Chapter 1: The Painting
They had pressured him onto this date, and unfortunately, he had no more excuses anymore. He hadn't gone out with anyone since he started working at the law firm after graduating college, and his friends couldn't take it anymore. They prodded and pushed, but Josh wouldn't give in. Every time they pointed a girl out at their office, Josh would compliment the girl, but none of them caught his true interest. However, one stupid drunk night he had lost a bet to a fellow coworker and now was on a date with Danielle, the paralegal.
Danielle was a beautiful girl, Josh had to admit that. She was just a bit shorter than him, with raven black hair and bright blue eyes. He had learned from their conversation, she was Italian and grew up in New York her entire life. He smiled as she talked but it was forced, and he just wanted the date to be over.
"How did you start at Elliot, Brown, and Montgomery?" Danielle asked as they strolled down the street.
"My sister-in-law is actually a junior partner, uh Topanga?" Josh shrugged.
"Your sister-in-law is Topanga!" Danielle said and her mouth gaped open.
"Yeah," Josh shrugged.
"She's a shark, she's amazing, she's like my role model!" Danielle gushed and Josh smiled.
"She's pretty awesome, she got me an interview and told me to wow everyone with my experience, guessed it worked," Josh shrugged.
"Well Josh, I do hear great things about you," Danielle said with a grin.
"Same," Josh said and turned his attention to the sidewalk.
Danielle sighed and walked a bit closer to Josh, and let her hands caress his. Josh coughed and moved his hand from hers. He scratched his hair and chuckled softly in uncomfortableness. Danielle understood and took a step away from Josh.
"The gallery is right up there, thanks for tagging along," Danielle said.
"Thanks for the suggestion, I love art," Josh said as Danielle walked up some steps.
Josh opened the door for her, and they entered a large art gallery. Josh admired the 15 feet walls filled with different works of art. The white walls contrasted against the vibrant colors, and he loved the quiet ambiance.
"Welcome," An older woman said with a clipboard.
"Hi, the tickets are underneath Danielle," Danielle said and Josh noticed she tried to get out of her jacket. Josh helped which garnered a smile from both ladies.
"Welcome, Danielle, please walk around enjoy the art, here is a price list for both of you, and if you want to buy anything please just come right over, and we can see if it's still available," the older woman said as she handed them flyers.
Josh thanked her and Danielle maneuvered for the two to walk around. They each grabbed a glass of red wine and started walking around looking at the art. They whispered to one another, but the conversation was dry, and Josh knew it was his fault. He liked Danielle, she was nice, but … that spark wasn't there. All he wanted to do, was go home, go over some cases, and fall asleep to some Family Guy.
"Nothing speaks to you?" Danielle whispered.
"Uh not yet, they are all great, just not my style," Josh said.
"Yeah I guess the same for me," Danielle said but Josh could tell she was lying.
"Danielle, if anything speaks out to you, I would love to hear more," Josh said and Danielle smiled.
"Actually-"
"Danny?" A voice said.
Josh and Danielle turned to see a young man dressed in painter's clothes with a giant grin.
"Francis!" Danielle squealed and the two hugged.
"You made it darling," Francis said and noticed Josh.
"Oh Francis, meet Joshua, Joshua meet Francis, he's one of the painters being displayed tonight," Danielle said as she waved between the two men.
"Bonjour Joshua," Francis said but before Josh could respond, Francis had pulled Danielle into a conversation. He maneuvered her away from Josh and towards a painting at the front of the gallery.
Josh chuckled softly and gulped the red wine. He strolled around the gallery and stopped by some kinetic art before moving on. He glanced over and watched Danielle laugh loudly at a comment Francis had made. He sighed and made a mental note to never lose another drunken bet. He stopped in front of a painting of a girl covered in a sheet in front of a beach scene. Something about the painting called out to him. He couldn't figure out if it was the long blonde hair of the figure or the blended blues and purples of the sky. He opened the flyer, and looked for the price of the painting, and noticed it was only two hundred dollars. He looked for information on the artist but the flyer didn't mention it. He stepped back and took a better look at the painting. This was definitely the one.
"Wow," Josh said.
"Josh?" A familiar voice said and Josh turned slightly to see Maya Hart Hunter dressed in a flowing red dress.
She stepped by the painting, and Josh smiled.
"Beautiful," He whispered.
Now if only he could distinguish if he was talking about the painting or the woman.