We did a series of back exercises that left my muscles shaking, and then proceeded into bicep curls in various ways. We went to muscle failure, where my arms felt like jelly, and I wondered if I would be able to pick up a coffee mug the next day.
By the time I was done training, I felt jacked and ready to get into a fight. It was only a matter of time.
“You're all done for the day, Jet. Go relax, have some fun. But not too much fun.”
I laughed as I headed to the locker room to grab my bag. I put away my gloves and gear, and shut the locker door. I heaved my bag over my shoulder and got the hell out of the training center before Robbie found something else for me to do.
Chapter Five
Natalie
It was a beautiful day for the art walk, and I was in my own private art tent, setting up. I had arrived a little late, due to a terrible night’s sleep. I had to get my showcase set up, and the show was opening up in less than an hour. I began by hanging my drawings, one by one. They were all in a particular theme, and it was important to set them up in such a way to allow the viewer to understand exactly what I had in mind when I drew them. From there, I put up my pastels, and finished with watercolor. I only showcased my best work, as I considered myself a serious artist.
One of my classmates, Brenda, showed up with a cup of coffee, and I almost kissed her for it.
Having my work showcased for the entire city to see was an exciting opportunity for me. Not only did I get a chance to make a local name for myself, but I got to make a quick buck. Students need more opportunities to make quick cash, and although I doubted that I would sell out that day, at least I would have some pocket change.
I proudly stood aside as people came in and out of my tent, looking at the paintings and drawings up for show. I was particularly good at drawing with ink, the kind of ink right out of a bottle. I also specialized in watercolors and pastel drawings. It was an incredible feeling to create something out of nothing. To put ink to paper without a thought in mind, and have an inkling of an idea take shape on paper, and turn it into something incredibly inspiring that would move a person so much that she needed to buy it and hang it in her own home.
I said hi to a woman who arrived with a little girl in tow. The little girl had been gazing dreamily at a painting of mine with a moon lighting up a streetscape. She couldn't keep her eyes off of it. My heart filled at the thought that someone so young found something compelling in one of my paintings.
“Your girl is mesmerized there. How old is she?”
The mother looked up at me from a drawing and said, “She's 4, and yes, she certainly knows what she likes.”
I bent down towards the little girl, and asked her what she liked about the painting.
“It makes me feel magical.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at her before returning to my chair, where I had been sitting with a classmate of mine named Brenda, the one who had brought me a cup of coffee. A girl after my own heart, to be sure. Her media of choice had been photography and her work was breathtaking. She had stopped at my tent to take a break before the show started.
The mother approached me with the drawing she had been looking at, as well as the painting her daughter had grown so attached to.
“I would like to buy these.”
I smiled, and wrapped them up for her with paper before handing them back.
“That will be $50, please.” The woman paid, and then took her daughter’s hand and left.
I sat back down once again.
“You really need to start charging more for your work, Natalie, you are practically giving the stuff away.”
“One day maybe. I'm not too worried about it right now. When the time is right, I will.”
“You could have easily made $300 bucks right there, though.”
“I know, but it seems like an awful lot of money...”
“You're an artist Nat, and you have to understand that your work is worth that much.”
“Like I said, one day.”
“All right, I hope so. So what have you decided to do for your changing object project?”
“Ugh, I have no idea. I keep trying to come up with something creative but it's just not happening. I should be able to come up with something, but every time I think about it, I get ... nothing.”
I sipped on my coffee, enjoying the heat that the creamy liquid offered my throat. The day just couldn't get any better for me. I certainly didn't think it could get any worse, but that was until Jet showed up.