/love paint\

'Clear Sky' Blue

I held on tightly to my canvas as I waited for Ren to show up. It was close to being finished so I felt it was the right time to ask my teacher for any final pointers.

"Waiting for that gay friend of yours again, Mina?"

I ignored the snickers and shook my head in displeasure. "Why do you keep on claiming that he's gay? Did you hope you would have a chance with him if he was?" Normally I would just ignore these guys but enough was enough with their harsh comments about my friend.

Clothing, hair, and colors had no gender so why couldn't they just mind their own bland business instead of trying to harm those who shine brighter.

My words sure made an impact on Jaehoon, the guy who was always poking fun at us. The only problem was that I hadn't meant to shout my words to the point that people outside the trio of guys were able to hear it.

I couldn't help but to scrunch slightly back as I fell victim to their glares. Sure I had words to back me up but not fist. I got hurt on a regular basis so fighting was a definite no in my books.

My step backwards was mached with Jaehoon's step forward. Before I could react I was pushed harshly down to the ground. The pain shot up my talibone immediately, and I knew it was going to be bruised tomorrow at the very least.

However in the midst of keeping my uniform skirt from flying up, my painting dropped out of my hand.

I managed to fall sitting down and avoid hitting my head, but was instantly shoved down by his foot stepping down on my shoulder.

"What the hell back off of her!" My eyes were shut tight, but I still reconized the voice.

Jaehoon's foot pressed down on my shoulder with much more force this time. "She talked shit so she's gonna handle the shit that comes her way, so mind your own business."

It sounded like there was a bit of a scuffle, but the foot on my shoulder kept me firmly in place until the noises ended.

There was a flood of relief that rushed through me upon hearing who had managed to not loose.

"Piss me off even more, kid. I honestly dare you." With the open threat, and who knows what facial expression, the weight on my shoulder finally lifted off.

The tears in my eye were blurring my vision as I finally mustered the courage to open them. Not even the clear blue sky above me could help settle my overwhelming emotions.

No matter how many times someone bitter had commented negatively towards me they never had gotten physical. When a sob escaped my lips I tilted my head to the side to stop myself.

"Oh no." Unfortunately upon tilting my head I finally caught sight of the spot where someone had purposely stepped through my work.

Without a second thought I hurriedly pushed my hands down on the ground in an attempt to pick myself up. I'd be lying if I said it hadn't hurt to move even a fraction.

"Hold up that fall looked rough." Baekho grabbed hold of my upper arm as he slowly stood me back up.

Some part of me was angry that he hadn't helped out sooner. The more rational part of me however was grateful enough he intervened the way he did before it had gotten worse, and that he appeared to be unhurt.

"It's ruined so excuse me for thinking that's more important then my ass hitting the ground."

"Well I guess that's one way to say it." He mumbled under his breath before walking over to pick up the ruined painting. I was too in pain and distraught to even care about my embrassing choice of words.

As he handed me the canvas, I felt my throat dry up from seeing all my hard work gone to waste.

"Don't worry. It's just a painting that I'm sure you have hundreds if not thousands of by now." Baekho's words were in some other universe meant to be reassuring. But let me be the first to say that they were in no way whatsoever helping right here.

I let out a shaky breath but willed myself again not to let any tears fall. "My parents are literature professors so they can express themselves with words. Ren expresses himself with his style. I can't do either but give me a blank canvas and I'll show you everything and anything."

With a heavy heart, I ran a hand over the ruined material that I would have to throw away. Every work of mine no matter the size was important to me. They said everything I couldn't and always in some way presented a part of me to the world. So it broke my heart in pieces to see something I put my head, heart, and soul into be destroyed.

"I bumped into Ren and he asked me to remind you that he had to serve his detention today instead of Friday." Baekho informed me. It was a bucket of bird poop to my already shitty day.

"No wonder he couldn't text me. They must have taken his phone away." I momentarily closed my eyes in mental preparation of the no doubt painful trip I was going to take home. It was either that or wait the unspecified amount of time that my friend was going to be restricted to the school's grounds for.

Before I could even make any movement to reach for my school bag, it was picked up for me.

"Come on. Let me help you get home."

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A/N:

extra long ch. because we all know what a teddy bear Baekho is
+ thank you all for the support this book has gotten