Highschool Sweethearts ~BWS~

Chapter 9 - Elbows

"He's been like it since Monday," I complain to Lucy as I paste the lemon colour all over my canvas. "I ignore him but he keeps trying to warm up to me, get me to smile, but then Sara comes in and pushes me away. I don't know why I even try."

Lucy gives me a forlorn smile, trying to ease my confused, pained mind. 

"Well I mean it is Wednesday so it's only been two days. I think it's just Sara," she adds. "I think she's scared of you and how friendly Brad is to you. She's jealous."

"Jealous of me? She's the one that's his girlfriend! I'm just a familiar acquaintance." I inform.

"Yeah... or maybe she's jealous of Brad. You are fairly pretty." Lucy suggests.

I roll my eyes, " Not your theory again. If she is gay, bi,  pan or whatever, why hasn't she gone out with a girl already? This school does seem very accepting. "

"Because maybe she hasn't accepted it herself, she could be in denial. It's not that easy to 'just come out'." Lucy argues, moving her fingers in quotation marks causing paint from her brush to splatter. 

"Oh, sorry." I stammer. 

Lucy shakes her head. "I didn't mean it like that.  It's just a touchy subject for a lot of people."

I nod my head timidly as I sketch out Lucy onto my now yellow canvas. She stares at her own piece intently whilst I chart out her nose and brows; the shape of her face. 

As I finish my draft, I reach to grab the paints, Mrs Conrad sneaks up beside me.

"My, Emily. This is wonderful. You're really good at portraits." She comments.

I redden at her compliment. 

"You could make several portrait pieces, turn them into a collection. Actually," She turns away and grabs a leaflet off of her desk. "I think you should enter this competition that's going on. You'd be sure to win.

I take the colourful paper from her hands and examine it's writing. All that is required is to be under 21 and that the piece or pieces should be entered by the 12th March. 

I smile and nod to her. "This sounds great. I think I will. I could do numerous pieces, maybe one on each of my friends. Thank you."

Mrs Conrad grins and moves on to talk to the other students in the class. 

***

The lesson lasted for two hours. I got to paint a quarter of Lucy's portrait. I think I could have done more if we hadn't been talking but I didn't mind gossiping. We leave the Arts Hall together and make our way over to Main; the boys already sat at our table.

Once there, I sit between Connor and Lucy, opposite Tristan. James and Brad sit either side of Tris. I avoid Brad's worried gaze and fix my eyes towards the food in front of me. Don't look at him.

"So how was Art?" Connor asks.

"Great." I beam, raising my head. "Mrs Conrad wants me to enter a competition."

Everyone around the table nod, indicating their interest. 

"I was thinking that I could make a collection of portraits." I pause. "Of you guys?" I almost whisper.

 They give cheers of approval. All eager to be immortalised on paper.

"Emily that sounds so cool! Who are you going to do first?" Tris mentions.