On My Own (disc.)

Questions and Revelations (2) **

MICHAEL

It seems as if Luke was skinnier than usual this week. His usual baggy shirts usually just made him look kind of cute, but now it looks like he's wearing clothes fit for a boy four times his size, which isn't endearing at all.

But his usual cockiness didn't evaporate with the meant on his bones, though - in fact, he's always had a personality that seemed far too big for someone his size, even with his abnormal height. He had depth, which you can't exactly see in most people around here. They're either plain, or build up so many walls to protect themselves and their secrets. Not Luke. Luke flaunts himself everywhere he goes - the kind of confidence that almost all of us had in primary school. It's rare these days, though.

It was the beginning of the first semester, where your teachers will either go easy on you at first, or pour everything on you all at once. Mr. Aidsen was in between the two, luckily - he gets the hard and boring stuff out of the way first, and then for the rest of the year, you get to do the fun things that the seniors rave about.

This year was no exception.

The Arts are required to have at least two projects in the year - one where you pick your partners, and one where you don't. Mr. Aidsen switches it up every class, and if you get lucky, you're in one of the classes that gets to pick your own partner first. I hoped that we were - so far, we'd been lucky the first round, because with the first project, two people had to actually work together if they wanted a decent grade - Calum and I were always paired together. The other project was usually one person making a painting inspired by their favourite piece of art and handing it to their partner to describe aloud and criticise it in front of the class.

But as soon as I walked in the classroom with Calum, I saw a hat in the middle of the room, and Mr. Aidsen with a sheepish look on his face. I groaned, knowing it would've happened eventually, but I just hoped that I didn't get someone that wasn't very motivated. Like Randy. Oh, god, I hope I don't get Randy.

"Why us?" I whined to Mr. Aidsen, and he chuckled.

"Michael, you know I can't exactly break the rules here." He says, and I grunt, knowing he's right. Our principal was a dick - he needed everything to be to the T, and nothing less.

"I'm dropping out if I get Randy." I threaten, and Calum snickers, while Mr. Aidsen rolls his eyes. "What? He barely even attends the class! I'm serious, guys."

Calum and Mr. Aidsen smile. "We know." Mr. Aidsen says.

The first bell rings, and instantly, people flood into the art room, and groan, knowing that they didn't get lucky this time around.

"I know, guys. Save it, I already got lectured on how some of my star pupils might drop out depending on who they get in other classes." Mr. Aidsen sighs dramatically, making a few people grin. "But you have to do it anyway if you want credits for college, so you're stuck here." He clapped his hands together and picked up the hat, calling people up to pick names from the hat at random, and sit next to them.

Next thing we know, Ashton is walking up to the hat. He draws a paper, and freezes as he reads it. Did he get Randy? Oh, I feel bad for him if it's someone bad.

But then he's walking over here and sitting next to Calum, who has an uncomfortable look on his face. Mr. Aidsen fishes Calum's name out of the hat and tosses it in the trash as I hide a smug smile. Just Calum's luck - his partner is the guy who almost beat him up. He notices, and glares at me, only making me smile just a little.

Luke walks up and picks one on the top, raising his eyebrows. Maybe he got Daniel. Daniel is an eyebrow-raising kind of artist.

Mr. Aidsen peeks over, and the class laughs a bit at his curiosity. Luke would be a surprising match with anybody besides Ashton, honestly - he's got a different vibe than most of us in the class.