As I took in all the bright colors I painted with, as I always liked to capture the boldest of subjects, I caught sight of a painting I did from a year ago. Bright greens and blues were used, with red flowers.
I stared at it, as if recalling something, or some place. Why did the smell of fresh-cut grass just come to me? I pondered. It was like a memory that had been repressed.
I shook my head. It must have just been an idea I had for a project. Maybe that was what I should work on next, creating a world made of grass and plants.
Pulling out some old brushes, I got busy. Homework could wait until after dinner.
CHAPTER 3
I slammed my locker shut as the first bell rang. I had five minutes to get to class, plenty of time to get there and be able to chat a little with Kate. We both had first period English. What a great way to start the day, with English. Though, in reality, was there any class that would be good in the morning? I didn’t think so.
Heading towards class, I hurried through the crowd of students who were all trying to get to class before the tardy bell went off. I had learned to get through crowds pretty well, it was almost like a dance: jump over the bags that were left on the floor, step to the side as two friends who acted like they hadn’t seen each other in forever even though it had only been a day ran to each other and hugged, duck as the arm of a basketball player punched one of his friends in the shoulder. With some of things I had to avoid, I swore it was like I was invisible.
Finally reaching English class, I found the room to be the same as usual: posters of classic novels littered part of the walls, a newly installed whiteboard in the front, and the professor’s desk near the old chalkboard that was covered in the reading lists for each class that Mr. Barnes taught. I wasn’t looking forward to the next year when we have to read an even longer list of books, of which none were sci-fi or fantasy I might add. I didn’t care what he said, Isaac Asimov and J.R.R. Tolkien were classics.
Kate was sitting in the back as she always did. I grabbed a seat next to her and placed my books on the desk. Right now we were reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It wasn’t my first choice, but it wasn’t too bad.
“How are you feeling today?” Kate asked. I didn’t get around to texting her back last night as I had become so engrossed in my painting. I also ended up not going to bed until three in the morning due to putting off homework until midnight and was beyond tired. Good thing my parents didn’t notice my light still on so late at night.
“Great, other than really tired. I got in one of my hypnotic states while painting last night and forgot about everything else again. Before I realized it, it was midnight and I hadn’t done any homework. Got done around three. My Global Studies homework probably makes no sense whatsoever. I don’t even remember what I wrote.”
She laughed. “I will take a look at it during lunch. What did you end up painting?”
Just as the bell rang, I watched as Chase and Davis hurried into the room. It was strange, for some reason I could picture them in Victorian costumes. Must have been because we were reading Great Expectations and I had a vivid imagination, at least that was what my father said. I couldn’t help it if I had imaginary friends growing up, it was normal. I think.
Chase and Davis took the two seats in front of us, which was strange since usually they sat across the classroom. I turned back to Kate and our conversation. “I ended up painting some buildings with flowers all over them. I had a vivid image of it in my mind when I got home.”
Davis dropped his books onto the floor. Good thing Mr. Barnes was late as he would have scolded him for being so disrespectful with someone else’s property as all our books were owned by the school. Chase smacked him in the arm. “Watch it, clumsy.”
Davis didn’t say anything but retrieved his books from the floor. I turned back to Kate. “So, that’s what I painted.”
“That’s cool that you can see something clearly in your mind. You’re lucky to be so talented.”
“I don’t know, I love art but my parents won’t ever understand it. They don’t see it as a career, just a hobby.”
Kate put her hand on my back and made one of her ‘I’ll always be at your side’ smiles, which always made my chest feel a little warmer. “It’s your life, Alice, do what you want with it.”
“Thanks Kate.” I knew she was a great friend, that I probably wouldn’t find another person like her. Through thick and thin she had been by my side. I just hoped one day I could do the same for her.
English class was dull, we went over Great Expectations some more, apparently
