If you want to get me some feedback do that at noway16@hotmail.com. For all my stories check out my site www.timsfunplace.com
So here I was. It was the biggest evening of my life so far, and the one I cared about most wasn't here. David would be here, but I still couldn't understand why Francis wasn't. I knew that he needed to concentrate on what he was doing, and flying back in the middle of a training session was problematic ... but still.
There was no way that he was unaware of how important this was to me. It was almost the only thing that I'd talked about for the last half year ... ever since the friends of David Eddings had invited me to be one of their new-found artists in this show. I didn't have the place all to myself but they were showcasing my work. I could tell that they were impressed with the work that I'd submitted some two weeks ago.
Since then, I hadn't been to the gallery. I'd had the phone in my hands several times to ask them to drop that one piece. It was now about three months old ... I'd sketched it while I watched Francis during a training session. It would be painful to see it tonight but, then again, I would survive I guess.
There was a knock at the door. "Come on, Nick. It's time to go," James called.
Although I'd heard him, I didn't move.
"Do I need to break this door down, Nick? Because that's what I'll do if it isn't open in one minute."
Oh, I'd better get up. I knew he wasn't going to budge. I walked to the door, opened it, and turned around to walk back to the couch.
"Hey! You aren't ready yet! Come on, Nick, you need to get dressed." I was still wearing just a t-shirt with my underwear underneath.
I turned around, then I sat down. I faced him now and I could see the change in his facial expression when he saw mine.
"Oh, damn! Come on, Nick. Let's get you in the shower and make yourself presentable. This is the biggest night in your life so far, remember? It's the only thing you've been able to talk about for months now."
"I know ... but why don't I feel like that then?" I felt my eyes begin to tear up as I thought of Francis.
He sat down beside me and looked me in the eye. "Are you really going to let him destroy this evening? I think you have a right to be mad and sad about all this ... but for now, I think you should try to get over it and enjoy the evening."
"But what if this is the end, James? I can't go on without him. I just can't."
"Oh, don't think like that. He just felt that his meet was more important for him. You've always told him to be committed to what he wanted ... so you shouldn't be surprised."
"But he knew how important this is! David is coming ... why couldn't Francis?"
"Well, you can do one of two things: you can go to the gallery showing with your friends and enjoy yourself, or you can sulk down here and wonder all night where Francis is and what he's doing. I'm sure the next time you meet up, you'll be able to work it all out."
"I guess ... but still ..."
"Oh, come on, Nick. Let's get a move on."
"Hmm ... OK ... but I need a shower. I feel like a mess."
"Just hurry up, OK?" James said.
I stood up, gave him a smile, and said, "I'm gay ... in about an hour or so, I'll be ready."
"Yeah, yeah ... hurry up, you queen."
[In the meantime at the airport]
"Wow, David! It seems as if everybody is here tonight!" Kathy pointed out.
"Well ... not everyone," he said. Kathy could see the anger building in his eyes again. We'd all had quite a good row about the fact that Francis had decided to stay away. I knew that David had talked with Nick after he found out and that Nick was understandably quite upset. I could see Francis's point, though. After he'd lost his last competition about a month ago, he had taken his training up a notch and had made his training his first priority.
"Don't worry about it ... and let's try not upset Nick with the situation, OK? This is his night."
"I'm not sure he'll show up, Kathy."
"What! You told him to stay home?"
"No, of course not ... but we talked for about two hours last night, trying to convince him to attend."
"We'd better get a taxi then and pick him up. We can tell Mr. Eddings that he can take the shuttle without us."
"Oh, I'm way ahead of you. I called James before we got on the plane. He'll go and pick him up so I'm sure Nick will be there."
"Ah ... there you are ... David, Kathy ... where's the little one?"
"Oh, we left him in the care of some friends for the weekend. We thought we deserved a weekend, just the two of us ... although I must admit that I think I'm going to regret that."
"No, you won't."
"So, Alexei ... are you happy to see James again?"
"Yes, but I was here two weeks ago and we're OK as long as I keep visiting him on a regular basis. I guess Francis definitely decided not to come?" he said, looking around at all of us for a comment.
"No, he stayed back, the fool," David said.
"I hoped that he'd changed his mind. Nick sounded quite upset about it."
"He still is. I asked James to go and pick him up ... otherwise, I don't think he'd even be there tonight."
