I was just about to suggest we leave when a stuffy looking man in an Armani suit suddenly appeared out of thin air. Hello, this is Avant Guard. Can I help you with something? His tone of voice clearly said that he seriously doubted that this would be the case.
Before I could say no, Aidan stepped forward and offered his hand. Mr. Armani looked at it disdainfully for a moment before reluctantly shaking it. He casually wiped it on his pant leg as if it had possibly become contaminated by Aidans touch.
Im Aidan Scott, Aidan said in a cool, cultured voice that was so unlike his usual voice that I almost did a double take. This is my client, Will Keegan; perhaps youve heard of him. He managed to make it sound like he was a fool if he hadnt.
The suit began to look a bit flustered. Meanwhile I turned a lovely shade of crimson.
Hes being called the next big thing. We met earlier today with Ms. Avanti, Aidan swept on, and she expressed an interest in perhaps representing Mr. Keegan in this area. We thought wed stop by unannounced and have a look around. You know we cant be represented by just anyone.
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Of course, Mr. Armani gushed. I think youll be very pleased with Avant Guard. We may be a small gallery, but weve had some wonderful success on the international market. As you can see, we cater to a very specific clientele.
Yes, so I see, Aidan said, allowing just a hint of disapproval to enter his voice. I just hope the scope isnt too narrow.
Im afraid I dont understand.
Im afraid you dont, Aidan agreed. Well look around now. Thank you. It was clearly a dismissal but the man seemed hesitant to leave us alone in the gallery.
Please let me know if I can help you with anything,
he tried.
I doubt that very seriously, but thank you ever so much once again.
The man now looked completely unnerved and began to back away with a slight bow that would have been laughable if I wasnt so nervous myself.
That was freaking awesome! Killian whispered as soon as he was out of sight.
Shh! I hissed, then reeled to face Aidan. What was that? I growled as quietly as possible and still let him know exactly how I felt about his little performance.
What was what? he asked innocently.
The next big thing?
What? I called you that didnt I?
Your client?
Will, calm down. Youre gonna pop a vein.
What if Nikki finds out about this?
Relax. I know his type. He wont dare breathe a word of this to Nikki and make himself look bad. Hell wait 74
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and see if we say anything, see what take we give her, then hell try to spin it to make himself look better. Trust me. Im telling you I grew up in places like this.
I threw my hands up in defeat and started to look around. The work displayed was an eclectic mix of modern, abstract, and traditional art; complete with everything from sculptures to paintings to collages.
They really seemed to have something for everyone, although I couldnt help but wonder if the athletic couple in the window might not put off the more conservative folks. We did find one more statue on a plat-form in the back of the gallery. Once again, it was life-sized and erotic, but this one was of two men. One was standing facing the viewer and the other stood behind him with his arms around him in an intimate and touching embrace as he kissed his neck.
Once again, we were all struck silent at first. Asher was the first to break the mood. My God, hes hung like a horse, he whispered loudly.
We all cracked up. I thought for sure Mr. Armani would come running, but we actually made it out of the gallery without running into His Stuffiness again.
Well, what did you think? Aidan asked, as we walked back to the car.
I think I wanna try that! Asher said with a leer directed at Killian.
Not about that you perve. Aidan laughed. About the gallery.
I thought it was really cool but kinda stuffy, Killian volunteered.
I think that sums it up pretty well, I agreed, especially that stuffed suit.
Stuffed Armani suit, Aidan corrected me, and I 75
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agree too.
We all turned to look at Asher.
Im horny! he announced happily.
When we got back to the apartment, Asher and Killian came in only long enough to grab their bags before they had to leave to get home.
So how are you doing? Ive been thinking a lot about what we talked about last night, Aidan asked as soon as they were gone.
You and me both, I said with a sigh. Im okay I guess.
Have you come to any conclusions?
No, and I dont think I will. Not right now anyway.
Im just going to let it slide for now. Theres no reason I have to make up my mind right this second.
Ignoring it isnt going to make it go away.
Thank you, Dr. Ruth.
No, really. I mean its your decision, but for your own sake I dont think you should put it off too long.
Or what? Ill self-destruct?
Aidan looked thoughtful. Maybe. It wouldnt be the first time its happened.
Before I could pursue that intriguing line of thought further, a knock came at the door. I was closer so I answered it. It was Joey.
Hey, Will, he said. I havent been able to get up with you all week. Whats up?
I, uhyou know, with moving and work and stuff
Can I come in?
Oh, yeah, sure. I stepped back to allow him in, shutting the door behind him.
Hey, Aidan! he said.
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Hiya, Joey. Hey, Ill be in my room on the computer if anyone needs me, he said as he left the room.
I came by earlier but no one answered the door,
Joey said somewhat accusingly.
