Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The art gallery was an interesting place. The walls were white and covered with various paintings. The floor was a pale wood color and very shiny. There were also sculptures, mini statues, and obscure abstract designs. “They’re all on LSD.” Walter commented as he and his friends looked at the works. Duncan rolled his eyes, “Cecilia doesn't do drugs.” She was Duncan's artist friend and some of her work was on display at the gallery.
“Drugs or no drugs they’re all on something.” Walter was being smug.
“Maybe it's the paint.” Grace joked, though she did enjoy the artwork a bit.
“I’m going to find Cecilia, care to join me?” Duncan asked his two friends.
“Sure.” Grace said, following.
“I'm not going. She'll want me to try something herbal.” Walter declined walking off to another part of the gallery. Duncan and Grace laughed and walked away. Walter went around the place while trying to get pass the circles of people. He came to one room with a painting that took up one entire wall. There was a woman standing there looking at it. Walter crept next to her.
He observed the painting for a bit, “Hi, I'm Walter Bell.” he introduced himself.
“This piece.” she said dramatically. “Identifies the entire human struggle for peace.”
Walter nodded and looked at the painting again. It was a tiny red spot on a wall length canvas. Ridiculous, he thought, this woman is definitely on something. “It is the Mona Lisa of our generation!” she cried.
Seriously, Walter shouted in his head. “I wonder what she sees in the actual Mona Lisa?” he thought amused by the woman's insanity. “Well good luck with that.” he said slightly running away from her. He got out of there as fast as he could. He spotted someone else alone staring at a piece.
Surely, there can't be two wackos in the general vicinity. She was younger than the other one and a little bit younger than Walter. The painting was all black and a medium size.
“What do you think of this piece?” Walter asked her.
“They have their eyes closed.” the girl said with no expression.
“Yeah, because it's all black.”
“No.” she said emotionless. She stared straight at Walter for a few minutes. Lifeless looking and she said nothing else.
“Have a good night.” he said slightly frightened as he walked away. He walked around a bit more. Walter was getting more bored by the second. If he wanted to go see real art he would go to the Louvre or somewhere similar and closer. Then suddenly, his whole night changed.
From the corner of his eye he saw someone very familiar. He turned slowly to look at this person. It was a slightly tall woman with dark brown hair. She was dressed nicely and was holding hands with a guy a little shorter than her but not by much. He had on a sophisticated blue suit and had short brown hair. Walter gasped and hid behind a statue of a half bitten black apple. He laughed at the stupidity. The girl began to turn around and Walter gasped again. She had piercing green eyes.
“Yep.” he confirmed. It was Lilly, of all the places she was here. And even worse than her just being here; she was headed in Walter's direction. He panicked and thought quickly about what to do. He crouched and ran and without thinking he slid baseball style on the floor. He wasn't that noticed and got up quickly. He found Duncan and Grace and tried to get himself to speak.
“I saw her! She's here!” he said out of breath.
“Wait, what's wrong...who's here?” Grace asked.
“Lilly.” he said like it should be obvious.
“Oh really, where?” Grace looked around for her.
“No! Don't look for her. She can't see me.” Walter tried to stop her. “You’re scared of her?” Duncan cut in.
“No, I just don't want to talk to her.” Walter said. He was still out of breath but he was trying to regain composure. “Lilly.” Grace called and waved. “Hey over here!”
Walter panicked and looked around the room, “No, Grace! Why did you- Ah! I got to hide behind something!” he shouted. He quickly ran and crouched down behind the nearest sculpture.
Luckily, it was big and tall and had an awkward look so it provided good cover. “Hey Lilly it's been so long.” Grace hugged her and shook hands with her boyfriend. Duncan did the same thing and they just stood there for a while. They all knew Walter was hiding but they wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. “You can come out now, Walter.” Lilly called.
Her voice was elegant and just as beautiful as her face was. “I spotted you when you slid across the floor.” she added trying to hide her laugh. Walter got up but ended up stumbling, as he did the sculpture wobbled around then went crashing down on the floor. Everyone in the area froze and they all stared at Walter. Soon the owner came and inspected the damage. He could tell by the look on Walter's face that he was the one who broke the sculpture.
“You break it you bought it. It's worth five hundred dollars.” he told him. Walter then went from embarrassed to angry. “You mean to tell me I have to pay for this piece of junk?”
Everyone in the room gasped in unison when Walter took a cheap shot at the art. “Do you even know what art is?” Walter asked clearly fed up with the abstract community. “Wait a minute...” Lilly's boyfriend interrupted. “You said five hundred?” he asked getting out his wallet. He handed the man the cash (to everyone’s astonishment) to pay for the damage.
“Mark Lloyd, Attorney at Law.” he said extending his hand to Walter.
“Walter Bell, civilian.” Walter replied shaking his hand, reluctantly, “Thanks for that.”
