Chapter 10

TEN

Dee

Dee stood in front of her canvas, her brush hovering in front of the sketch of nondescript buildings. The good thing about oil paint was that it allowed a lot of thinking time.

It was also a bad thing.

She could practically feel the new box of acrylic paints glare at her from the corner of the studio where they sat, untouched. A present from Clarissa.

Dee wasn't sure what to do with them. While she'd managed to put something down that she didn't hate during the outdoor painting session, it wasn't exactly gallery-standard. Or her style. Those things mattered when she was creating and selling to an audience. She couldn't just change what she did. Then again, what she normally did wasn't working.

She put her brush in the cup of paint thinner, swishing the oil paint out of the bristles.

She was halfway towards reaching for the acrylics when a loud scratch came from the other side of the door. Sad desperate whines followed that could only mean one thing.

"Saved by the dog," Dee muttered to herself, steering far clear from the paint as she opened the door.

Millie came bouncing in and Dee only managed to block the brown and white dog thanks to her quick reflexes and experience. The last time Millie came into her studio, a bunch of her paintings ended up with colourful dog paws and bites out of them. A costly mistake, both in terms of painting and vet bills.

"Out," Dee instructed, sternly pointing at the front door.

Millie didn't need telling twice. She shot through the hallway like a rocket, her feet barely touching the floor.

"Mum! I'm taking Millie out for a walk," Dee shouted.

Her mum's voice came from upstairs. "Okay! Make sure to wear a jacket! And can you buy some milk?"

"Yup! See you soon!" Dee replied, grabbing the lead from the hook.

The jingle caused Millie to jump up at the doorknob in a desperate attempt to open it. It was moments like this that revealed just how appropriate the breed name Springer was for them.

"Just be calm, you absolute nutter," Dee chided, barely managing to clip the harness around Millie's chest. She got her coat from the hook and turned the key in the lock. Millie let out a long bark and whined as if that would make the door open faster.

Dee braced herself against the harsh winter sun, briefly contemplating going back inside for sunglasses. But that would be too weird and Millie was impatient enough.

The route to the store was straightforward but she decided to take a detour through the fields so she could give Millie off-lead time.

The spaniel needed it.

While Millie chased every single atom of air, Dee pondered about her painting. She didn't understand why she suddenly disliked how her works were coming out. Maybe she was bored of it. Maybe the results were no longer a surprise. Whatever reason, she had to find a way to get over it.

Millie's bark pulled her from her thoughts and Dee searched for her only to find her saying hello to another dog.

They were still sniffing each other's bums when she reached them. From closer up, the strange dog looked exactly like Bork but what were the odds?

A figure turned the corner and Dee groaned. This town was too small.

"Hello. Fancy seeing you here," Clarissa said, the amusement clear in her voice. She was only wearing a jumper and a green scarf that looked remarkably right with her red hair.

"I thought this dog looked familiar," Dee remarked, leaning down to scratch Bork's head now she knew he was friendly. Millie barked in jealousy and pushed the border collie out of the way so she could get attention herself.

"And who is this lovely dog?" Clarissa asked.

"This is Millie, my family dog. She is crazy."

"She's gorgeous."

"You wouldn't say that if she trampled on you when you're sleeping because she has the zoomies."

Clarissa chuckled. "I still would. Bork wakes me every morning at seven with barking because he's hungry."

"Such menaces. Why do we love them again?" Dee said in mock exasperation. If she didn't live in a flat, she would've got a dog herself.

"Because even something that annoys you can be good for you," Clarissa said wisely. She gestured at the dogs who were chasing each other. "They seem to like each other. Want to walk together?"

"Sure. We're on our way to the corner store if you don't mind," Dee said before she really thought it through. A few weeks ago, she would've done anything to avoid spending time with Clarissa but right now, it didn't seem so bad.

They wandered towards the village, chatting amicably about everything and nothing while Millie and Bork played together like they'd known each other forever. Making friends was easy for dogs.

Dee glanced at the other woman, her gaze lingering on Clarissa's bare forearms. "Are you not cold?"

