-CHAPTER SIX-
I tried not to think about the fact that I was sitting in a car with Jake, who was quite casually driving and chatting.
'So why were you walking alone back to your house which is, what an hour?, away from school?' he asked.
'Oh well,' I paused 'I he was getting a lift with Kristy but then she drove off with some guy so I just kind of started walking home' I shrugged 'my sister is a heartless bitch who cares more about clothes than people.'
'Not like you then?' he asked.
I thought for a moment, not clothes. But did I love my paintings more than people? I wasn't sure. I leant back in the chair 'I guess' I lied.
'Sorry, I shouldn't jump to conclusions. I hardly know you' he laughed 'so why didn't you get the lift with Tony then. He seems like a nice guy, your friends right?'
'Yeah. But I just, I didn't want to make him go out of his way' I smiled 'he lives four miles away from my house.' I remembered that time his car ran out of gas on a date so he ran four miles in thirty minutes to arrive on time, stealing flowers from gardens to give them to me when I opened the door and saw him near collapsing on my driveway. I smiled at the torturous memory.
'Oh right' he said, glancing at me momentarily. He didn't believe me, but how could he know? 'how's the painting going?'
'The painting?' I blanked for moment. 'Oh right, good.'
I hadn't painted since that Monday though, three days. Usually I would be missing it but my mind was a blank, empty void at the moment. My mind slipped back to the dream and I wanted to kick myself for being such a totally idiot, I promised, promised again and again I wouldn't think about him. Wouldn't dream about it. But what had it meant?
Okay, Triss you're not in a book. When you have a crazy dream it usually doesn't mean anything, you're not having some sort of premonition into the future because you're not in Harry Potter. But still, I shivered because he had let me drop.
'You're really good. Do you want to be an artist?'
'Yeah' I half lied, how could I have any idea when it had been all that was drummed into my mind since age thirteen?
'You should, you really good' he said, drumming on the wheel as he pulled into the middle school car park. Misty was standing by the pavement looking out across the street. Some guy walked up to her and said something, which she got annoyed about because she tried to turn away but he grabbed her arm and stopped her.
'Shit' muttered Jake, pulling up next to them and Misty looked up looking almost tearful. 'Do you want to get off my sister?' he asked calmly, raising an eyebrow.
'Whatever man' said the guy, shoving his hands into his pockets and walking away. Misty opened the back door and climbed in, crossing her arms and staring out the window.
'Misty-' started Jake.
'Don't give me some lecture because some idiot tried to see if I was easy okay?' she said angrily 'I hate this stupid place, can we go home?'
'Not really' he said.
'Hey Triss' said Misty looking in my direction for brief moment.
'Hi' I replied, then stupidly asked 'how was school?'
'Completely stupid. Everything was ridiculously easy, all the girls are slag who hate me and the guys are massive jerks who are trying to sleep with me.'
Jake really didn't look happy about this, but fixed his eyes on the road and didn't say anything.
'Sounds crap' I said.
