"The one in the cowboy hat?" another man inquired.
"No, he must have been the one with long gray hair," the woman said.
"I think you should meet your public," I said.
"I'm not sure that now is the time," he said anxiously, his face white as a ghost.
Alexander had done enough tonight. Though he was beaming from his sudden acceptance, he was too humble to accept fame.
We ducked through the kitchen and out a side exit to the opposite end of the club where the members were exiting. We were afraid that if anyone found out the artist was Alexander, they'd demand their money back. We were leaving through the patio exit when we were blocked by a thin wooden stick.
We froze.
Mr. Sterling stepped in front of us.
Alexander and I didn't know what to do.
"You have your grandmother's gift," he said in his thick Romanian accent.
"It's just a hobby," Alexander said.
"I think you've just proved to me-and to yourself-that it's more than that. I've found that new artist I was looking for. I just didn't realize he'd been here the whole time."
30
Mrs. Naper handed back our graded English career essays. Matt and Trevor and all the other jocks were off preparing for a pep rally, so I wasn't going to have to face Trevor. Unfortunately, that was the only thing that madeschool exciting.
"I'm hoping you can give the papers to your partners," Mrs. Naper said to us.
"I sure will," Becky said, excited. "We got an A."
"No surprise," I said.
"What did you get?" Becky asked.
I opened Trevor'sDullsvilleHigh School folder and saw the scarlet A next to his name. "Well, Trevor got an A of course." I designed my folder like it was the cover of a gothic magazine, complete with pasted headlines, gothic fashions, and teasers. I opened it and hoped for a good letter in the alphabet. "So didI !"
After school, I biked over to Oakley Woods.
Mrs. Mitchell answered the door. "Hello, Raven."
"Hi, Mrs. Mitchell.Is-"
"It was quite a surprise to learn that the European artist was actually Alexander."
I waited. Maybe we had embarrassed her at the auction. It was as if at any moment the Wicked Witch of the West would point her broom at me.
"I must say your boyfriend is truly talented. What a wonderful surprise to know that we had such a fine artist among us. It's a shame he'll be moving. We'd love to have his work in the auction next year."
"Uh thanks, Mrs. Mitchell," I said, relieved. "Is Trevor home? We got our grades back from our English assignment."
"Come on in. Trevor's upstairs."
I quickly raced up the main staircase and found Trevor's bedroom door ajar.
I tapped it. "Hello.Soccer Boy?"
No answer.
I could have waited in the hallway, but that wouldn't have been any fun at all.
Trevor's room was still a shrine to himself. I nosed around his awards and trophies and framed soccer jerseys.
I noticed something large was covered in the corner. Maybe it was a mirror.
I snuck over to it and pulled back the cloth so I could take a peek.
Staring back at me was me -the final painting of Alexander's sold at the auction. I was shocked.
I heard the door begin to creak open and quickly recovered the painting.
"What are you doing here?" Trevor asked.
"Uh I wanted to tell you we got an A."
"So?"'
"I just thought you'd like to know."
"What else would we have gotten? You're not used to getting good grades."
I had done my duty and there was nothing left to say. I started for the door when he blocked my escape.
I was alone with Trevor in his room-a dangerous place to be.
"Anything else you'd like to do?" he asked.
I wanted to say, Get that picture back, but I sensed Trevor wanted a stolen kiss-a treasure that was far more valuable than an A..
I'd never let myself succumb to that. Even if I wasn't dating Alexander, nothing would ever be sacred or special with Trevor.
I didn't mention seeing the painting. I was too touched and slightly bothered that he'd spent his money on a picture of me. It was ironic that Trevor would be the one to help Alexander buy back the Mansion and divert his father from his plans.
It would be awesome to throw it in his face. But I didn't dare do that to my partner.
I offered my hand instead. I figured I was safe with that.
He held it like he didn't want to let it go.
His golden hair was perfect against his suntanned face. I knew he wanted to kiss me-and I wasn't sure whether it was love or lust or just because I was a girl alone in his room.
"I know there's a part of you that wonders what it would be like," Trevor said.
"I already know," I said. "The cheerleaders have it written on the bathroom walls."
I withdrew my hand and left his room before he tried to hold any other part of me.
31
"Hello, Miss Raven," Jameson said as I entered the Mansion. "Alexander will be down in a moment." I waited in the parlor room.
"Hello, Raven," Mrs. Sterling said, stepping into the room. "Did you like the auction? I thought it was a blast."
"Yes, I'm so proud of Alexander."
"I always knew he was talented. But Constantine-he knows now," she said with a wink.
"I just got off the phone with Mr. Berkley," Mr. Sterling said in a low voice as he entered the parlor. "He said someone made an offer and they are going to come for a tour of the Mansion."
"When will they be here?" Mrs. Sterling asked. "We already have company" she said, referring to me.
"He told me he should be here by now."
"I hate lateness," Mrs. Sterling said. "It is so rude."
Alexander came into the parlor.
"A prospective buyer is coming to the house. We'll be able to sell the Mansion and return Where is that man?" his father asked, agitated.
"He's here," Alexander said.
"Where, standing in the hallway?"
"No, standing right in front of you."
"I don't understand."
"I am going to buy the Mansion."
"You?"
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were bewildered.
"I've been trying to tell you," Alexander said. "This is my home.In this house, in this town, with this girl." He smiled at me.
I was so proud of Alexander for taking charge of his life but was sure I was going to be in big trouble with his parents. I was ready for them to scream at me or throw me out.
"Maybe I should be leaving " I said.
"No, stay.You need to hear this," Alexander said, and turned to his parents.
"Don't you see? I've been successful on my own since I arrived here. And these accomplishments are because I met the girl of my dreams, Raven."
His parents looked at me, and I felt an immense pressure build.
"Because of Jagger , I've had to leaveRomania several times. And now that I've helped the Maxwells , I'm supposed to leave this town. I'm not leaving anymore."
"How did you plan to purchase the Mansion?" Mr. Sterling asked, still shocked.
"I'm going to use the money I raised from the auction as a down payment. And when I turn eighteen, I'm going to pay off the monthly mortgage with my trust fund."
"That money is for your future" his mother said, "Your grandmother wanted you to have it for that reason."
"This is my future, Mother. Grandmother wouldn't want it any other way. And neither would I. This mansion may not mean anything to you. But it means everything to me."
"I don't understand," his mom said. "I want you to live with us."
"I know, Mother," he said, and held her hands. "But I'm almost eighteen. I could be going off to college, taking night classes. Instead, I'll be here.Painting and being with Raven."
Mr. Sterling paced around the room, wiping his hair off his brow. "This is quite a shock, you must understand. I didn't realize, Alexander, how you have grown.That you are so much like your grandmother. That you both are "
Alexander and I felt a glimmer of hope.
"When I saw that you were the artist behind those paintings, it was clear to me then that you'd found a home here. But " He paused. "There is no way you are buying the Mansion."
"I am!" Alexander said boldly.
"No, Son, I'm taking it off the market. It is rightfully yours. There is no reason you should have to pay for it."
"But, I want to-"
"I know. And that is the reason you shouldn't.Because you care so much about so many things. I'm not allowing you to buy the house from me. We'll invest the money you earned. My mother must be watching over us right now. I know she is smiling at you-and frowning at me. I made a big mistake looking at others when it was you I should have been showcasing.My own son. Jameson, get Mr. Berkley on the line."
"Mother, I'm sorry-"
She put her fingers to her lips. "You are the kind of man I always wanted you to become-you just became one a lot faster than I was ready for."
"I have to confess I haven't slept well since we decided to sell the house," Mr. Sterling added.