after they met her

twelve

i v a n a

The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow as I sat in my last class of the day, staring at the clock.

The past few days had been a whirlwind, and my mind replayed everything on an endless loop.

My first days back at school had been a disorienting blur.

Then there was the panic attack triggered by Ray.

The nickname he used had opened a floodgate of painful memories, and I had been unable to control the ensuing chaos in my mind.

Hiding in my room, discarding the food my brothers brought me, I had felt myself slipping back into old, destructive habits.

Yesterday morning had brought a small measure of comfort. Breakfast with Logan and Asher had been unexpectedly lighthearted, their jokes and easy banter a soothing distraction. Even Asher's comment about my eating habits, though serious, had been wrapped in enough humor to keep the mood from darkening too much.

And then the surprise party. It had been the last thing I expected, walking into a house transformed with decorations, pizza, and all my brothers gathered to welcome me. Their efforts had overwhelmed me, and for the first time in a long while, I had felt genuinely loved and appreciated.

Now, as the final bell rang, I gathered my things and headed to my first art class.

I felt a mix of nerves and excitement.

As Ray and I walked down the hallway towards the art room, I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "What do you think art class is going to be like?"

Ray smirked as he kept a respectful distance, his bodyguard stance evident but relaxed. "Probably pretty standard. You know, a teacher explaining techniques, giving us assignments. Lots of still life drawings, maybe some perspective lessons."

"Yeah, I imagine it'll be like that too," I said, thinking back to our middle school art class. "I hope it's a bit more creative than just assignments."

Ray chuckled, flashing his signature grin. "It would be cool.  Like, I don't know, graffiti or something. Plus, any project with me is bound to be a masterpiece."

"Yeah," I agreed, rolling my eyes at his self-assurance. "Though, with my luck, we'll probably be stuck with drawing fruit bowls."

Ray nudged me playfully. "Stay optimistic. Who knows, maybe this teacher will have some surprises up their sleeve. And even if they don't, you've got me. That's a win in itself. You could try drawing my perfect abs."

We pushed open the door to the art room, expecting to find a teacher waiting to give instructions.

Instead, the room was buzzing with activity, but not in the way we anticipated.

There was no teacher in sight. Instead, three boys were working around a large canvas laid flat on a series of desks pushed together. Paints, brushes, and various art supplies were scattered everywhere.

Before I could take it all in, a girl with bright eyes and a bubbly demeanor bounded up to us. She practically radiated energy, and without hesitation, she threw her arms around me in a welcoming hug.

"Hi! You must be our newest members! I'm Lily," she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious. "We're in the middle of working on a huge project. I'll explain everything, but come in, come in!"

I glanced at Ray, who raised an eyebrow but couldn't hide his amusement. "Looks like our art class just got a lot more interesting."

Lily pulled us toward the canvas where the boys were working. "This is Sam, Joshua, and Ethan," she introduced each one in turn. "We're creating a giant mural for the school's festival. It's going to be amazing!"