Chapter 34: The Exhibit
Moana

I couldn’t bring myself to avoid Ethan’s exhibit after he had asked me to go so many times. So, after putting Ella to bed, I went to Selina with my hand on my stomach and a frown on my face.

“I’m afraid I might have contracted food poisoning,” I said, feigning illness. “Can you keep an eye on things if Ella wakes up? I’m going to go to urgent care.”

Selina frowned, looking at her watch. “Do you need a driver?” she asked.

I vehemently shook my head. “No. It’s okay. I’ll call a cab.”

“Well… Alright,” she said, pursing her lips. “Be careful.”

After that, I put on a simple dress that could pass for urgent care attire if anyone were to question me, and flagged down a cab outside of the penthouse.

Just as I suspected, the art gallery was packed to the brim when I arrived. As I got out of the cab, I felt a lump rise in my throat; all of the other patrons seemed to be dressed lavishly, which made me feel incredibly out of place.

There was a line with a bouncer to get in. I stood in line, patiently waiting my turn.

“Name?” the bouncer said, eyeing me up and down suspiciously as I walked up to him.

“Moana Fowler,” I replied.

list for a painstakingly long moment. “You’re not on the list,” he said. His voice was gruff and indifferent, and before I could say anything else, he waved me away

invitation from Ethan,” I replied, clutching my purse

scoffed. “I highly doubt the artist personally invited a human. Quit wasting my time

from behind the bouncer, “I did

of people waiting. The bouncer’s eyes widened, and without another word, he stepped out

about that,” Ethan said, guiding me in through the foyer with his hand on my back. “He’s just doing his job. These art

replied meekly as I looked around at all of the wealthy-looking people

to take a look around. And have

nodded, watching as Ethan disappeared into the

champagne for courage, I made my way into the gallery so I could get

even more amazing now beneath the gallery lighting. A jazz quartet played lively music from a small stage at the back of the gallery, creating an atmosphere that almost made the artwork come alive. Groups of patrons milled about, many of them using sophisticated ‘art speak’ to describe the works when, in actuality, they

around, not speaking to anyone — not that anyone would have spoken to me, either — with my glass of champagne in my hand as I closely studied each and every piece of

it; but I did. I felt entranced by the depiction of a young boy, staring out at the viewer from a black void. His face was sad, but there was also a hint of

me out of my trance. I jumped a bit at the sound of his voice, not realizing that I had

You startled me,” I said, feeling my face flush. “Yes. I think this one might be my

my favorite, too,” Ethan replied. “I haven’t

bit of a silence before Ethan spoke. “Did you remember to bring some

I reached into my purse and pulled out a single, folded piece of paper and held

the paper from me and opened it. I watched with anticipation, feeling my heart rate quicken as he carefully studied my drawing. It was the same drawing that I had been working on in my bedroom the night that Edrick told me about the WereCorp wages: a drawing of the cityscape from the view of my balcony at

few moments, “this is stunning. You didn’t

my face go red at the

back to me. “You’ve got some real talent. You should try to tap into it a bit more; I could see you doing really well with

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