"Damn! Well, we'll just have to make sure he has a great evening. Although I think that everything will go well."
"Have you seen the works he's displaying tonight?"
"Yea ... I helped him bring his selections to the gallery about two weeks ago. It was great stuff. I'd better warn you, David ... you'll see yourself in one of them."
"Oh, is that right? I thought only Francis was going to be pictured."
"No, he made an amazing image with you in it ... but I won't tell you more ... you'll see."
"OK ... where do we need to go now?"
"I'm not sure, but I think we're waiting for the flight with Brian and Andy on it. I think they are the last ones to arrive."
For the next 30 minutes we waited in the lounge, chatting with several friends we hadn't seen since graduation.
[Back at Nick's apartment]
I tried to concentrate on one thing at a time ... first having a shower and then putting myself together again. I was going to enjoy this night, no matter what. I wasn't going to let Francis spoil the evening for me. I'd been upset long enough. We'd deal with it when we saw each other again. I knew that calling him wouldn't help. We'd just end up screaming at each other like we' been doing for the past two weeks whenever one of us called the other.
I let out a deep sigh as it was easier said than done and I knew that. But at least some of my friends would be there tonight. I knew that Alexei was going to be there and David and Kathy, my dad, Susan and, I think, Francis's mom would all be there, too. I knew I had a big supportive family and I would enjoy having them around me on this memorable occasion. I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower.
"It's about time you got out of there," I heard James shout from my bedroom.
"I'm almost ready," I yelled back with a smile.
It'd been more fun than I could have imagined having James around. He had a wicked way sometimes and he took amusing little shots at people all the time. I opened the door to my bedroom.
"OK ... let's get you dressed." He had a pair of my undies in his hands and I could see that he'd put some clothes on the bed.
"Hmmm ... you've decided what I should wear tonight?"
"Yes ... otherwise you'd have been here for at least another hour, deciding what you were going to wear."
"Yea ... like you don't."
"No, I can do it in 45 minutes," he said smiling. He looked admiring at my body while I slipped on the undies and dropped my towel to put them on.
"Hmmm ... you still look good, you know, even thought you're not training intensively any more."
I smiled. "Thanks, James, but I still work out at least once a week."
"I know, but still ... wow."
"Shush, James ... or do you want me to tell Alexei?" He turned bright red.
"Oh, he doesn't need to worry. You're not in his league by a long shot."
I decided that that was enough and I looked at the bed. He'd gotten out a white shirt, a slightly lighter blue jacket to go over it and a pair of my very nice dark blue slacks.
"You think that is not too much blue for an artist?"
"Oh, you want to go in shabby jeans with a paint-covered dirty shirt instead?"
"Well, they wouldn't be surprised by that, would they?"
"Well, I think that they might expect something unconventional when they see your pictures, but let's surprise them with the quality of the artist himself ... and with the artist's art."
"Oh, you're biased," I said with a smile.
"Hmmm ... I don't want to disappoint you but that was a sentence from the press release put out by Tom, the director of the gallery. I don't think you heard his comments because you were unpacking the last pieces when Tom brought it in."
Now it was my turn to blush. "It's nothing special," I said.
"You know that's bullshit, Nick. The way you can put things on paper is almost magical, the way your images come alive. You've got a way with a pencil and even your painted works are distinctive, though in a different way."
I finished dressing and looked at him. "We'll see, James. I'm expecting nothing."
He smiled and said. "Come on ... let's go. We're running late."
[Francis, back at the gymnastics training facility]
I know I'd looked at the clock more then once that afternoon. Now I was just watching it constantly. It was only one hour before the gallery opening and I was too late. Too late to go ... too late to call and apologise. But ever since the last competition, in which I'd done so poorly, I knew I had to focus 100 per cent on my gymnastics for the next few months or I wouldn't make it. I hadn't told Nick about my situation, though. The last thing I wanted to do was to disappoint him. He was always so proud and happy when I did well.
"Hey, Francis. I'm about to leave ... are you about finished, too?" the coach yelled from the door.
"No, I'm going to work for another hour or so and then use the sauna before leaving if that's OK."
"Sure ... just don't overdo it, Francis. Over-straining yourself isn't going to help you, either, you know."
"I know."
"Good. I'll close the door ... I'd appreciate it if you'd make sure that it's locked again and all the lights turned out when you leave, OK?"
