It Was Only Time
Chapter 7 – Emerging Artists Showcase
The next three weeks flew by in a blur. Every minute that Justin wasn't working either at the gallery or at the art store, he was either at a museum, or just walking around the streets of New York, drinking it all in and sketching, always sketching. Michael and Justin also decided to continue working on Rage via email, scanner and the occasional FedEx, especially since the storyline was inspired by what happened at the club.
The day of the Emerging Artists Showcase at the Dozier Gallery came with unexpected speed. Justin got two days off from both the gallery and the art store. Lindsay and Mel couldn't make it, since they've just moved to Toronto and had neither the time nor the means to get away. However, Jennifer along with Daphne, Emmett and Ted flew in that morning. Debbie, Ben, Michael and Hunter drove in, since Michael wasn't yet well enough to fly. One notable absence was Brian.
Justin was excited the whole day; nothing seemed to calm him down. When he walked into the Dozier Gallery, he was actually nervous. He walked around, seeming perfectly all right on the outside, meeting other artists, talking to the gallery employees, his family and various guests, but none of it seemed to register deep down. Then something happened that finally snapped him out of his weird mood - one of his canvases, the biggest one, was marked sold and was the first piece to be sold that night. Justin walked up to the curator who put together the show and asked who purchased the painting. He very much wanted to meet and thank the buyer. Justin was told that the piece was purchased via the telephone on behalf of a company. Apparently, some bigwig saw his painting in the galleries' online catalog for the show, but since no one from the company was able to attend in person, they got a representative to call in the purchase. Suspicious, Justin asked if the buyer is by chance a Brian Kinney or anyone connected to Kinnetik Corp out of Pittsburgh. He was told no – it was an outfit by the name of Britin Inc, which Justin has never heard of.
Throughout the show, Justin was looking for Brian, hoping that he'll make a fashionably late entrance, as usual. But he never showed up. An hour into the evening, his phone rang when Justin was outside smoking – it was Brian:
"Justin, it's me. Sorry I couldn't be there, but there was a problem with the Brown Athletics account and Leo demanded that I be in Chicago ASAP. Couldn't be helped."
"I understand." Justin replied in a dull voice.
"How is the show going?"
"Good. One of my paintings already sold, there seems to be some interest in the others…We'll see…"
"Well, you are well on your way then. Justin, listen, are you listening? I wish you to have everything you've ever wanted. I mean that!"
"That's a pipe dream, Brian, we both know that!" He said in a fit of anger. Justin was hurting so much he could hardy stand it. Suddenly, he couldn't bear the sound of Brian's voice. "Anyway, I should go…Later?"
Brian was silent for close to a minute, and then said quietly:
"Good bye, Sunshine" and hung up.
Disclaimer: All belongs to Showtime and CowLip.
