Remembering Red {Book Three} The Mentalist

2: Art

*Alexis' pov*

"This is great Alexis," Mrs. Jean told me. I had just given her the drawing, and I thought it was good. I had to color it, but the outline was due today. I just loved art with all the things you could do with it. You could make bright colors to show the happiness and joy in it. You could do blues and greens to show the sadness in the object. You didn't even need to color it at times to get the message across. Mom shared my love of art, even though she told me she hasn't drawn a thing for so long her skills probably went down.

I would have to say my love of art happened when Mom took me on a little girls day out when I was nine. We were walking down a street. There was a little shop that no one seemed to be going into, and when I looked in I saw paints, pencils, brushes, all that kind of stuff. I ran up to my mom and pulled her arm. Her green eyes looked down at me, and I pointed to the store.

"Can we go in there Mommy?" I asked and she smiled and took my hand. We walked into the store to the smell of paints and markers. I looked around and saw so many beautiful pictures and many art supplies.

"Mommy, what's that?" I asked pointing to a picture of a night sky with stars and a moon.

"That is VanGo's Starry Night," she answered. "Do you like this paintings?"

"Yes!"

"Do you want some paints or something to make some yourself?"

"Can I?"

"Of course. But not too much, okay? We don't want Daddy to kill us, do we?"

"No Mommy, we don't."

"Then go and pick out whatever you want to make the picture with, and I'll get you things to make it on."

I watched her walk to a place with paper all around her. I walked all over the store, but the other stuff just didn't seem like a good fit to what I wanted. Then I saw a box with something that look like crayons in it. I looked at them and felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see the man behind the counter looking down at me with a smile.

"Anything I can help you with?" he asked me with his kind voice. I looked over at my mom, but she wasn't looking at me. She told me to never talk to strangers, and I wasn't sure if I should. I walked over to her with nothing in my hands and the man still looking at me. I grabbed her leg and she looked down.

"Yes Alexis?" she asked. I pointed at the man and she laughed. "Sweetie, that man will help you find what you are looking for. Go on, I'll be right here if you need me."

I walked back over and gave him a small smile. He smiled back and knelled beside me.

"Hello," he said. "My name is Mr. Jefferson. What's yours?"

"Alexis," I told him proudly. "Alexis Jane."

"What a beautiful name. So is there anything I can help you with?"

"What are these?" I asked holding up the box. He took them in hand and sighed.

"Oil pastels. Not many people use them for drawings, at least the people who come to my shop. Though I like to use them."

"Why?"

"Well they are easy to use, and if you use them with another, the colors just seem to mix into the perfect color."

"Really?"

"Yes. Is this what you want to buy?" I looked at the box in his hands. They seemed so colorful and so bright. I took them in my hand and nodded. He smiled and walked back over to the counter. Mom walked over and I ran up behind her has she placed the pad of paper in front of him. I gave her the box and she paid for all of it.

"Will that be all?" Mr. Jefferson asked.

"It will be," Mom told him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he told her and gave me the bag and something else. It was a fine drawing book. It had designs in it, and the pages look fine and amazing. "On the house, just for you Alexis."

"Oh thank you Mr. Jefferson," I said with a huge grin on my face.

"Anytime dear."

I still went to that drawing store to buy my art supplies. Mr. Jefferson still owned it, and gave me those drawing books since he got them for free. We talked and he felt like a second father to me, even thought Dad takes his own place with everyone he meets, good or bad.

I sat down at my desk and took out my oil pastels. They were my favorite art supplies to use, and I was one of the few people in my class to use them. I started to color, and did this till the bell rang. I picked up my bag and went to my locker. Art was my last class of the day, and I was ready to go home. My phone started to ring, and I picked it up.

"Hello?" I asked the person on the other end.

"Alexis, could you and Brayson stop by the office?" Dad's clear voice come through.

"Sure, but why?"

"I need to give you money for a pizza, this case is going to take a while for us."

"Okay Dad, we will."

"Thank you. I love you Alexis."

"Love you too Dad."

I pushed the call end button and walked outside. I saw Austin get into his ride's car, and saw Brayson sitting behind the wheel waiting for me. I opened the door and he smiled at me.

"We need to go by the CBI base to get money from Dad," I told him and he smiled.

"Case going to be a while?" Brayson asked.

"Yep."

"The downside to having the two for parents I suppose."

"You love them and you know it."

"Wouldn't trade them for the world. Same can be side about you sis."

We soon arrived at the CBI base. Brayson told the guy who let cars in who we were and then parked the car. He looked at me and we got out. We went into the elevator and then walked into the office. I saw Lisbon looking at something with Rigsby, and I taped her on the shoulder. They both looked at me and smiled.

"Hey Alexis," Rigsby told me.

"Hi Rigsby," I replied. "Do you know where Dad is?"

"Looking at Thomas integrating one of the suspects," Lisbon answered. They still called Mom by her maiden name Thomas. Easier than trying to say which Jane they were talking to.

"Can I go in and get something from him?"

"Just don't go in to the room your mom is, then sure."

"Thanks Lisbon."

"You're welcome."

I told Brayson and he told me to go on and get it. I walked into the hall and saw Cho leaning on the doorway and I told him hi. He nodded and I walked in. I saw Dad looking at the conversion Mom was having and so was VanPelt. I walked beside him and saw that the person that was also in the other room had light blond hair, grey eyes, and skin that was almost has light has Mom's. Almost.

"Isn't she amazing?" Dad asked me without looking at me. I was surprised he knew I was there, but didn't say a word. I listened to what she was saying.

"So, you are going to keep telling me that you don't know where James is?" Mom asked the man, and he smiled.

"I am going to keep telling you that since it is the truth," he told her.

"Well here's the money," Dad told me handing me twenty dollars. I looked at him, but he seemed to be in another world. He usually was when he was thinking about something. I walked out of the door and went to give Brayson the money. We left and I told him all about it. We didn't think much of it, but I wish we had. It might have helped for the things to come. 

Ummmm, I wonder what is going to happen. Oh wait, I don't, but I'm sure you do. So what do you think so far? You can see little Alexis Marie Jane on the side, isn't she pretty? Let me know how awesome this book is, or even if you want to see a little more of someone. Peace out my Stars!