In Your Dreams

Part 36

*Shennika's POV*

(The next day)

I spent most of the morning in my room finishing my acrylic painting. My hands and most of my forearms were sploshed in it. I wiped my face with the back of my hand but got a little bit of paint smeared on my face without thinking. I carefully placed my paint brush down next to my other used one and with a sigh I let my arm drop back down to my side.

My arm ached a tad from hours of steady painting but not that I was complaining- I loved painting and it seemed like I was making up for lost time since I hadn't really been stuck down in my work pretty much since I got here.

Felt good being back in my art zone, art on the mind and simply enjoying what I do. I stood stretching my arm out and flexing it a few times but that was a mistake- just made my arm feel more dead. I shot air out of my mouth upwards blowing my fringe that looked just as worked as I did.

I took careful steps back moving around the many obstacles I had all over my floor- which was quite common that my room and work space would be messy whenever I painted, for some reason I liked having all my art clutter around me.

I examined my canvas painting and hummed thinking it didn't quite feel complete but what did it need...oh I know! I sparked an idea and walked back over picking up my paint brush with my left hand and swirled it back into the paint mixture and added steady final touches. I was working on a native American piece since I absolutely loved their artistic style- I added downward smudge hand prints in crimson and yellow ochre.

I grinned a huge smile at my finished painting, I held my  hands on my face taking steps back and examined it once more then I shot my fists into the air and danced a bit "yes! it's finally done!" I smiled happily tilting my head, "yep, this one's a beauty, hopefully my tutor likes it and it's enough to get that distinction."

From across the room my laptop made a jingle noise which meant I got an email. "Ah! that must be my tutor, man she's got good timing!" I thought to myself. My laptop made another jingle noise, in a rush I wiped my hands on my baggy t-shirt on the floor and quickly went over to answer the email.

'Hiya Shennika, how are you finding your topic of interest project? I'm sure that you're doing just fine, you were very excited to get stuck into it, so I expect great results, which I don't think will be a problem seeing as your work so far as shown strong Merit and near Distinction qualities.' 

I read her message and sighed smiling seeing that she believed in me, I walked over to my bed and stretched over my art portfolio case to grab my phone.

I smiled seeing I had messages from Ross then I remembered I'm seeing him tonight! I smiled to myself feeling excited, can't wait until he finally tells me what he has planned. I would get it out of Rydel or Rocky since they pretty much tell me everything but knowing Ross he probably would of made them swear to secrecy- plus I wouldn't want to spoil whatever surprises he had for me, yeah I'll give him that.

I hooked my phone to it's charger then walked back over to my laptop to read the other message from my tutor- she asked if I was free to video chat. I thought for a brief moment then shrugged, why not. I accepted her request and walked back over to my easel and carefully picked up my canvas painting.

"Heyyyyy" I heard my tutor laugh in my laptop screen, I smiled carrying my canvas over to the wall corner to brace it down so it would dry quicker, "hey Kate" I looked back briefly.

"Ooo so that's you're killer art work you're hiding over there, hmm?"

I looked back at her, "I'm not hiding it Kate, lets just say I'm preserving it for when you see it fully dried tomorrow, trust me Kate I think you're going to love it!" I hoped.

"Mmmm another Shennika masterpiece is it?" I grinned seeing her smile and wink, I folded my arms tilting my head back "you bet!" I saw her nod on my laptop screen then looked down raffling some papers, "hmmm just going through you're checklist...so final piece done?"

yep!

"...researched artist and inspiration write up done?"

yerrp!

"...all your research has been highlighted and annotated?"

Yes ma'am it has.

"Alrightie that's done, done and done... Ok, that's good Shennika, I'll be over tomorrow to take in your submission" Kate smiled looking up from her list.

I walked back over to my art folder to put back in all my papers,  "oh ok that's great-" I thought for a moment, "hey Kate couldn't I come to give you my submission later on today?" I walked over to my laptop, "I mean if that's ok with you, it's not that far a walk from here and I'm sure my friend Maggie knows a shortcut near the junction..."

My tutor hummed thinking then smiled "yeah sure thing kiddo, come over as soon as your painting dries which shouldn't be more then 2 hours" I nodded and spoke some more then once the video chat had ended I packed up all my art stuff and washed my paint pallet in the bathroom sink. 

Walking back to my room Bethany was just coming up the stairs, "hey Beth, you up for coming with me and Maggie (once I tell her) for a bit of a journey to my tutor's house to hand in my work?

She followed me into my room. "Yeah sure thing it's nice out today" she smiled looking at my painting, "WOW...so it's finally finished! Bet you're so relieved, I know I would be" she traced her eyes over the contents crouching down beside it's frame, "how do you do it... it's really good Shennika."

"Aw thanks Beth," I smiled picking up my phone again, I turned hearing her sigh "the funny thing is I kinda miss art, we did it together in high school and yeah our teacher was a right pain but I just miss the whole creating stuff really."

I put my phone down and leaned against my desk "hmm I've got some spare A3 paper, if you want I could get you back into painting again" I suggested. She stared back at me for a moment then grinned "ah yeah that would be...fun, like old times, init Shennika?"

I smiled "yeah...like old times." I didn't want to ruin the moment, finally the old Bethany was back and I didn't want to ruin it by bringing up what she was hiding. Yeah I suspected Kelli had a part in it but I needed to hear it from her to be sure...

"Come on then let's go up to Maggie's and see if she'll come with us" Bethany said snapping me out of my daydream. I nodded taking my phone off charge and shoved it into my pocket, I smiled at Bethany who was standing in the doorway "don't worry I'm right behind you."