Animate Me (8 page)

“So Nathan has made a new friend at work…a girl.”

“That’s nice. What’s her name?” my Mom asks politely.

“Brooke,” I say before giving Curtis the evil eye.

“What does she do there?” Dad asks.

“She’s head of development,” I answer cautiously.

“So I’m hoping something will develop for you with this head of development,” Curtis responds.

My mom raises her eyebrows, and looks back and forth between Curtis and me.

“We’re just friends,” I insist. No need making my parents hopeful. I know they worry about me. I was a mess after Rachel and I didn’t work out. I think they feared I would never date again.

Dad pipes up out of the blue. “The mathematical odds of meeting someone at work that would be appropriate for a significant relationship are favorable. Consistent exposure is key.”

Thanks Dad, for the warm fatherly advice.

“Okay, it’s great to have new friends,” Mom says carefully, trying to protect me. “Why don’t you bring her to brunch some time?”

And subject her to the strangeness of my family?
No thank you.

“Well, let’s see how it goes first. We’ve only been friends for a week.”

• • •

The next afternoon, Brooke waves me over to her computer like I just left her office. I’ve been a tangled mess all day waiting to see her, but she’s cool as a cucumber and looks really happy to see me. “Hey, come look at this,” she says.

I step up behind her and lean forward. There’s a color image of a girl with big eyes that looks like artist Keene’s work, surrounded by little creatures holding a row of lollipops. It’s freaky, but in a good way. “That’s cool. Whose work is that?”

“Sarah. She’s an in-betweener on Bruce’s team. There’s so much talent here. People have no idea.”

“I know you’re right. A lot of the artists have a hard time promoting their own work.”

“That’s why I’m starting a website where all this art can be featured. I’m also going to do a rotating gallery show in the lobby of the building.”

Like I need another reason to love this woman.
She turns back to see my reaction, and I smile happily at her. “That’s a great idea…really.”

“You like it? Arnauld thinks it’s a stupid idea. Well, not so much stupid, but that it is distracting me away from my job. I told him I can do most of it during my off hours.”

“Can I help you with it? I’ve done several websites. You wouldn’t have to pay me.”

“That’d be great. I could really use the help. You shouldn’t do it for free though. Hey, I know…I could feed you. How would that be?”

“As long as it’s not that healthy crud.”

“I promise.” She laughs. “How’s Thursday after work?”

“Sounds good.” I set her coffee on her desk and walk around to the front. “Unfortunately, I’ve got to go, Joel called a four-thirty meeting in the conference room. There’s a problem with the storyboards.”

She looks up at me concerned. “Nathan, are you okay? I mean after Saturday night, are we okay?”

“Okay?”

“I’m just worried I pushed you too hard. I fretted about it all day yesterday.”

I push my glasses back up my nose, and run my fingers through my hair. It occurs to me that she looks vulnerable when I’m the one who was such a mess that night.

I smile at her and hope she can see the gratitude in my eyes. “No, you were just right. I needed to be pushed.”

She lets out a deep exhale. “Oh, I’m so glad.”

“So tomorrow, four-twenty?”

“I’ll be here,” she says, before I regretfully leave for my meeting.

On the way back from the conference room I stop in Dani’s cube. Her earbuds are in and she’s in the zone. It looks like she’s working on some character designs for an upcoming episode. I wait a minute, and when she doesn’t notice me I finally tap her shoulder. She pauses her iPod, and turns to me.

“Hey, Nathan. What’s up?”

“I was wondering if we could talk about something?”

“No can do. This is supposed to be done by six. I can talk after that, though.”

“Okay, just come get me. I’ll be in my cube.”

She nods and turns her iPod back on.

It’s about six-forty when Dani finally show up.

“Sorry dude, he asked for last minute changes.”

“No problem, I have a pile of stuff to do here anyway.” I stand up, and see that Andy is still working in his cube next door. “Hey, let’s find somewhere to talk outside.”

In the elevator down we chat about the show, and rumors that Joel is over budget again.

“He better watch that shit,” Dani warns. “I don’t care what kind of genius he is; for the suits, it’s all about the money.”

