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Chapter 8

I had Noah for art. Apparently, he got along well with the teacher. She gave him a hug as he came into the classroom.

Strange.

The teacher, Ms. Harris, was unlike all the other Trinity teachers I've had. Trinity teachers either fell into two categories. Either they were intense, gave a lot of homework, and drilled you in class like an army sergeant, or they were like Ackerman and sat on their desk all the while you worked on a packet that made War and Peace seem like a pamphlet. When you were done with several of those packets, they would give you an exam.

Ms. Harris did not fit either of those categories. She was kind of a hippie, she played Bob Marley and Toots and Maytals as we worked, and her room smelled like sandalwood. She wore Teva sandals with her button-up shirt and artisanal jewelry like earrings made of bottle caps and purses from repurposed license plates.

Her assignments were open-ended to "encourage our creative voices to come out."

This week the assignment was impressionist art. We just had to paint something emulating the style; it could be our own, it could be a copy. I was painting Monet's water lilies in a different color scheme.

"Cecilia," She said as she stood next to me.

"Hi," I said shyly.

"This is very nice," she said, sounding surprised.

"Thank you," I answered, not expecting the compliment.

"I liked the sketches you did last week as well," she said, and I blushed. I never had anyone other than Robbie ever say anything about my artwork.

"See me after class, Cecilia," she said and pat me on the shoulder as she walked to see what the student next to me was doing.

I went back to painting my water, Lillies. I giddy nervousness in my stomach. It quickly soured.

"Hmm yeah, they aren't that bad, though your brush strokes are a bit lacking," said a voice behind me.

I jumped in my seat, "Can you not?" I said, rubbing the canvas where I smudged the paint.

"Sorry, just curious to see your masterpiece," Noah said, using air quotes around the word masterpiece.

I let out a long breath, "well, thanks but no thanks for your critique."

"I'm just trying to be friendly," he said, grinning, and I imagined shoving the back of my brush up his nose.

"Okay, everyone, start cleaning up. Please pick up the sheets off the floor and throw them in the washer."

The floor in Trinity was either marble or beautiful mahogany wood, so we had to place tarps and sheets on the floor to protect it.

As I was picking up my tarp, I snuck a look at Noah's canvas. He was had completely ignored the directions and was painting a sketch of the class. He was good. Way better than I was.

"It's not for sale, but I'm willing to make some exceptions," he said, standing next to me and considering his canvas with a hand under his chin.

I scoffed and took my tarp to one of the washing machines in the back.

When my area was cleaned up, I walked up to the Professor at the end of the class; she was smaller than I was and liked to kneel on her desk chair.

"Hi," I asked.

She looked at me, her head cocked to the side. She wore bottle cap earrings with orchids that looked like vaginas. I wanted to ask her if she made them herself.

"So, you're good," she said, clapping her hands together.

"Thanks."

"I see on the student questionnaire you mention wanting to apply to some art schools."

I nodded

"You need a portfolio to do that. Usually, I work with kids throughout their four years at Trinity, and we build one together. I would like to see what you have at home; maybe we can use something and build from there," she said, clasping her fingers together.

"I don't have anything at home."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't have anything I could put in a portfolio at home," I repeated.

"I mean, you have to have something. Are you trying to act humble? With this skill level, you have to had practiced a lot."

"Maybe Im a prodigy," I said sarcastically.

She raised an eyebrow, unamused.

I looked down at the floor, embarrassed, "I throw everything out when Im done."

"Why?" she asked.

I shrugged, "takes up space. I didn't think they would ever be useful for anything."

"Your parents don't have anything?"

"No. They don't really encourage me to pursue art."

"Ahh... What is it? Future lawyer?"

"Doctor."

"Hmmm, do you have supplies at home?"

"Colored pencils, some acrylics. I have a great aunt in California who use to buy me some things, but she passed away a few years ago, so I haven't really gotten anything new. I usually just draw using a mechanical pencil or a pen," I felt embarrassed.

"Are you here on a scholarship?" she asked, and I felt myself blush a deep red color.

"I have an offer for you," She said, smiling as she picked up some used paintbrushes my classmates left behind.

"Usually, we're allowed to have some students use the classrooms after school. Responsible ones, of course, but I could tell from your grades and the comments your teachers left last year you check that box."

