You're Different and that's extraordinary

VII: Lunch Room Meetings

"Where are you going next dude?" Jason asked helping me back in my chair.

"Uh, Art I think" I say.

"Well, I don't have that class but no use in making Nico come the whole way over here and then the whole way back" he pushed me out of the auditorium.

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"Hey Neeks I think this may be yours" Jason jokes.

"I think you may be right" He walks over to us.

"Well as much as I would love to stay and chat I have a class to get to on the other side of the building I will be going" Jason smiles before sprinting off.

Nico looks at me studying my face,"You okay Will?" he asks.

"Yeah why wouldn't I be?"

"Your face is red and so are your eyes" he notes,"was it Jason did he say something to offend you he can be a little disrespectful of person space"

"No it's fine let's just get to class" I assure him and he gives me a not too convinced look but still walks around pushing me to the next class.

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"It appears we have a new student" the art teacher exclaims after we all had taken a seat, she had medium length red orange hair that hung loosely around her shoulders and didn't appear to be more than twenty-five,"I'm Mrs. Ringler Come on up and introduce you self to the class"

I gave Nico a nervous glance and he nodded pushing me towards the center of the room. Everyone stared and I heard a few girls whisper some not so nice things to their friends.

"My name is Will Solace" I said quietly.

Mrs. Ringler shot a glare across the room and then a chorus of Hi Will's and nice to meet you's filled the room.

"Now today we will be finishing your landscapes then you may have the rest of the class to free draw" she announces after I had moved back to the seat I was at.

I watched Nico as he delicately swirled together the paints spreading onto the page matching each color perfectly. The painting was that of an empty cornfield only a few stocks still stood sun setting over the horizon trees forming a dense line off on one side and on the other a dark haired girl held the hand of a smaller boy as they watched the sun slowly fade.

"Uh Will" Nico waved his hand in my face,"You okay dude you've been staring at the same spot for about ten minutes now"

I shook my head,"I'm fine I was just looking at your painting it's beautiful"

"You really think so?" he asks.

"Yeah it's amazing"

He smiled softly and continued working.

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The rest of the class was pretty boring Mrs. Ringler had to leave ten minutes before class was over to help with the set for the school's upcoming play so as soon as she left boys were throwing pencils, wads of clay and paper and, girls were huddled in groups gossiping.

Except me I was just staring at the wall nothing really else I could do Nico had finished his painting and got out a book. So I sat and contemplated why someone as sweet and caring as him would even look the same way as someone like me.

The bell rang and everyone else rushed out leaing the floor littered with tons of trash. Nico put down his book and stretched his shirt rose slightly revealing his pale but toned stomach. Not that I was looking because I wasn't. Okay maybe I was a little.

"Ready to go get a possible case of food poisoning from the slop the cafeteria severs?" Nico jokes a smiles bright on his face.

"Yeah I'm up for food" I say as he pushes me out of the room.
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Nico pushes me to the large cafeteria and we enter the relatively short line to get food since we got here so late. I get a slice of mystery meat loaf and an apple to eat and Nico got a ham sandwich and an orange juice and we both had chocolate milk.