The Merry, Merry Month of May: Part V
The group of friends and family were all still standing mesmerised in the same spot when Jeff was finally able to leave the stage, and his first action was to sprint across the room to the spot where the three people that he described as parents were standing and pulled them all into a group hug. "I can't believe that you are all here! I wasn't expecting it!"
"We all knew when your college term ended, or at least we thought that we did," said Mr Sterling, "but then Judy and Elspeth were chatting on the phone, the subject came up, and both of them had a different idea of when it ended. To settle matters, I decided to google it. That was when we discovered that this event would be taking place. We all knew that you had been working on something big this year; something that even your husband knew very little about. We all agreed that the best way for all of us to see it would be to come to this show."
"We met up with each other at Penn Station this morning; we would have been here earlier than we arrived, but for the fact that my train was held up by works on its way through the Bronx," continued Elspeth. "Nick knew that we were here, but he barely had time to say hello before he was summoned back into this room to join you. I just want you to know that I am so very proud of you right now son; even in my youth, my work was nowhere near the standard that you are achieving."
"When they said that it was magnificent, they were making an understatement," said Judy. "It is as if Wesley has just walked into the room… Is it just me though, or do his eyes actually seem to follow you round the room?"
"Here was I thinking that was just me," remarked Trent. "If I had just suddenly come across the drawing, I would probably have blurted out 'Hi Wes!' if I hadn't been paying proper attention. It's not so much a drawing as a photo; it's him, in glorious colour, frozen at a moment in time. I just wonder what Thad will think about it - and Michelle for that matter."
"I think that they will feel exactly the same way that we all do just now; proud that an artistic genius has immortalised a man of integrity with just a few loving strokes of his pencils," said Santana, and no-one could say anything to dissent from her statement.
Nick stood in silence and watched as his husband received the praise he so rightly deserved from his friends and family. Jeff had been tied up in the creation of his 'masterwork' in his every spare moment for months; he had been jealous of how much time it took Jeff away from him at first, but then as his own workload for school had grown, he had realised that as long as he saw Jeff every day, even if it was only for a few minutes, it was enough. Marriage was after all a partnership; a union of two souls that shared the same kind of wishes, dreams and desires. His love for Jeff had not diminished one bit in what would soon be the three years in which they had been an actual official couple; then again, if you actually counted all those months beforehand when they had just been best friends, it was much, much longer…
He suddenly became conscious that he was being watched, and he looked up to see Blaine standing across from him, a smile on his face. Kurt still stood by the drawing, but he was now in the company of Finn and Elizabeth, a rare visitor to the earthly realm. "Wes has gone back to cover for Elizabeth for a while, as she was as anxious as the rest of us to see the finished result; after all, Jeff's little studio was somewhere that Wes vanished to nearly every day, even if only for a few minutes."
Nick laughed at that, then replied. "Trust Wes to have known that Jeff would need someone to remind him what the time was! His phone could have been blaring away beside him and he would never have noticed when he was in deep concentration on his work. Wes actually being there, well that made all the difference. He probably stopped Jeff getting locked in overnight!"
Blaine smiled, and laughed too. "By the way, and although he will never admit it, Wes loves that drawing. He feels so fortunate that Jeff chose him to be the subject of his greatest work so far. It being such a success is just the lift to his spirits that he needed after everything that went down in the court this week with his mother. Anyway, he did ask me to make a small request. Can someone take a photo of it, and post the news for all the others to see on Facebook. He has a feeling, and I agree, that all of them will want to see this…"
Unbeknownst to Blaine, the photo in question had already been taken and posted by Trent. He had placed a message full of pride and love for both Jeff and Wes underneath it. Across the world, phones belonging to former Warblers buzzed as the message arrived. In Princeton, Flint opened the message as he prepared for his finals the following week; moments later he was running through the house, shouting for Beats and Ethan, anxious to share the good news about Jeff. In Boston, Mitch too was left punching the air with delight, then had to apologise to all those around him in the college library for the disturbance.
