Traditional Education

Alec

So, I’m barely outta the bus. Well, I’m out of the bus, but I’m barely in my dorm really.

Oh? Yeah I'm comfy-this place is pretty nice, though that picture on- Oh you painted it? Yeah, I just thought it didn't fit with the rest of the decor.

That's not an insult! I swear!

I put down my bag on the ground, it’s sort of heavy now what with the book I had ordered in- Tashcen are bulky like that- And there’s Ross, at the door, all brooding. I’m not sure why he broods- He seems like a nice guy- But he does. All the time. I don’t think he realises it.

A memory serum? Okie-dokie! I'd be worried-Well, the others would, but I don't have anything to hide-I blurt out things to often to have secrets.

So he’s standing at the door and he steps in followed by- The girl, the girl with the dead parents and I’m just there thinking how? How did he work that fast? He barely speaks! He speaks more than Park, sure. But Park doesn’t speak at all y’know?

I guess you could deem him tall. And taking the girl’s real tall, like five foot nine, I can see why she’d want a tall guy. But Ross isn’t attractive, not really. He’s more like an ethnic Benedict Cumberbatch… Sorta… Not really. Then again, he’s interesting to look at, so maybe that’s it?

“Alec? You like uniforms, right?” This is Ross.

“Like?” I look at him in shock, I mean really? “Like? As in a mild interest per say? Does this look like the wall of someone with a mild interest?” And I wave my arm over at my Wall, which is more wall than most because I’ve a corner bed and the Wall is covered in pictures of uniforms and pin up girls and costumes because illustration and design is my thing, you know? Arranged by colour. Because it helps me think, slows thoughts down. Not by much, but-

“Wow.” This is the girl. She’s different from the last time, hair is shorter. I’d presume she went into Town to get it cut but I didn’t see her on the bus. Didn’t Ross cut Park’s fringe? Hmm… “You really have a passion. I‘m Tina. By the way.” Tina. Not the name I woulda expected, she seems too… Too something for Tina. Like she needs a more classical name. Maybe. Maybe I’m wrong too.

She doesn’t sound creeped out, but it’s probably because I’m small. It’s not that I’ve a fetish, but if I was taller it’d seem intimidating. At five foot three it’s cute. “Uniforms are perfect examples of clothes design, form, function and flattering to every body type.” I say, just to defend my stance in case.

“The school’s looking for a design for my uniform, Ross recommended you.” I look at the girl in shock, and she nods. OH BOY THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE.

I can’t help it, I vault across the room. I think. I’m not sure really, but somehow in five seconds I’m at the other side of the bed and hugging Ross. I’m just that happy you see. I mean, this is my chance to prove myself! I only let go when Ross hugs back because- First off I barely know what I’m doing- But more importantly- Ross obviously doesn’t know what the hell’s going on. So I let go. And I thank him. Againandagainandagain. I spin round to face Tina, she seems amused. I wonder if I’m good funny or bad funny. “Want to see my portfolio then?”

She lets out a little laugh. “Sure.”

I jump onto the bed again, and lie across it to get over the edge. Upside down I reach for my Box and pull it out.

I have seven sketchbooks. 200 pages. 120 gsm. Starts with red. Practice sketching. Orange, that’s for school projects, boring. Then Yellow for the fun ones. Green, blue, commissions and characters. Indigo is pinup girls, and the one I grab is violet, uniforms.