Well, there's nothing like questions and mild confusion to get the juices flowing. Thank you to everyone who posted FDK on
Part 1 , Y'all are sweet. I know this isn't my best, but I take comfort in knowing that this has got to be *at least* better than my "Rude Awakening" fic.
....
At least I think that's comforting.
Anyway, here's part 2, and hopefully it'll clear a few things up.
His Muse (Part 2)
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He set the charcoal down and stared at the picture thoughtfully. Perhaps if he----no. It was no use. It stunk. The lines for her feet were all wrong, and the shadows were absolutely atrocious. It was disgraceful to think he'd ever considered "going pro".
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and heard Gloria's sharp intake of breath. "Wow."
John sighed. "If you like it, you can keep it."
"I think I will," Gloria replied.
He handed her the paper, silently grateful that it wouldn't merely wind up in the bottom of a box. After she dressed, she helped him move the plywood from the table and and put the furniture back in place. John was just starting to pick up the art supplies when he heard familiar footsteps coming down the hall.
"Shoot!" he whispered, glancing through the wall. Gloria cocked her head at him. "My parents are coming," he said as quietly to her as possible. He tossed the materials in their box and quickly put it in his small bedroom. Gloria picked up her shoes in one hand and opened the door---
"Oh," said Clark, taking a step back. John came out of the bedroom and froze. "Who are you?" Clark asked the young woman.
Gloria smiled sweetly. "Hi," she said, offering her hand. "I'm Gloria. Johnny pays me to come over and get naked."
"Gloria!" John cried, mortified.
"Actually," she continued after Clark's eyebrows had disappeared into his hairline, "we're dating. So I do it for free."
John buried his face in his hands and made a sort of sobbing sound.
"I....see," Clark said, withdrawing his hand. "Well, John," he addressed his son, "you've never mentioned---"
"Haven't I seen you somewhere?" Lois suddenly asked her.
Gloria smiled at her. "Maybe you've seen my picture. I actually work as a model for art students."
"Oh, yes," Lois nodded as the light began to dawn. "That painting on display infront of the history classrooms..."
"That was Brian," Gloria cheerfully acknowledged. "He was nice, but he made us pose for such long hours!"
"So what's it like, being a model?" Clark asked.
"Oh, I like it," she replied. "It gets chilly sometimes, though."
"How'd you meet Johnny?" Lois queried.
There was a split second of silence. "We met on campus," Gloria replied cheerfully and naturally. "But listen, I've got to run. It was nice meeting you, Mr. and Mrs. Kent."
"Same here," Lois replied. "Maybe one day we'll be able to sit down and get to know you better."
"That'd be nice," Gloria agreed.
"Would you be interested in doing an interview?" Clark asked. "I think it might be interesting to hear about the life of a model. It would be a look at the other side of the world of art."
"An interesting idea, Mr. Kent," Gloria replied. She turned to give John a pointed look, then stepped through them and the open door to disappear down the hall.
John closed his eyes briefly, then ushered his parents into the tiny apartment and closed the door.
Lois studied his face. "John? What's wrong?"
"Wrong?" John tried to sound casual, but the expressions on his parents' faces told him they weren't fooled. He sighed. "Okay. There's---there's something I want to talk to you about."
"What is it, John?" Clark asked.
"You're not gonna like it," he began. "I don't want to dissappoint you guys, and I know you all had your hearts set on this, but----" He took a deep breath and looked his father squarely in the eye. "Dad, I don't want to be a superhero."