"I will." I'd been doing this on more than one occasion for the last few weeks.
"OK ... enjoy the sauna," he said and walked out.
[At the art gallery]
"At last," Tom said when we walked in. "I was afraid you'd be late."
"No, we made it. But you know these queens ... they need an awful long time to get dressed," James said.
I gave him a playful jab. "Sorry, we planned to be here earlier, Tom," I said.
"Oh, that's OK, Nick. You're still on time and I think your appearance is going to be as much of a surprise as your art is," he said with a laugh.
"Come and join the other two artists whose work will be on display."
I followed him into the gallery. The first section was set up as a reception area, with several small serving tables and a modest bar. We followed him into the gallery. He closed the doors again.
The gallery was carefully and subtly lit, I saw. It was not as bright as it was during the days when I'd been there. There were several pieces of sculpture in the first display area. I looked and saw a girl of about my age standing beside a guy who was a bit older. Both had a glass at hand.
"Nick ... James ... I want you to meet Nicole and Tyler. This is Nick, the artist who created the paintings and drawings in the back gallery."
"Glad to meet you. Your work is quite stunning," Nicole said.
"Thanks. Are the sculptures yours?" I asked.
"Yes ... how did you know?"
"With those hands ...," I said with a laugh.
"Damn! There's no way I can hide them," she said and gave me a warm hug.
"She's right, though. Your drawings are incredibly good," Tyler said.
"Oh, thank you, too ... Tyler, wasn't it?"
"Haven't we met before?" he asked.
"Not that I know of, Tyler," I said.
"OK, follow me," Tom said. "I hope you liked how we displayed your work."
We followed him into an area to the right of the one where the sculptures were located. My paintings and drawings were on display here. The light consisted of a series of soft circles directed at the four corners. "We thought about putting some of the drawings on a wall in the middle of the room but we thought that would not give them the attention they deserved. So we decided, with only three artists, we could give these works all the space they needed."
"Wow!" I heard James say as he stepped into the room with me.
He was right. My jaw dropped. It looked like my paintings and drawings had been made for the space. I knew it was more the other way around, that Tom had done his best to place them in the perfect spot with the lights perfectly positioned. The effect was stunning.
"So you approve?" Tom asked.
"Definitely, I do," I said." But why didn't you frame any of the drawings? I've seen you do that effectively in the past."
"Oh, we tried, but it didn't work with your style, Nick. They looked all wrong somehow. Don't ask me why, but we all agreed."
"I'll be right back. Let me get you a drink. We have about another 15 minutes before we open the doors and about 45 minutes before we officially open the exhibition."
"This looks really great, Nick," James said.
"Let's look at the other works ... see what the competition is," he smiled.
We walked though the other galleries and ended back with Nicole and Tyler. "So, what do you think, Nick?" Nicole asked.
"Different," I said.
"Yea ... I think Tom outdid himself this time with three such different art forms," she answered.
"It might be just a bit too much," I said.
"Oh, I don't think so, Nick. It looks just perfect, especially your works," James said.
"I agree," Nicole said.
"Tyler's works and mine look OK, but yours are just amazing."
"Hey, Nicole ... why are there notes underneath your drawings. I didn't see them with my attention focused on Nick's works."
"Oh ... Tom priced almost every piece of mine except for one or two items ... but he couldn't decide on the price for Nick's drawings and paintings. He said he'd just wait and see what the offers were like."
"Hmmm ... it doesn't look like he expects to get a lot for them."
"Oh, just the opposite," Tyler replied. "When they don't price the individual works, it means that they're the best and the dealer is open for offers."
"So, where are you from, Nick? I don't think you're local or we'd have met before at some point. A face like yours I'd never forget and I'm sure I've seen it before somewhere."
Again we were saved by Tom. He knew my whole story but I didn't just go up to everyone and tell them what had happened. So far I'd only been recognised once when we went out for a drink in a bar.
"OK, you guys ... it's almost time. I want you to go in to the front area in a moment. Mingle with the guests. I think there might be a big turnout. Then, just before we have the formal opening, I'll go onto the podium just in front of the door and will introduce the three of you before opening the exhibition. OK?"
"Sounds like a plan," Nicole said.
"Do you want us to say anything?" Tyler asked.
