said. "You are amazing!"

Alex smiled humbly.

"Thanks," he said.

Audrey admired a painting of a little girl standing over an ice cream cone that she had dropped on the pavement.

"You know my mom used to paint," Audrey said.

"Yeah, I read your blog last night," Alex said.

Audrey looked at Alex in surprise.

"You read my blog?" Audrey asked. "So you saw my comment about-"

"Yeah," Alex said. "Sorry she wasn't able to finish that piece for you. Hope today can make up for that."

Audrey looked into Alex's eyes.

"I'd really appreciate that, Alex," Audrey said. "So, you ready to get started?"

"Yeah," Alex said, as he cleared the books off his desk.

"Is this outfit okay?" Audrey asked, turning around for Alex to check her out her front and backsides. "I never did get to ask you what you wanted me to wear."

Alex stopped.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that," Alex said. He fumbled the books he was holding, and dropped them on the floor.

"Oh, let me help you with that," Audrey said, and helped him gather up the fallen books. She picked up one book, "Drawing the Nude," and glanced at the cover.

"Just some reference material," Alex said, taking the book from her. Alex placed the books into his book bag and set it aside.

"You draw nudes?" Audrey asked.

"Well, I haven't yet, it's something I've been thinking about," Alex said.

"Oh, ok," Audrey said. "Nothing wrong with that. So what did you want to talk to me about?"

Alex swallowed.

"The style," Alex said. "What style are you comfortable doing, you know, modeling for?"

Audrey shrugged.

"I don't know, you're the artist," Audrey said.

"Well, I was looking through a lot of books for inspiration, to get ideas, about what style to do your picture as, so I thought-"

"Like nudes?" Audrey asked.

Alex felt his heart pound even faster.

"Well, that was ONE idea I had, you know, possibly I could do at one point."

"With me?" Audrey asked.

"With someone, I didn't know if you'd be interested in that," Alex said.

Audrey took a step closer to Alex.

"Did you think I would ever pose nude for you?" Audrey asked.

"Like I said, I didn't know, I was just thinking it," Alex said.

"You were thinking about asking me to pose nude for you?" Audrey asked.

Alex couldn't tell if Audrey was mad or simply curious. She seemed to be probing him with each of her questions, almost as if she were trying to get him to say something he shouldn't.

"I- I don't know," Alex said.

Audrey stared Alex in the eye. Alex thought he might die from the awkwardness. Finally, Audrey broke the silence with laughter.

"I'm just teasing you, Alex, I heard you talking to your friend at the pool," Audrey said.

Alex felt his heart sink.

"You heard? You knew this entire time?" Alex said. Alex was dumbfounded.

"Your friend JB is quite the loudmouth. I'm surprised the whole pool area didn't hear him," Audrey said.

Alex covered his face with his hands. He had never felt so humiliated in his life. He shook his head for a few seconds and decided maybe this was for the better.

"So you're okay with this?" Alex asked.

Audrey tapped her finger on her elbow.

"If you wanted me to pose nude why didn't you ask?" Audrey asked.

"I didn't know what you'd say," Alex said.

"Then you never will know," Audrey said. She sat down on a step, which lead to the back of the storage shed and crossed her legs. She took a small file from her purse and casually filed her fingernails.

Alex took a breath. She wasn't going to make this easy.

"Audrey," Alex began.

"Yes?" Audrey said, looking up from her nails at Alex.

"Will you pose nude for my project?" Alex asked. "Please."

Audrey smiled.

"Yes," Audrey said. "I would be happy to pose nude for you."

Alex could have been told he'd won the lottery and felt less excited than he did right now. Those were the words he never imagined he might hear. And now that he'd heard them, the worst part was over.

"Thank you," Alex said. "You're going to love this, I promise."

"I'm sure I will," Audrey said, rising to her feet. "I guess I'll go get undressed."

Audrey walked up the steps towards the back of the shed.

Alex took another deep breath and got out his art supplies. He took out a 12 by 22-inch piece of cream colored drawing paper and laid it out on the desk in front of him. Through the corner of his eyes he could see Audrey standing near the far window pulling off her halter-top. Alex took out a set of pastels and set it next to the blank sheet. He rubbed his palms together as he looked at the blank medium before him.. Alex loved the anticipation before beginning a new piece; so many possibilities.

Alex looked over at Audrey again. He saw her unhook her bra fastener and set her bra aside. Alex quickly took his gaze away. No sense staring, and he would see her soon enough.

Alex sat down at his desk and placed his hands at both ends of the paper. Planning out how to frame it, imagining every detail before it went on the page. Alex was a detailed planner, at least for most of his projects.

Alex could hear Audrey approaching so assumed it safe too look. The rear of the studio was rather dim so Alex could only see her silhouette walking towards him. Even shrouded in darkness, Alex could tell that Audrey had a fabulous figure. Audrey emerged from the shadows and stood at the top of the steps, where Alex could see her from head to toe. She was completely naked.

Wow, Alex said to himself.

Audrey had very large, beautiful breasts. Her nipples were small, oval-shaped with a feminine pink hue. Alex was astounded by her gorgeous curves. Her slim waist complemented her noticeably wider hips, which swayed so sexily in tune with each of her steps. Alex was pleased to see that her pubic hair was completely shaved, and he could see her labia peeking out innocently between her firm thighs.

"Well, here I am," Audrey said sweetly. "Where do you want me to pose?"

Alex gulped.

"On the swing," Alex said, pointing to his newly acquired public property.

Audrey laughed.

"I was wondering why that was there," Audrey said. She made her way down the steps. Her legs looked so luscious as she descended the steps; Alex couldn't help but stand in awe of their exquisite beauty.

As Audrey approached the swing-set, Alex was at last treated to a view of Audrey's backside, and he stole a glance at her round and absolutely perfect ass. He remembered how nice it looked when she was clad in her bathing suit and bending over her locker the previous day, and now here it was, fully exposed for his eyes to enjoy.

Audrey took a seat on the swing and playfully rocked back and forth. Alex noticed her breasts had a pleasant bounce to them that he wondered if he would be able to capture on paper.