Perfectly Too Far (3 page)

Together,
they finished setting up. It was just in time.

As
the evening turned the outside sky into a navy bruise, the warmth of
the gallery seemed to draw people in like bugs to a lantern. They
lined up, and didn't stop. Quickly, the place was full, and Judith
was smothered in a haze of comments and questions from pure
strangers.

“
How
long did this take you?”

“
Have
you painted for a long time?”

“
What
school do you go to?”

“
Do
you plan to have another showing in the future?”

“
What
was your inspiration?”

By
the end of the first hour, the young woman was dizzy. She swam
through the crowd looking for Lorraine. The tall woman was caught in
her own sea of people, juggling forms and answering questions.

Judith
ducked her head, worming her way towards a far wall, trying to become
invisible. Glancing around, she saw some of her canvases, as well as
the papers next to them. The little cards had been filled out with
her prices, and her heart throbbed with the excitement of knowing
people might buy her work. It made her brain tingle, the memory of
the night before tugging at her curiosity.

I
wonder if that guy, Benedict... I wonder if he'll come by and
purchase the big piece he liked.

Rubbing
her neck, feeling the dampness from the heat of such a crammed space,
she sighed. There was no time to even ponder if she'd see that
stranger again. Already, people were swarming her once more,
demanding her attention, making her feel claustrophobic.

Somehow,
the time flew by. All too soon Judith was waving farewell to the last
stragglers leaving her gallery. “Bye! Have a good night!”
Smiling, she locked the door, then promptly sat on the floor. “Oh
my goodness. That was insane.”

“
Right?”
Lorraine laughed, flopping over the long table. Her eyes twinkling on
the young artist. “But it was fun, wasn't it? How did you like
it, be honest.”

Giggling,
Judith covered her eyes with an arm as the lights above blinded her.
“It was amazing. I loved it. But,” she suddenly gasped,
sitting up and gripping the edge of the table. Her nose was close to
Lorraine's, the willowy woman smirking at the clear anticipation on
Judith's face. “Did I sell
anything?
”

“
Actually,”
Lorraine started, her expression twitching. It was strange, seeing
such delight morph to consternation. Judith instantly felt her belly
clench with dread. “There was
one
person who was a buyer tonight.”

“
Oh,”
she pouted, trying not to feel too dejected, “just one?”

“
Yeah,
but...” Lorraine frowned, her fingers gliding over a stack of
papers. “I don't know how to say this. Um, you might have a
fan, or something.”

Knotting
her brow, Judith settled onto her knees. “Me, a fan? Besides
you?
”

“
I
like your work, don't get me wrong, but this is... different. Here,
just look.” With an expression that bordered on dubiousness,
Lorraine slid a piece of paper across the table. The red-head didn't
want to touch it, but she was too curious. Grabbing it, she lifted it
close and read the form.

“
I
don't understand,” she mumbled, “this is a sheet listing
all of my artwork, why...?”

“
No,
Judith. It's a list of all your work that
sold
tonight.”

The
two stared at each other, the clarity sinking into Judith like a
heavy stone. “You're telling me one person bought everything?
One person, they bought it
all?”

Lorraine
didn't give an answer, but she didn't need to. This was strange, they
both knew it, and it marred what should have otherwise been amazing
news.

Tentatively,
Judith rolled her eyes down that paper, terrified to read the
signature at the bottom. But she had to know, she needed to see the
name of the person who would have the money, the desire, to purchase
her entire collection.

Scrawled
beautifully with the practiced penmanship of someone who knew their
signature would be read over and over, was a name that made her skin
prickle.

Benedict
Vance.

****

Judith
stared into her glass of wine, the pair sitting on the floor of the
gallery with a bottle between them. Lorraine had insisted they
celebrate, and the young woman had little in the way of resistance.
Lorraine didn't seem to care that Judith was only nineteen, she just
poured her the drink, insisting she deserved a bit of law breaking.

“
You
really don't know who he is, Judith?”

“
I'm
serious,
should
I know?”

“
Well,”
the other woman tilted her head back, her mop of hair waving like
there was a breeze in the room. “Here's the thing. I actually
do recognize his name, is why I'm asking.”

“
What?”
Judith almost spilled her wine, her knees to her chest as she leaned
forward. “Why didn't you say anything before?”