Lilly smiled and began to brag, “Mark just finished Law School and started his practice a few months ago.” She put her arm around him proudly.
“I should sue this place for lack of creativity.” Walter said looking at the owner.
“Critics.” the owner replied walking away briskly.
“So what are you up to, Lilly?” Grace asked trying to forget about what just happened.
“Working at the hospital. Mark and I just thought we would come here tonight.”
“It is really cool stuff.” Duncan said, “But others disagree.” he looked at Walter. He laughed and ignored him, “Well I really should get going.” Walter tried to leave.
“What have you been doing Walter, besides breaking stuff?” Lilly asked him. “Just writing.” Walter replied shyly not making eye contact with her. “I know I've read some. You did a really good job.” she was sincere.
“Thanks.” he said sadly still looking down on the floor. Lilly didn't understand why he was acting so strange. She figured he would be okay by now. Grace butted in, “Hey I work at the 10th street coffee shop at nights. You guys should stop by.” Lilly and Mark nodded at each other, “Sure we'd love to.” Lilly said. “Well we’re going to have to leave. See you all soon.” Lilly emphasized the all part and Walter looked up with a strange look on his face. Lilly gave Grace a hug and her and Mark walked off.
“Hi, I'm Mark Lloyd let me pay that for you.” Walter said, impersonating him.
“Hey, that was very nice of him.” Grace defended him.
“It’s your fault anyway.” Walter blamed Grace. “You invited her over and I had to hide.”
“I hadn't seen her in person since she left for Africa and I wanted to talk to her.”
“Yeah well now you brought her back into all our lives.”
“Maybe it will be a good thing.” Duncan suggested. “If you become friends it might stop all the bitterness.”
“I forgave her, so I'm in no way bitter.” Walter told him ignoring the accusation.
“Do you want to meet Cecilia?” Duncan asked him again.
“No way after I broke something. She'll think I'm a klutz.”
Duncan and Grace just looked at each other, “Ok, I know what you’re thinking. No stories please.” Walter said catching on to their thoughts. “Yes I am a klutz.” he admitted.
“Fountain, mud...” Grace said.
“Cow pasture.” Duncan added.
“The fountain wasn't my fault. I was pushed.” Walter reminded them. “And please don't bring up the farm again.” Duncan and Grace just laughed at their friends most embarrassing moments.
“Well I'm never going to one of these again.” Walter complained.
“I had a good time. You bring us a lot of amusement, Walter.” Grace poked fun at him. “But seriously Cecilia was nice, you would like her.”
“I told her about you. She seemed interested.” Duncan said trying to change Walter's mind. But he just shook his head, “How many times do I have to say this? I'm not going to date an abstract artist. She would paint me but put my nose where my belly button is.”
“Who said anything about dating?” Duncan questioned, “You would just meet and hang out. And us too.” he pointed to him and Grace. “Seriously, no thanks.” Walter said continuing to reject the idea. They walked to Grace's stop and she said good night to them. Duncan and Walter walked in silence to their apartment. “Lilly looked pretty.” Duncan commented. “She always has.” Walter replied plainly, putting his coat on the hook by the door. “But I don't like her boyfriend. He's a suit.”
Duncan sat down on the couch and turned on the TV, “You wouldn't like any guy Lilly dates. Except you.” Walter smirked and admitted, “True.” He came into the living area and sat in the armchair. “Rent's coming up.” Duncan said. “You got your share?” Walter got up and went into his room; he got the money and handed it to Duncan. Like an accountant Duncan counted the money very fast. He frowned, “You’re short.” he said it disapproving but he expected it. Walter grabbed the cash and counted it himself. “Sorry.” he said upset at himself.
“That's twice now, Walter.” Duncan reminded him.
“I know but don't worry. I have some stories I'll send and then I'll be able to pay you back.”
Duncan got up and headed towards his room, “Alright man. It just better not happen again.”
Walter sighed and sat at his desk; he searched through his laptop and picked his best short story he could use. He decided he'd spend tomorrow calling the normal magazine he sent stories too. He estimated he'd get enough money to pay Duncan back and still have some left over. He didn't like being short on cash but he couldn't help it. He thought again about getting a job. The only problem was, Walter was really only good at writing. But maybe he could get a job at the newspaper or someplace where writing was involved. All he knew was that he needed to make money.
Suddenly, out of nowhere an idea sparked in his head. “An aspiring poor... poet.” he said aloud. “A Russian during the October Revolution. He uses his words to discredit Communism. And leads a huge uprising. Not really historical but captivating.” He quickly began typing, he typed for two hours about this poet named Markov. He wrote of the city and the people he loved and his hatred for the changing times that were happening. He stopped after ten pages because he was so tired. He saved it and decided to work on it again later. He got up, yawned, switched the TV off and went to bed.