FALL FROM GRACE.

                colossal form is pressed against the book shop counter. cool glass soothes honeyed skin as a lace fan works below her countenance furiously , the other palm supporting a book bijou in appearance. french words spill lazily from her tongue , ceasing upon the familiar ding ! of the shop’s once closed door now ajar. ❛ mmm … sorry , BABY -- if you came lookin’ for some shelter from the heat , i’ll tell y’right now : it’s really not much better in here ——— damn a.c.’s broken. ❜

                 eve knows the feeling. knows it all too well. in fact, sentiment’s so real she feels it within her bones & veins. heart n’ soul. body & mind. or, maybe it’s just the alcohol.  either way, point is: she gets it. so much so that she proceeds to unmask a flask from tail coat pocket & passes the object off just then betwixt thumb and pointer sans hesitation. the seemingly suspicious action is a course carried out with an air of nonchalance. PECULIAR, for it begs the question: why choose to frequent such a poor establishment ? it is that which has lost all charm despite being ridden with various qualities ... none of which appear redeeming. in fact, ego aside, eve’d be inclined to say she was the best damn part of the place. too bad her presence was only temporary.                        ❛ -- and that’s why you come prepared with your own. place is falling apart ... can’t fix a decent drink, it’s not comfy nor cozy.  smells a little, too. but. i stay giving them my money, so who’s really winning here ? not me, i’ll tell y’. not me. ❜

            ❛ you ever wonder why barely anyone comes here ? ❜ she’ll pause, to be polite.  ❛ it’s ‘cause the music here’s GARBAGE. ❜ & as if on cue, the harsh pluck of an out - of - tune cord assaults the ears of all. shaky vocals overrun the sound system. the drummer isn’t even on beat. eve wants to die.  ❛ – my god ! absolute shit. ❜

                 ❛ through the back. huh. ❜ excuse the front. INDIFFERENCE is generally the default display ——   eve is totally sold. not long before girl’s got a wicked quirk about lips & head’s bobbin’ ‘round in a steady flow of nod after nod. provides her own mumbled approval of a plan she has yet to share ; tends to think she’s a real genius, this one, so she motions for the other to follow as she ambles elsewhere. ❛ looks like this our BEST BET. down to climb through a smashed bathroom window  ?  ❜ heel is stripped from appendage, palm holding object at the ready. no us in waiting for approval, really. not when she’s bound to do it anyway.

                 ❛ i make it look easy ‘cause it is, to me. ❜ this isn’t a matter of forgoing modesty. no, rather, a matter of honesty. eve doesn’t care much for mincing words nor being cryptic ; simply doesn’t have the time. of course, there were those that were still sure to deem the latter statement a spawn of arrogance, but smile ‘pon lips suggests otherwise. assured, although ... kind ? who knows. always a real toss - up with this one. hip promptly bumps door shut, three boxes chock full of books concealing occupied torso -- a most DAUNTING feat  !

                ❛ i may not be as ... honest as i oughta be. ❜ that’s it. no “ but “ to counter her own declaration -- clearly, someone’s taken a moment or two to be introspective. not difficult to allot time to do so when much of her time was spent alone. by choice, surely.

.                ❛ i just gotta dance right now  —— it’s CRITICAL !  ❜ patience is a virtue ... a virtue she’s long since forgotten, especially whilst an absolute banger blasts through speakers. unfortunately for eve n’ friends, they’re still at the back of the line. 

man: has anyone ever told you you’re beautiful? me: oh no sir, today is my first day out of doors and papà forbade mirrors in the house lest we fall victim to vanity