a Piece of Art

8.0 T H E O P E N I N G

   I was standing in front of the main piece exposed. It covered the whole column, more like a wall, in the middle of the section. Right where everyone could see it.

   In big letters it said that it was the entry that won the contest, the pseudonym of whom had won and their wish of keeping their name as a secret. I knew I couldn't risk anyone knowing where I was.

   "I see you have found interested in our best piece of art."

  That voice brought shivers through me. I didn't recognize it but as soon as I turn my head around to see its owner, I wished I hadn't. I wished I would just run away.

   I had successfully avoided him all evening. I knew it wouldn't last.

   Jackson came for me right on time to my displeasure, I wanted to be as late as possible for the opening. Everything seemed surreal right when we arrived.

   Women in expensive dresses, men in suits. The place polished and shining. My photography right there. Champagne going around.

   As soon as Jackson got a glass for each of us, he disappeared to find Steph. I just lingered around till inevitably I ended in front of my picture.

   The infamous Parker Wells stood beside me. It felt strange that those were the first ever words he'd told me. Not only the fact that he called my picture their best piece of art but also I had to remind myself that he had no clue of who I was. He knew the little twelve years old Elizabeth Stuart, if he even knew me then.

   I took a minute to answer, focusing on the picture.

   "Yes, I noticed it won your contest." I nodded.

   "Indeed," He still managed to keep that posh accent Blake and Jackson mocked me so much for. It was clear where he came from. "It's very professional, even though I've been told someone from year took it."

   "I've heard she's from first year indeed."

   He looked at me surprised, his playful smile gone. "How do you imagine it was a girl who took it? Since I first saw it, it seemed to me like a guy took it."

   Then I realized the author's name had been hidden from him too.

   "I've been dying to meet the person who took it. I've never managed to get a shot as great as that one." He added.

I didn't want to admit it, but he looked even better than he did six years ago when I last saw him. He had a shade of facial hair and he seemed more toned. His eyes reminded the same, though, that deep shade of green that brought me in from the beginning.

   This had been what I have always dreamed for, his memory, what pushed me to run away. I didn't know why then our interaction felt so insubstantial.

   There were so many things I wanted to say, but I couldn't. He didn't know who I was. He didn't even know it was me who won their contest.

   An elder couple approached him and started dragging him away from my side. We had fallen in a comfortable silence, his last statement unanswered.

   Right after he left, I said, "You already have." I'm not sure if he heard.

***

   Jackson came back no longer after, with more glasses of champagne and Steph and Liam by his side.

   I also happened to run into Pam, the whole night appeared to be a success and she said she was incredibly happy to be meeting me in person. She said we would work close by from now on, they were very interested in my work. I couldn't believe it.

   Parker Wells didn't approach me again. Perhaps it was due the fact they literally everyone wanted to talk to him, but also because every time he walked or even looked my way, I managed to find a way out of there. I didn't understand myself but I just couldn't bring myself to speak to him. I wanted to smack my head, hard.

   I had been dreaming of him for six years but somehow when the moment came, I just chickened out. I didn't know a single thing about him. What if the reality crushed every hope I had away?

   So when Jackson asked if I was ready to go when the clock hit eleven, I told him I was more than ready and left with him. I would have all night, alone in my apartment, to regret every single thing I could have done and didn't.

--- soooo, any thoughts so far?