Hold My Hand

10. A Night.

10.

A Night

Jordan was acting like Paige was the only one at the exhibition. He waited on her, hand and foot. Once they got in, he led her to the table where finger foods were arranged. He picked a plate for her and helped her fill it with bite-sized delectables.

"Let's try looking for Finn and Anna Sue", Jordan suggested. They were standing in what Paige suspected was the banquet hall. The art gallery was probably behind the automatic sliding doors. Paige nodded while walking with him.

The art gallery was beautiful. The walls were white while the floor was red. The statues were arranged in a long line, bisecting the hall. The walls were dutifully covered with contemporary and traditional paintings. Jordan could tell from Paige's facial expression that she was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of the display.

A waiter in a white tux and black pants walked over to them. He held a tray and offered them both glass flutes of champagne. He obviously didn't realise that they were underaged. They accepted gladly, chuckling to themselves when he marched away.

"This place is magical", Paige said as they walked through the exhibit. Jordan looked down at her and smiled. He took a sip of champagne and licked his lips. He lifted the glass to his eye level and sighed.

"This is magical".

Paige nudged him in the side while stifling a laugh. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a placard on the wall that read, 'FAS Exhibit. This way ==>'.

"Look". Jordan soon found what she was staring at. They followed the directions of the placard. They soon found another and followed that one too.

"Hey, you two!", a familiar voice called out.

"Anna Sue!". Paige gave her swollen aunt a hug. She took a step back to properly gauge her. She wore a free satin white dress. Her belly made the dress shorter. She wore black ankle boots.

"Wow! You've managed to grow twice as big in one week", Paige said. Anna Sue rolled her eyes and sighed like she already knew it.

"It's the stress, honey. Plus, I haven't been able to get any work done. Finn keeps babying me. I'm afraid I won't be teaching at the studio until I deliver", she informed Paige who was rather disappointed. One thing she was looking forward to in the summer sessions was getting lessons from her aunt but it seemed that would no longer be possible.

"I understand", she told her aunt. Anna Sue nodded happily.

"Great! Now, let's show you two the marvellous exhibition going on in here", she led them through a narrow hall but they soon reached the FAS Exhibit. It was simply marvellous. The works from all their students were displayed ceremoniously around the rooms.

Finn was standing by one of the works speaking to a man in a suit and a younger boy about Paige's age. He noticed them entering and beckoned for them to come over.

"Mr. Jenison, this is my girlfriend, Anna Sue and these are our students, Paige and Jordan". Finn introduced us with delightful charisma. Mr. Jenison gave Anna Sue a light peck on her cheek. "Everyone, this is our sponsor, Mr. Jenison and his son, Dwayne". They all exchanged pleasantries in the span of twenty seconds.

Dwayne was attractive but he wasn't Paige's type. He kept giving her flirty stares though and it was making her very uncomfortable.

"Hey, dad. Why don't I give Paige a tour of the exhibition", Dwayne offered. She could feel Jordan tense up next to her. He looked ready to murder Dwayne with his eyes.