Kim Pritekel: Crossing Lines

"You guys did a great job with this place. Did it take a lot of work?"

"Yeah, it did, actually." Nina moved around the space, filling two glasses with ice cubes and pink lemonade. She held up a bag of Oreos in question. At Kansas' nod of approval, she brought the package and drinks over to the table and sat down. "But, it's been worth it, I think. The former owners had just really let the place go. I mean, this neighborhood is about, what, forty or so years old?"

Kansas nodded, though she didn't have a clue. She took an Oreo to munch on, just enjoying the sound of Nina's voice as she prattled on about the renovations she and Dan still had planned for the three bedroom house.

"So, are you on summer break from college or high school?" Nina asked at length, sipping from her lemonade.

"High school. I'm a senior this year. Finally."

"I remember my senior year of high school. Couldn't wait to get out and go on to college." Nina peeled her cookie apart, tongue lapping up the thick, white center. Kansas watched with rapt attention.

"What do you do?" she asked, shaking herself out of her rather naughty thoughts.

"I'm an attorney. I work for the DA's office- appellate division."

"That's appeals, right?" Kansas asked. Nina nodded. "Is law school hard?" Again, Nina nodded.

"Yep. I knew people who it took six times to pass the Bar."

"And you?"

"Two."

"Is that good?" Kansas reached for another cookie, silently cursing Nina, as Oreos were her weakness in junk food.

"It's not bad. I was just glad it was over. The most stressful time of my adult life."

Kansas decided to go on a little fishing expedition. "How long have you been an attorney?"

"Two years."

"Do you like it?" Kansas sipped from her lemonade, mentally doing the math. She's 26? Maybe 27?

"I do. I'm not sure it's what I want to do for the rest of my life, though." Nina wiped her mouth with a napkin from the table, balling it up and setting it aside. "This will sound strange, and I've never admitted this aloud before, but it's not really what I thought it would be. It's- I don't know. Even more vicious, somehow." She held up a hand to forestall anything Kansas might have to say. "I know, I know, it's working in law, the lawyer jokes, I know all of it. But I think what bothers me is that I went into this profession truly to help people, and I do. To a degree. But I think the bullshit and politics have gotten in the way of allowing us to do our jobs. I don't like that."

"I'm sorry. That must be frustrating. It's kind of like my art class last year, that I took up at the college. I was there to work, to learn, you know? But we had this teacher, Mr. Ripley, who felt it was his duty to form a harem." The teen shook her head at the memory. "It was ridiculous. I ended up dropping the class mid-way through it."

"Was that the teacher that ended up being brought up on charges of statutory rape?"

"The very one."

"Lovely." Nina rolled her eyes. "So, you're interested in art?"

"Yep." Kansas brightened immediately at the question. "It's all I think about. Other than, of course, how to make that patch of grass back by the shed turn green again."

Nina laughed, thinking of the patch, and of all the conversations she and Dan had had about it, and if it were worms. "Well, the yard is certainly a work of art, so you've done your job, I think."

Kansas grinned. "Thanks."

"What kind of art do you do? Draw? Sculpt. . . ?"

"Yes. I do it all. Love it. Mostly I sketch, though. Cheaper."

"Can I see some of your work? I always admired those who are artistically inclined. I, for one, am not," Nina declared, a hand to her chest.

The blonde thought for a moment, tucking her lower lip in as the wheels turned. With a muttered, be right back , she hurried out the back door, and across the two yards to her own house.

Nina sat at the table, surprised by the sudden bolt, munching on another cookie. She liked the girl. She was bright, very cute, and had the most gorgeous green eyes Nina had ever seen. Kansas was definitely a trip.

Within five minutes, there was a knock on the kitchen door.

"Come in," Nina called out, watching as her new friend hurried inside, a huge portfolio under her arm.

"You don't have to look through all of these, some are crap anyway, but it was the first thing I found." Kansas laid the over-sized folder on the table, Nina scooting the Oreo package to the side. Kansas watched with baited breath as the beautiful brunette began to look through the various drawings on various mediums. Typically she didn't mind people looking at her work, as she knew she was good. But for some reason, her heart was pounding as Nina looked through her stuff. She watched Nina's face carefully, looking for any signs of annoyance at being presented with the work, or any dislike of what she was seeing. She saw neither. The only expressions that crossed were enjoyment or wonder, sometimes even amusement. Such as currently.

Nina pulled out a sketch of a kid, finger halfway up his nose. She turned the sketch around for Kansas to see, brow raised in question. The blonde chuckled.

"I was at the park with some friends one day, and this kid was there, with his parents, or whatever. I was watching him, and every time his mom would turn away, he'd dig for all he was worth. It amused me, so I captured it on paper."

"As disgusting as that is, the work is exquisite." Sapphire eyes met Kansas' gaze. "You're very, very good at this."

"Thank you," Kansas said quietly, her heart pounding just a bit harder, pride and joy washing through her to make her feel as though her chest would explode.

Nina continued to look through the work, stopping on a few to study them more closely. Some she'd ask about, others she'd just study then move on. She held up another drawing. This one made Kansas' heart flat out stop. She hadn't realized she'd kept the drawings of her in the bunch.

"Is she a friend? You have lots of sketches of her in here." Nina asked, the drawing of Kayla in her cheerleading outfit held aloft.

Kansas shook her head, fingers playing with a napkin, slowly mangling it. "No. Just someone at school."

Nina nodded, eyeing the blonde. She was surprised by the reaction the simple, innocent question got. "She's a pretty girl. What's her name?"

"Kayla McPhee."

"Well, you certainly like to draw Kayla." Nina set the latest Kayla artwork aside and kept going. After she'd gone through the entire thing, Nina slapped the folder closed, smiling proudly at Kansas. "You, dear Kansas, are a talented artist."

"Thank you." The blonde took her portfolio, setting it on an unused chair to get it out of the way. She chewed on her lip for a moment, deciding whether she wanted to share what had been on her mind the past few months. With the tangy sweetness of the lemonade for encouragement, she spoke. "Wanna know my dream?"

"Sure," Nina said, resting her chin on her palm, giving the blonde her full attention.

"I really would love to work in the film industry. Like, work on movie sets, painting them, or making models."

"Like, monster/special effects models?" the brunette asked. At Kansas' nod, Nina smiled. "So do it. From what I saw here today, you have a God-given gift. Go for it."

"Really? I mean, it's not like Dayton, Ohio is the center of the film world, or anything," Kansas pointed out, brows drawn.

"Thank god you're not stuck in Dayton, Ohio forever and ever," Nina said with a wink. Kansas grinned. "So, why don't you have a job?" Nina asked conversationally, sipping from her drink, and wiping up the sweat ring from the tabletop.

"I did. I was doing portraits at the fairgrounds, but when they shut the fair down early, after that kid got killed on the ride, I was out of a job. By that point, I only had two months before school, so my mom wouldn't let me get another job." She met Nina's gaze. "She doesn't like me working during school," she explained.