Stranger's Spell

Chapter 5

When my aunt described it to me a time after she just came back from vacation doesn't even compare to how it is actually standing here. I feel as if I'm in a movie. I think back to the movie I watched for the first time. It's called "Night At The Museum". I feel as if those little cowboy men might come out at any moment and attack my feet. The line for tickets almost runs out the door. Luckily Mr. Juo had pre ordered our tickets online so now we don't have to wait to buy them. Good thing, because my first stop is to visit Cypress a famous painting by none only Vincent Van Gogh. Ever since I was a little girl I have been in love with painting. It all started when I was flipping through a picture book and came across his artwork The Starry Night. I've always wanted to see his work in person. I've wanted to see the brush strokes along the canvas.

We walk over to the security guard waiting to scan our tickets. Mr. Juo is the first in line and I'm right behind him, itching to get in. I'm practically bouncing up and down by the time I make it to the guard.

"You seem a little excited," the guy says to me. He is wearing a blue shirt that says Security on it with khaki pants. I look at him wide eyed, eager, waiting to go and see Vincent's work.

"This is my first time in New York. I also really love painting," I don't know why I just told him that. I'm just filled with so much excitement it's hard to stop talking. He scans my ticket and hands it back to me.

"Have fun! Don't forget to stay hydrated there is lot's of ground to cover here," he smiles and lets me through. As I speed off towards the direction the sign is taking me I run straight into Mr. Juo.

"Woah now. Where do you think you're going?" he questions me. Why is he stopping me now? I pray he doesn't try to lecture me about the history of art.

"I'm going to see Cypress."

"Ahh that's a very talented piece" he says slowly. I feel as if my day is being wasted away on a pointless conversation. By the time he has finished looking at me and turns toward the line everyone of our classmates has been checked in. They are all standing there clueless on where they want to go.

"Alright class. Today you will be following me," he says smiling with his chest puffed out like he just said something heroic. I raise my hand in the air. He ignores it and stands there to count everyone to make sure he has the people on his roster. I start waving my arm back and forth trying to get him to look at me. He rolls his eyes.

"Yes, Valerie?" he sighs.

"Will we get to go on our own to look at paintings that you might not cover?" my question sounds eager and he knows what exactly I'm thinking about.

"No we will not be seeing Cypress and no you will get no free time," he says and turns around. He struts towards the egyptian section of the museum. Well there goes my perfect day. My brows form together and I stalk towards the back of the group. With my arms crossed I follow the class like a little puppy. Ida slides next to my side with Mia attached to her other side.

"Hey why do you look down? You were just excited as hell to get in here?" she asks me. She pokes my side again which makes me jump and laugh a little.

"Mr. Juo ruined my plan for today," I say back making my brows furrow closer together while looking at her.

"What did you have in mind?" she's trying not to laugh at how ridiculous I look.

"I had a list of the paintings I wanted to see today." I giggle a little but then have my frown return to make me look serious, "I mean I would be fine with just seeing one of them"

"Then after lunch you'll just have to sneak off and see it for yourself," she lowers her voice to a whisper, "and if Mr. drill sergeant asks where you went I'll just say you had to go pee."

"You're pretty great."

"I know," she smirks at me and we continue our journey around the museum.

By the time lunch arrives we have already visited a bunch of exhibitions. Reservations was made for the class at a restaurant inside the museum. It's french based so there is lots of meals that I have never had before. Ida, Mia, and I sit at a small table towards the back. I ordered a Baguette sandwich and fly through it.

"Slow down, Val. I'd rather not have to perform CPR on you in the middle of this museum." Ida is laughing so hard she makes Mia start laughing. Water is coming out of Mia's nose and that makes us laugh a little bit harder. By the time we catch our breath my stomach is cramping.

"I think I may have just gained some abs from laughing so hard," I say to them while trying not to laugh again. Mr. Juo claps his hands and starts expecting everyone to follow him. Which we do.

"Hey, I'm going to head to the... bathroom." I let Ida know. She smiles and nods her head. I decide to cut through Arts of Africa. I slow my pace when my eyes start to catch all of the bright colors. There are human like sculptures throughout the room. The paintings on the wall are bursting with neon paint. I reach the end of the room and come to the entrance of Greek and Roman Art.

Along the far side of the room, I see it. Walking up to it seems unrealistic. Everyone is walking past it like it's nothing to them. I gaze at it in amazement. The way the swirls of blues connect with the swirls of greens flows perfectly together. People come and go to look. I don't know how long I stand there before I hear my phone go off in my purse. It's a text from Ida.

Juo is getting suspicious. Take a picture it will last longer. We are in the Decorative Arts.

Shit. My phone in hand I quickly turn and head in the direction from where I've came from. Within that moment I'm falling towards the floor. Phone and everything else spiraling to the ground. Clenching my eyes shut, my hands are out in front waiting for impact. Before I hit the hard ground strong long arms wrap around my torso catching me.

My eyes shoot open to find the hero who just saved me from embarrassment. Not being embarrassed didn't last long. He has dark blue eyes that sparkle like the sea. His brown hair is a mess on top of his head that has a few pieces straggling down towards his eyes. His square framed glasses suit his perfectly chiseled jaw line. I stare at him speechless. He helps me to stand on my two feet again. When I stand up straight I can tell he is about five or six inches taller than me. Once I realize he's smiling at me I can feel my face heating up.

"Are you okay?" he has a half worried smile playing across his lips.

For some odd reason I can't find my voice to talk. That's twice now today. I nod my head yes. He hands me my phone and then we stand there in silence looking at each other. Eventually I manage to pull together a sentence.

"I-I'm sorry I ran into you, but I've got to get going," I slide past him and start to walk off. I hear him shouting hey in the distance but I keep going. I feel flustered in the good way though. I catch up to Ida feeling breathless and bubbly.

"What are you smiling about, Val?" Ida asks. I didn't realize I was smiling until she said something. "Did you smell the roses in "bathroom" or something?" She laughs while looking at me still waiting for an answer.

"Yeah something like that." I smile and see Mr. Juo from across the room giving me a glare. He knows where I went. I wonder if he will deduct points on my next assignment. I glance away from him and decide to lay low for the next half of the day. My mind keeps wandering to the unknown stranger. To the moment that happened between us. It's on repeat in my head like a catchy song that you just can't shake.