Beautiful Hue
Chapter Twelve

Bridget and I walk around the art filled museum in awe. We stare at beautiful paintings, sculptures and read the descriptions and meanings behind every masterpiece.

“You’re the part of me that’s been missing.” I say to her.

She looks at me and walks backward into my arms. As I hold her, we look at a beautiful painting of what looks to be a simple black rose. She reads the description behind the meaning of it.

The unknown artist dreamed of it and what we read was moving...

“Black: The symbolism behind the black rose in a dream means many things. Whenever I tried to replace out from a palm reader, the meaning of this flower showing up in my dreams. I was told that the flower signifies: Fear, death, aggression, even witches and violence. After searching deeply into the matter myself. I found other words such as: Strength, power, elegance and my favorite, authority. I realized that my black skin my dark black skin, is what most of the world sees. No different than this black flower this beautiful black flower that shows up in my dreams.

I did what most of the world refused, see the world refused to look deeply past the surface and replace the true beauty that lies from within this art and, completion. The beauty that others deny and most are afraid to search. I found beauty in an unknown black hole from which grew, what others call void, but I call strength. The beautiful hue. Black.”

-I am... Every black man and woman of color. Strong, powerful, sophisticated, a leader.”

Bridget and I stand in silence for a moment. We stare at this black rose. This single black rose that looks as if it’s blooming from black hands, that could be of man or woman over a white surface. I hold Bridget tightly and kiss the back of her head. She rubs my arms and we slowly begin to walk to the exit of the museum.

* * * *

Bridget and I ride through the city enjoying the view and great weather. As she turns on the radio.‘Tyrees - Sweet Lady’ comes on. I look at her with a serious face and I turn the radio all of the way up. She stares at me confused.

“Now any other day, I would play cool. But I can’t now, cause I want you!” I sing to the top of my lungs with Tyrees.

She laughs at my horrible voice. I attempt to sing, as the song continues and we ride through the sunny streets.

Before the song goes off, she turns down the radio. She repositions her body to look at me.

“Thank you, Ben.” She says.

“For what?” I ask.

“For everything. I mean sometimes it sucks to pretend we aren’t a thing, but I like the mystery.” She says. “Sometimes I just want to say forget everything and tell the world!” She says.

“It does get hard sometimes, but until this movie is done. We have to keep things as they are.” I say.

“I understand.” She says “I just really appreciate you booking this trip out of nowhere and us being able to get this time together.”

“You deserve all of this. I remember the first time I met you, I had no clue that I’d end up falling in love with you... But I’m happy I met you.” I say to her.

“I’m happy I met you too baby.” She says. She leans in for a kiss, as we stop at a red light. We make out and look into one another’s eyes. Moments later the light turns green. We drive back to the hotel and have dinner to finish the evening.

*Next day*

I awake to Bridget slowly kissing my lips. As I open my eyes I notice that she’s ordered room service. She gets out of bed wearing boy shorts and the large T-shirt I put in my suitcase for her. She picks up the food and climbs in bed next to me. I sit up to grab the tray of food to help her. She sits her back against the headboard and I do the same.

“Hold that for me please.” She says.

She takes the lid off of the food and the smell of the bacon makes my mouth water.

“Smells delicious.” I say to her.

She takes a piece of bacon and feeds it to me. As I take a bite she smiles and takes the rest and eats it herself. Bridget feeds me the rest of the food. As we finish breakfast I get up and place the food on the table. She gets out of bed and walks to the balcony. I follow her and we lean against the balcony and stare out into the ocean.

“Let’s go to the beach today.” She says.

“Is that what you want to do?” I ask.

“It is.” She says as I grab her. “It’s our last day.” She continues.

“Alright, then let’s go to the beach.” I say, hesitantly.

Bridget and I walk back inside and we both grab our towels for a shower. I walk into the bathroom and I turn the shower on. As I get in, Bridget comes into the bathroom and gets into the shower with me. I watch her as the water falls down my body, as she steps in.

“I love you.” I say to her.

Her infectious smile makes me smile. I pull her body against mine and we kiss under the hot water. I grip her ass and press her body closer to mine.

