Luke Hemmings: Bad Boy

16

"Class!" Mr Kendall screeched in the silent room. I had began to notice the amount of food and coffee being collected by his moustache and it made me rather noxious. Besides that this man was the human version of the the snoring emoji. He can not hold the class' attention for more than five minutes and that's just so he can take registration and people can leave while going to the 'bathroom.'

"You'll all be happy to know that today we will be going outside to do a still life. You only have the period because nature changes." He sighed "Now let's go."

As the class headed outside one or two friendship groups broke away from us all seeing this as the perfect opportunity to sneak off and find something better to do with the next hour of their lives.

Caitlin linked arms with me as we made our way to the closest door that read 'Exit'.

Still life's were my favourite thing about art and the only type of drawing I had any sort of skill in. I hated portraits. I can never get the nose right. I mean how do you do it? Whenever I'm finished it always looks like a saggy peach with lines.

Drawing however has always been a passion of mine, ever since I was little. Something just 'drew' me (get it? Drew me? I'll just stick to the typing.) to the different shades of grey one pencil could make and no not the fifty kinds. It amazed me how someone could look at a sunset or a beach and draw exactly what was in front of them. It seemed magical to me.

"Luke!" I shouted watching him walk by me. His head turned around to face me our eyes locking but instead of stopping be continued to walk not uttering one word to me.

"That was weird." Caitlin stated "especially after everything you told me about how friendly you guys were."

I shrugged thinking the same.

There was a light breeze as we stepped outside. The sun was blazing above us and hit against my uncovered shoulders- they're gonna burn shoulda brought sunscreen.

Myself and C Clifford took a seat on the grass discussing what we were each going to draw.

"There's a mushroom. I'll draw that." Caitlin nodded as she put her pencil behind her ear.

"Caitlin! Drawing magic mushrooms! I'm disgusted." I joked

"Hey I know a guy." Wow great retort. As much as I loved Caitlin her funnies weren't funny. I had to do all the jokes for the pair of us. It's hard work but it's a job I've taken on, as well as the family disappoint. It's hard but the role must be taken on by someone. That person is moi.

"Everyone knows a guy. It's the same guy as I know and every pupil at this school." I was referring to our school's small time drug dealer. Jared Duffy. His slogan was 'The only difference between my drugs and my prices is one is on a high.' He's a cool kid. Definitely tests his own products. Alec refers to him as 'Breaking Bad Jared' the name kinda caught on and Jared adopted it. Noice brand though.

"Well what else should I draw?" She looked hurt.

"Hey draw the mushroom mate."

She smiled "will do."

I personally was struggling to find inspiration so I left Caitlin in hope of something catching my eye. However there was only one thing I could look at. Luke. I didn't get him. One minute I was having tacos with him and the next he was being cold and distant.

Suddenly there was a huge gust of wind which sent my hair flying and my attention away from the blonde haired boy. A willow tree. I always had a fascination with willows. The way they hung over almost if it was guarding the roots of itself. My dad said it reminded him of me.

When I was about 9 there was a girl named Sarah Roberts she was a bitch. She hated majority of her classmates and let out her anger by beating them up. Once I noticed what she was doing I punched her in the nose. So maybe it wasn't the best solution to the problem but it did solve it. Her mother wanted to press charges... On a nine year old.. But she left the next term after giving everyone in the class hand written apologies. My mom was angry for weeks but my dad high fived me and said "I don't condone what you did but I'm glad you protected your friends." And then he compared me to the photo my brother had taken of a willow tree and I had asked to have it in my room.

I decided to sit under the tree and draw it looking up. The time danced away with every touching of pencil to paper before Mr Kendall called us all back.

"These works will be graded" he began creating a groan of annoyance from the whole class "so if you haven't done anything congrats on a giant F." He lead us back inside as Caitlin rejoined me.

"I should never have taken this class I can't draw fo shit." She giggled.

"Practice my friend." I replied knowing it was the answer.

"Luke looked at you the whole time by the way." Her words made my stomach flip.

"Or maybe he was just lost in thought." I swallowed harshly

"Lost in thought about you." She smirked.

"Oh shut up." I shoved her playfully.

"Just saying I ship it. Team Leira! Wait that sounds like a disease I'll work shop the name."

I only laughed not because I already came up with a ship name or anything. What? I haven't. Okay I can't lie to you of course I have! Team Hakster!

****

LUKE'S P.O.V

"Shit." I murmured under my breath. There is no way I can hand in what I've just drawn . It certainly isn't still life and it certainly is creepy. I searched through my notepad looking for something I had drawn at an early point. I was pretty serious about art although the likelihood of anyone knowing that was slim. In fact the likelihood of anyone knowing I enjoyed school was at a zero. School had its shitty days I knew that but I liked to see passed them for the good ones where I could apply something I had learned to a real life problem or seeing how all my knowledge about one class connected with another. I hadn't always been that serious about school because of that whole 'fitting in' and 'peer pressure' which seems so stupid now. In reality what the people you share classes with five days a week think of you means nothing compared to what is actually important. It's difficult for me to remember that though since I'm constantly treated like the imagine I created for myself.

I usually resorted back to the dickhead I didn't want to be when I was nervous, worried or had feelings for a girl but that included more of a charm than the other two. There was someone who had become a small exception to the rule. She always has been. Since the first day I saw her blonde hair sitting in two French plaits and her Dora The Explorer bag. Five year old me fell hard and 16 year old me is still falling.

From the way I treat her you'd think I was just being a jackass for my own amusement but it seemed to be the only thing my brain resorted to. Now it's slightly different. I have a girlfriend she's actually my first one as well. Sure I've dated girls but that usually ends in a bed and me making a quick jet in the morning. The girls all say the same after it, I'm a 'user' or a 'fuckboy' but there always texting me months after our brief time together. At first it felt great to have all these girls after me but then I remembered exactly what it was like to chase someone that didn't even start the race with you.

So now I was stuck with a drawing of the most beautiful girl I had ever known. The girl who when I saw her 3 words only came to mind but never came out. The girl who would never feel the same. I was stuck with a drawing of Keira Baskter the prettiest, smartest and most perfect girl to ever live. But hey my opinions rather bias.

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