Thank god @kingdonmacrofic exists because I got a THIRD story out of day 14. Pictures.
Mel's process for ending up in that art studio.
Girl had a plan.
Mel had struggled with living in her skin for a good long while. Some combination of her accidental parentification and outcast living as teenager. Her body just felt like something she existed in rather than being a whole. During undergrad, once she was left as sole caretaker Mel realised she had to do something about it.
One night her art major room mate, Alex, had suggested something. Live modelling.
Initially her instincts had shut down rapidly on the very idea. But the idea kept coming back to her. So after some cajoling and encouragement Mel had started her part time gig as a live model. If she was allowed some form of audio distraction or a screen. Mel could easily stay still for hours when focused. The extra pay was also a nice bonus. It had really helped her. Maybe a group of people were staring at her naked body. Initially had felt like everyone was judging her. But slowly over time, Mel felt the power. She held the room. Most people wouldn’t dare sit in front of a group of strangers in their underwear never mind naked.
She’d let it go since getting her MD.
That art friend had recently reached out to her. Knowing she had moved to Pittsburugh and mentioning that a local art collective was in need of a model. No one better than Mel if she had the time or inclination.
Mel had missed it. She couldn’t deny it. Right now she was at the beginning of her career. Yet to hold the room. So there was the temptation to claim it back. Even if just in her own mind.
One of the things her mother had always advised her was that timing was everything. Mel sighed as she checked the latest text from Alex. Her friend in the city was in desperate need of a body. This Saturday – pay was insane if she could be a doll. She huffed a laugh. Alex was persistent.
Mel focused back on her notations, trying to get it all done before end of shift. Frank all but collapsed on the counter next to her desk. Rolling his eyes dramatically at her. But he also looked tired and sad? Dr Garcia sidled in next to him.
‘I don’t see what the problem is.’ Mel just continued working away. She’d learned never to get trapped in between the infamous Gardon fights/debates/clashes. The hard way. Being used as an actual human shield was new. But she only liked it when Frank did it.
‘How about I think it’s completely pointless?’ His voice was completely hollow. He grabbed a tablet and started flicking through his own caseload.
‘You get to see a naked woman. How bad could it be?’ Mel tried her best to pretend that she couldn’t hear this conversation. Garcia punched him in the arm. Frank, Abby and a live model art class. As a means of repairing their relationship.
Frank’s tone was disparaging but still fond. A weird line Mel could never walk. ‘It’s not guaranteed to be woman ya know.’
Garcia jumped on it immediately. ‘That’s no issue for you.’
For once Frank didn’t volley. He really wasn’t happy with this idea. ‘Abby thinks it’ll help us reconnect. I think it’s a bad idea.’ There was something in those words that spoke to a deeper disconnect. Mel tried not to think about it.
Abby and Garcia were not friends. They had Frank in common but it was clear that she was Franks. Abby was just a package deal. No love lost between them. ‘What a weird marriage bonding thing.’ Garcia grabbed a free chair in the nurses station and idly spun around.
Frank sighed wearily again. ‘That’s what I said but she’s insistent.’
‘Hm. Well at the end of the day it’s tits or dick so how bad could it be for you?’ Well that was one way of looking at it.
‘I’d rather spend this Saturday with the kids but hey this is the price I pay. Instead a stuffy art studio down in that new collective.’ Timing was everything.
Luckily they were so focused on their conversation that they didn’t seem to notice Mel stilling next to Frank. Fingers hovering over her tablet, locked in place.
What were the chances.
Both doctors moved onto a less serious conversation and away from Mel.
Then, like someone else was controlling her body. Her phone was in her hand and she was confirming she’d fill in as a model for Saturday night. Alex texted back almost immediately.
No going back now.
-------
Mel knelt in her closet. Digging around for a long forgotten sketch.
‘So.... let me get this straight. You just agreed to act as a nude live model this Saturday.’ Mel hummed absently. Samira sitting on her bed, mouth agape. Trinity sprawled on the bed. For once shocked into silence. ‘Where the Langdons are attempting reconnecting as per marriage counselling???’
‘Yes.’ Mel screwed up her face, glaring into her closet. It was in here somewhere.
Trinity finally seemed to find her voice. ‘That’s a bold move. You’ve modelled before?’
Mel grabbed her wine and took a sip. Standing up and reaching for the flat packs. ‘Side gig during college.’
‘Naked?’ Mel whooped a little as she finally got her hands on her prize. She turned just in time to see Samira throwing a cushion at Trinity’s head.
