Ever.
“I don’t understand,” I tell Bastien. “How is this happening?”
“I don’t know,” he answers. “But there are a lot of people out there saying your name already.”
“This is crazy.”
And I feel like I can’t breathe.
“It’s going to be okay, Chloe,” he assures me. “This is what you wanted, right?”
“Yes,” I answer, “but…”
“But nothing,” he tells me. “You have an opportunity here. Are you going to take it and make it your
bitch?”
I laugh, because that’s what one of our dance teachers always likes to say. And Bastien is smiling
because he knew I’d understand.
So I take a deep breath and nod.
“I’m going to take it,” I tell him. “I’m totally going to make this night my bitch.”
“Okay,” he agrees. “You better get out there and get to it then.”
He walks with me and we re-enter the fray. The crowd is thick. Bigger than I’ve ever seen it. And
more than a few times as we walk, I feel people’s eyes on me. It isn’t just their eyes. They are
nodding. Saying hello. And they are excited.
For me. About me.
“Chloe?”
I glance up and see Mrs. Hilliard waving to get my attention. She’s the art director for the program.
And she looks excited to see me too.
“Chloe,” she repeats, pulling me in for a hug like we are the best of friends. “You have no idea.
Just no idea. The response to your work already…”
She pauses to take a breath and shakes her head.
“It’s huge, Chloe. So huge. We have an offer on one of your pieces already.”
“An offer?”
I blink up at her in confusion. They weren’t even intended for sale.
“Yes, on the Salacious piece.”
“Oh.” My excitement quickly dims and I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t sell that one. The
others, but not that one.”