When the elevators open we step out and head for the door. Right as I pull it open for Dani, I catch someone in the corner of my eye, and turn to see Brooke holding her work-bag and heading our way. She has a huge smile on her face, and it hits me that she thinks I’m making progress with Dani. I hold the door open longer, until Brooke can pass through.

When we are all three outside, there’s an awkward moment.

“Hi Dani,” Brooke says politely.

“Hey.”

“Are you guys heading this way?” She points to the parking structure.

“No, we were going to go sit down for a while,” I explain nervously.

“Okay, cool. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I watch her walk away, before turning back to Dani.

“She seems really nice,” Dani observes.

“Yeah, that’s kinda why I needed to talk to you. I’ve got myself in a mess and hope you can help me out.”

She raises her eyebrows. “What kind of a mess?”

“Well, Brooke and I have become friends, and I was helping her Saturday night with her computer.” I twist my hands together. “So then we had pizza and beer, and she got it in her head that I like someone at work.”

“Really? And who would that be? Because it’s very clear to me that you have set your sights on Ms. Brooke. Am I right?”

I can feel the blood rush to my face. “Please don’t make this any harder than it already is.” I stand up and pace a few times before I sit back down. “I’m so screwed. She thinks I like you.”

She throws her head back and laughs. She laughs so hard; it’s almost insulting.

“I’m so glad you find this amusing.”

“Well, so why didn’t you straighten her out? Oh yes, there’s a little complication. She’s got a boyfriend who happens to be the PRESIDENT of our company, Nathan. I mean, what the fuck are you thinking? You want to get black-balled in our tight-assed little industry?”

“I know. This is really bad.” I double fist my hair and pull hard, groaning.

“You’re whacked. Besides what in the world makes you think she’d go for you? Don’t get me wrong, you’re a kick ass artist, but socially you’re a wee bit stunted.”

“Thanks so much. Now that we’ve talked, I’m feeling so much better about things.”

“There is one more thing I don’t get. How is telling her that you are after me, help things along with her?”

“She wants to help me win you over, so she’s going to teach me things and improve me. She’s doing a
My Fair Lady
on me. And the lessons are really…enjoyable.”

“You’re full of shit—you’re not that big of a loser, are you?”

“Well, actually…”

“And what do I get out of this?”

“Maybe it’ll make Nick jealous, and he’ll see the light.”

At first her eyes roll, but then I see a fire light up in them. Maybe that isn’t the craziest idea. He has taken his time going back to Dani, but if there is a challenge, he may feel the urgency for them to be reunited sooner. They both know they are destined to be together.

“I’m going to have to think this over. I just don’t know.”

“This isn’t a flat out ‘no’, right? You’ll at least consider it?”

“Yeah, I’ll consider it…let’s talk again tomorrow.” She picks up her backpack and slings it over her shoulder.

“Thanks, Dani, I appreciate that. Until tomorrow then.”

I decide to sit and gather my thoughts, and my mind starts to spin. Just over a week ago my life had a predictable pattern. Every day blended into the next, like a loop of animation being repeated again and again. Now, the loop has torn, and the film is flapping under the hot light of the projector. I have no idea how the next scenes are going to play. The result is a mix of exhilaration and terror. At this point, all I can do I keep the projector running, and hope for the best.

“It’s very hard to be brave when you’re only a very small animal.” ~Winnie the Pooh
^v

“S
oooo…” she says, grinning ear to ear. “How’d it go?”

I hand over her coffee and today’s cup illustration is one that only the two of us would understand. It’s two ends of a USB cord meeting for the first time. They have little cartoon faces on them with mustaches and outie plug heads. They’re both looking at each other with concerned looks and question marks floating over their heads.

Male to male connection, indeed.

“How did what go?” I ask.

“Your date with Dani. Did you kiss?”

I’m embarrassed, but I try to keep my cool. “Oh, we didn’t have a date. We just talked. There was definitely no kiss.”

“Oh.” She looks surprised. I can’t tell if I’m reading her wrong but she looks kind of pleased that she’s the only one I’ve really kissed.

I hold up the cup in front of her so she can see the drawing. Her resulting laugh lightens up the room. “You should at least do these drawings on the cup sleeve, you know. Then at least I could flatten them out and keep them.”

“Oh, you want to keep my cup art,” I tease, hardly able to contain my thrill.