At Dalton Academy, Aaron Carmichael opened the message, and was left smiling with pride, both for the success of Jeff, and for the piece of artwork he had produced, which he felt would ensure that Wes' memory endured forever. He smiled all the more as he heard the sound of running feet, and then shouts of delight from the direction of the Senior Commons, where a group of Warblers rejoiced for the success of one of the illustrious alumni. He could mentally picture Skylar and Colin being at the heart of those celebrations…
Far away, in a bar in the university city of Oxford, Drew Symons surreptitiously opened the message, and gasped, then let a grin spread over his face as he read the text. He had always known that their blondie, Jeff, had it in him to be the best. He looked up, and then quickly saved the message to a locked file, then put his phone away again before his girlfriend, Lucy, arrived back at the table. She would not want to know the news, and he knew better than to even mention he had got a text from the States. She didn't like it one bit when he mentioned any of his friends from Dalton Academy…
In L.A., both Thad and David had their noses buried in text books, although their final exams were actually much later than those of their former classmates on the east coast. Thad was writing the last few pages of a lengthy paper on the Civil War, and to aid his concentration he had switched his phone to silence, so he was not aware that the message from Trent had arrived at once. David had allowed his phone to buzz away, but he had not immediately answered it either, as he was concentrating on a particularly complex piece of computer programming practical work that he had to hand in by 9am Monday morning. So it thus fell to Mercedes to be the first person to see the message in the city of angels, and the moment that she saw it, she knew that she had a very good reason to break the solemn promise that she had made to her boyfriend that she would not contact him over the weekend. As her ringtone sounded from his phone, David cursed under his breath, finished the line of programming that he was working on, then picked up.
"So, I know that I said that I wouldn't call you, but I think that you need to see the message that Trent has just sent that you in all likelihood ignored when you got it. Anyway, that's all, apart from saying that I love you!" Mercedes said all of this before David could even open his mouth, and hung up the moment that she had finished.
David was left just to shake his head in mild despair, but he noticed that he did indeed have an unopened message from Trent, with an attachment. His train of thought was now broken, and so he decided that he might as well take a quick break and open it now. His face which had been grim and resigned up until that moment lit up with a faint smile as he read all about Jeff's success. Then, out of curiosity, he opened the attachment. The moment that he saw it he gasped in shock, then his face beamed in a wide grin as he saw his best friend pictured there in all of his almost regal, angelic glory. After staring at it for a few minutes, he sent a message of warm congratulations to Jeff, then knew what he had to do. It was time for something to eat in any case, and Wes would never forgive him if he allowed Thad to starve…
He walked quietly to the kitchen, and prepared some sandwiches, poured two large glasses of iced tea, then put them and some fruit onto a tray. He then walked to the door of Thad's room, and tapped gently, ignoring the Do Not Disturb! sign hanging on the handle. As he opened the door, he heard a muttered "That sign means you, David!" being hissed out, and he almost laughed.
"I know that it does, Thaddie, but you do need to eat, so I fixed us both a snack. I am sure that stopping for a few minutes to eat will not totally ruin your dissertation. It's either me, or I can get Mercedes to stop in, or even summon up Wes…"
"Ok, ok, I give!" sighed Thad. "A little bite to eat would be good, as long as we make it quick."
"It's here and ready to eat, but whilst you are doing that, you can also check out the message on your phone that Trent has just sent to everyone. Trust me when I say that you will want to see the picture that he has sent, as well as wishing to congratulate our very own Starling on being top of the whole of the Columbia Art School this year…"
"The whole school!" exclaimed Thad. "Now that is an achievement worthy of recognition. I take it that Trent's picture is of Jeff's winning work? It must be very impressive…" he continued as he opened the attachment. Then it opened, and Thad was rendered speechless, as David could have predicted. His mouth hung open as he stared at the screen, tears starting to form in his eyes. "He drew Wessie…. It looks like a photograph… Yes, Jeff is a genius and I wish that I was there to see it in person right now."
"If you were, I would be right by your side," said David, sitting down next to Thad on his bed, and placing an arm around him. "Admittedly, if we were there, no-one else would be getting close to the drawing, would they?"
"Nope, not even Jeff!" whispered Thad. He suddenly felt the need to make a phone call…
Jeff was still taking all of the praise that he rightfully deserved when his phone began to ring; had it not been for the fact that he had allocated Thad as Head Warbler his own ringtone, then he probably would have ignored it. He made a polite excuse to the woman that he had been talking to, secretly glad to have a reason to walk away from her, then answered. "Hey Thad, so I'm guessing that someone has sent you a picture?"
"They have, Jeff, so please thank Trent for me when you see him. Now, as to the picture - I don't think that I have ever seen another portrait that has meant so much to me. It is easily the best piece of work that you have ever produced, and to be honest, you have moved me and David to tears. Please tell me it is going to be on display for a while, because I want to see it close up. I want to stand there in front of it, and glory in the presence that it projects. You're a genius, Jeff…"
"So people keep saying, including the subject. I think that even I am starting to believe what they keep telling me now… It's called The Judging Angel by the way. It will be on display here at Columbia all summer; after that, I'm not sure. One thing I can promise you; if they suggest that it is just going to be stored away somewhere, then I will take it back and hang the consequences. I mean, I could donate it to Dalton or something…"
Jeff paused as he heard an intake of breath at the other end of the call. "If it was at Dalton…"
"Then you could see it every day," finished Jeff.
