Erotic Reader – Carmen: Two Different Faces Pt.2

Carmen spent the next two weeks reading expensive art books and wandering around local art galleries and museums. She had not heard from Harry since they met at his show. This did not bother her, or so she told herself. She was so sure that they had shared a connection that night, so this gap of silence sent Carmen into an anxious frenzy of self-doubt. Was she immersing herself in a world simply to appease a man who had seemingly no interest in her? But then, as she wandered aimlessly around the massive modern art gallery, she realized that she felt inspired by the rich cultural history surrounding her.

Lost in her own thoughts, Carmen drifted from one painting to another, taking in the rich colours and textures. In her own world, Carmen accidentally pumped into a man standing in front of a painting, who, as she realized in shock, was Harry.

Midway through Carmen blurting out “Excuse me, I didn’t see you there,” Harry turned around and looked at her with a sly grin. He was tall and well built, and looked sharp dressed in a patterned shirt and dark blazer. He wore glasses, and his hair was slicked back, exposing his handsome face.

“Hello, Carmen,” he said, turning back to face the painting. “I really like this one, it’s probably my favorite painting in this whole place.” Carmen turned and looked.

It was indeed beautiful, and quite powerful. “I didn’t notice it the first time through,” Carmen commented, “Why do you like this one in particular?” Carmen had déjà vu, flashing back to the night they had first met. They had shared a dynamite kiss that night, and Carmen had expected Harry to call her at some point. But he hadn’t. She wasn’t exactly upset, things like that happen all the time. Actually, she felt butterflies in her stomach instead of frustration.

“What are you up to right now? Want to take a walk around the neighborhood” asked Harry. Carmen had already spent 3 hours in the museum, so she accepted, and they left.

After leaving the museum, Carmen and Harry walked up the street, talking for quite some time about their lives, about their pasts and about their futures. “Well, what are you up to now?” asked Harry.

“I don’t know, no plans. Was just gonna go home I guess.”

“Do you want to come see my studio? It’s just around the corner.”

“Yea sure,” replied Carmen, and so they set off towards Harry’s. Harry’s building was old and beautiful, having been maintained properly through the decades. Harry’s studio was huge, a big open loft sparingly decorated and furnished. Their lay canvases and pain everywhere. “Sorry, it’s a bit of a mess.”

Carmen marveled at the hundreds of paintings and sculptures lying around everywhere, many visibly half-finished or given up on. She followed Harry into the kitchen, where he pulled a half-drank bottle of wine out of the fridge. “Want a glass? It’s good stuff, I promise.” Carmen accepted and they drank back their first glasses in silence.

As Harry poured Carmen a second glass he said, “Carmen, I’m sorry I didn’t get in contact with you. I got caught up trying to figure out this sculpture. I hope you won’t hold too much of a grudge against me about it…” Carmen really didn’t, so she said “Naw, it’s ok.” Harry drank back his second glass of wine and smiled warmly at Carmen. She smiled back at him.