Fool For You

Chapter 14: Gallery

I was watching him.

Cambria and I were sitting on her pink bed sheets watching the interview on her huge tv on her dresser.

He had sent me a text earlier about not meaning what he said but when I responded, my message didn't deliver so I guess he regrets sending it.

Cambria had tricked me into watching by calling me to her room for help only to pull me down on the bed to watch the interview.

He didn't really say anything worth hearing but I don't really know what I was waiting for him to say.

Then he started talking about his love for Eméa and I looked over at Cambria who looked like she fed off of drama. She was almost foaming at the mouth waiting for me to look sad about the whole situation or to talk about what happened at the hospital, I rolled my eyes and headed back to my room where I was working on a painting.

Tonight my dad invited me, Stacey, and Cam to a gallery opening. He's a real estate agent and was the person to sell the guy the gallery so he got invited to the opening night.

He has always been oblivious of my love of art but surprisingly Stacey was not. She had came in my room last night to say she talked to the owner of the gallery and they had an empty wall if I wanted to show a painting. I almost hugged that woman.

The painting I chose was this painting that depicted me and my fathers distance, that I had been working on for years. It had been sitting here in LA since my mom passed I never felt like finishing it until now. I was nervous for people to look at my work but I knew the room would be filled with artists who would give real feedback rather then regular people telling me my lines are not straight enough.

.......

"You know this isn't a funeral right?" I glared down at Cambria who was referring to my all black suit and black shoes.

"You know we not going to a strip club right?" I said pointing at her light pink tight dress and heels she could barely walk in.

She put up her middle finger and went ahead of us to the entrance while I helped the valet man take my art carefully out of the trunk. He took it inside to and I let out a huff of breath in nervousness.

"The painting is beautiful, Jelani."Stacey rubbed a kind hand over my back. 

I smiled a little and followed to where Cam had just entered the building.

When we entered I instantly felt out of place. There was soft music playing and the air was crisp, you know that rich people air conditioning. I could hear polite laughter and the clinking of glasses. Everyone looked so classy.

The server by the door started handing us champagne glasses and Cam's grown ass grabbed one and threw it back before the man could ask for some ID. I laughed and just to instigate I handed her my glass which she threw back again earning a glare from Stacey and my dad.

Stacey and pops moved away to start mingling and Cambria was floating around the open bar trying to finesse another drink.

I walked around looking at all the art excitedly until I felt a presence over my shoulder. I turned around and almost touched noses with the man behind me.

He was about my height, dark skin, white ass teeth, waves, full beard and a fancy suit. I raised my brow at him.

"Hello, my name is Harlem" He said all proper like with either a British accent or a speech impediment. I couldn't tell. I raised my brow at him.

He stuck out his hand and I shook it.

"Jelani. What's the accent?" I couldn't help my curiosity.