The Artist

Chapter 1

The hum of dull chatter from men and women in fancy clothes sipping wine filled the open space of the art gallery. Chris snagged an hors d'ouevres and popped the whole thing in his mouth as he slowly wandered through the full room. This wasn't really his scene, he'd rather be at a bar, dancing at a club or honestly just laying on the couch at his mom's house or playing with Dodger at home. But this was important to his buddy Josh since his wife's artwork was being displayed tonight so he wanted to support that.

It was that awkward time though when he already had talked to his friends but he didn't know anybody else and it was too early to leave. Chris looked at the door for a long moment, wondering if it really would be rude to leave. He was a fairly busy man so maybe his friend wouldn't think much of it. Ultimately, Chris decided to stay a few more minutes and went up to look at the art on a wall that was close to him.

He stood there, looking at the art pieces and let his blue eyes study them.It wasn't abstract... but it also wasn't high realism. Was that a ghost in the middle? Or a person? He sipped his drink as he tried to figure it out as a woman came up and stood near him to look at the same painting.

"You know," Chris looked at the woman before back at the painting, "I'd like to think I'm a decently smart human but man, sometimes I feel like I just don't get art. Like what is this supposed to be?"

She looked as if she didn't belong there. The woman was fairly short and petite and a small upper body that curved into her wider hips. Chris couldn't help but notice her amazing round ass that was outlined in her high waisted black jeans and he saw a plain pair of black loafers on her feet. She had on a flowy cream sweater with a large neck and it was hanging off one of her shoulders, showing a large black floral tattoo that covered her shoulder. The sweater was tucked into her pants with a few layered gold necklaces and rings collected on her fingers. Her dark hair that was almost black hair was pulled back into a pony tail that fell in a beautiful curl.

Her dark defined eyebrows framed her sparkling green eyes and a dimple on both of her cheeks emphasized her almost comically expressive mouth. Chris was reminded of when he was a teenager and really fell in love with theater and movies and how his mom showed him all of her favorite old movies. His mind instantly went to those actresses and this girl gave him serious Audrey Hepburn vibes. She was classy, stylish and beautiful, but not in an in your face sort of way. It was in such an effortless way that it almost felt like she maybe just pretty and a bit stylish by accident.

There was one thing that was for sure though. She didn't look like she belonged here. As Chris' eyes scanned the art gallery, he was surrounded by suits and women in fancy dresses with expensive jewelry and sky high heels. Chris felt a kindred spirit in her in just the fact they were the two who stuck out like sore thumbs. Maybe she was here for the same reason he was just to support a friend. Or maybe she was just here for the free food. The thought made him laugh but he didn't get to dwell on the thought.

"I feel that," She said and then looked down at her fancy drink. "I'll tell you one thing though, I'd be having a much better time if there was some beer here."

Chris tipped his head back and laughed, "Ain't that the truth! I probably would understand these paintings more if I had a few beers in me. I'm pretty sure some artists purposely paint things that don't make sense just to make the rest of us feel like dumb schmucks."

He turned to look at her and saw her face was full of amusement as she nodded her head in agreement and told him, "Oh no doubt. My art is over there on that wall, and if people come away looking desperately confused I know I've done my job."

In that moment Chris felt like he wanted to die. If the ground could open up and swallow him whole, he'd be thankful. Instead, he stood there blushing like an idiot and basked in his shame, "Wow... you really let me stand there saying all that not knowing you were one of the artists here?"

"Oh absolutely," She simply replied, taking a sip of her drink as she looked at him plainly. "It was so worth it to see your reaction by the way."

A wide smirky smile was spread across Chris' lips as he thought to himself, 'Damn, this girl was dangerous'

"I'm Mia," The dark haired woman flashed him a smile so genuine he felt like melting.

"It's nice to meet you Mia I'm Chris," He stuck his hand out for her and she slipped her much smaller one into his before shaking.

"So, what brings you out here tonight?" She asked, sipping her wine.

Chris wrinkled his eyebrows up comically before quipping, "What? You don't believe I just love art?"

"Judging by your opening comments, i'm going to go with no," Was the sassy response he got along with her dimpled smile.

"For the record I do really enjoy art. I think art can be a very moving and emotional experience but some of it... I'm just too thick headed to understand," Chris laughed, making Mia giggle along with him before he honestly explained. "The wife of a good buddy of mine has some art over there on that wall so I came out to be supportive."

Mia just nodded before they each absentmindedly looked back at the painting in front of them. She saw Chris lean in to let his eyes scan the sign underneath it and he read the name of the piece aloud, "Harvesting the wind. What the hell does that even mean? This looks more like a farmer after smoking a few joints."

The slender woman tipped her head back and her entire body slumped, giving into her merriment as her eyes scrunched up and she shook with loud laughter. He noticed the people around her turn to look, surprised by her loud outburst but he loved it. Chris couldn't help but laugh at her hysterical laughter before she regained composure and wiped at her eyes while telling him, "Nah, I would have named it George Washington after a reaction to bad shellfish."

Now it was Chris' turn to burst out with laughter, disrupting the low chatter in the room. Chris was so drawn to and enamored by Mia and he lost track of time as they made their way through the gallery together, cracking up as they renamed each piece of art. The crowd of people had thinned by the time they made it around the room and Chris pointed to a painting and said, "Okay this is either a scarecrow picking up chicks in a bar or a skeleton waiting to get buried."

"You got the skeleton part right but he's obviously waiting in line at the DMV, c'mon, that's obvious," Mia looked at him with a comical sarcastic expression, making him laugh for about the millionth time that night.

"Well that would be why he looks dead," Was the response he gave as they moved to the last wall. When the pair came to stand in front of the art hanging on this wall, Chris honestly told her, "Your art is really beautiful, and I'm seriously not just saying that."

"Well thank you," A wide authentic smile spread across Mia's face, making her dimples appear. "I have a feeling you'll like the names of my pieces though."

The tall hunky man took a step closer and burst into laughter when he saw the title, 'Stranger Things: Botanical Edition'. Boy, this girl sure was something else. He turned to look at her and noticed her empty glass and figured this was a good opportunity. Most of the crowd in the gallery had thinned out so he figured it would be a perfect chance to ask her if she wanted to go get a drink but before he got the chance, a well dressed man walked up behind Mia and put a hand on her back and then kissed her cheek.

"Oh, Daniel this is Chris, I met him tonight," Mia motioned to him before her warm eyes came up to meet Chris' ocean blue ones as she told him, "And Chris this is Daniel, my boyfriend."

There was only one word that went through Chris' mind... Damn.