I don't know what love is but I Love You

Chapter 3

Just as Ali had suspected, Joe managed to avoid accompanying her to the auction, by saying that he had other pressing things to do. Ali asked Mia if she could come with her. On the way, Mia briefly told Ali about the foundation that was organizing the auction. Then Joe's sister asked Ali if she'd go shopping with her next week, to which Ali, of course, immediately agreed. 

Although Mia was a popular person, she had only one close friend Jessica. Unfortunately, at the beginning of summer vacations, Jessica and her family moved to Australia, where her father was offered the job he had always dreamed of.

Ali was nervous because she didn't like places where she hardly knew anyone. Mia introduced her to a few people, but Ali couldn't strike up a long conversation with anyone. Fortunately, Ali found an occupation in which she could lose herself. Looking at, and studying paintings had always relaxed her.

Suddenly a familiar voice snapped Ali out of her world.

"Leo, is that you?" called Mia, running quickly toward the entrance.

Ali's eyes and those of everyone else in the room locked onto the guy in the leather jacket Mia was hugging. Ali was mesmerized by the sight. Mia didn't mention that she had a boyfriend or a close friend. Ali went back to looking at the pictures but listened intently to see if Mia and her friend continued to talk. 

"Did the painting arrive?" asked Leo.

"At the last minute, as usual. When did you arrive?" asked Mia, but continued without waiting for an answer. "I'll take you to your seat."

Leo obediently followed Mia. As they passed Ali, Mia grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Mia led her companions to the chairs designated for them. Then she went on stage to greet the guests and artists. Ali didn't hear much of Mia's speech, because her neighbor, decided to chat away with her.

"Sis forgot to introduce us. I'm Leo," He began.

Ali's eyes widened and Leo smiled mysteriously.

"There's no time to explain family relations now, but maybe later," Leo continued.

Ali wondered how it was possible that neither Joe nor anyone else in his family, had mentioned that Mia had another brother. 

"Painter or volunteer?" Leo asked.

"The former," Ali answered quietly.

Leo squatted down next to her and whispered "In that case, how about a little bet, miss? If my painting fetches a higher price than yours at the auction, you'll help me with something tomorrow."

Well, I can't say no, because he'll think I'm a coward, Ali thought.

 "What if you lose?" Ali whispered moving closer to him.

Leo looked her in the eye and gave her a cheeky smile.

"Then I'll take you on vacation to Italy. The trip includes airfare, accommodations, and a guide in yours truly."

When bidding for the paintings began, Ali put a finger to her lips to show him to be quiet. Leo brazenly extended his hand to Ali to confirm the bet. She shook his hand, hoping he didn't notice the shivers that ran through her body.

For Ali it was the first time she participated in a painting auction, so she followed the whole event with bated breath. Leo, on the other hand, looked bored. He had come only to see the smile on his sister's face. For her, who had already experienced so much pain and suffering in her short life, he'd do much more than travel a few thousand miles.

The bidding went smoothly. First, Mia or her friend said a few words about the painting and its author. If the painter was present, he or she stood up and bowed. The bidding for each painting started at five hundred dollars.

Leo was almost asleep when he noticed his neighbor standing up. He looked at her painting and smiled slightly.

Moonlight Serenade,  an unusual choice. At least it's not another copy of Sunflowers, Water Lilies, Starry Night, Pipe, or Scream, he thought.

When Ali's painting was auctioned off for $2,000, she breathed a sigh of relief that it hadn't gone too badly.

Leo's painting was the last to be auctioned since it had just arrived at the auction today. Ali guessed it would be Dali or Magritte, and she wasn't wrong.

Spherical Galatea, a bold choice, Ali thought.

When the price for the painting reached $2,000, Leo raised the hand in which he held his credit card. 

"Three thousand," he exclaimed.

"You don't have a plate," Mia's friend replied.

"Four thousand," said an older man from the back row.

"Four thousand going once. Four thousand going twice. Sold!" Mia's friend said, without taking her eyes off Leo.

Ali was so engrossed in the picture Leo had painted that she didn't even realize she had lost the bet. This cheeky guy had fascinated her so much that she wouldn't mind seeing him again.

People began to leave the room. Ali decided that she'd wait in her seat for Mia to return. Leo excused himself and left to talk to a friend. From the conversation Ali overheard, she deduced that the friend who had bought Leo's painting was planning to open another live music club soon and hoped to get Leo's help with the interior design.

Ali turned to look once more at Leo, who was just leaving the room. She later learned from Mia that Mr. Griffith was the father of Aiden, a classmate of Leo's from his high school days. At the end of high school, Leo had not gotten along well with his grandparents, so Mr. and Mrs. Griffith took him in.

On their way out of the building, Ali and Mia came across Leo who was leaning against his motorcycle and flipping through an "Inked" magazine. Mia walked over to her brother and gave him another hug.

"If you want to strangle me, don't do it in front of witnesses," he joked.

Mia pretended to be offended and moved away from him. Ali was about to get into the car but stopped when Leo called out.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow at two."

"Can you tell me where we're going so I know what to wear?" asked Ali.

"An outfit similar to the one you wear now will be good," replied Leo.

He waited until the girls got into the car, to get on his motorcycle, and drive off with a smile, which resembled a smile of a small child who had just received a coveted toy.