Climb | ✔

Chapter 24 | Crown

A bit over a month after the musical's finale, and just as finals were rearing their ugly heads, Mrs. Paladino brought some good news: with smiling beige lips, she congratulated Winter for being selected as a featured artist for the Minnesota Youth Art Exhibit in July.

She would be among five selected artists in the state for the Oil and Acrylics category. It was a real achievement, as indicated by Mrs. Paladino's vibrant grin and crushing hug that followed the news.

"I'm so very proud of you," she gushed. "I just knew you'd be selected the moment I saw your piece."

"Thanks, Mrs. Paladino," simpered Winter, awkwardly returning the hug as the sweet scent of vanilla and sweet peas surrounded her. She felt secure in the middle-aged woman's hands, and wondered if that was what a mother's hug was supposed to feel like.

The thought faded as June Palidino pulled away, the apples of her cheeks pink with pleasure and pride. "We'll talk more about it after exams are over. You come see me after your last one, mkay?"

"Okay," said Winter with a sweet smile as they parted, the art teacher wishing her pupil the best on her coming tests.

Now that the final day of class rang out, crunch time really set in. Over the next two weeks, Winter would power through her scheduled exams, leaving little time in between for anything other than studying, eating, sleeping, and more studying.

It was a breath of relief once exams were over. With a few extra days off work, Winter took some much-needed time off to laze around the house and do absolutely nothing but nap, eat take-out, and do online shopping.

It was paradise on earth; a tranquility which could only be interrupted by the faint yelling that vaguely seeped through the floorboards of Winter's room. Pausing her music so she could get a better ear of it, Winter quietly crept to the hatch of her room and cracked it open.

The sound of Rose's terse voice and fierce words funneled through the opening, her hushed but angry conversation now overheard by her niece.

It took a few minutes for Winter to figure out that it was her father on the other end, only made clear with the fuming utterance of his full name from Rose's scowling mouth.

"John Alexander Moore, I swear to god-" Rose paused as her brother interrupted. "This is a big deal for her, and you should know that without anyone telling you! Just because you don't get it, doesn't mean you don't need to support her."

Winter sat up against her wall and played with the hem of her sock as she listlessly eavesdropped on their conversation. She knew already that it was about the Youth Art Competition and the inevitability that John Moore would not be in attendance.

Winter didn't even offer up an invitation when she told him about it. Why ask a question you already know the answer to, she thought. She knew the only part of the event that actually interested him was the line it would add under the 'Achievements and Awards' heading of her college applications.

Such was the nature of John Moore.

Rose, on the other hand, was more involved. She'd nearly keened over with excitement upon hearing of the competition's result, calling all of her friends and associates to brag about how her artistic sense runs in the family. Winter couldn't help but dream that her brother would show the same reaction, but in the end, Winter was a realist.

That's why she passingly gave him the news during their weekly check-in call, purposely underplaying the importance of the occasion so as not to distract him from his work. It was enough that he knew and congratulated her, she told herself.