PLAYED

I could feel my phone shaking against my head. All this time… I had been dreaming of gaining the attention of Gloria Van Lark… and the bitch had had a hand in ruining my childhood from the start.

My mother had abandoned me, yes. I had known that a long time ago. She chose her career...

Gloria Van Lark had done what she does best… She crushed someone under foot.

She crushed me…

Abandon your life.

Leave all of this behind.

I’ll make you world-famous.

I didn’t even care what Mom was prattling on about anymore. I took a few deep breaths and returned to the conversation.

“…You’d be making a fool of yourself if you turned down this opportunity, not that you were ever particularly bright.”

“I appreciate the help, Mom,” I told her.

She went quiet.

“You’re angry. Last time you got angry you didn’t talk to me for six years…”

“Maybe I can set a new record,” I replied, hanging up the line.

The phone clattered to the couch as I held my head in my hands and sobbed. The last couple of days had taken their toll on me, but I knew that I was making the right choice.

Fuck Gloria Van Lark, and fuck her museum. I’d come this far in life without her and I wasn’t about to let her control my life.

With this sentiment in mind, I needed some paintbrush therapy. I’d already prepared the canvas with a thin veneer of clear. I leapt off of the couch and perched myself in front of my easel, whipping up a dozen colors and blends for my pallet.

The white frame sat before me, eagerly waiting for my touch. It called to me, showing me exactly what I needed to do.

I dabbed my brush against a soothing blue, moving a glob of it to a clean spot on my pallet. Mixing in a touch of white to deepen the variance, I pressed the tip to the canvas... and I performed my greatest composition yet.

A few hours later, I was putting the finishing touches on the canvas when the door clicked open. I allowed myself to slip back out of my zone as the telltale clatter of Reiko’s boots navigated towards my studio, pausing at a few rooms.

There was someone else with her – Will, in all likelihood. Even he couldn’t bother me now.

“Riley, I just want to apologize for the way I’ve been acting lately,” I heard him call for me. “I know that it’s not fair to you, and I swear that I’m okay with just being–”

The movements stopped at my doorway. I turned around, stepping away from my latest painting as I stretched before them.

“Holy shit,” Reiko muttered.

“That is… wow,” Connor murmured, pushing his glasses further up his nose. “I think this might be your best one yet.”

“You think so?” I asked nonchalantly, pulling up a stool and taking a seat. I followed their collective gaze to the paint, still drying against the canvas. Glancing down at my own clothes, I could see abrupt dashes of color all over, a sea of smudges and splotches.

I must have been painting like a wild animal.

“I take it back,” Connor continued. “I understand now. I thought the ones in the Closet of Doom were good, but this… this is on a completely different level.”

“This is what I see… This is what I want to create...”

Reiko swallowed. “That Van Lark chick is going to love you.”

“Oh, no she’s not,” I smiled knowingly. “Not when I’m through with her.”

Reiko exchanged a quick, confused glance with Will, and then turned her attention back to me. “Wait, did we miss something? Because that lady’s been all you could talk about for months.”

I stood up, grasping both of them by the shoulder. I was careful to not smear any excess paint on either of them. “Order some delivery and crack open some beers, because I have so much to tell you guys…”

And I did.

I told them absolutely everything.

Every last detail about my relationship with Lex, the way we’d broken apart, meeting Gloria Van Lark, the conversations with Lex and my mother over the phone…

We conversed long into the night, and they both emphatically told me that they would support whatever decision I made.

My friends had my back.

And when I arrived at the steps of the Pulliam Museum, I had my definitive decision already in mind.

Even with no Lex Lambert in sight.

“Welcome back, Riley,” Gloria chuckled as I stepped into earshot. “I see that you brought some friends. I’m afraid that they won’t be able to join us… and what’s this?”

She was referring to the covered painting under my arm. I’d protected it with my life all the way here, and I unsheathed it before her, balancing the bottom edge against the top of my sandal as I held the huge piece up.

“My… my gods,” Gloria Van Lark murmured. Even Paulette’s cold smirk dropped, and she adjusted her spectacles to gaze at the artwork. “When did this happen?”

“I painted this yesterday afternoon, after our discussion,” I answered her.

Gloria composed herself, but was unable to wrench her eyes from the artwork. “This is magnificent, Riley. This is exactly the standard of art that I expect for my galleries. I can tell you right this moment that Spinnoc would benefit tremendously from including this piece… it would appear that my faith in you wasn’t misplaced after all. Like mother like daughter… If you can emote creations on this level, then you have all the makings of an extraordinary painter.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence,” I told her.

She finally tore her eyes free and smiled at me. “Well, Riley… traveling light, I take it? No matter. We have everything that you could possibly need at the Foundation. Why don’t you go ahead and say your goodbyes to your associates here? We have a long flight ahead of us, and I’ll need to secure proper handling for this piece.”

“Actually, there’s something I need to say first,” I responded in the kindest voice I could muster.

“You’d better make it quick,” Gloria remarked, checking her watch. “We’re pressed for time. What is it, Riley?”

I thought back to every ounce of happiness that had ever happened to me – tender times with my foster parents, my friends, my time with Lex Lambert – and I summoned up the biggest, sincerest smile that had ever crossed my face, just as they peered over my shoulder.

“Fuck you.”

Chapter 18

Lex

“Actually, there’s something I need to say first,” Riley told Gloria Van Lark as I walked up.

At least, I assumed that was actually her… I’d never seen the woman myself, but she did look like a rather self-assured, self-absorbed old woman.

Gloria checked her watch quickly, looking rather irritated. “You’d better make it quick. We’re pressed for time. What is it, Riley?”

Riley paused, lost in thought for a moment. I had considered hanging back for a few minutes and watching how this played out, but the aeroplane delays had already made me late enough as it was…

I walked up to her side, and her friends – the skittish thin one, and her Japanese friend, Reiko – glanced over at me with hushed tones. I smiled with a finger to my lips, preparing to surprise her.

Sure, this was an interesting moment to choose, but I’d gotten there as quickly as I could, and I intended on supporting her when she–

“Fuck you.”

My hand clasped onto her shoulder right then, and I froze out of complete confusion. What the hell did she just say?

Riley glanced up at me in equal surprise, and a large smile spread across her lips. “Lex,” she murmured. “You came after all. I was so afraid you wouldn’t make it.”

Gloria Van Lark looked impassive at best, but the stoic woman at her side bristled in anger.

“Excuse me… what the hell did you just say to Madame Van Lark?” The woman indignantly requested, her eyes becoming two blackened pits of coal beneath her spectacles. “How dare you speak to h