concrete vr abstract(Zaley)

[Derrick J Martinez]

Derrick saved the poster he had been working on for the last hour, and again sat and stared at the monitor, something just wasn't right and although he was in an art school, he couldn't figure it out. Derrick had been avoiding this class for a long time and his advisor had told him it was time to stop delaying. Mathematics was so much easier, there was always an answer, all you needed were the tools to find it.

Derrick was typical of students at Valentines. He was a straight A student, ready to take on the world. Derrick was proud and well built. Today he wore a white button dress shirt and black pants. But he wasn't afraid to go casual. He was atypical though because he always lived in Rochester, his dad was single, the head of a major corporation, very much involved in Valentines.

Derrick heard the door creak open, he didn't take notice of who had entered and continued to stare at the screen not really certain at what he needed to change to get things perfect.

[Zaley Elizabeth Love]

Zaley had just gotten to her dorm when she realized that her bag wasn't with her. After some careful consideration, she remembered having slipped it across that back of chair while she was working on her digital art project. Of course digital art was a bit more complicated than physical art, but she loved it all. Art spoke volumes, saying things that the artist couldn't have put into words; they bring the thought or idea to life through visual manipulation of objects, colors, etc.

Zaley headed back toward the classroom, making a mental list of her plans for the evening. She would likely put the finishing touch on a few personal sketches of hers, and then start cleaning up her room before she went for a walk, picked up food and grabbed a movie. Sounded like a pretty normal day for her. Zaley adjusted her shirt, then tossed her dark hair in a loose braid behind her shoulder. She wore a simple violet sweater with some light wash crop jeans and a pair of pink converse. Zaley liked to keep things simple most of the time, unless she was feeling bold... which wasn't often.

She'd just shut the door to the room and turned to scan the backs of the chairs when she realized there was someone sitting at one of the computer. Those she wasn't positive of the males name, she knew she'd seen him around a few different times. He was a mathematics major, that much she could remember. Zaley smiled when she saw her bag on an empty chair, she retrieved it quietly, not to interrupt. But as she was heading back toward the door, she couldn't help but notice that he looked a bit, well; lost. Zaley did something that surprised even her. "Your poster is looking really good, but you don't seem satisfied with it... is there anything I can do to help?" She was a visual arts major after all, this was really something she had a passion for.

[Derrick J Martinez]

Derrick wasn't really startled when he heard a voice . but when he turned around and saw whom had spoken to him, he was surprised. He thought her name was something like Haley and he remembered that she was a freshman and very talented at art. In the class, she seemed to act like a wall flower. Derrick gave a smile as he looked at her and offered his hand., "Hi, I think I remember you from class, my name is Derrick", he hesitated about giving his last name because of his dad's influence on the campus. Derrick turned back to the monitor, looking again at his project.


Derrick knew that she was real good in art because the teacher featured her fairly often. Maybe a second pair of eyes would be helpful he thought. "I am glad you like my poster, I think it is pretty good too, but something just isn't right" Derrick pointed to the area that he was questioning. "Maybe I'm trying to hard to find a fault" He sighed while sliding over to let Zaley have a better look.

[Zaley Elizabeth Love]

Zaley watched as the male turned around, she gave a half smile as she shook his hand and nodded. "Derrick, right; we've got a few classes together." She responded, knowing that she'd also seen him around campus. He was one of those guys that the girls all whispered about to each other. And okay, she was not one of those girls or even involved in the conversations; but she could hear enough whilst studying in the library. "I'm Zaley."

Zaley listened to him, nodding as he spoke and then taking a more critical look at the poster. She stepped closer, running a finger along her chin as she took into account the area he was unsatisfied with and gave a soft laugh at his final remark. "Artists are their own worst enemies; trying too hard to find a fault just to be sure it's perfect." She mused aloud, taking in the details and smiling. "I think it looks great, but if you're not happy with how it looks now; try adjusting the color schemes a bit, or throwing in a detail to make a certain aspect of the poster pop. Just think about what reactions you're wanting from viewers, and give it something that makes it more thought provocative."