“I love you too.” She says, as she reveals her large white teeth. Bridget grabs her washcloth and soap then reaches behind me to get them wet.

“Can you wash my back?” She asks, as she turns around.

I take the washcloth and I wash the back of her neck. I watch as the water slowly drips down her back to the crack of her ass.

I smile, as she looks back at me. I pull her close to me and she presses her ass against my pelvis. I hold her, then I reach around and grab her breast. She looks up and slowly kisses my lips.

The steaming hot water falls onto my back and sends a sensation through my body, as I spread her ass cheeks and repeatedly feel her thrust into me.

“Benny.” she moans.

Moments later I pull her closer to my body and I moan with her. She slowly grinds against my body, as I tilt my head back.

“Fuck.” I say loudly.

“Did you just?” She asks.

“Yeah.” I say to her.

“In me?”

I shake my head yes while not making eye contact with her.She turns around, grabs my head and kisses me. We dance in a circle and the water falls down her body. I pick up her washcloth and I turn around for her to wash my back. She holds me from behind and places her head on my back, as she washes my chest. I close my eyes and I take in the feeling of her hands, embracing her love.

* * * *

I sit at the edge of the bed in a towel, as Bridget gets dressed. I watch her slide into her bathing suit and then I get up to put on my swim trunks. I grab a pair of sunglasses and she grabs hers and her purse.

“Do you have everything?” I ask her.

“Yep.” She says, as we close the door.

I grab her hand and we walk down the hall to the elevator. As we get to the elevator we both let go of each other’s hands.

“It won’t be like this forever.” I say to her.

As we get out of the elevator we walk to the hotel gift shop. We walk around the store, we grab two beach towels and an umbrella. I pick up two chairs on our way to the register.

“Will that be all?” The clerk asks.

“Yeah, this is all.” I say, to him.

Bridget throws a bottle of sunscreen and water on the counter, then smiles at me.

“What?” She asks.

I shake my head and motion for the clerk to ring it up. As we finish checking out, we walk out of the gift shop and into the lobby of the hotel. Two guests approach, as we prepare to leave the building. I try to avoid them, as I notice a man behind the approaching woman take out his phone.

“Walk faster.” Bridget says, as she notices too.

“Hey! Benjamin Watts! I love your movies! May I have a picture with you?” The woman yells.

“Shit.” I say under my breath. “Hey, I’m sorry. I’m just trying to enjoy a few days with my colleague, before I shoot the next one.” I continue.

“Can I have a picture with you?” She asks, as the man holds out his phone.

I look at the both of them and then I stare at Bridget and notice her anxiously waiting, with her arms folded.

“I’m sorry, I’m not taking pictures today. I just want to relax and enjoy my time.” I say, as I turn to them.

“Wow! You’re an asshole.” The man yells, as he holds up his phone in my face. “She just wants a fucking picture with you. Hollywood prick.” The man says.

“He just doesn’t want to take a picture right now. Why is that so hard to understand?” Bridget says, calmly to the man.

“No one’s talking to you bitch.” The man says to her.

I step up to the belligerent man and look him in his face.

“Apologize to her.” I say to him, as he holds his phone up to my face.

“Let’s go Andy.” The woman says.

“Are you recording me?” I ask politely.

“Fuck you!” The man says, as he walks away.

I look at Bridget and I take a deep breath.

“Ben, don’t.” She says to me, as I follow the man.

“Aye! Give me your phone man.” I say to Andy.

I walk closer to him and other people take out their phones. I take his phone and he tries to fight me to get it back.

“I don’t want pictures, or videos.” I say to the man, as I delete the video of me he secretly recorded. “Can you all stop recording please?!” I yell to everyone surrounding me.

I give the man back his phone. As he tries to push me, I punch him in the nose and he falls to the floor. Bridget runs up to me, grabs my hand and quickly pulls me away from the man, as I stand in front of him, surprised. Blood flows down his nose.

“You’re fucking done buddy!” He yells from the ground. “Done!” He continues.

