Graham Whitney stood the front of the classroom with the materials for his extravagant centerpiece sprawled out on the large marble table. He was wearing David Yurman rings on both hands, Christian Louboutin boots, and a vest made of coyote fur. His arms were covered in Japanese tattoos. 

“Listen up class, are we ready to get started?”

          Delaney looked around at the students that she probably wouldn’t be making friends with. She had gotten into this art program last spring for the exposure to Graham who had a prolific career in art & design. The price of the classes was a little astronomical, but she was looking forward to expanding her art skills. 

        She had grabbed her materials and went with candles, mirrored plates, crystals, twine rope, lace, roses, lilies, and hydrangeas. They were laid out in front of her on the studio table. If she could have the time to created painted jars and bottles that would be optimal, she was a painter by nature. 

         “The first thing we are going to focus on class, is our inspiration. 

Visualize the emotion you want your centerpiece to exude.

Imagine the tone of the room you want it to set, which room are you going to put the centerpiece in? 

Think for a moment the story you want it to tell” 

         Graham said as he flipped through a power point presentation of the centerpieces he had designed. 

          Delaney gazed at the images of Graham’s work and thought of Spencer. She actually counted the things she ~ had ~ to do, was ~ forced ~ to do, before she could see him again. Like this art program for example. Just another conquest she would have accomplished by the time they spoke next. 

           A beautiful distraction, with the materials and the stunning and talented Graham Whitney on display for hours. She needed a distraction, she wasn’t religious but this was her meditation or prayer. She didn’t look at her phone because she knew he would never call and she loved that about him. 

         Spencer whose wardrobe consisted of Ralph Lauren was neither a prep or an athlete, he was merely, a guy. He had just left the counseling building we he made up his mind to make the daring choice to go against the norm and not complete a doctorate program. He knew he could learn everything he needed to on his own. 

       He pulled a fruit leather out of his black North Face backpack that was sitting on the passenger seat and turned MCR down and commanded Eliza (his AI) to ask his discussion questions about his day so he could unpack his feelings and come up with a strategy. 

     Should he go and surprise Delaney at the Art Museum with his new and exciting news? He knew she would be there and he loved catching her off guard. They hadn’t spoken in weeks and last they talked she thought he was going to a marine biology program in Florida. 

            He swerved for the Art Museum and finished his discussion with Eliza as soon as he pulled up to the parking lot. It had been a 30 minute drive from this college campus counseling office. He got out of his Kia and slammed the door, his North Face backpack hanging off one shoulder. 

          When he entered the main lobby he asked the gallery host where the class for Graham Whitney was. He only knew it because Delaney had ranted and raved weeks earlier as he rolled his eyes. He made his way down the hall to take the elevator to where the workshops were. 

         The door to the elevator opened and he laid eyes on Sarah Ballard, his former chemistry lab partner from high school that he hadn’t seen in years. 

“Sarah Ballard, what are you doing here?”

‘Spencer, what are YOU doing here!? I never thought I would see you again after graduation! I thought you were in New York!?” 

           Sarah was wearing a peplum dress and had a dark green velvet cross body bag with an owl over the flap and the clutch. Her blonde hair was sleek and straight passing below her breasts and her eyes were big and blue with a touch too much of black mascara. Her lipstick was apricot and Spencer had already forgotten why he was at the museum.

“I didn’t take the program in New York, I would rather be in Colorado, closer to family”. 

‘You didn’t answer my question, what are you doing here’

“I am headed to the Givenchy exhibit, my little sister is a fashion major and I promised her I would go see it so here I am.”

‘Oh, that’s odd, I am studying fashion too. I came today just in time, the exhibit closes this weekend.’

“Well that’s good then, let’s go together.”

Spencer hit the “4” button on the elevator panel instead of the “2” where Delaney was, and headed to the exhibit with Sarah Ballard.