[Derrick J Martinez]

Derrick shook Zaley's hand, it was very soft and feminine. He listened carefully to her advice realizing that since he was drawing a blank maybe it was time to quit and look at it in a different light tomorrow. As he logged out of the computer, he took a glance at his watch noting how close it was to dinner. Looking up, he noticed Zaley's bright clothes and attractive body. Derrick shook his head, he was getting way too ahead of himself. "I am thinking about going for a walk and then head over to the union food court for dinner. I will buy if you are interested", Derrick smiled hoping that Zaley would understand that there were no strings attached to the offer. " Thank for the help by the way, i think it might be best to sleep on it, and try to look at it in the morning. " Derrick reached over and grabbed his topcoat, he had tickets to a downtown fundraiser in his pocket.

[Zaley Elizabeth Love]

Zaley gave a friendly smile as she watched Derrick, then straightened up and took a step back as to give him room once she realized their proximity. She watched as he saved and got all logged out of the computer. She offered a smile to Derrick as her stood and began to speak. His offered was quite tempting; since it was boarder lining close to what she had considered doing. Though she wasn’t one to usually go for company, she figured it would be nice. Plus, saying no would be kind of rude after all. “That sounds like a rather nice idea; I would love to join you.” Zaley responded with a pleasant smile. She raised a brow as Derrick spoke again, and then fought off the light blush that snuck into her cheeks. “Oh it was nothing really. But I agree; often times I stumble through something. It usually takes me putting it from my mind and coming back to it later to find the flaw or fault.” She stated with a nod of her head. Zaley had many year of experience with art, photography and design up her sleeve. Thanks to parents who wanted to be sure she was doing something she loved; she had never gone without the tools or assistance she needed. Some people thought this made her a bit spoiled; having everything she needed at her disposal. But they never wanted her to go through a job she didn’t love. And when it came to her grades; that was all her. Pass or fail, she was the mind behind it; not her parents. They hadn’t bought her way into Valentines’, Zaley had paved her way with talent and grades.

[Derrick J Martinez]

Derrick smiled when Zaley accepted his offer of dinner. Derrick was willing to take a chance that things would work out for the best if he would just take a chance. He reached over and grabbed his flash drive and then look toward Zaley. "I'm ready to go right now if you are." Ordinarily Derrick would have offered his arm but since he really couldn't consider this a real date, Derrick chose to treat this as if it was time with the guys. "Would you like to walk to the aboretorium, trees should be starting to green up and there are a few benches there if you would like to sit down and enjoy the evening."

Derrick watched as Zaley actually blushed, "So are you from New York " Derrick asked hoping to get to know a little about her as they walked out of the classroom

[Zaley Elizabeth Love]

Though Zaley wasn’t one to usually jump at the offer to spend time with someone she hardly knew, heck; she hardly spent time with the people she did know, but she wasn’t about to pass up the offer and risk insulting Derrick. She might be a bit on the anti-social side, but she wasn’t one to purposefully slight someone without cause. Derrick spoke and Zaley gave a polite nod with a soft smile. “I’m ready.” She said, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder as she spoke. Inclining her head to the side as Derrick continued, Zaley gave some light consideration to the offer and then smiled. “That sounds like a lovely idea, and who knows; it may just give me the burst of inspiration I’ve been looking for.” She stated with a smile, shaking her head lightly as they headed out of the classroom.

“No I’m not.” Zaley said with a smile as she continued. “Actually I’m from Pennsylvania. Mansfield Pennsylvania. Due to some pretty impressed teachers in high school I was put on Valentines’ radar. After doing a photography trip to Italy, I came back and decided to try my chances here in Rochester. What about you; are you from New York?” She asked with a curious smile, her brow quirked up cutely.