Kamiko’s eyes brightened. “Yeah, I could do that.”

Brandon’s look of guilt faded as he reached into a desk drawer. “I’ve got just the thing.” He pulled out a beautifully printed booklet. “The catalog from last year’s show.” He set it on the desk in front of Kamiko, so it faced her, and opened it up. “This will give you an idea of the work we accepted last year.”

Kamiko leaned over and started flipping through the pages, growing excitement lighting her face. “I could totally do work like this!”

“But,” Brandon cautioned, “it needs to be your own work.”

“I wouldn’t copy anything,” Kamiko said enthusiastically.

“That’s not what I meant,” Brandon said. “You need to develop a style that is uniquely your own. It’s not enough to emulate what you see in this book. You need to originate your own visual language, one that buyers will instantly recognize as distinct from other artists.”

Kamiko looked hopeful, but somewhat lost. “Ahh…”

Brandon leaned forward, elbows on his desk. He seemed suddenly in his element. “Kamiko, this is a chance for you to explore, experiment. Go crazy. Try something different. Show me what Kamiko Nishimura can do that no one else can do.”

Why hadn’t he said that before? He was probably too busy thinking about snake-charming me rather than helping her.

“I guess I can do that,” she said tentatively.

“What about your anime?” I offered. I turned to Brandon. “Can she do something with her cartoons?”

“Yes,” he said. “She can work some of the stylistic motifs of manga and anime art into her work. The trick will be combining it with a fine art sensibility. But it can be done. Many artists today are doing exactly that.”

“You could totally do that,” I encouraged, resting my hand on Kamiko’s forearm.

She nodded.

“Kamiko,” Brandon said confidently, “paint me some new work. You have plenty of time before the show. Bring me some samples and I will be happy to take a look.”

“Okay,” she said, now sounding only half shell-shocked.

“Well, I hate to make this a short visit, but I have some pressing business to attend,” Brandon said, standing up.

Kamiko shot to her feet. “Thank you, Mr. Charboneau.” She shook his hand firmly.

“My pleasure.” He turned to me, “Samantha?”

I nodded. I wasn’t shaking his hand after how he’d blindsided Kamiko. No matter what he said about her paintings.

“Excuse me you guys,” Kamiko sniffed, “I need to use the bathroom before we go.”

“It’s downstairs,” Brandon offered.

Why did I think Kamiko needed an excuse to weep in private? Groan. This visit was a disaster.

Kamiko walked out of the office.

“I’ll go with you Kamiko,” I said, standing up.

“It’s okay,” Kamiko said. “I’ll be right back.”

“Actually,” Brandon said, “can I speak with you briefly, Samantha?”

Great. I looked to Kamiko, awaiting approval.

“You go ahead, Sam,” she said. “I’ll be right back.” She left her portfolio on top of Brandon’s desk.

I would have to take Kamiko out for ice cream after we left the gallery or go back to my place and share a half-gallon with her in front of some Bravest Warriors or Adventure Time.

Fucking Brandon.

I decided to give him a talking-to the second Kamiko was out of earshot. I listened to her feet shushing down the hall toward the staircase.

It suddenly occurred to me that Brandon was Christos’ art dealer. Could I chew Brandon out? Would that create tension between him and Christos? I suddenly felt like I was getting in way over my head. Maybe it would be best if I didn’t say anything to Brandon.

Brandon’s smile glowed. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, he was very handsome. No wonder Kamiko was falling to pieces over his blunt treatment.

“So good to see you again, Samantha,” he said.

I smiled politely.

Hello! I was here for Kamiko, not him. Didn’t he see that? Maybe he didn’t. Or didn’t care. I barely knew him, so anything was possible. I had to say something.

Still sitting in the chair, I folded my arms across my chest. “Brandon, don’t you think you were a little harsh on Kamiko?”

He slid his hands casually into his pockets. “How so?”

“You crushed her. She’s worked really hard on those paintings.”

He sighed. “Try to understand my position, Samantha. Charboneau has a particular clientele with particular expectations. How would it help me to sell the Charboneau brand if I allowed Kamiko’s current work into the show?”

I wasn’t really sure what he meant by “brand.” This was all new to me.

“Look, there are dozens of galleries in San Diego that carry work like Kamiko’s. She’s already better than half the artists hanging in those galleries right now. I have no doubt she could make an appointment with any one of them and sell everything in her portfolio. I did her a favor.”

