[Deathnote] - Obsession p8
Chapter 8
“Painting”
-FRIDAY-
“Alright, class. I actually have a new project for all of you,” the art teacher announced happily. She had her blond hair pulled up into a ponytail and was wearing a simple pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt. “Since we're encouraging you to be creative, what better project than painting? There's an abandoned shed out in the back of the school, and what we'll be doing today is painting it over.” She beamed as she explained the new project and passed around old T-shirts for the students to put over their clothes. “Don't worry about making it look pretty; just have fun!” the teacher said.
Near and Kaori walked together in silence as the class filed outside. “Do they always whisper behind your back like this?” she whispered to Near, referring to the gaggle of students behind them, talking under their breath and looking at the two of them.
“No,” he said.
“It's because of me, isn't it?”
“Don't worry about it,” he whispered back. “They'll get over it.”
Outside, the class crowded around the building while the teacher gave instructions, and ordered the students around.
“Ben, Hannah - over there. Near, Kaori - inside.”
Following the teacher's direction, the two of them headed inside and grabbed a paintbrush and can of paint. “This can't be too bad, can it?” Kaori said. “Sounds kinda fun.”
“Sure, if you like getting paint all over you,” Near said with a grin. He dipped the paintbrush in the pan and made a smear on the wall. As the roller moved up and down on the wall, Kaori could feel the splatter of paint hit her face and arms.
“Hey!” she cried, flicking paint on him in return.
“It's unavoidable,” he said, shrugging and smiling. “Grab a brush.”
Kaori did as he said, and began to smear along the other side of the wall. Other students began to file in, and grouped in various locations, beginning to paint.
“This is annoying,” Kaori complained, glancing back at the students who were whispering in the corner. “I make one good grade on a test and that act like it's the...apocalypse.”
Near suppressed a laugh. “I actually think it's because you're talking to me.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I'm usually alone. They're intrigued by you.”
“Well they need to find something else to stare at, really.” She angrily swiped paint on the wall. Her face was already streaked with it.
An hour later, more than half the class was splattered with paint: purple, blue, green, black. Kaori tried smearing some of it off with her shirt. “I'm a wreck!” she laughed. “I can't go to my next class like this.”
They looked over at the students crowding around the multiple water hoses strung around the shed. A lot of the boys were chasing the girls around and trying to soak them with the water. How childish, Kaori thought, but at the same time longed for the fun they seemed to be having. She was so lost in thought, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a cold blast of water on her back. “Hey!” she cried, whirling around and fully ready to smack whoever had done it.
Near was standing holding the hose, doubled over with laughter.
“You think it's funny, huh?” she said, smiling wickedly. She ran over and wrestled the hose out of his hand and turned it on him. He cried out as the cold water blasted him, and only when he begged for her to stop -while still laughing- did she cease. When she took the water hose away, she saw that he was dripping wet from head to foot. He took his hand and wiped away the wet hair hanging in his eyes.
“Nice one. You'll pay for that later,” he warned.
“Oh will I?” she playfully sprayed him again.
“Hey, quit it!” he laughed. “It's cold!”
He swiped it from her hand and began to spray her again; she screamed and tried to block it, but she still got drenched.
Mello sat with his chin rested in the palm of his hand, not really interested in the lesson as he stared out the window at the art class. He found himself bored by watching them play with the water hoses, and was about to turn away when he caught sight of two of the students. From his view in the window, he could see Kaori down near the shed, laughing from the cold water drenching her from head to foot. That wasn't the sight that astounded him most, however. What got his attention was the person holding the hose. Mello haughtily turned his attention back to the lesson, glancing out the window every few seconds. Kaori was sitting on the ground, soaked, and wiping away the paint and water that covered her. Near stood above her and pulled her up as the rest of the wet class left. They were still laughing along with the rest of the class as they filed back into the building.
He's never smiled. Not once since I've known him. Never. He's never laughed. Hell, he's barely even talked.
Mello's nails scraped along his desk as he suppressed his anger.
“I was freezing! Thank God the teacher let the class go back up to our rooms to change,” Kaori said as she and Near walked back down the hallway in dry clothes.
“Sorry about that,” Near said apologetically.
“No, it was fun,” Kaori said, beaming. “I've never had that much fun in my life.”
“I usually don't have any fun with those sort of projects. But today was different.”
“Why is that?”
Near smiled shyly, and looked away from her. “I guess because you were there.”
Kaori could feel a blush creep up her cheeks. “Well, I...th-thank you,” she said. They continued down the hallway. “Well, I have to get to lunch,” she said at the corner of the hallway. “I'll see you later, alright?” she smiled and then, much to Near's surprise, pulled him into a hug. “Bye,” she said cheerfully, waving as she walked down the hallway.
Near stood dumbfounded for a moment, before finally regaining his senses and making his way back to his room.
-End of chapter 8-