We werent here, I said.
Yeah, I figured that. Will, are you avoiding me?
Why would you think that? I said evasively.
You dont answer my calls, you dont call me back, and now youre acting like you cant wait to get rid of me.
I told you Ive been busy.
Too busy to call your best friend?
Yeah well, my best friend was too busy to tell me about his new girlfriend, so its a little like the pot calling the kettle black.
Are you still mad about that? I said I was sorry. I made a mistake. Will, I really am sorry. I missed you this week.
You did?
Yes. Youre my best friend. Who else am I going to talk to about everything?
What about Shelley?
Weve been going out three weeks; Ive known you for eighteen years.
I sighed. I missed you too.
I thought you were busy.
I grinned and he playfully punched me in the arm.
We moved over to the furniture and sat down to continue talking. He ended up staying until about eleven that night. After a while, Aidan came out and joined us watching a movie on TV and talking. I went to bed that night thinking that maybe things didnt have to change so much after all. Little did I know.
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***
When I got home from work the next day, I found a note slipped under the door. It was from Nikki and simply said, Dinner at 6. I glanced at my watch; it was 5:30 p.m. then. I had stopped by my old house on the way home and picked up the rest of my paintings, so I kicked back on the couch to wait for Aidan. I didnt have to wait long. Lucy, Im home, he called as he burst through the door, sounding eerily like Ricky Ricardo.
Hey, dinner is at six.
C
ool, then I have time for a shower. Guess who I just met?
UhFred & Ethel?
He chuckled. No, but youre close. Guess again.
I give up.
You give up too easily. I met another one of our neighbors, name of Mr. Morris. Hes in the first door to the left of the elevator. Hes in the hall with a trash bag when I get off the elevator and he says, and I quote, I hope you two boys arent fucking faggots. This is a re-spectable building.
Oh my God! What did you say?
I said, Hello, nice to meet you too. My name is Aidan Scott. And he goes, Morris, Jim Morris. You can call me Mr. Morris. So I said, All right, Mr. Morris, it was nice meeting you. Have a nice day, and oh, by the way, we prefer fucking queers.
I felt my mouth drop open as Aidan collapsed into a chair, quite pleased with himself.
You didnt really say that did you, I asked when I finally found my voice.
Yes! You should have seen his face!
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I cant believe you actually said that.
Oh, loosen up, Will. It felt great. You should try it sometime.
I dont think I will.
Suit yourself. You dont know what youre missing.
Im gonna go take that shower now.
He was back out shortly, freshly showered and wearing a tropical print shirt and khakis.
That is one ugly shirt, I couldnt help but say.
Aidan grinned. Youre just jealous cause you dont got cool clothes like me. Is my client ready for his first business dinner?
As ready as Ill ever be.
Good, lets go.
We walked across the hall and tapped on Nikkis door. She answered it almost immediately wearing a brightly colored sarong with a matching scarf wrapped around her head like a turban. She looked like a white Eryka Badu.
Aidan, I love your shirt! she said. Come on in.
The first thing we saw as we stepped in was the life-sized statue of a mermaid and merman wrapped around each other with their heads thrown back in apparent ecstasy. It was sitting in the middle of what should have been the living room but Nikki apparently used as her studio. I guess we now knew who the sex-crazed artist was.
Nikki followed our gaze. Like it? I just finished it last night. I havent gotten it out of here yet. Youll have to excuse the mess.
Its very life-like, Aidan said carefully.
I use live models for the initial sittings. I do a small clay model and some sketches that I then use to create 79
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the statues.
Where do you find fresh mer-people this time of year? Aidan asked.
Nikki laughed. I have my sources. This piece is most likely already sold. I just have to get it to the gallery so they can see it.
How do you get it out of here? I asked.
The elevator.
Isnt it too heavy?
Its nowhere near as heavy as it looks. Its hollow for one thing. More importantly though, it isnt really bronze. Its recycled aluminum that I paint with a me-tallic paint and then age and oxidize it.
Cool.
While were talking shop are those your paintings?
Yeah. I held out the stack.
She took them and began to look through them carefully. She went through the stack of about fifteen paintings twice, then pulled out four, stood them on the couch, and stepped back. After a few more minutes of scrutinizing, she put one back in the pile and handed the rejected pieces back to me.
These, she said. She had chosen three of my most unusual pieces, a study of a door on an abandoned house, a window of another abandoned house and an architectural detail of an old country church.
Are you sure? I asked. I was somewhat dubious.
Yes, Im sure.
We went to the gallery yesterday, I told her. Are you sure these willfit in?
Oh God, you must have met Derrick.
Would that be the guy with the stick up his butt and wearing an Armani suit? Aidan asked.