Shrugging,
Lorraine drained the last of her glass and pursed her lips. “I
thought you knew. Listen, it's sort of like... You know, you assume
people know some names by default.”

“
Some
names, you say. Who is he?”

Pouring
out the last of the bottle, Lorraine tapped the rim of her drink in
thought. “He's one of the biggest donors to Sun Arts College.”

“
Sun
Arts College!?”

“
Yeah,
that's right. Why do you look so pale?”

Touching
her cheek, Judith tried to slow down her brain. “That's—that's
the college I've been trying to get into.”

Lorraine
gaped at her. “I'm trying to be relaxed here, for your sake.
But this is insane, Judith. Like, extremely insane.”

Hanging
her head, her lashes brushing her cheeks, Judith breathed out loudly.
The scent of the alcohol was bothering her, making her stomach ripple
with sourness. “I know it is.”
Is this coincidence?
Fate? What's it mean?

“
No,”
Lorraine said. “You don't. Here, this is the part I was waiting
to give up.” Digging into her pocket, she pulled out a crinkled
card, offering it like it might bite. Judith reached for it just as
reluctantly, turning it over to realize it was a business card.

“
Why
did he give you this?”

“
He
wanted me to tell you to call him, he... he wanted to know if you
took commissions.” Lorraine hesitated, biting her lip. “I
said I wasn't sure. He insisted I give you that, so you could reach
him.”

Judith
felt a strong urge to throw the card away, but part of her was
intrigued. “How long did you guys talk?”

“
Not
long. I was busy, and he pretty much just handed me the form and a
blank check,” she laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You
understand how much money you made tonight, right?” Lorraine
searched Judith's dazed eyes, her tone softer. “You don't need
to do this for the cash, is my point.”

“
I
know,” she whispered, still staring at the card. “But
money aside, and I thought I'd never say that, this guy might be my
in. Maybe he'd be able to help me get past admissions finally, if he
has as much pull as it sounds.”
What
would he want from me, though, in exchange? Does he really just like
my art?

Lorraine
grabbed the empty bottle, standing with a groan as she cracked her
back. “Well, this gallery is going to be done, now. Your stuff
will stay up for the month, but you don't need to come here, since
it's all sold. I can cut you your share, and then...” The wine
bottle crashed loudly into the trash, making Judith jerk in surprise.
“Then, I guess you can do whatever you like.”

Tucking
the business card into her pocket, Judith stood as well, seeming lost
in her own head.

“
Judith.”

“
Yeah?”
she asked, looking up to find the worried face of her new friend.
How
fast, but yes, we did become friends.

“
Just
remember, you don't need to call him. You don't
need
to do anything, alright?”

Can
I really just do nothing?
Frowning,
she took one more look around the room, finally ending on the large
piece, the work Benedict had walked in on her painting last night.

Her
mind was a blur, considering her options; her curiosity, and the
potential in this venture for the one thing she really wanted.

With
a forced smile, she faced Lorraine, holding out a hand. “I
know. Thank you, I'll keep in touch.”

When
they shook, Judith noticed how hard Lorraine gripped her. Suddenly,
it turned into a fierce hug, leaving the girls both breathless.

“
Don't
do anything dumb,” Lorraine mumbled into her ear.

Judith
simply didn't reply.

For
the third time, Judith lifted her cell phone, finger hovering over
the buttons. Benedict's card lay on her bed beside her, but she
didn't need to look at it. By now, she'd managed to unintentionally
ingrain his phone number into her mind.

Sighing,
Judith lowered her cell, staring at the screen. It displayed the
time, reminding her it was after ten at night. It gave her an easy
out.
He's
probably asleep. Also, who calls anyone this late, ever?

Yet,
her whole body and brain were buzzing; anxious, unable to relax.
Lorraine's warning, as if she could call it anything else, rumbled in
her memory.

She's
wrong, I do need to do this. It's such an opportunity to get an upper
hand, to get into that school.

Judith
felt the slow burn of curiosity in her belly. Once more, she lifted
her phone.
The
worse that happens, is he doesn't answer, and I leave a message.
She
debated if maybe, just maybe, the worse that could happen was
actually making the phone call at all.
No,
he didn't seem dangerous. He bought all of my art, I have enough
money now to stay out here for some time. Is it crazy to want to find
out how much he'd offer for a commission, if he'd agree to assisting
me?