Super Avenged

“Jimmy...Jiiimmmmyyyy...James....James Owen...JIMMY, WAKE THE HELL UP!” I screamed impatiently. I had been patiently and quietly cooing his name and poking his back, but still he slept on. So, I scowled at the back of his head and went straight to the screaming.

“Yo?” Jimmy responded sleepily, not bothering to turn over to face me.

“I have an art gallery opening tonight! I have to go see Monica, pronto, for something to wear,” I answered. Jimmy groaned before finally rolling over. He blinked up at me, his pale blue eyes tired. His head was accessorized with horrible bed-head.

“Monica?” Jimmy repeated uncertainly. I nodded frantically, poking him again. “Who’s this Monica?”

“She’s a good friend of mine that’s a fashion designer,” I explained with a smile. “I always go to her to find something fabulous to wear to a gallery opening.”

“Oh,” Jimmy said softly. He shoved himself into a sitting position and rubbed his eye with his palm. Sighing, he looked wearily over at me. “Is this going to be like a shopping excursion?”

“Yes, a lot like a shopping excursion,” I answered. Jimmy sighed again before sliding out of the bed. I scrambled off the bed too and followed him out into the living room.

“Then, I’m going to need some coffee,” he muttered before walking towards the bathroom. I smirked after him before turning on my heel and going into the kitchen to brew up some coffee.

((*****))

An hour later, Jimmy and I hailed a taxi. We climbed into the yellow cab and I announced the address for the cabbie. He nodded before pulling away from the curb and driving off down the street.

“So, this Monica chick is a fashion designer?” Jimmy asked. I nodded as I pulled a compact out of my purse. I peered into the mirror at myself and fixed a strand of chestnut hair that stuck out from the rest.

“She’s not super famous yet, however,” I continued. I fixed a smudge on my eyeliner before clicking the compact closed and sliding it back into my purse. “Some time, I’m going to hire me some models for a photo shoot, and I’m going to have them wear some of her designs. That might get her noticed. I have a friend who owns a modeling agency, and she might let me borrow some models for a day.”

“You have friends in high places,” Jimmy commented. “Especially concerning the fashion industry.”

“Yeah, well, I am a woman,” I said by way of excuse. “And you tend to accumulate friends in high places when your daddy was rich and you’re a hotel heiress. It just happens.

“Oh, here we are,” I announced as the cabbie pulled up to a curb. I paid him the fare and climbed quickly out of the cab. We stood in front of a towering skyscraper about fifteen stories high. Rows and columns of windows glared out at us, and I looked up to see Monica waving down at us from the third floor up. I smiled and waved back, and she motioned with a hand for us to come up.

“Is that her?” Jimmy asked as we stepped towards the front door. I nodded and pulled the glass door open. We emerged into a brightly-lit, very beautiful lobby.

“May I help you with anything?” the receptionist asked with a smile from her seat behind a U-shaped desk opposite the door.

“No, thank you,” I replied politely. She nodded, smiled again, and went back to whatever she’d been doing. I led Jimmy towards the wooden door with a stairs sign hanging from it.

“Health freak,” Jimmy muttered behind me as I pulled the door open and began to ascend the staircase. I glared around at him as we climbed upward.

“Shut up, twig,” I snapped playfully back. “I have child-bearing hips, and if I want to keep them in check, then I have to work at it.” Jimmy just sent me a rather confused look. “Oh, just forget it. You wouldn’t understand. No one can understand the woman psyche unless that person is a woman.”

“Clearly,” Jimmy murmured as we approached the door leading out onto the third floor. I stepped through it, and was instantly tackled by Monica. I staggered back from the force of her hug, bumping into Jimmy.

“Oh, how long has it been?” Monica squealed in my ear. I dragged myself away from her before she suffocated me.

“Too long,” I answered with a grin. She beamed at me before noticing Jimmy.

“Is this a gay friend you brought along for his opinion?” she asked, her gaze roving over Jimmy. Jimmy’s face fell at Monica’s assumption of his sexuality.

“Actually, no, he isn’t gay,” I answered quickly, for Jimmy’s sake. “He’s kind of like a bodyguard.”

“Bodyguard, eh?” Monica repeated, putting her hands on her hips and still looking Jimmy up and down. “He’s awfully skinny to be a bodyguard.”

“See? Even she thinks you’re a twig,” I exclaimed. Jimmy shrugged. I turned back to Monica. “Actually, he’s a superhero.”

“Oh, from that Super Avenged group?” Monica asked for clarification.

“The one and only,” I said.

“I thought you hated them.”

“I hate them, yes, but I don’t hate Jimmy,” I answered. “It’s complicated. He’s protecting me from those robots that seem so attracted to me.”

“As gorgeous as you are, I bet a laptop has a technological orgasm when you touch its keyboard,” Monica told me. She grabbed my wrist and led the way into her office, which was where she made her clothes. “I heard about those robot attacks, you know. I planned on calling you to make sure you were all right, but it’s been a bit hectic around here for me. People actually seem to have noticed my clothing, and my summer dresses are absolutely flying off the shelves practically. I can barely keep up with demand.”

“That’s great to hear!” I exclaimed. “I knew it would happen eventually. But I’ll still have that photo shoot showcasing your designs if you want.”

“That would be fabulous,” Monica agreed. “But only do it when you have nothing else to do.” She clapped her hands once, instantly becoming business-like. “So, you have a big art gallery opening tonight showcasing some of your best work.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been planning for this moment for a long time,” Monica said. She stepped over to one of the foam mannequins littering the room. “I knew it would come around eventually, and I knew you would want to look hot as hell. I’ve been studying your style, Miss Langston, and I think this outfit will conform perfectly to what you want.”

With an overdramatic flourish, she pulled off the purple felt cover hiding the mannequin from view. I gasped and stepped forward to marvel at the outfit.

It was an absolutely gorgeous dress. It went down to just above my knees. The top had a corset built in, with spaghetti straps. The whole dress was white with intricate black lace overlaid across it. I thought it was positively gorgeous.

“And for the shoes,” Monica said after letting me marvel at the dress for a few moments. She walked over to one of the working stations and pulled a pair of shoes out of one of the cubbies. They were shining black peep-toed pumps, with heels about three inches high. I fell in love with them instantly.

“Here you go,” Monica said, putting the shoes into my hands. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s gorgeous,” I gushed. “How much do you want for it?”

“A hug will work,” Monica answered. I instantly went somber.

“No, I’m paying you for this gorgeous ensemble. How much?”

“A penny and a hug.”

“No! I’m not going to just pilfer off you!”

“Oh, shush,” Monica replied. She leaned forward and pressed her forefinger against my lips. “Now, give me a damn penny and a hug, and no arguments!” She pulled her finger away from my lips.

With a sigh, I dug into my purse for my wallet. I pulled out a penny and handed it to her. She happily pocketed it and held open her arms. I smiled and stepped into her hug.

“You’re right,” Jimmy agreed as Monica and I pulled away from each other. “The woman’s psyche is really a confusing mechanism.”