If Not For Her

Chapter 3. "We meet again,"

This was it. This was the opportunity Annabeth has been waiting for, her terrible day was finally turning amazing. She leaned against her locker flipping through her rough sketches. She had so many ideas and she knew she was the best in the class, she could taste the London air when someone hit her on the head with a book. "Ouch," she said touching her head. She looked up to see the chestnut hair and maroon uniform blazer. Her best friend Adam was looking down at her. "That hurt," she said. "I have been calling you, for a long time. Did you hear anything I said?" he asked. She didn't, but she nodded regardless.

"Of course you did, Where did you sit today?" he asked. "Oh, with Cole," she said. "The Ice Queen,?" he asked. There were two types of students in Rosewood High, those who liked Emmalyn and those who didn't, Anne and her friends belonged to the latter. She still flipped through the pages. "oi, Picasso, we will be late, let's go" he called, already a few paces ahead of her. She ran to join him. 'Do you realize how big of an opportunity this is?" she asked, practically skipping. "You are going to get it, don't worry " he assured. "Get what?" Chris asked, flinging her arm around Anne's shoulder. "A boyfriend?" she wriggled her eyebrows. "The place at the summer program," Adam said.

"Of course, you will get it, Annie, you are the best in the class," she said. "That was what I was telling her," Adam said. "You were not," Anne said. "Well I was about to," Adam said. "Why are you two even taking art?" Annabeth asked. All these years she had known them, Chris  and Adam didn't like painting. "We are not leaving you, we don't have that many classes together," Adam said, "Exactly," Chris said. "Besides the practices are tough, your brother is making us work extremely hard, he is torturing us with those drills," Adam said. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown," Anne said. "And I need at least one light class," Chris said. "Before you become one hot shot lawyer?" Adam said. "Yep," Chris popped the p. She was going to study law, a practical career as Annabeth's parents said but she didn't want practicality, she was happy living in her fantasy.

They walked into their art class, and Anne loved it, the room always smelled of paint. It gave her a sense of calm. She smiled as took her seat next to the window, she looked out she had the perfect view of the trees surrounding their campus. Rosewood High was the most beautiful school in their small town. Chris sat behind her and Adam next to Chris behind a blank canvas. Anne was arranging her paintbrushes when Evelyn Cole came in, if there was someone as cruel as Emmalyn it was her sister, Evelyn but Evelyn was still tolerable. She seemed to date her sister's ex. Anne wondered what Emmalyn had to say to this, but then she knew how Emmalyn felt, she saw it at the auditorium.

Evelyn took a seat at the front and put her hair up. She was good, but Anne was better. "Hey" Adam whispered, pulling their attention towards him. "Dexter dumped her" he said. "That's old news," Christina said and Annabeth agreed. "well, he is dating her sister for a year now," he said. That was news. "What?" Chris asked. Anne turned around to face them, her eyebrows raised."Weren't they together then?" Anne asked. "that's the thing and as far as I know, Emmalyn is pissed," he said as a soft clacking of heel filled the room. Their teacher walked in, Madame Andrea was the most feared teacher in all of their school. She was a perfectionist as Anne viewed her. She was intimidating, sure but held a strong work ethic and her paintings had a depth that Annabeth tried to bring out but failed miserably.

She pushed her moon glasses into her black hair, held her chin high, and started speaking in a clear voice. "As you all know about the opportunity you all will be getting. I want you all to take it seriously and I have a lot of expectations from some" Madame Andrea's eyes met with Anne's. Anne nodded to her words. "Great art comes from the depths of your heart, you need to feel what you paint, or in case of other arts. Your mind is your best friend and biggest enemy, don't let it stop you from knowing your limits. Creativity is not a competition, remember that." The door opened once again, and this time with a loud bang. "You are late, Miss Cole"

Anne's eyes widened as she saw Emmalyn Cole standing at the doorway, her bag slung loosely over her shoulder. She turned to her friends they held the same expression. Nearly everyone looked between the Cole sisters, one had shock while other had satisfaction. "I am sorry, I promise it wont happen the next time" she said. "I am excusing the tardiness, because its your first class, I won't be liberal the next time" she said. Emmalyn nodded. "Take a seat next to Miss Reed, she is the best student in the class and hopefully would be a good influence on you" Emmalyn met Annabeth's eyes silently took a seat next her.

Once again they sat next to each other, it seemed like destiny hated her and was pushing them together. "We meet again, sweetheart" Emmalyn said. "Why are you taking art, you don't even like it?" she asked. Another class where she would have to compete with Emmalyn, again.