The Art Class (BL)

13. Homework

Alex:

In the morning, I woke up a little earlier than usual, wanting to check on Evie. As I made my way downstairs, I found her fast asleep, curled up on the couch with a blanket draped over her. She looked peaceful, her features soft in the morning light. I couldn't help but smile—she looked kind of adorable like that, so different from her usual vibrant, chaotic energy.

Deciding not to wake her, I headed back upstairs to start my morning routine. I had a class to get ready for, and unfortunately, that meant Zack would be there too. The thought of seeing him after everything that happened made my stomach twist, but I pushed the feeling down and focused on the day ahead.

I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over me, washing away the tension from the day before. The soft sound of Hozier's "Work Song" played through my phone, a calming backdrop as I scrubbed my hair and finished up quickly. The music echoed gently in the background, not loud enough to disturb Evie downstairs.

Once I was out of the shower, I towel-dried my hair and got dressed. Today felt like a good day for something simple—jeans and a sweater. After throwing on my clothes and drying my hair, I made my way back downstairs, feeling more awake and ready to face the day.

I had a sudden craving for pancakes—strawberry pancakes, to be specific. So, I gathered the ingredients and started making breakfast. The kitchen soon filled with the warm scent of butter and syrup, and the sizzle of pancakes cooking on the pan was oddly satisfying.

I whipped up two stacks of fluffy pancakes, topping them with fresh strawberries, a dollop of whipped cream, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

The plates looked like something straight out of a brunch café. I glanced over at the couch to see if Evie was still asleep, but she had stirred awake.

She stretched, her eyes fluttering open, and she groggily made her way over to the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. A sleepy grin spread across her face as she saw the breakfast I'd made.

"Are you sure you're gay? I could get used to this," she teased, grabbing her plate with a playful smirk. I chuckled, shaking my head. "Yeah, well, don't get too comfortable."

She giggled and sat down at the table, diving into the pancakes like it was the best meal she'd ever had. It was nice to see her looking more relaxed, especially after last night's craziness.

After we finished breakfast, Evie went outside to grab a change of clothes from her car. I cleaned up the dishes while she disappeared upstairs to get dressed.

When she came back down, she was wearing a pastel pink mini skirt and a white turtleneck. The outfit had a soft, cottage core vibe that was totally her style.

"You ready yet, pumpkin?" she called out, twirling around playfully. I rolled my eyes. "For the love of God, Evie, enough with the pet names."

"Never!" she exclaimed dramatically, grabbing her keys from the counter. "Come on, we have that group assignment to do today. Don't want to be late!"

"Oh, great. I can't wait," I muttered sarcastically, grabbing my bag as we headed out the door.

As we walked to the car, the looming thought of seeing Zack again made me uneasy. But with Evie by my side, cracking jokes and keeping the mood light, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I could get through the day.

When we finally arrived at class, it seemed like everyone else had already settled into their seats. Evie and I tried to slip in quietly, taking our usual spots without drawing too much attention.

Mr. Graham was already deep into explaining more concepts related to the course. He barely glanced our way as we entered. I guess by now, he was used to me being late, because there wasn't a single comment about it.