Bi the Way

Chapter 16: Want

The eager chatter of students filled the crowded school hallway, accompanied by the faint scent of excitement and anticipation. Lockers slammed and locks clicked, as they shared plans for the much-awaited spring break. Rodney trailed along beside Derek, who animatedly described his upcoming Bahamas fishing adventure with his older brother.

"Seriously, Rodney, you should see my brother's girlfriend." Derek shook his head in disbelief, his eyes wide. "She's a total smoke show. I don't get what she sees in him."

Rodney couldn't help but smile at Derek's description, but his thoughts quickly drifted back to his own lack of plans for the break. He was distracted by the notion of no one being around over the break to hang with when they bumped into Parker. Parker's curly hair bounced around his face like an unruly halo as he adjusted his glasses.

"Seriously we need to stop bumping into each other like this," He laughed, looking at Rodney, "What's all the excitement about?" Parker asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.

"March break plans," Derek replied, looping an arm around Parker's shoulder and pulling him into their conversation. "I'm off to the Bahamas. How about you, Parker?"

"Actually, I'll be working as a camp counselor at Long Horn Range," Parker said with a touch of pride in his voice. "Gotta make some extra cash, and it's kind of like a vacation too, we get some time every day to do what we want."

"Nice!" Derek nodded approvingly. "What about you, Rodney?"

Rodney hesitated before admitting, "I won't be doing much. Just... avoiding my mom, I guess." He swallowed hard, remembering how they hadn't really talked since their fight. He wondered how a week stuck in a house together would go. "We haven't really talked since our fight. I shouldn't have brought up Dad's death like that."

Derek's face softened with understanding, his easygoing demeanor momentarily replaced by sincerity. "She's your mom dude, she knows you didn't mean it. It is a parent thing,"

Rodney nodded, his heart heavy with remorse. "Yeah, but still don't feel good about it," he murmured, just as the bell rang, signaling the end of their conversation. The boys exchanged quick goodbyes before going their separate ways to class.

As Rodney walked away, he couldn't help but wonder if he would be able to make it right with his mom.

Rodney slid into his seat in art class, the whiff of oil paint and damp clay greeting him like an old friend. He glanced around and found Madison and Jordan already at their easels, streaks of color smeared across their aprons.

"Hey," he said as he squeezed a dollop of paint onto his palette.

"Hey, Rodney!" Madison greeted him with a warm smile, while Jordan offered a casual nod, their lavender-tinted hair catching the light filtering through the windows.

Ms. Bacon clapped her hands, drawing the class's attention. "Alright, everyone! Today, we'll be working on your self-portraits. I want you to incorporate elements from your life into your painting. It could be anything – your hobbies, loved ones, or even your dreams."

She gestured toward a canvas propped up on a nearby table. Rodney squinted, recognizing Matt's unmistakable signature – bold strokes, muted colors, and intricate detail. The portrait displayed Matt's face, but it was tinged with sadness, his eyes seeming lost. Behind him, a dense forest loomed, giving the impression that one could step right into it and become swallowed by the darkness.

"Wow, I didn't know Matt had it in him," Jordan murmured, a note of surprise in their voice.

"Me neither," Rodney agreed quietly, his thoughts drifting to Matt's home situation, he didn't know much, just that his parents were fighting. Was this painting reflecting how these fights made Matt feel, or did he feel this lost even before the fighting started?