#( c: dakota heise 1 )

[ahalyaxreddy]

WITH: @dakotaheise LOCATION: covington's 12th annual valentine date night auction

Though her first time participating, it was not her first time attending one of these events. She’d been here since the inaugural Valentine Date Night Auction ten years ago. She’d just moved home and though she’d been too young to consider either participating or bidding, she’d reveled at the pairs that left the stage. The tables that lined the venue waiting for some soulmates to find each other. It had been a rather romantic notion to her twenty-one year old self. Hitting it off through an auction and having a happily ever after. She’d found her ex through an event much like this one. Yet now, rather than walking through the crowds with him beside her, she was making a beeline for the table by the kitchen door. If there was one thing she learned about these events. It was that the best hors d’oeuvres were snagged before they made anywhere to the middle of the room. Yet, it appeared the table was already occupied and Ahalya contemplated having some shame and not interrupting the stranger. But as she saw the last of the fried macaroni and cheese ball plucked off a tray right before her eyes, she knew that there was no helping it. “Sorry, do you mind if I use just a tiny side of the table? My feet are killing me and I desperately need a place to hide them.” The tablecloth long enough to conceal the brief respite she needed from her heels. It’d been far too long since she’d last worn this, or any, pair.

[ahalyaxreddy]

 “I’m rooting for the one in the silver to turn the tables on her. Show her that sometimes money doesn’t win out.” But then again, in this world, money usually did right? Ahalya didn’t really dwell too much on the thought because it had little bearing on the evening. The only reason she was up on stage rather than in the gallery bidding was because of her lack of financial means. That and the stupid thought that her way of getting back at her ex for moving on was by doing the same. Even though it was turning into a trainwreck of an evening. Starting from her aching feet. As she shared how many siblings she had, Ahalya was surprised. “I wouldn’t know. I’m an only child and maybe that’s why I’m oblivious to certain things. I like to think I have good intuition, but I think growing up with a lot of people in the house definitely makes understanding others easier.” As Dakoka reminded her of where else Ahalya would know her from, she laughed and nodded. “You’re right. I do remember the last time you came in trying to find that special brand of kombucha. You don’t really strike me as the type, but appearances can be deceiving.” | @dakotaheise

"The one in the red is going to screw her over, I have a feeling, and then I'm going to feel bad for her but at the same time I'm sort of here for the drama." The question from the other made her pause. She'd never given that a lot of thought. "I mean, I did grow up with a twin and two older sisters. There might be some natural observant nature in there. I'd blame it mostly on the coffee shop, though. Or at least blame it on the coffee shop to have honed it if it were natural. It's also kind of weird because in the coffee shop, observant. At home...semi observant. Send me shopping? Nah. The observant nature is gone." Suddenly it hit Dakota where she knew this girl from; Urban Harvest. All those times she'd been sent in with a list not knowing what the hell to do. "Which...I'm actually surprised you recognized me from the coffee shop and not all the times I'm sure I've looked like a dummy wandering through Urban Harvest."

[ahalyaxreddy]

“Oh, you work at The Sipping Cup!” Ahalya exclaimed, remembering where she had noticed the blonde woman before. She worked behind the counter at Stevie’s café. Of course! Ahalya would never claim to remember everyone, but she tried her best to remember the faces of people who traveled in the same circles as she did. By virtue of not being the biggest coffee drinker, she hadn’t interacted with Dakota all that much. But she imagined that baristas and bartenders always had the best intel. So, it came as no surprise when her companion shared her opinion on the two prospective bidders. “You know, I see that. There is a vibe of haughtiness about the one in the red that makes me not trust her.” As she pointed out others, Ahalya found herself enjoying getting the full gossip. “Are you naturally observant or did your job train you to become like this?” | @dakotaheise

"All I could pay you in was coffee. Not much of a repayment." Well, depending on her feeling toward coffee. As she said that, Dakota lightly kicked off her other heel, tugging the other back on. Time to alternate. She scoffed a little. "Figures. They come into The Sipping Cup sometimes. The one in the red always has this weird air about her. Like just because she pays well the sun shines outta her ass or something. The one in silver is super sweet though, tips well. Never minds the rushes."

Damn, now she found herself rooting for a stranger to get equal time. "The one in the green over there, way in the corner, she's been trying to get the nerve to bid for 45 minutes. She keeps losing her nerve. So does that guy." She was spending too much time sitting and not enough time doing what she came for but there was no way she could stand at the moment. Not if she didn't want to end up with swollen ankles for a week.

[ahalyaxreddy]

“Please, if I could, I would get a side gig as everyone’s personal hypeman. I’d make inflating egos my bread and butter. Especially when it’s for someone who saved me from losing all circulation in my feet. So it’s great to meet you, Dakota.” Though she embellished as Ahalya was prone to do, she was immensely grateful that Dakota not only gave her a little corner of this table but also a seat. Her feet were thanking her for the respite. She really should have invested in better heels or some type of cushion to make them more manageable. Her attention returned to the other woman who it seemed had been people watching for a lot longer than Ahalya. It was Ahalya’s favorite pastime, so she figured she’d join along and see how the night played out for the others in attendance. Her night was ruined as it was. “Oh my god, that’s because they’re pooling money to bid. I overheard them talking about how they are going to divide up the two hours. The one in the red dress was giving more so she was adamant that she should get more time with their shared man. But the one in the silver said they should split the time evenly.” Did Ahalya make it a habit to eavesdrop? Absolutely not. Did she happen to listen closer when people were talking loudly while she was getting a drink? Yes. | @dakotaheise

"Don't say that, it'll inflate my ego and no one wants that." she joked. She wasn't about to admit she had been doing the same thing off and on, alternating which heel came off in case she had to get up quickly. This was the exact reason why Dakota never wore heels; the pain wasn't worth it. That said...this wasn't the kind of event she could just roll up in her sneakers in. Therefore, she'd suffer until it was time to get home and she'd just pray her feet forgave her later. "I mean, in your defense I'm pretty sure only half of them are taking a break from forcing themselves to be a few inches taller like we are. Like that table over there, they haven't moved since they got here. Just immediately parked it." The things she noticed, people watching. "Dakota."

[ahalyaxreddy]

“Oh my god, you’re an angel. Thank you.” Ahalya gave the stranger, who currently was her savior, a grateful smile for the chair that she offered. Taking a seat, pulling the straps of her heels off, she relieved her feet from the pain of standing on the few additional inches of height she’d given herself in the hope that it would compensate for her deep sense of regret for thinking to do this. They had failed to serve their purpose and instead left her with a red imprint. She almost pulled out the spare band-aids she carried in her clutch knowing that this very thing might happen. Her eyes scanned the room quickly before she laughed and turned to the other woman in her company. “I guess it’s true that I’ve never had a unique experience in my life.” She gestured the few other tables that she hadn’t noticed on her beeline to this one filled with women who were likely doing exactly what the stranger said. “I’m Ahalya by the way.” | @dakotaheise

She didn't particularly enjoy events like this...and yet she still got dressed up, pulled on a pair of heels and drove the truck she barely touched for God sake, and....there she was. Keeping up appearances for her mom, waiting until her wallet eventually emptied and she possibly had to call her sister for a loan...at least Dakota had alcohol to turn to. She was doing the math in her head, hiding a plate and trying to figure out exactly what her budget was before she made the evitable phone call to her sister when a voice snapped her out of it. "Huh? Here, do you one better." Dakota gently kicked out a chair across from her, sliding the napkin covered plate across. "Take a load off, have yourself a snack, and join the 'my feet are killing me I'm having regret wearing heels' club"