"No, just be there and ready when the exhibition opens, OK? Just mingle with the guests. Make sure you're around your works of art for the first hour or so. I might come around and introduce you to some of my clients if they're intent of meeting you tonight. Just act normally, answer their questions, and be honest. I know that sometimes the press can come up with the strangest questions sometimes, but it's in your best interest to answer everything ... these are not some journalists, trying to get a story, but art critics for their newspapers."
"There won't be any regular journalists around, then?" Tyler asked.
"No, not tonight. Tomorrow, an hour before we open up, I want you all here for a special private showing just for newspeople. I stopped inviting the journalists on the first evening a while ago because some artists, and many of my clients, wouldn't show up any more."
I could imagine that! If he had more clients like David Eddings, then I wasn't a bit surprised that they wouldn't show up at an opening mobbed by journalists.
"OK, let's get the show on the road," he said and motioned us back into the reception area of the gallery.
There were several people already there but no one we knew.
"You think their plane was late?" I asked James.
"Don't worry, Nick ... they'll be here."
"I know. I just could use some more support."
"I think you're going to get enough of that," he said, smiling.
"What are you hiding, James?"
"You'll see."
"Come on, James ... I don't have any secrets from you."
"Oh, you really have no idea! I think you were too nervous to notice. You'll see now," he said. I turned around to follow his gaze to the door.
My dad entered with Susan, David and Kathy by his side. But after I finished a big group hug with all of them, I heard my name being chanted by several voices that I knew. I looked again and was amazed as, beside the entrance, at least 20 people where standing. I gazed in shock as I recognised them all ... Alexei, of course ... Andy, Brian, Peter, Andrew, Randy, David ... they were all there. I felt my legs begin to wobble. Oh, wow, I thought ... they'd all come! I just hoped my work wouldn't disappoint them.
"Oh ... what are you all doing here?"
"You didn't think we'd miss your big evening, did you? Besides ... it was time for a little get-together party," Andy said.
"Well, I'm flattered," I said.
"Come on, you guys ... let's get a drink!" Andrew said. Most of them followed him. One person stayed and looked at me.
"Hi, Nick!" It was Francis's mother.
"Mom!" I said. We'd agreed to call soon after the trial as she'd become the woman I'd never had in my life. Susan understood that I needed that.
"I hope that it's OK that I came ... you know ... with ..."
"Of course! The rest will sort itself out, don't worry."
"I hope so, Nick. If I could, I'd have gone down and made him see what a mistake he was making"
"I know ... but I'm happy you're here." I hugged her.
"Come on, Nick," my dad said. "Let's get a drink!"
I talked a bit with my dad and with David, Kathy and Susan. I was a bit disappointed that the little one wasn't there. I just had to go up soon again to see him, I thought.
I saw Tom moving towards the door and I knew this was it.
"Please, may I have your attention?" It became quite silent. I moved closer to the door and saw that Tyler and Nicole were doing the same.
When I got close to Tyler, he bent over and said with a caressing voice, "You have some famous friends, but now I know where I know you from. I'm sure we could have a great time together, Nicky." I was amazed when I heard that but I didn't respond as Tom just called our names.
"So I'm happy to introduce to you the three artists who made this, I might add, one of the most exciting exhibition in years. Tyler, Nicole and Nick ... would you come, please, and help me open the exhibition?"
Backed by the applause of about a hundred people, we walked to the door and together we opened it up widely.
"Enjoy the show, my friends ... the bar is open ... and the artists will be near their works if you want to discuss anything with them."
He guided us to the large open space. "Good luck!" Nicole said as she walked off to her side of the exhibition. "You, too!" I said and walked away. I could feel Tyler's eyes burning on my back.
As my pieces were all located at the back of the exhibition space, I expected my area to be empty for the first minutes but, when James arrived with all our friends, I knew I was wrong. I walked towards dad and David and guided them around to see the drawings.
"Oh my god!" Kathy said at one point. She had strayed off on her own and was now two or three pieces ahead.
"David, come down here!" she said urgently. I smiled, although I was a bit nervous. I was almost sure they'd approve of what I'd drawn. It had been quite tricky, executing it, but my photographic memory had been very helpful.
"How did you do this, Nick?" she asked. "When might be a better question," David said. I saw a look of concern cross his face.
"Do you like it?" I enquired, smiling at Kathy.