"There is a very selfish part of me that wants that so very much," said Thad. "However, then I realise just how brilliant it is, and I realise that it would be wrong. It needs to be on public display so that the whole world can come and see it, in some major art gallery, in pride of place."
"I'm afraid that is about as likely as me and Nicky being able to afford our dream house in the heart of the city anytime soon, Thad, but thanks for the vote of confidence," said Jeff with a laugh.
"You never now, Jeff…" said Thad. He believed strongly that was exactly where Jeff's work would end up. He had learned from experience that life had a habit of throwing you a curve ball just when you were least expecting it…
Thad then passed his phone over to David, so that he too could pass on his warm wishes to his friend, and after a few moments chat, Jeff was called away to speak to someone, and so he ended the call. He handed the phone back to Thad, who smiled, and said, "It has been quite a couple of days in the lives of our little circle of friends when you think about it. Jeff's news today is the just the final decoration on what was an already beautiful cake. Mike Chang top of his class, and on his way to being one of the top stars in ballet in the USA - mark my words, he has the determination, talent and drive to make it right to the very top. Cooper, who once upon a time was reported as saying that Broadway was on its last legs, is now going to be the lead in a production transferring in from the West End, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he didn't have to give an acceptance speech for a Tony award at some time in the near future either. Not quite at that stage for the one and only Sebastian yet, but he has taken the first leap onto the Great White Way, and although I despise myself for the fact that I am even thinking it…"
"…you're kind of hoping that someone goes sick, so that he can get out there on that stage and show them all just how talented he is? Me too…" added David.
"On that note, however, we have to leave things, as I am afraid that I need to get back to work, and so, my friend, do you! Thanks for the interruption though. It was totally necessary, although my brain would have continued to deny it all day long. My only hope now is that we manage to get to New York in time to see the masterwork in all of its glory."
"You can bank on that. We are not going to miss out, even if we have to fly over, see it, fly back and then make our little road trip east with your belongings," said David, as he lifted up the tray and with a salute, headed out again. On his own again, Thad sighed. He had detected the note of sadness in David's voice as he had talked about the trip, and he felt it too. He was going to miss David being around, but this was the reality of life. David had to be here, for his job, Mercedes, and to keep an eye on Jake and Unique as he had promised. He could not expect him to give all of that up and move east with him, anymore than he could stay in L.A. He had realised a while ago that he was going to end up in the same boat as Ethan, and like him, he would have moments of sadness at the distance between his best friend and himself. As long as he was happy though, then that was all that mattered…
Eventually the initial group that had come to see the unveiling of The Judging Angel began to take their leave of the young man that had created such a stir in the New York art scene. Trent and Rory were the first to leave, as they had to return to Washington and a world dominated by exams. They left by cab, and had any of them been watching, they would have observed Trent open his bag and pull out a weighty text book as soon as he was seated in the back. He had taken a long enough break from his schedule and now he had to get himself back into his studies. Rory smiled, and pulled out his own reading material from his own bag. His was connected to work, however, and was to do with the campaign to get Sue elected to Congress in place of Mr Duval. He still couldn't quite believe that he, an assistant to a Democrat congressman, was actively helping out a Republican candidate at his boss' behest, but that was the smoke and mirrors nature of the political game in these challenging times.
Not far behind them were Sam, Santana and Brittany, all three of them heading in the direction of the Spotlight for work. Santana had resolved that she would be sending Michelle up here the moment that she got there, even if she had to physically force her into the back of a cab herself. She needed to see the portrait of her beloved cousin for herself sooner rather than later. Mike and Tina were the next to go, as the latter had to head back to Brown the following day; they were heading back to the loft first, mainly to feed Caleb, and then they had plans for the evening. Before they left, Mike pulled Jeff into a long and deep hug, leaving Tina to quip to Nick that it was just as well they all knew that Mike was straight and Jeff was happily married, or there would be talk, making Nick laugh loudly.
Tina headed over to spilt them up and hug Jeff herself; this left Nick alone, which gave Grace the opportunity she had been waiting for to have a quick private chat with her brother. "Right, so I have made some arrangements, and everything is set up for tomorrow. If you and Jeff could come to Murray Hill for 11? By then Cooper will be on his way to work, Josh will be at Elliott's and Mason has plans to go out with Roderick."
"You're clearing the house out then… Are you intending to drive Sebastian and Dave out too?"
