Chapter the fourth: In which our heroine loses control of her charcoal.
I told Mr Phillips very firmly that Blake was my best friend, but nothing more than that. I prayed he somehow wouldn’t see my flame red cheeks.
“Well, anyway, do you think you could do a canvas painting without losing the emotion here? There’s a selection next month to replace that picture in the Great Hall that was… ahem... burned… so tragically last week.” The hilarious first year fire incident. That class still had singed bits on top!
“I suppose the subject matter could be a little more…ahem… conventional, but between you and me, I reckon the Hall could be spiced up a little.” Mr Phillips winked. It was the scariest moment of my life so far. “Anyway, Evelyn, I’d really like you to work on this picture. I’ll, um, back its selection.”
We began to discuss materials and timeframes, and I left the classroom five minutes later with a smile on my face, and not only from Phillips’ comically hesitant way of speaking. My picture? In the Hall? I was so lost in my happy thoughts, giggling internally, that I had almost forgotten the events of the lesson. However, it all came back to me very soon.
I heard lowered voices as I stepped into the doorway - Blake and Nick. It was obviously the tail end of an argument; I could almost taste the ozone tang in the air like the atmosphere after a storm. Both boys were so intent on each other that neither noticed me stop oh-so-subtly in the doorway, straining my ears to hear Nick’s words.
“…don’t, then why did you sleep with me?” The hurt in his voice was obvious.
“You offered,” came Blake’s cruel, matter of fact reply.
Okay. I couldn’t just lurk there: far too suspicious. I stepped out towards the boys, greeting them with a smile and hiding my shock. I should win an award someday for all the acting I do.
“Hi Evee!” chirped Blake brightly, and added (a little more coldly I thought), “Nick’s just leaving.”
Nick did indeed leave, glaring at Blake and turning on his heel. I quickly ‘pathed Lexy to make sure he was okay, if she still cared; however, I decided not to tell her what I’d heard, just to let her think he was stunned by the kiss, which would actually be understandable. I was stunned myself.
The lunch bell rang as I imitated Mr Phillips.
“Care, um, to explain?”
“Spur of the moment.”
“Inadequate.”
“Getting a rise out of Phillips?”
“Don’t believe you.”
Our banter carried on till we reached the Hall, Blake supplying reasons and me dismissing them. It was almost as if his blatant display of - was it really homosexuality? We always joked that Blake could attract a brick wall, but still… - and shocking behaviour towards Nick hadn’t happened, and everything was as it had been this morning.
“Modelling was boring.”
“How do you know? You didn’t give it a chance!”
“I’m a nymphomaniac.” He fluttered his eyelashes absurdly at me.
“I should hope not!”
“ I just really felt like kissing him.”
That one got me. I stared up at him in disbelief, and watched as he stuck his tongue out mischievously. He leaned down in one swift movement and licked my bottom lip.
“No way, Blake. I’m not being the bread in a Nicholas sandwich.”
“But I always want bread. I have a different filling every day, but I always need bread…”
He still looked amused, so I stalked off and sat down next to Lexy, leaving no room for him. Blake, however, was only slightly put out by this, as he had no end of willing lunch companions. The fawning girls who professed to be in love with him had no idea how infuriating he was really. I watched surreptitiously as he sat down with Venexia and she draped herself all over him. She was welcome to him. - Sure?- said the Voice. Shut up Voice.
This is all my own work, so any mistakes are mine. The plot, characters, and actual text all belong to me as the author.
“Well, anyway, do you think you could do a canvas painting without losing the emotion here? There’s a selection next month to replace that picture in the Great Hall that was… ahem... burned… so tragically last week.” The hilarious first year fire incident. That class still had singed bits on top!
“I suppose the subject matter could be a little more…ahem… conventional, but between you and me, I reckon the Hall could be spiced up a little.” Mr Phillips winked. It was the scariest moment of my life so far. “Anyway, Evelyn, I’d really like you to work on this picture. I’ll, um, back its selection.”
We began to discuss materials and timeframes, and I left the classroom five minutes later with a smile on my face, and not only from Phillips’ comically hesitant way of speaking. My picture? In the Hall? I was so lost in my happy thoughts, giggling internally, that I had almost forgotten the events of the lesson. However, it all came back to me very soon.
I heard lowered voices as I stepped into the doorway - Blake and Nick. It was obviously the tail end of an argument; I could almost taste the ozone tang in the air like the atmosphere after a storm. Both boys were so intent on each other that neither noticed me stop oh-so-subtly in the doorway, straining my ears to hear Nick’s words.
“…don’t, then why did you sleep with me?” The hurt in his voice was obvious.
“You offered,” came Blake’s cruel, matter of fact reply.
Okay. I couldn’t just lurk there: far too suspicious. I stepped out towards the boys, greeting them with a smile and hiding my shock. I should win an award someday for all the acting I do.
“Hi Evee!” chirped Blake brightly, and added (a little more coldly I thought), “Nick’s just leaving.”
Nick did indeed leave, glaring at Blake and turning on his heel. I quickly ‘pathed Lexy to make sure he was okay, if she still cared; however, I decided not to tell her what I’d heard, just to let her think he was stunned by the kiss, which would actually be understandable. I was stunned myself.
The lunch bell rang as I imitated Mr Phillips.
“Care, um, to explain?”
“Spur of the moment.”
“Inadequate.”
“Getting a rise out of Phillips?”
“Don’t believe you.”
Our banter carried on till we reached the Hall, Blake supplying reasons and me dismissing them. It was almost as if his blatant display of - was it really homosexuality? We always joked that Blake could attract a brick wall, but still… - and shocking behaviour towards Nick hadn’t happened, and everything was as it had been this morning.
“Modelling was boring.”
“How do you know? You didn’t give it a chance!”
“I’m a nymphomaniac.” He fluttered his eyelashes absurdly at me.
“I should hope not!”
“ I just really felt like kissing him.”
That one got me. I stared up at him in disbelief, and watched as he stuck his tongue out mischievously. He leaned down in one swift movement and licked my bottom lip.
“No way, Blake. I’m not being the bread in a Nicholas sandwich.”
“But I always want bread. I have a different filling every day, but I always need bread…”
He still looked amused, so I stalked off and sat down next to Lexy, leaving no room for him. Blake, however, was only slightly put out by this, as he had no end of willing lunch companions. The fawning girls who professed to be in love with him had no idea how infuriating he was really. I watched surreptitiously as he sat down with Venexia and she draped herself all over him. She was welcome to him. - Sure?- said the Voice. Shut up Voice.
This is all my own work, so any mistakes are mine. The plot, characters, and actual text all belong to me as the author.