I look at the distraught crowd of people Bridget walks me back inside, through the lobby and we go to our hotel room.

As we enter the hotel room I take a seat on the bed and she quickly leaves the room to fill the bucket of ice from the vending machine. I shake my hand then quickly apply pressure, as Bridget runs back into the room.

“Take this.” She says to me.

I take the bucket of ice and she walks to my nightstand and takes my phone out of the dresser.

“You need to call Jeff and tell him.” She says to me.

I hesitate and take the phone. I turn it on and wait for everything to load.

“I didn’t want to hit him. He put his hands on me.” I say to myself.

“I know, baby.”She says to me.

As my phone turns on, I see missed calls from Sarah and multiple text messages.

“Fuck.” I say, as I see a text from Sarah saying, ‘Are you kidding me?’

“I need to call her.” I say to Bridget, as I stand up and walk to the hall.

I call Sarah and she answers with sonic speed.

“Hey, what are you talking about?” I ask.

“I just saw you on TMZ, knocking a man out... In Florida?!” She yells.

“It was self defense.” I say to her.

“That’s not what’s on the video.” She says to me.

“It just happened less than ten minutes ago!” I say to her.

“Look at what I just sent you.” She says, as my phone buzzes.

I look at the video and watch myself knock the man onto the ground another video pops up, of the man crying and saying that I broke his nose.

“That’s not the whole story Sarah.” I say to her.

“That’s not all. Keep looking.” She says, as I quickly look at the video.

I watch the video of Bridget grabbing my hand and walking me back into the hotel.

“What am I looking at?” I ask.

“She’s with you?” Sarah asks.

“Yeah, so?” I say.

“I knew there was something going on.” She says.

“Nothing is going on!” I yell. “Look, let me call you back.” I say to her, as I hang up the phone.

I walk back to the front door of my room. As I walk in, I see Bridget packing her bags.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I’m leaving.” She says.

“Why?”

“Because I’m tired of feeling like a mistress to your job, Ben!” She yells. “I heard everything. You’re a grown man. Just tell people that we are together and we wouldn’t be in this mess!” She yells.

Before I could reply to her, I notice a call from Jeff coming in. I walk to Bridget and I close her suitcase.

“Wait.” I say to her, as I take Jeff’s call.

“Yeah?” I answer.

“Ben, what the hell is going on?” He asks.

“I took a trip to Florida. To get out of the cold before shooting.” I say.

“That’s fine and all but there’s a video of you on an elevator holding hands with Bridget and another of you damn near knocking a man out.” He says.

“What the fuck.” I say exhausted. I take a seat on the bed, as Bridget continues to pack.

“Yeah. That was my reaction.” Jeff says. “And guess who sent it to me?” He continues.

“Who?” I ask.

“William. He wants to meet with you tomorrow so... Just fly back to California tomorrow.”

“But the movie.” I say to him.

“Don’t worry about that right now.” He says.

I hang up the phone with Jeff and I walk to the balcony for a moment. As I breath in-and-out, Bridget walks to the balcony with me.

“Are you alright?” She asks.

I stand in silence and look out into the ocean.

“Ben.” She says.

“Why the hell did we ever go back to my place anyways?” I ask.

“What?” she asks.

“Why. The hell. Did we go back to my house that night. We knew we shouldn’t have.”

“It just happened... Don’t blame this on me!” She yells.

“It is your fault isn’t it?! I told you that I don’t go out anyways and now I’m hiding and shit, why? Because you wanted to have a good night. You wanted to get back at William, so you came to me.”

“Ben I think you need to calm down.” She says.

“No, I think you need to go and finish packing.” I say to her.

“So you’re blaming me?” she asks. I stand in silence and ignore her. “Whatever Ben.” She says, as I remain standing on the balcony.

* * * *

Bridget and I fly back to California over night. As we leave from the airport we each take an Uber back to our own homes. As I arrive home, my Uber drives down my long driveway. I get out of the car and he helps me get my suitcases out of the trunk. I take each of my suitcases inside of the house and throw them into the living room. I go upstairs and I try to go to bed.