"Nope, I run hot. Perks of being a bear shifter," Clarissa replied casually.

"Hmm." Dee couldn't figure out if that was new information to her or not. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she'd been vaguely aware that her rival was a shifter but she'd never given it much thought. It had never held any significance before so why was it kind of scratching her brain this time?

It shouldn't matter. Just because they were a compatible pair didn't mean they were. Dee had a lot of friends that were shifters, none of them were her fated mate. At least as far as she knew.

She pushed the thoughts away. There was only one way to confirm a fated mate pair and that was a dip into Crescent Lake on the night of the crescent moon. Dee had no intention of subjecting herself to that ritual so it didn't matter.

And if there was one person who was not her fated mate, it was definitely Clarissa.

"How's the painting coming?" Clarissa asked, poking the elephant in the room.

"Ugh, don't talk to me about painting."

"So no luck then."

Dee put her hands deep in her pockets. "No. I started a new painting earlier but it's just the same issue. It looks wrong, I can't be bothered, and it's just soulless. At this rate, I'm going to run out of canvases."

"Well, you know where you can buy more. I'll even give you a friend and family discount," Clarissa said with a teasing tone. "But on a more serious note, any idea on why you're blocked?"

"Wish I knew."

"Hmm." They continued in comfortable silence for a bit before Clarissa spoke again. "I've been meaning to ask, why cityscapes?"

Dee shrugged. "Why do you paint landscapes?"

"Because it's relaxing and always there. I like stability, but that probably comes as no suprise. When you paint landscapes, you don't have to worry about models or composition or any of that. Nature is always there for you," Clarissa said, her speech clearly heartfelt.

"What if the weather is wrong?"

"That's what stops it from being boring. A little unpredictability is nice," Clarissa replied with a smile.

Dee thought about Clarissa's answer as they continued on. Her thoughts tumbled and toiled but she couldn't catch them or put them into words. She was never good at that.

"I guess I like cities because it's like being lonely together," she said eventually. "In a city, there's so much happening that you don't know. Endless potential. Mystery around every corner, even through the walls you share with your neighbours. Anyone could be on the other side."

Clarissa paused in her tracks. "That's weirdly romantic. I've never thought of a city like that. I find it too impersonal."

"That's what I like about it. When you're in the city, you can blend in with the masses. Everybody is a nobody and nobody pays you any attention," Dee explained, sighing when she thought about the anonymity and impartiality of the city.

"You don't like attention?"

"God, no. I want a life with a small circle of loved ones and my studio. Anything more is just overwhelming. "

Up ahead, Millie and Bork had found a particularly interesting hole in a field and were taking turns sticking their snout in. It was a comical sight.

Clarissa was quiet for a bit. "Maybe that's why you're struggling with your city paintings. You're no longer a nobody."

Dee froze at the explanation. She didn't want what Clarissa said to be true. Not just because Clarissa was the one who said it, but if it were true, it would mean re-examining her whole portfolio and style.

"I know how you're going to get over your block," Clarissa said with that confident tone of hers. "You need a change in perspective."

"And how do you propose I make that happen?"

"Simple. You might have all sorts of fancy options in the city but this is the countryside. Here, we drink. You were heading to the store, weren't you? Get yourself a bunch of alcopops, get wasted on Vomit Hill, and maybe you'll be filled with inspiration."

A laugh escaped Dee. "That sounds absolutely horrendous and like a hangover waiting to happen. I'm not inflicting that on myself, I'm not a teenager anymore."

"Aww, are you too old?" Clarissa challenged in a voice that said she knew exactly what she was doing.

Dee should've ignored the challenge. She should let herself be so easily riled up but it was Clarissa, she always got under her skin.

Before she knew what she was saying, she nodded. "Fine, bring it on. But I'm not drinking alone. If I'm going to subject myself to a night of alcopops, you're doing it with me. We're not stopping until you're throwing up."

"Deal," Clarissa said, grinning triumphantly. She didn't seem in the slightest bothered about having to drink silly alcohol or spending more time together. If anything, she looked like she got exactly what she wanted.