The Next Now

Chapter 48: The Elephant and The Mouse

Henrietta's P.O.V

The Week went by quite quickly.
Jay and London confessed that did like each other, and almost immediately started dating.

According to them, they couldn't fight the attraction anymore than they already had.

Cue my gag

I haven't spoken to Romeo since that day with his friends.
I know I was wrong to have yelled at him like that when he was just trying to help me.
I know he didn't know because I didn't tell him my reason for keeping it a secret.

But how could I?

How can I tell him, when it still hurts so much to think about it?

I can't
So, I'm just going to avoid him and even go for the trip instead of letting all of my fears control my life.

The Teachers have been told to keep my Phobia a secret from the students.
Because the students do the most.

Jay, London and I have chosen to go for the trip in London's Convertible, because I didn't plan to be on the road for 2 Hours in Jay's SUV or a Bus filled with noisy teenagers.

Once we've reached the Museum, London closes the Car's Rooftop as Jay and I step out

"This place is huge" Jay remarks, and I nod alongside him

"I still can't believe you didn't want to come for this trip" London licks the car and comes over to nudge me

"Three days without lectures" She sighs

"I could have spent the three days at home" I shrug

"C'mon, Everyone's inside already" Jay tells us, and we all walk into the Building.

The first thing I notice when we walk in is the crowd of our mates surrounding a Man in front of a large painting of a Mouse on an Elephant trunk.

Next, my eyes scan the large hall for a second door, the open windows, and the Restroom.

When I finally find them, I look around at the numerous Art works in the large Hall.
My eyes stop at the one that had been surrounded just a while ago; The Elephant and the Mouse

I walk over to to get a good look at it. I look carefully at it, wondering what it means.
I bet the Painters would have a very detailed explanation to give for their Painting.

Painters are weird. But a cool weird.

"Do you know what it means?" London asks beside me, her eyes trained on the weird painting I'd found myself staring at for so long

"No" I shake my head "Do you?"

"It's a Painting by Matthew Robert" She smiles "He described himself as the Elephant in the painting. He described the Mouse as his best friend; the late Rita Daniels"

I raise a brow at this

"He'd explained that he's been part of the Jocks in High School, while Rita was one of the Nerds.
He'd always thought so highly of her despite what his friends thought. Rita had also thought highly of Matthew without knowing he did too. She'd always thought he was way out of her league"

I nod, somewhat understanding what she was saying

"Rats are tiny and obviously scared of being stepped on by the big Elephants, but the Mighty big Elephants tend to lose their wits around the tiny Rats" She says "Somehow, they'd finally crossed paths and discovered more about themselves. Their differences, their similarities, and their fears"

"They didn't let their fears or differences take control of their lives" I whisper, and London turns to me and nods

"You're so smart, Babe" Jay says, suddenly appearing beside London. He puts an arm around her shoulder before kissing her.