"Thank you so much." I plaster on a smile for the man in front of me. 

"Mr. Taylor your work is fascinating." A woman extends her hand.

I smile at her. "Thank you so much."

Another woman taps me on the shoulder. "Young man, your paintings are absolutely beautiful."

It's becomming a system. Say thank you, shake hands, smile. 

This is the fourth show in five months, but I love it. My life is starting to become what I'd imagine it to be. True New York was good to me, but here I'm on the international level. 

"You are by far the star of this show." Drew laughs throwing an arm around my shoulder.

I wrap my arm around his waist. "Yeah. My stuff is the best." I chuckle.

"Well I'm glad to see your no longer the depressed, tortured soul you were when you got here. But I'd tone down cocky motherfucker." He playful punches me in the shoulder.

We start to walk away from the crowd and end up in front of one of my still lifes. I can't help but sigh.

"Is that him?" Drew hugs me a little tighter to him.

"Yup. That's Brian." 

He rubs my shoulder a little bit. "I don't understand. Honey, if you are trying to forget about Brian, why paint him and drudge all that shit back up?" 

"Because I'm a hopeless mess?" I try to smile. "He was my life since I was 17. Drawing that body is like second nature to me. I know that body, I've had that body."

"Okay, careful your drooling all over me." Drew laughs. "Anyways, I thought it was goodbye past and hello bright shiny future."

I pull myself out of Andrews embrace. "Yeah so did I."

"Just concentrate on your art. That's all you need to do. No alcohol, no sex, no men." 

"This coming from the queen who wants me to hook up with every guy who shows remote interest in me."

Once again I feel Andrews arms go around me. "Baby I just want you to have fun. If you need to take a vow of abstinence then I'm there for you." 

"Thanks Drew." I reply leaning into him.

A flash goes off behind my head and that signifies it's time to get back to the show. 

"Catch you later, Jus. I've got to see how many people adore my stuff so far."

I turn around to notice Simon from Art Forum. "Mr. Taylor, we meet again."

"Hello." I respond. 

He takes out a pen and paper. "Your work is by far the most fascinating out of all the talent here."

"Thank you."

"I notice that piece your standing in front of is more emotional then your other works. You seem to have an raw emotional attachment with the subject matter. I say this is probably one of the best pieces in the entire show. If I may pry, can I ask who this person is?" Simon asks with an air of arrogance.

Even though I haven't been in that society for years, I still remember how to be a wasp and put on my best wasp face. "I appreciate you saying that sir. Unfortunately the identity of my subject must remain a secret. I hope you understand."

"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that as an answer, but still your work is exquisite. Maybe even more so then the large scale canvas I wrote about a couple of years back." He smiles and excuses himself. 

After all these years that man is still a fucking cunt.