“You’re missing the point, Brandon.” I nearly growled when I said it, but tried to keep my voice calm.

“And what point is that?”

Could I tell him that Kamiko had a crush on him? Would that help, or make things worse? Screw it. “She likes you, Brandon.”

Brandon smiled. “I could tell,” he said way too confidently. Jerk.

“So why were you so mean?” I demanded.

“Like I said, I was trying to help her out. Steer her in the right direction.”

“What, away from you?”

“No,” he smirked. “Toward the galleries that will embrace her.”

“But you’re the one she wants embracing her. You, Brandon. Not the gallery. Don’t you get it?” I glared at him. Did he not realize what a jerk he was being? Guys were all the same.

 He smiled that irritatingly handsome smile of his. “I do, Samantha. But the problem is, I’m interested in you…” he leaned forward and put his hand on my cheek.

I had been sitting on the edge of my chair, so I slid back into it all the way, trying to escape. Brandon followed. His nose was inches from mine. I couldn’t slide back any further in the chair unless I literally crawled over the back of it.

Brandon continued in a low voice, “…not her—”

Suddenly, Brandon’s smile froze. He straightened up stiffly and slipped his hands in his pockets. “Oh, hey, Kamiko,” he said flatly.

I whipped around, practically falling out of the chair. Shit! How long had she been standing there? Judging from the tears in her eyes and the way she ran down the hall sobbing, I would guess long enough.

From where Kamiko had been standing, I’m sure it looked like Brandon was about to kiss me, but Kamiko wouldn’t have seen the grimace on my face.

“Kamiko!” I shouted. “It’s not what you think!” But she was already pounding down the stairs. She probably hadn’t heard me. If she had, I feared she didn’t believe me. I stood up from the chair, about to run after Kamiko. “You’re such a jerk, Brandon!”

He frowned. “Why, because I’m not interested in her?” he scoffed. “Is that a crime?”

“No! But…” I sighed heavily, “…you’re still a jerk!” I ran after Kamiko, but stopped halfway down the hall. I ran back to grab her portfolio off the top of the desk. I glared at Brandon as I picked it up.

“What?” he asked defensively.

I eyed the show catalog Brandon had taken out for Kamiko. I didn’t know if she was going to care, but I snatched it for her, just in case.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs and the gallery floor, Kamiko was gone. I ran out the front doors and onto the sidewalk. I looked in both directions, but I didn’t see her anywhere.

It was getting dark, and quite a few people walked up and down the sidewalks. There were shops everywhere, and four-way intersections at both ends of the short block. She could be anywhere.

Crap. I walked to where my car was parked. Maybe she’d be waiting there. Nope, there was no sign of her when I reached my VW.

I dialed her on my phone. No answer.

I left a message, “It’s me. It’s not what you think, Kamiko. Brandon was putting the moves on me. He surprised me right before you walked in, I didn’t have time to react. I’m totally not into him…” I almost added that I was with Christos, but I suspected that reminding her I had an awesome boyfriend shortly after stupid Brandsome had thrown her heart in the garbage was a bad idea. “…and I’m really sorry about how Brandon was treating you.” I wasn’t sure if saying that made things worse or better. I ended my call, afraid my message wouldn’t do any good. Sigh.

Over the next hour, I called Kamiko three times while waiting at my car. She never answered.

Maybe she called Romeo for a ride? I called his phone, but he didn’t answer. Moments later, I got a text back from him that said,

in class. call u later.

Kamiko probably hadn’t contacted Romeo. If she had, he would’ve mentioned it in the text. I hoped. Was she taking a bus back to campus? It was five miles back to SDU. For all I knew, she was going to walk.

I felt terrible. I hoped she wasn’t going to stay mad at me. If anyone, she should be mad at Brandon.

I sighed heavily.

How did guys always manage to ruin everything?

I waited another thirty minutes and called Kamiko twice more before leaving.

I went back to campus to her dorm room. Her roommate let me in the suite and told me Kamiko hadn’t been to the room.

Where was she?

I couldn’t wait around. I had to be at the Grab-n-Dash in twenty minutes.

Crap!

SAMANTHA

I made it to Grab-n-Dash with a minute to spare. The lull in customers that greeted me was a stark contrast after my drama over the last two hours.