‘That’s what you’re focusing on??? Mel posing naked for art students. And not her making a fucking hell of a move on Langdon.’
Trinity shuddered at the suggestion. ‘I’m trying not to think about that tbh. Unless she’s making the move on the wife.’ Both women shook their heads at Trinity. Who was looking far too pleased with herself at the reactions.
‘It pays well.’ Mel remarked lightly. As though any of them were buying that as even a vague idea of a cover.
The only person who didn’t seem to know that Mel King was head over heels in love with Frank was Frank. Both unfortunate and a blessing. She managed to just about contain herself at work. But the late nights. Carpooling and random excursions. All that combined with that inexplicable connection they’d had from that first day. All roads led to this disaster.
Trinity downed her beer. Sniping at Mel only with a little genuine venom. ‘Oh yeah. You just perhaps kicking at a crumbling foundation is just quality assurance gig. Saving him from a PhD in self punishment.’ Samira caught the note of worry for Frank at the same time as Mel.
Mel laid the large folder in her lap. Stared up at Trinity who was doing a terrible job of hiding her concern. She and Langdon were almost friendly with each other now. Throwing barbs back and forth. Frank remarked that she reminded him a lot of his sister. Trinity had gagged. But somehow they acted like siblings. The irritating little sister trying to get out from other the older brother. A brother who was determined to get the last word in every damned time.
Trinity rolled her eyes dramatically at Mel’s stern stare and Samira’s scoffing. ‘Fine. I agree this marriage is toxic for them both and it’s stupid. Nothing can be resurrected from the dead and be as good. So burn it to the ground King.’
Samira slid to the ground. Mel slightly envious of how gracefully she managed to do it. She’d have just hit the ground. Trinity tried to look uninterested. Both women laughed at her.
‘My friend gave me her sketch of my first fully nude model. I don’t think anyone has ever seen this outside of her art class that year.’ Gently Mel opened up the folder. The smell of paper of charcoal soothing. Those hours of Mel loosing herself in herself flooding back. Not even aware of people detailing her body on paper in varying degrees of skill.
Mel leaning back relaxed. Back resting against a cushion surface. A hand resting on her stomach, legs crossed. Eyes closed, face peaceful. Like she was asleep. Both of then slid next to her to examined the sketch.
They exchanged a look over Mel’s head. ‘Were you sleeping with this artist friend by any chance?’ Trinity asked, craning her head at the sketch.
Mel hid her smirk. She supposed some things always bled into art. ‘We were room mates.’ Mel kept her voice light. Unserious. Trinity shoved her playfully as Samira threw her head back and laughed. ‘But yes we did have sex for a period. Nothing serious.’
‘For you maybe.’ Samira’s head tilted. ‘I was always fairly certain of being straight but Mel.’
‘The tits.’ Mel frowned at them both. Trinity shrugged. ‘I warned you of the risk.’
‘No it’s not that... but really?’ Trinity watched as Mel shut the sketch closed and carefully put it away. Maybe someday she’d hang it up. But that was not this day.
Her lips quirked up in an evil smirk as Mel sat down on the bed. ‘Well if I was Langdon and only got a glimpse of the side boob I’d be running straight to the divorce lawyer. And I say that as a purely platonic friend. But you are hot. With a killer rack.’
Mel’s hands twisted in her lap. Wine forgotten on her dressing table. ‘So you don’t think I’m a terrible person? For doing this with his wife right there?’ They both sat up and hugged her tightly.
‘You could never be a terrible person.’ Samira reassured her gently.
Trinity was a little more direct. ‘You practically have rainbows shoot out your ass. You’re the best of all of us. Besides you’re not jumping him with the wife in the room. You’re just standing your ground.’
That was true.
It was a risk. But it felt like one worth taking.
---------------
‘Dr King???’ The Art Collective Director seemed to physically sink with the relief at Mel’s appearance.
‘Yes.’ Mel reached out and shook her hand. A woman in her 60s. Artfully greying hair. Dressed in a suit that was equal parts eclectic and elegant. ‘Hello.’
‘Grace Dickinson. On behalf of the Collective thank you so much for helping us out. We know you probably have better uses of your time.’ Her accent was thick. Australian? Warm and inviting. Mel easily imagined her doing poetry reads with an audience hypnotised by the melodic tones.
Mel smile naturally. ‘It’s no problem. Alex spoke very highly of you.’ Grace’s electric green eyes twinkled at the mention of their mutual friend.