She walks over to one of her built-in cabinets and pulls open the door, then does a Vanna White wave of her arm. Each of my Starbucks cups since day one are lined up like paper soldiers. “As you can see, I’m running out of room. I rinse them out and everything.” She snaps the door closed and walks back to her desk.

“You’re making me feel special.”

“Well, your custom Starbucks cups make me feel special,” she teases back, but I know she means it.

I tip my head down embarrassed, despite the fact that her words make me really happy.

I suddenly feel the energy change in the room, and I turn to see Arnauld in the doorway, leaning against the door jam with his arms folded. He speaks to Brooke like I’m not even there.

“Ready to go over the presentation?”

“Sure, but first, say hi to my friend, Nathan. He’s the animator I told you about on Joel’s team.”

“One of the beavers.” Arnauld snickers. “Hey man, thanks for fixing Brooke’s computer.” He nods at me in that manly, confident way that reeks of masculinity. He’s one of those guys that knows how good-looking he is, and expects everyone to appreciate it. What a schmuck.

“Sure, it was no big deal,” I reply quietly. This is painfully uncomfortable. “I’ll see you later, Brooke.”

“Okay, thanks Nathan.”

When I pass Arnauld, he nods his head again, but all the while he is watching Brooke with a look in his eye. It feels territorial, and I hold my breath until I’ve stepped out of her office.

Morgan gives me that damn knowing look, like I just got caught with my hand in the cookie jar. Well, don’t worry Morgan,
I sure didn’t get any cookies today.

• • •

The next day Dani and I slip into a conference room for a private moment. Now that she’s had some time to mull over my request, I’m nervous she’s going to turn me down.

“Do I have to kiss you?”

Leave it to Dani to be thorough. My mind starts imagining different scenarios, and I’m not sure how to answer her.

“I don’t think so, but maybe.”

“Do I have to sleep with you?”

“God, no. The worst it would be is some type of PDA, you know public display of affection.”

“How long are we talking here? It can’t be some ambiguous time frame. We need a firm start date and end date for these shenanigans.”

“Does this mean you’re going to do it?” I ask, hopeful.

“What can I say? I’m a sucker for the underdog. Besides I get a really good feeling about that Brooke, and Arnauld is an asshole. He doesn’t deserve her. You, on the other hand, are one of the good guys. You’re definitely worthy of her.”

“Oh, Dani,” I give her one of my stiff hugs. “Thanks so much.”

She looks at her watch. “Today is the twenty-fourth. You have eight weeks. On the twenty-fourth, month after next, I turn into a pumpkin, so you better be done by then. Agreed?”

I nod nervously. The clock’s running, and its quiet ticking is pounding in my ears.

At lunch time, we head over to Outer Limits, our local comic shop that’s walking distance from the studio. I’ve been so distracted by Brooke that I’m actually behind with my reading. Spiderman could have had a love tryst with the Green Lantern, and I wouldn’t have even known it.

Billie looks happy when we burst through the door because the Sketch Republic crowd means money in the cash register.

“So, you finally show up. What’s the matter Nathan, don’t you love me anymore?” Billie drapes herself over the trading card case and pouts her lips. She knows how to fluster me.

“Of course I do,” I mumble, trying to be cute, but from me it sounds awkward and insincere. It doesn’t help that Andy pushes me towards her, and the guys are chuckling. All of them have a thing for beautiful Billie, but for some reason I’m her favorite.

“You didn’t visit me last week and I missed you so.”

“Missed me, or my wallet?” I surprise myself by challenging her.

“Well… your wallet. But only just a little bit more. It’s true that your open wallet is one of the reasons I put up with you.”

Yeah, that’s Billie.

“Hey Billie, is that a new tattoo?” Joel asks stepping closer. I can’t imagine how he would notice it from several feet away considering that both her arms are entirely covered with tattoos. I didn’t think she had any space left. But she lifts and twists her arm and shows off Wonder Woman deflecting bullets with her silver cuffs.

“Wonder Woman kicks ass,” moans Andy. “That’s so hot.”

“Glad you like it,” she purrs, admiring it herself. She looks at me and winks. “Hey guys did you see that Nathan’s new issue of
B-Girl in Wildsville
is in?”