I nodded, remembering how Robbie has a key to the supply room for the robotics club.

"Anyway, we can only allow a handful for the obvious, but my allotted handful all graduated last year, and no one has a key," She said, walking around her desk while holding out a gold key.

I looked at her, confused.

"You can come in after school and work on different projects, build a sketchbook, a portfolio. I can see you have a heavy course load this year but during any free time."

I sighed. I didn't think about building a portfolio. I was starting to feel like an idiot for not applying for early admissions to Harvard.

I grabbed the key from her hand, not really expecting to have time to use it, "thank you, that's really nice of you," I said.

"Hey, mi casa es su casa," she said smiling.

I nodded awkwardly, and she laughed at my reaction.

"What I mean is, of course," She said softly, then she paused and squinted her eyes at me, "you know my parents wanted me to be an engineer. As if I could pass calculus. Life is funny sometimes," she said playfully, rolling her eyes and then gave me a soft smile.

I gave her a polite smile and then exited the classroom while adding the key to my lanyard. 

When I left the class, I found Noah leaning against the wall that led to the lunch courtyard.

"Princess." He said, pushing off the wall.

"No."

"No?"

"No. Don't talk to me; I have had enough of you for one day."

"I just wanted to apologize."

"Okay, you did. Go away," I said, walking towards my locker to grab my lunch.

"I just thought it was a good opportunity to mess with Bennett. I didn't think of the people involved who would also be affected."

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm working on it with my therapist," he said, shrugging.

"Okay, Noah, whatever."

"So, what are you having for lunch today?" He asked.

I slammed my locker shut, "Bye, Noah."

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Cameron standing awkwardly behind me. "Hey, Lia," he said giving me a friendly smile. 

"Oh, hey Cameron," I said, turning around and ignoring Noah's attempts to protest. 

"Walk with me to lunch?"

"Sure, how's your year going?" I asked him.

"Good, busy, you know, trying to get a scholarship or a sponsorship."

"I'm sure you'll get it; you're really good," I said as we walked down the corridor.

"Thanks, Lia. How's school so far?" He asked.

I knew he was making small talk. I wondered if he had a question about Nicole he needed to ask me. Cameron and I never really talked. He was friendly, and I liked him; we just never really hung out unless Robbie or Nicole were there.

"Schools good, also busy. So, is everything good with you and Nicole?"

"Yeah, everything is great. We're making long-distance work, but I'm sure you know that since you guys talk a lot," he said smiling.

I smiled back not really know where to take the conversation. 

"So uh yeah, I'm going to go eat lunch now. I just wanted to say hi and catch up with you," he said when we reached the courtyard. 

"Okay, yeah, Cameron any time," I said, nodding at him.

"Oh, and actually, I uhh know you have Greene this year for math."

"Yeah, I do why?"

"Yeah. I know some friends mentioned you guys have a test on Friday, and I just wanted to tell you you should study the odd questions of the chapter test in the book."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "thank you, Cameron, that's really...thoughtful."

"Yeah, you know, just looking out for my girl's best friend," he said and awkwardly gave me a tap on my arm. 

"I'll see you later, Lia," he said before turning around and going to sit with the jocks.

'Weird,' I thought to myself and went to sit with Lana and Antoine.

That night I called Nicole on the phone before bed.

We mostly talked about a show she was watching. I never had time to watch TV, but Nicole always caught me up.

Before we hung up, I remembered my conversation with Cameron.

"Hey, tell Cameron thank you for me. He let me know what was going to be on the first math test. I'm going to start studying tomorrow."

"For math? Aren't you taking like the highest math possible?" She asked.

"Yeah," I said, turning off my side lamp and getting comfortable under the covers.

"So, how would he even know?" She asked.

"Maybe he took it last year," I said, shrugging.

"He hates math; he took SAT prep last year and is taking some bullshit statistics class this year." 

I paused. "Really?"

"Yeah, he always complains about it," she said, "I wonder why he would tell you that? Unless someone told him to tell you."

"He was awkward about it," I said, chuckling.

She laughed, "what a weirdo, I'll ask him. I'm going to go to bed, though. I have to wake up early tomorrow, night Lia."

"Me too, night," I said, hanging up and going to sleep.

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A/N

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