I Think I'm Okay Now

Chapter Three

"Peyton, you didn't have to do that." He said helping me clean off. I shook my head. "Frank, I'm not going to let those jerks do that to you." I said, washing the rest of the spaghetti out of my hair. When I got done changing, we headed back outside. As we walked down the hallway, we saw Mr. Smith walking with the guys to the office covered in food. "Whoa Whoa Whoa. What's going on here?" I asked, stopping them. "Well it appears that these gentlemen caused a food fight to erupt." The principle said. "It's not their fault." Frank said. "Yeah, those kids outside dumped their lunch on me!" "So you two were also involved? Both of you. Detention." "WHAT?!" We said in unison. "And on your first day, Peyton. Very disappointed in you." he said, marching us to the office. We sat in the office for what felt like hours, as Mr. Smith called each and every single one of our parents. "Peyton, your father isn't answering his cell phone. Do you know your mother's?" She asked. I sat their quietly. "Miss. Mattingly?" She repeated. "My mom is dead." I sighed. The boys looked at me in shock. "Oh. I'm terribly sorry. We'll just try to reach him later. You all may return to class." She said, dismissing us. "Peyton, what class are you going to next?" Mikey asked, as we walked down the hallway. "I'm going to art." "Well you can walk with my brother then." He pointed to Gerard, before walking off with Ray and Frank. Gerard just nodded at me, as we walked to art. "So you like art?" He finally spoke. "I love it." "You can sit by me if you want. I mean, you don't have to." He said, retracting his sentence. "That sounds great." I said, and that was the first time I've ever seen him smile. He opened the door for me, and we walked to our seats in the back of the classroom. "Gerard and Peyton, you're late." The teacher said, marking us tardy on her attendance sheet. "Sorry, Gerard was showing me around the school." I lied, and she looked up and smiled. "So you're the new student? Well that's fine, sweetheart. Just take your seat." She smiled, erasing our x's off the sheet. Gerard looked at me appreciatively, and mouthed a 'thank you'. I smiled in return, and we took our seats. "Today's activity, is to draw the person sitting next to you. Now remember, it doesn't have to be perfect." She said, before taking her seat at her own desk. "So, I guess I'll be drawing you." I smiled, and he nodded. "Lets get to it." he replied, taking out his sketchbook, as I did the same. After about ten minutes of drawing, Gerard put his pencil down and smiled. "Finally finished." He said, showing me the sketch. It was amazing. Everything was detailed! "Well, shit, now I'm scared to show you mine." I said, pushing my sketchbook aside. "Come on Peyton, it can't be that bad." He said, reaching over to grab my sketchbook. He looked at it and smiled. "It's really good." He said, flipping through the other pages. "All of this is really good, Peyton." "Thanks Gerard." I smiled. "So. First day of school, and you've already gotten a detention. " He said. I rolled my eyes. "Don't even remind me. But atleast I'm not alone" He nodded. The bell rang, signaling that it was time to go. "What class do you have next?" "I have a free period, so I guess I'll just read by the field." He smiled, and took my bookbag. "I have gym next, I'll walk you there."