I leaned over my sandwich, rolled my eyes, and whispered. "Where did she get a name like L'Atrice anyway? She doesn't look French to me."
"She's not French." Thea was glad to offer up information. "She's from Morgantown, Morgantown, West Virginia."
"West Virginia?"
"Yeah, and her real name is Ada."
"Ada? Oh my God." I laughed harder than I had in weeks and suddenly Thea was coughing. The usual glow from her white skin was now rose red. Oh, I liked her. I really like her was all I could think of in my head while I watched her regain control.
"How are your sketches going? Ada seems very pleased. " And we both broke out in a cackle again.
"Pretty good. The more I do the better I get, but I'll be wholly blissful when the Universe says I can do my own line."
"Are you still drawing L'ATrice's lingerie?"
"Yeah. It's nice stuff I think, but a pain because you end up drawing more model and less clothes. I've always been better at drawing clothes, not people."
"You need to practice drawing just the mode--, no clothes."
"It'd be good practice, you're right."
"You can practice on me. I'll model for you."
I turned onto Orlando from Beverly Boulevard still reeling form Thea's proposition, or at least that's what I thought it was, or what I hoped it was. Or maybe she just kidding or maybe she was just being nice. Oh Christ, I hope not.
I slowed down at the Orlando and Oakwood four way stop, just like I always did. Then, before I had time to stop, a black BMW came down Oakwood and didn't stop at all.
I hit their back bumper and then careened into the stop sign.
I looked up to see my old round car smashed from the windshield to the front end.
Just then someone pulled open my door. He had a big bald head and a nose that stretched clear across his face. He wore a black turtleneck, black pants, and black loafers.
"Out of the car," he whispered. I could see the end of the gun sticking from his waist.
He pulled me out and dragged me towards the Beamer that barely looked damaged at all.
Thug Two, dressed identically to Thug One, stood eagerly by the driver's side urging Thug One to hurry up. Thug One pushed me in the back seat and jumped in next to me. It was a tan leather interior, very tasteful I thought, and we took off.