"Yea ... it's amazing ... my god."
"It really is quite something, Nick," my dad added.
"I know. I just hope you're not angry at me for showing it here."
"No, of course not, Nick," Kathy said. I looked at David but I wasn't sure he was OK with it.
"It's incredible, Nick, and I must say ... if it had looked one bit sleazy, I'd have asked you to destroy it here and now ... but, although it shows so much, it is beautiful." He hugged me and whispered, "It's mine, though, just as long as you know that!"
"Of course, I want you to have it."
"Incredible," I heard several people whispering behind me. I also saw the stares that they gave Kathy and certainly David as well. I just hoped the two of them wouldn't notice.
I turned and saw Randy looking at it. "Sorry to stare, Nick, but that's just great. You know ... if I wasn't gay, I'd go for Kathy myself after seeing this."
"Shut up!" Alexei said. "This is so much more. Just look at it ... it's a perfect young family caught at one of their most private moments with the mother breast-feeding for the first time."
Alexei was right. I'd made the drawing from memory when I'd walked in on them one morning, I think a few days after the little one had been born. I'd found David sitting naked beside Kathy, enjoying the view of his wife breast feeding. It was intimate and at the same time an amazing moment. I had been embarrassed walking in on them and I just wanted a way to make it up to them.
While others were moving on now, I saw Kathy and David whispering to each other and smiling. I let them be and moved on with the others. I'd reached the rear of the display space. We were almost through the entire exhibition and I knew that I didn't want to go right to the end because I knew what was there. I'd seen it in a glance when I'd entered the room the first time but, since then, I hadn't gone over to give it another look.
"Let's get a drink, Nick," James said.
"Yea ... that's a good idea," I said.
"We need to hurry. I noticed that some of the other guests starting to wander in."
We walked over to the reception area and got another glass of champagne.
When we came back, most of our friends had wandered off towards the other sections of the gallery, but my room was now filled with a lot of others. I could hear several conversations praising my work.
I wasn't sure if I was up for this, so I retreated to one of the darker corners of the room.
"You can stand proudly, son. There's nothing to be ashamed of. I think most are quite amazed by what you've put together ... just as I am, to be honest."
"I don't know, dad," I said, looking up to him.
"You can be proud of yourself, Nick. I still can't believe that this is your work. It's amazing."
"It's just what I like to do, dad ... nothing special."
"Oh, I think after tonight, you'll know that your talent is something special. I was a bit disappointed when you didn't stay with your gymnastics but, after seeing this, I think you made the right decision."
"Thanks, dad. That means a lot."
"Go, mingle. I heard several people were looking for you."
Over the next hour I talked to a lot of people and got an awful lot of praise. I knew that it might sound conceited, but it all felt good. I stayed away, though, from that one corner. I'd answered several questions such as how long David, Kathy and the little one had posed for me and if David had been OK with the picture. I guess Tom had been right: they were quite honest about it all.
After about an hour or so, Tom came walking towards me with a man beside him." I though he was around 25 or so.
"Nick, I want to introduce you to Nick," he said with a big smile." I smiled back and said, "Hi, Nick. Nice name."
Damn! I knew him but I wasn't sure from where. "Nice to meet you, Nick," he said. "Your work is quite amazing, you know. I've been to quite a few art galleries in the past but I think that your work is among the best I've seen." "
"Thank you."
"Stop that! You're making him blush, Nick," Tom said.
"I think you had a few questions for Nick, so I'll leave you two alone," Tom said.
I looked at him. Now what, I thought.
"I hope you don't mind but we have a friend in common. Randy told me to come around tonight."
"Oh, yea. He should be here somewhere."
"Yea, I know. We talked earlier."
"So, are you someone famous, too?" I said, half in fun but also because I was now quite sure that I'd seen his face somewhere before.
"Hmmm ... I might be ... but that's a discussion for another time. For now, I want to ask you a few questions as I'm interested in one of your drawings."
"Oh, you should talk with Tom about that. He deals with the business end of things," I said.
"I know ... but he couldn't answer my questions and wasn't able to say how much this work was."
Oh, no! Not that one, I thought. When I'd showed Tom my stuff, I'd told him that he could sell all of them except the one ...
If you want to get me some feedback do that at noway16@hotmail.com. For all my stories check out my site www.timsfunplace.com