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That would be him. Nikki sighed. Derrick is my brother and part owner of Avant Guard. We have somewhat differing ideas about how the place should be run.
And the very reason I like these pieces is because they arent like the other things we have. You dont want to blend in, Will, you want to stand out.
Considering how Id spent most of my life trying desperately to blend in and not stand out, I was still somewhat unconvinced. She must have been able to tell by my expression.
Have you ever seen one of your paintings framed and matted?
No.
Do you mind if I have these done?
No.
Good, then come by the galleryumSaturday and see what you think then.
Okay, I agreed.
Dinners ready, a voice called from the kitchen.
Aidan and I turned confused looks toward the strange voice and then to Nikki.
Thats my boyfriend, Sam. He cooks. I hope you like vegetable lasagna.
I guess were about to find out, Aidan quipped.
It turned out to be delicious and Sam was just as interesting as Nikki was. He had long curly brown hair, which he had pulled back into a ponytail, intense blue eyes, a goatee, and two silver hoop earrings in each ear.
He looked a lot younger than Nikki, not much older than Aidan and I in fact, but after my miscalculation with Nikkis age, I wasnt making any assumptions.
Turned out I was right though, he was only two years older than Aidan and he was a senior at Pemberton. He 81
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and Nikki had met when he answered her ad in the paper for a live model. I couldnt help but wonder if he was the model who was hung like a horse as Asher had so elegantly put it. I kept taking what I hoped were surreptitious glances at his crotch whenever he stood up, but it was impossible to tell with his baggy jeans.
We also learned that Nikki specialized in erotic art and was beginning to gain an international name for herself. Her father, Giovanni Avanti, had been a world-renowned art expert and critic. He had retired to the Eastern Shore, where his wife was originally from, and opened the gallery in his later years. It had been building to a very successful international business when he died of a heart attack. Nikki and her brother, Derrick, had inherited the business jointly. She struck me as a slightly spoiled young woman, but very likeable none-theless.
The rest of the evening passed by enjoyably and we left around nine having made two new friends.
The week went by uneventfully; there were no more run-ins with our neighbor, Mr. Morris, and we met our other neighbors without incident. Joey, Shelley, Laura, and Gabe came over one night and watched rented movies and that too went over well. I was careful to pay more attention than usual about my feelings and reactions to Joey, and it gave me food for thought. Aidan and I continued to grow closer and I was fast coming to think of him as one of my best friends. I wondered what effect if any it would have on my friendship with Joey, which despite the movie night, continued to grow ever more distant.
Saturday finally arrived. I dressed in a button-down shirt and nice jeans and drove downtown once again, 82
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this time without anyone else.
Today, loud Celtic music flowed out of the open door of Avant Guard and drifted down the brick plaza. When I walked in I spotted Nikki right away; she was hard to miss. Her hair was a purplish-red color and she was wearing a matching t-shirt dress that was cinched at the waist with a length of chain with a padlock on one hip. Clunky black grandma shoes and dangly silver earrings completed the outfit. She was busy hanging a painting as I approached and didnt notice me. I looked over her shoulder and gasped when I saw w
hat she was hanging. It was one of mine.
She spun around at my gasp, knocking the painting crooked on its hanger. Oh, Will! You startled me. I didnt hear you come in. What do you think? Looks different huh?
Did it ever! I hardly recognized it. I couldnt believe the difference a mat and frame could make. Wow!
was all I could manage.
You know you done good when you impress yourself, she said with a chuckle.
Its not that I said quickly but she cut me off.
Of course it is. Every artist feels the same way the first time they see their work displayed properly. Theres a bit of vanity in it, sure, but thats only natural. Call it pride of ownership or something like that.
It just looks so different. Did you do anything to it?
I would never tamper with someone elses work. Its all yours, kiddo. All I did was stick a mat and frame on it. Theres your other two, she said pointing them out.
Once again, I found myself in awe at the way they had turned out. Nikki seemed to be enjoying every second of my reaction.
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Nikki! A male voice bellowed, Why are there mermaids having sex in my office? Oh, excuse me, Mr.
Keegan wasnt it? It was Derrick.
Theyre not mermaids; its one mermaid and one merman. And theyre in your office because a potential buyer is on their way here and your office is bigger than mine. Its what you get for claiming the bigger office. I understand you two have met.
Derrick glared first at Nikki then at me as if this was somehow my fault. Yes, Mr. Keegan came in last week with his agent. Im assuming from your presence here today that we are in fact representing you in this region?
Oh for Gods sake, Derrick! Nikki said in an exasperated tone. Get that damn stick out of your ass. Will is my neighbor and a friend and yes, we are representing his work.
Derrick looked pissed for a moment, then spun on the heel of his expensive Italian leather shoe and stormed off in the direction he had come from.
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