Page 67 of Something Like Forever

“What just happened?” Timasked.

“Are you sure you’re notfamous?” Corey asked.

“Positive.”

“Well you are now. Thatwas Miyû Mitsuishi. She’s a YouTube star. I don’t know how manysubscribers she has, but it’s in the millions.”

“YouTube,” Tim said,laughing with relief. Nothing serious then. Right? Although ifmillions of subscribers meant that many views, it sounded like alot. He glanced around. He didn’t see any reporters desperate foran interview, but many of the customers were staring. “Can we getout of here?”

“Sure,” Corey said.“Although maybe you should hire Kioshi too.”

“For what?”

“A bodyguard,” Corey saidwith a grin. “He’s tougher than he looks.”

Tim shook his head, tryingto decide how he felt about all of this. He asked to return to thecar so he could make a call. It was past midnight back home, but heknew what sort of hours his best friend kept.

Marcello answered as ifexpecting his call. “You have good news?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Tim said. “They’vegot me in the studio gift shop. I’m on all the T-shirts and hats. Ijust need to know what size you wear.”

Marcello only needed asplit second to catch up. “I would have told you sooner, but youmade such a fuss about being on the cover of thatnewspaper.”

“Agaynewspaper,” Tim stressed. “When I was still in thecloset!”

Marcello tittered happily.“You’re so handsome when you’re angry. I’ll admit I used to rileyou up on purpose, although that particular occurrence didn’t playout as expected. You were supposed to march into my office anddemand compensation.”

“I don’t want to hear yourdepraved fantasies,” Tim said, “and I’m not angry. I’m justconfused. I didn’t sign up to be Bob Ross! And what about thepainting of Kelly? That was supposed to be a gift forNathaniel.”

“It shall be, but when Irealized how suitable it was for the promotional display… If it’sany consolation, Kelly only loaned the painting to me. Whilecharging a sizeable fee for the privilege. He never misses anopportunity to bleed me dry. I’d hold it against him if I didn’tadmire his audacity. As for the use of your image, you knew all ofthis before travelling there. You’re trending, as I believe theyoung people say.”

“I’m not trending,” Timsaid, embarrassed by the whole thing. “But if it helps get thegallery going, then I guess it’s fine. Hey! I think I found aspace. It’s a little weird, but uh, I’ll get a rough concept to yousoon.”

“I wait with batedbreath!”

They went over a few quickdetails before Tim ended the call. Then he looked over at Corey.“Sorry about that. I just had to give him a hard time. It’s a thingwe do.”

“It’s fine,” Corey said.“Bob Ross was hugely popular in Japan, you know. Kioshi still likeswatching him.”

“I didn’t mean it in a badway,” Tim said quickly. “Bob was the man! I learned all sorts oftricks from watching him.”

Corey continued to stare, looking a littlestar-struck. “I had no idea how talented you are.”

“Stop,” Tim said. “I’malready weirded out by whatever that was back there. Can we pretendit didn’t happen?”

“If you want,” Corey said,starting the car, “but only if you do me one favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Can you sign myarm?”

Tim gently swatted him onthe back of the head, and as they pulled away, he couldn’t stopgrinning. Wait until Benjamin heard about this!

* * * * *

Ben’s left hand was pressing the phone tohis ear, the right one clicking through his email.

“Did you find it yet?” Timasked, his voice sounding near, even though he was still far away.Six thousand five hundred and forty miles, to be precise. Ben hadlooked it up, not that the knowledge had been of much comfort. Theopposite, in fact.