A House Made For Two

It's My Job To Embarrass You

With each stroke of his paintbrush, a new depth was added to the field of roses; startling red against the gentle green of the vines, the sky a pale dawn and the flowers only slightly blooming, as if it were growing along with the rising sun-

"That's pretty." He almost dropped his paintbrush, managing to splatter a drop of orange paint on his cheek. "You're a good artist." Jack calmed his heart, racing with surprise, and replied to the, yet again, expressionless girl standing in the doorway.

"Do you mind? You almost made me ruin it."

"Wouldn't that be a shame." She didn't give him a chance to answer. "I'm leaving for work-related stuff so look after the house while I'm gone, you know, making sure the pet rocks are fed and stuff." She was so emotionless he had actually no idea whether she was joking or not.

"I thought you said you had Sunday off from the café."

"I do."

"Then where are you-"

"I have a concert." It was only then he noticed her typical black-and-white concert attire and the top of the cello case acting as an armrest for her. She raised an eyebrow. "Duh." 

Leena turned to leave, but hesitated slightly. She slowly turned around to face him again. The words sounded a little forced when she spoke. "I'll be passing back by the convenience sore. Do you want anything?"

"No. Why are you so polite all of a sudden? It's scaring me, to be frank."

"Well...I was kind of a jerk yesterday," she admitted begrudgingly.

"I wasn't any better so you can quit the nice talk, yeah? It's weird when you try act normal."

She wore a puzzled frown. "Isn't trying to be normal good? People usually hate me when they see who I really am."

"'Normal' is different for everyone. You're normal for yourself. Besides, I don't see anything wrong with you being you." He was genuinely confused. She grinned slowly.

"...So I can be a dick all I want?"

"If you're prepared for me being a dick back." 

Her grin morphed into a full smile. "That's good. Very reassuring." Before he could react, she went over to him and delicately pet his head. His facial shape and rearranged hair really did remind her of a cat she once owned.

"What the-!"

"I'm going to be late if I don't go now, so bye." Leena's dress floated gently as she left. Even in his confused state, he swore he could still see a ghost of a smile on her face.

*****

"So if three plus two is five, then two plus three is-"

"IT'S SIX, I KNOW IT."

"But wait, isn't it-"

"It's five, guys!"

"Wait, so, one apple...two apples..."

"No, six was right!"

Jack silently groaned, his head throbbing from the non-stop shouting that had been taking place since this morning. It was a Monday, for gods sake.

"What did I say about putting your hand up, kids?" he managed to force a small smile. It's not that he didn't like kids; he did, really. It's just days like this that irritated him to no end and tested his patience. Immediately the class eloped into silence, half the elementary class waving their hands about wildly in the air. But of course, there was one person who whispered, "Six."