meet me at midnight.

22.

I'd been so focused on school and work that I hadn't had time to think about Lionel. My first year at UC New York was coming to an end and my classmates and myself had been working on 3 pieces for the New York Art Gallery. I'd been focused on my 3 pieces, trying to decide what I wanted to choose.

I'd selected a mixed media piece that I'd drawn of strawberries. I thought it was pretty. Louise approached me at the end of lecture.

"Daisy, perhaps you and I could have a chat." She said.

"Yeah, sure thing." I agreed.

My classmates left and she took a seat next to me. Her bangles clinked together as she sat down. She offered me a gentle smile and I smiled back.

"So, Daisy," She began. "I adore your two selected pieces. I would like to inquire about the third piece."

"I-i don't really know." I admitted,

"Would you allow me to look at your work?" She asked.

I handed her my sketchbook and she flicked through it, smiling gently.

"The gallery would like to take two students' work and display them properly for general public viewings," She said. "It is an incredible opportunity. I would like to recommend you and Kirk as the two nominated students."

"Me?" I asked, stunned.

"Yes, your work is honest and has a purity to it," She said, then cleared her throat. "I would recommend you include a piece focusing on the human form."

"I-i could do that," I said. "I've been drawing people in Starbucks."

"That is very good practice," She said, flicking through more and pausing, tilting her head. "Who is this young man?"

I leaned and noticed she'd paused on the drawing of Josh I'd done the other night. He was leaning back in the garden chair, gaze dark and smirking.

"T-that's my boyfriend." I said, blushing.

"He's stunning," She said. "His eyes remind me of The Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel."

"I've always thought he looked angelic," I said, then thought about it, remembering the night before. "But also not."

"You draw him so reverently," She said. "Is there any way I could convince you to draw him and put that piece in the gallery?"

"I-i guess I could," I said. "I'd have to ask him."

"Of course," Louise said. "I wouldn't want to insist on making either of you uncomfortable. You'd have access to a room on campus to provide the right backdrop."

I left the lecture hall and caught the subway, heading back home. I picked up groceries on the way home. My hours at work had been dropped and I worked Mondays and Tuesdays now. Marie wanted to make my moving home easier and my studies easier too. I appreciated her immensely.

I got home at about half two and fiddled with my backpack, grabbing my keys. I felt eyes on me and looked up, noticing Mr Arnold watching me. He hadn't spoken to Josh or I, instead opting to act like a human surveillance camera. He'd always been really friendly with Lionel and that made me uncomfortable.

He'd lived next door for a couple of years so he'd only ever known Lionel as the charming family man. I didn't want to live with him being worried about us. I decided to attempt a conversation.

"Hey Mr Arnold." I said.

"Afternoon Daisy," He said, continuing to water his begonias. "Your father used to weed the driveway."