MY LITTLE ARTIST

THIRTY FIVE

Camila

I really did want to spend time with Lauren last night, just to lay beside her and forget about the world sounded amazing. Sadly however, I knew I wasn't in the right headspace to do so. Every time I moved or even blinked, I felt that rush of angry adrenaline

I hadn't felt this way in a while, it was almost as if the world was coming back to bite me after giving me so much freedom. Not that it was ever easy, but for a moment my life was seemingly normal. I'd received around thirty texts from my social worker since arriving here a few weeks ago, none of them went answered

Today Sonja texted me a rather large message, something about a review. I pressed off of the message and again decided to ignore it as I rounded the corner to enter Lauren's class. I didn't feel right, I felt emotional and out of my head more than normal

I sat at my desk beside Nova and pulled out my now half filled sketch pad, the art within it seemingly boring and basic. Lauren walked in late for the first time in a while too, her hair endless and her tight black jeans leaving nothing to the imagination

"Morning guys" she spoke with that glorious morning rasp "Let me set up and we'll get started" I loved the way she spoke, it was authentically authoritative but in a way I somehow liked. Not too harsh but just about stern enough to set everyone in their place

Nobody dared fuck around besides Olivia, she was far too intimidating. Even now, typing into her computer, those bright emerald eyes glittering so powerfully I almost forgot to take a breath "You look better today" Nova spoke beside me "Good sleep?"

"I guess" I lied, thinking back to the night before in which I stared at the one photo I had of me and Sofi. I was fourteen and she was only tiny, not that I could tell, the picture was blurry and discoloured "Just watched TV"

She nodded back, gathering the supplies from her pencil case "That's a good start!"

I shrugged my shoulders gently, refusing to look away from Lauren as she fiddled with an extension cord across the room "Sure" I mumbled back, not really taking much note of the blonde's words

Eventually Lauren began her usual talk about assignments and handing in work on time, you know, teacher shit. Soon after however, she glanced across the room and began picking on people to divulge their 'struggle topics' it seemed as though human proportion was the biggest one of all

She nodded to herself before turning to the board, writing the title 'Human shape and structural form' before placing the pen back on the desk beside "I'm gonna need a volunteer" she rasped, looking around the room with a thoughtful stare before pointing her finger directly at me "You'll do"

My cheeks blushed and my jaw clamped. Standing from my chair I almost froze to walk towards the front of the class. When blocking her face from the class I couldn't help but notice her subtle wink as she reached for a pointing stick

"Stand here for me" she directed, pointing into the floor before turning me to face the rest of the class "So, who can tell me where we would typically start if we were going to draw Camila?"

Faces scrunched and hands rose to chins, nobody had an answer but me "My head?" I whispered "Perfect!" She replied "At least someone has been paying attention to my classes huh!"

"So, let's break down the face!" her fingertip lifted to touch my chin "The lowest part of the face is obviously here, we generally start by drawing an oval shaped circle with a slight angle dependent on where you want the hair to fall"

Everybody watched on as she began pointing at different aspects of my face. I however couldn't help but hyper focus on the sensation of her hot fingers dragging along my jaw "If you take a look at Camila's hair, she has a pretty big side part, so making sure we highlight the opposite side is very important!" She continued, using her fingertips to adjust the direction of my hair. It felt incredible and close, like a hug I couldn't engage with