The Peacock

Meet Isaac

I want to say that she had disappeared suddenly after the last words she left behind but my gaze followed her as she exited the room. And I was stood still - speechless. After a moment of bland shuffling of shoes, I blinked a few times to catch up with the present me. Why was I so infatuated by her? Could this just be another measly teen, tinkle of the heart or rhythm of the churning stomach?

After another few moments of zoning out, the bell had rang and it was time for this love sick puppy to join in with the evening classes.

At quarter to five, I was shuffling through the lifeless halls of D block - where the teachings of modern culture were engraved. I was headed for my usual "Evening at 6 with Miss McCartney" who was the head of Art & Literature. The only light that flooded the halls was the one from the lamp post that beamed through the arched shaped windows of the hall. The sun had already set and the heating was turned low which really portrayed a February winter.

"Isaac!"

I turned to the shriek of my name and predictably looked to see Jay leap for me as if I was a rat that had unforgivably rummaged through his fridge.

"Whatcha doing over here?" He continued, with his arm wrapped around my neck as we both stumbled ahead.

"I'm going to my art class... What are you doing over here I could say", I replied with a hint of curiosity although my eyes looked morbidly ahead.

"Oh! Veronica Mc something. You don't know how good you have it with her"

"Stop acting like you know her personally, she could eat you alive." I retaliated even though I realised he never answered my question. I nudged the side of his stomach and laughed before I broke free to smarten myself up. "Is it another chick you're meeting from your long list of accomplishments?"

"You bet", he threw me a wink as he ran passed my class.

As I finally reached the door of my class I realised that the door was wide open and sitting in her chair with the legs collapsed on her desk was Miss McCartney, reading another Vogue magazine. I swallowed abit of swelled saliva as I walked in, noticing the other five members of the class were consumed by their paintings and did not turn to look at who entered. My cheeks had flushed crimson by this point as I could feel Miss McCartney's eyes on me. As if she didn't hear the conversation in the hallway. I wish she hadn't, I pray that she didn't but it was all written on her face as well as mine that she knew. I glimpsed at her as I stood behind my unfinished Canvas.

"It's nice of you to join us without your friend, Isaac", A smirk surfaced on her defined plump lips as I looked back at my painting, embarrassed. She had rose from her seat from what I could tell from the corner of my eye and leaned in front of her desk. "Okay guys, so today I'd like for us to share how far we have gotten with our paintings and what each of you were hoping to portray through your paintings. How about you Isaac, What have you got to show us today?" I looked back at her in surprise, she knew I had always been apprehensive in speaking my thoughts in public but I suppose she wasn't so thrilled at the ruckus I had caused outside of class.

Ultimately, I turned my canvas around for the rest of the pupils to soak in. It was an abstract painting to begin with. An oil painting of a distant tree with single petals falling from it, the grass held the tree in its place but its ends were moved by the wind within the image.

"I've been inspired by a few aspects of my life when making this image but lately I've been on a painter's block for finishing it. As you can tell, I still yet have the sky to do and the finishing touches and which season I'd like for it to be perceived in. As for what I am trying to achieve with this, I'm not sure yet, I've been painting as to how I feel." I gazed at my painting once more trying to seek some inspiration or ideas from it but my mind was clouded by thick fog.

"Okay let us move on to you Minah, what have you got to show us", Miss McCartney salutes and I was merely back behind my work listening to the rest.

The thought of the girl from the library had appeared. I wonder what she was doing right now. I wonder if she was also into art or culture like I was or did she think it to be tedious. I glanced over at the window that I sat beside and noticed Jay walking out of the entrance, with a girl like he had said he would be with, but my mind was so deep in thought about the girl I admired that it had looked like he was walking with her. The dark long hair, the slender figure, fair complexion, even though I can only catch the back of her. If only she had a more distinctive feature like a vibrant hair colour or maybe a bright coloured coat but then again, I know I wouldn't be attracted to someone like that. It's hard to explain why I feel this way about that specific girl, all I know is that she reflects an aura that I desire.

For the first time, time felt like it was stuck with the clock that ticked but hand never moved. I let out a weakened sigh as I look back at my painting.