Paint Me, Professor | Student-Professor Erotic Novel | 18+ | ✔️

8 - Opening Night

Christopher
***

"I'm a fraud. Everyone is gonna see that I'm a fraud." Gary said through the line, desperately. I could picture him pacing back and forth, his head gleaming with sweat.

I was on my way to Kingston Museum. I had promised Gary I'd be there earlier with him for support. He was completely losing it.

"Kent, listen to me, will you shut the fuck up man? No one thinks that of you." I tried to instil some sense in him.

"Chris, so many people are gonna be here. The press is gonna be here, they'll ask me all sort of absurd questions like 'when did you start painting?' and 'when did you know you were an artist?' and shit like that."

"And you're going to answer with decorum and respect." I said, my voice calm. I had to transmit him my calmness, even though I was a little nervous for him.

This was huge for his career. He couldn't fuck it up.

"Ah shit..." he sighed on the phone. "Are you on your way?"

"Of course, I just turned on Denver Avenue."

"Great great, that's good." He exhaled, his breath shaky. "What if they laugh at my work? It's too naïve, too personal, too annoying."

"Well, if they say that, let them. You know that isn't true." I said. He really was going through it. Poor guy. "Just wait a few more minutes. I'm almost there. I got you."

Gary was my closest friend. I wanted nothing more but to see him succeed. I knew that once I got there and I straightened up his suit and gave him a pep talk, he'd be just fine.

Kingston Museum was in the city center. It was a couple blocks away from the bars and the nightlife. The juxtaposition between the two environments was comical: one the one hand, a place where you'd be surrounded by Art, class, and culture. One the other hand, the cheapest, most vulgar establishments where you'd lose composure and dance and drink the night away.

I made my way to the museum steps, buttoning up the blazer of my navy-blue suit as I walked, the chilly night breeze blowing my hair. Once I got to the top, I immediately noticed Professor Agnes accompanied by her husband. I greeted them and made my way inside, trying to find Gary.

The art room where Gary's exhibition would be held was decorated beautifully. The squared room was painted in stark white, providing no fighting colors with that of the art pieces. There were dividing walls scattered about the room, providing more hanging space for the pieces and creating corridors for the attendees to walk around.

"Here you are!" Exclaimed Gary once he saw me. He looked as pale as a sheet of paper. I decided to go get him a cocktail to calm his nerves.

"No no dude, I need to be as sober as a judge tonight. We'll drink afterwards."

Soon enough, people started to arrive. Jazz music played in the sound system and fancy drinks were passed around by valets in white gloves.

A group of students came in through the doors. It was easy to identify them by their poor choices of attire. These indie kids who thought vintage was cool... I also noticed Mr. Turner, his old man belly pressing against the buttons of his blazer. Maybe this was a field trip, or perhaps he had promoted the event in one of his classes.

That was when I saw her.

Alison was wearing a forest green tight dress, just above the knee. The fabric was slightly shimmery so, as she moved, the light hit her curves in the most appealing way. She was wearing an open black blazer over her shoulders, and I could tell the dress had a significant amount of cleavage. On top of that, her legs looked stunning in black heels.