‘That Alex always a live wire. Now the class isn’t for another 20 minutes but I thought you might like to get ready and take a few moments to centre yourself. I have organised the session for one of the back rooms with an ajoinging changing room. Take as much time as you need. I have tea and will drop in all the releases for the participants before we start.
Mel back in her modelling heyday had long left last minute jitters and nerves behind. But today was a different state of affairs. She was about to lay herself bare, literally and figuratively for Frank.
Cards on the table.
She thought about it deeply as she stripped herself down and settled into the cozy robe. It hadn’t been a secret to anyone that she and Frank were close. The day he had returned they had fallen back into that instant rhythm immediately. But it went beyond that. She knew people talked. Hell Frank had shared with her Abby’s concerns over their increasing closeness. Not disparaging. More gauging. Like he was trying to feel her out on where she stood with him.
Neither of them able to break that wall. The ever loose ring on his finger stopping them at that line.
It didn’t stop him from going out of his way to seek her out. Her from spending precious time with him outside of work. Inviting him over for movie nights, mostly with Becca sometimes without. Carpooling. The quiet but laughter filled dinners. Being a shoulder to lean on.
Emotional affair.
Frank had shrugged it off. Abby had her “best friend from college” around a lot more lately. He didn’t seem too pressed about it. Voices started increasing in volume in the room next to her. Mel silently walked to the door. Pressing her ear against the wood. Feeling slightly childish as she tried to pick up Frank’s deep voice. There was one way to check if he was there. Mel rifled through the releases quickly.
Frank signature jumped off the page at her.
Mel started stretching gently. Wouldn’t do to get a cramp.
Time to go.
Grace knocked gently at the door. ‘Yes?’ Mel answered, rolling her neck slowly.
‘Oh you really are a pro at this.’ Grace looked impressed, watching as Mel continued stretching. Only a few minutes left to go. ‘So it will only be your back and a little of your flank depending on the view. A sheet for your legs and around your hips.’ Oh shaving her legs was rather pointless. Oh well. ‘Either myself or one of my assistants will be within your eyeline at all time. So if you want to signal us please do so at any time. We we take regular breaks so you won’t fatigue. I have given them the run through. Are you ready?’ Mel took a steadying breath and followed Grace into the small room. Warm lighting.
It was a small group of people, thankfully. Maybe 10 people. No creeps by the looks of things. The few Mel could make out in her periphery were respectfully readying themself and giving her space to arrange herself. Her heart leapt into an atypical rhythm as she spotted Frank at the far end. Eyes closed, head tilted towards the ceiling in a deep slow stretch. Jawline sharp even from her limited view. Pressing earbuds in. Charcoal on a neat tray next to him.
He was dressed in his usual if not slightly tattier out of work garb. Ripped jeans and well worn t-shirt. Mel had serious reservations about doing this whole thing with Abby Langdon in the room. Strawberry blonde hair shining in the room. Excitably talking to the person on the other side.
Mel pondered if this what their therapist has meant by a bonding exercise for them. Frank settling into focusing more. Abby in a completely different mood next to him. If it weren’t for the matching bands one might have thought them strangers.
Grace and her assistant held up the sheet that was going to cover her partially as Mel removed her robe.
The room stilled.
There it was again.
That feeling that flooded her veins. The room was hers and hers alone. And she didn’t have to do a damned thing to hold it. Mel had opted for contacts, for reasons. Mel plugged in her own earbuds. And audiobook lined up to go. A much loved one so she could tune in and out as the meditative stance drifted in and out.
‘Okay lets begin.’ Grace’s voice was deep and slow. Keeping the room calm and steady.
Mel knew the minute that Frank started examining her back. He didn’t know about her tattoos. One of the few things she’d wanted to hold back for a moment. Grace gestured at her for her to move her head. Towards Frank. It was so quiet as the audience started to examine her. She could hear the sharp inhale.
Recognition.
She gave him a second to sit in his shock. Screwing up all her courage to meet his gaze. The typically bright blue clouded to darkness by his blown pupils. Mouth slightly open. Her eye flickered over to his wife. Who was completely oblivious to her husband struck dumb next to her. She couldn’t stop the grin if she tried. Cheeky and flirtatious. His eyes widening further at her.
Then she winked. His jaw actually slacked as she arched her back – stretching was very important after all.
Mel didn’t hear a word of the audiobook. Lost in her head at the idea and hope that sometime soon there would be charcoal streaks down her skin and not just on the page.