"There is no need to be facetious, Nick. As far as I am aware, they might well be at home, but there has to be no-one else around upstairs as what I have to say isn't for anyone else's ears until Jeff is told. Elspeth was most insistent on that, and the only reason that you are even going to be there is because you are his husband. Right, little brother, I am off now; I will say goodbye to Jeff, then tell him that you are coming to brunch tomorrow for a catch up. Oh, and Nick? Stop looking so worried! What I have to say will be a shock, but not a bad one. In fact, you might even like it…"
Grace walked away, leaving Nick shaking his head. There was no way in the world that anything even remotely connected to Gordon Clarington was a good thing. He looked across the room as his sister said her farewells to his husband; he looked so happy and carefree. He was on the top of the world, both literally and figuratively, and Nick had to admit he had not seen him look so happy since their wedding day. If what he was told tomorrow ended up causing him pain, then Nick would find it hard to forgive his sister or his mother-in-law for hurting his Jeffie. All that mattered to him was his husband's happiness, and nothing was going to end that if he had any say in the matter. That was for tomorrow though; today, he just had to put those thoughts to the back of his mind, smile, and share in his husband's joy…
After all of the excitement of the day, the evening passed off quietly for them all. After a few more hours at the Art Show, Jeff having been in so much demand for interviews that there had been no possibility of him and Nick just slipping quietly away, however much he wanted to, all the two young men wanted to do that evening was relax quietly at home, but they found themselves thwarted in that idea. Jeff was called by Judy, who insisted that they come for an early dinner with Elspeth and themselves. The only positive about that was that it did give them a good reason to make their excuses and leave. It took some time to do, however; they were still there when Michelle arrived. She had walked in, taken one look at the drawing, and whispered "Oh, Birdy!" to herself. She had then done what Trent had done and took a photo of the drawing on her phone, promptly sending it to her parents, he cousin Albert in his secret hiding place in Italy, and to a certain diner waitress by the name of Angela in Harvard. She had the feeling that it might be the catalyst that finally made her come and visit them all in New York, if for no other reason than to see the drawing first hand.
Artie and Kitty had arrived shortly afterwards, having been convinced to come by the text from Trent. They had both just settled themselves in front of it; Kitty had been knocked silent by it for several minutes, which was a shock, then she turned to Jeff and said "You deserve to be at the top of the class with that drawing… Can you sign my ticket for me, so that when you are really famous, we can sell it?" For that line she earned herself a laugh and a hug. Finally, just before they left, Isabelle appeared with Julian at her side; they too stood in silence, before Isabelle came over and stated with a twinkle in her eye that there might just have to be an article about his work in Vogue, possibly under the headline of 'JS-D Rides Again'
Dinner also turned out to be great fun. Mr Sterling had opted to take them to the Heartland Brewery downtown; he had been searching for a restaurant near the Empire State Building, as he was planning to take Judy up to the top for her first ever time, and when he had heard that the venue in question was on the ground floor next to the main entrance, he knew it was perfect. Nick and Jeff had heard about the place, of course, from Thad and had spent a convivial evening here with him and the others. Tonight though they kept a clear head as they ate their meal. Then the party split up. Elspeth was heading back in the direction of Penn Station, and the two boys offered to walk with her, as it would be convenient for getting the subway home. As for the Sterlings, Robert had a surprise for his wife thanks to the work of Grace, and she was all smiles as he presented her with their tickets to see Kinky Boots.
When they eventually arrived home, both feeling tired after the day's events, it was to an empty loft. Jeff went to feed Caleb, who had been waiting for them behind the door, almost with a paw pointed at his stomach, whilst Nick went to do what he always did when Jeff was feeling tired and worn out; he ran a bath. Soon enough the two of them were lying in it, Jeff resting as usual on Nick. "I still can't really believe that all of this is true, Nicky! I keep waiting for someone to either wake me up, or call me to tell me they made an error."
"Well, it has all happened, as we all knew that it eventually would. You are the top of the class; the number one artist amongst the student population at Columbia."
"That is just crazy really! There are so many other really talented people there…"
"You just happen to be the best, my love. All I hope is that now fame and fortune have come calling, you will still be able to find time for your husband, a mere lawyer."
"If I do become famous, and that is a very big if, then it will only be with you there, right at my side, my love. No Jeff without Nick, remember. I promised that, and I will never, ever go back on it. After all, it is only because you are around that I can actually work; you're my muse, Nicky. My sounding board, my stress release, my one true and eternal love. And that love for you grows deeper each and every single day that I wake up next to you…"
"And mine for you… I need you too, you know. And I want you to know that I will always take your side, always do my best to advise you and protect you from harm, no matter what…" Jeff snuggled in closer to him, and closed his eyes. Nick held him tight, only wishing that he knew what Grace was going to say to them the following day. It was a weight on his mind right now…
