Colorblind

Chapter 4

I paced down the hallway one step after another. Room 248. Art. I stepped into the classroom and sat down in a seat close to the window. Max walked in not long after I did but never saw Harvey's old black tennis shoes touch the art room floor. I faced the front of the room only listening to the dull sound of people whispering waiting for the class to begin. In the corner of my eye I noticed Max moving past tables closer to where I was sitting until he sat in the seat directly in front of mine. We have two classes together. I had spoken no word to him not even a faded hello I just waited for him to start a conversation.

I heard Blair's pink heels scury down the hall and recognized the glossy lip gloss out of nowhere. She hurried to reach the seat next to me but was stopped by a group of girls who wouldn't push in their chairs. Meanwhile I glanced up and saw Max moving his lips in a weird gesture thinking of a way to start the conversation.

"So where are you from?" It was the only way I could start a conversation. His expression was blank. I slowly shrunk into my seat waiting for his response.

"Berkshire. I'm from Berkshire." I expected him to continue immediately but he moved his lips again, probably didn't think I could start the conversation."England." Which was something he didn't even need to explain, I could tell from the accent.

I pushed up my glasses and saw Blair staring bare at our somewhat uninteresting conversation. She sat down next to me as this girl walked by passing out papers. I smiled at him and faced toward Blair.

"Yayyyy, we have a class together!" She flipped her blonde hair took a quick glance at Max and smiled at me. " I need a quick drink of water, chow!" She waved her extremely long gem covered nails above her head...leaving me and Max alone. I rolled my eyes at her.

I didn't take a single second to read the instructions on the board and sketched a quick picture of Max's hat in the top right corner of the paper. I dropped my pencil on the table and it rolled off the edge before I could even blink. Max quickly got up from his chair on his knees and picked up the pencil I had dropped. With one hand on the table and the other clutched lightly on the pencil. I looked up, his gaze was locked in place. I froze. Couldn't speak. I gulped hard.

I quickly snatched the pencil from his yet soft hand. He sighed and sat back in his seat and Blair got back. I didn't look up, not one bit I sat there and stared directly at my shoes at the ground.

All of a sudden I felt Blair tugging aggressively at my shoulder. Everyone was heading out the door. I saw Max pull his jacket over his left shoulder he grinned and waved me goodbye. He walked out the door and Blair jumped right in front of me.

"Gaby what the heck!? Your lucky the bell rang before the teacher called your name! Why don't you introduce me to your friend 'the floor' I tried to speak to you seven times during class and all you did was stare at the ground!" I looked at her brown eyes she seemed super confused.

"I'm-I'm sorry?" I rubbed my arm "I'm just not feeling so good right now. Why don't I make it up to you,we can go to the art museum this afternoon?" I looked at her with puppy dog eyes and slightly tilted my head

" Alright, stop it stop it." She chuckled. "What time?" She asked.

"Around 4?"I asked.

She nodded."Okay I'll text you my address." She waved me goodbye as I lifted my backpack over my shoulders and headed out to my car.

Outside the weather was cloudy once again and the breeze began to pick up. Bipolar sunshine? I giggled as I drove off in my Ford Ranchero.

I got home and laid on the couch, till time came I took a nap.

Aroused from my sleep by thunder striking the ground. I looked over at my phone. Crap, it's 3:45!? I picked up my car keys and ran out the door. It was pouring outside so I quickly buttoned up my black trench coat and drove over to Blair's.

I knocked on her apartment door and she opened. She owned the nicest apartment behind her were some really tall glass windows with tall wine drapes. She locked the door behind her. She was wearing different clothing. She called it bedazzled? Covered in big Opal gems.

We ran downstairs and drove off to the art museum. The sky's almost black the clouds were constantly crying. I parked around the corner avoiding the fire lane. I stepped out of the car and tried to cover my head from the rain with my hands.

All of a sudden the rain stop I locked the car door. I turned around and realized Harvey was raising an umbrella above my head. I was shocked I slowly moved my eyes from his shoes to his eyes, I gave him a shy smile.

"I was at a play with Max but it was absolutely lame I couldn't stand so I had to ditch, something about 'Othello'." He giggled as he rolled his eyes and pointed at the theater across the street. I recognized that title out of nowhere.

"Yeah, boring.." I had to lie, but in truth Othello was one of my favorites. I looked up at him and saw the theater lights reflect in his eyes. "Well if you want, you can join Blair and I were going to the art museum if you want?" I looked at him hopping for him to respond with a yes.

"Sure that sounds good." He smiled as he walked right next to me with the umbrella still above our heads.

Behind me I heard Blair trying to keep up.

"Pardon, me." I stopped in place and looked back down at her. She faked a smile as she walked under the umbrella taking shelter from the rain. I frowned in her action asking for forgiveness in my eyes. She lightly nodded her head as we walked through the museum doors.

My eyes followed in Harvey's footsteps as he walked ahead me and Blair stood in place as she pointed out an odd looking sculpture we giggled with each other. We slowly paced by each painting pointing out all the things we loved about it. I lost view of Harvey and raised my head looking around the room in search of his sweet smile. In the far of the room I spotted Harvey talking to Maddison. Her arms were dangling around his neck as she gazed at him. What is she doing here?

"That's all the paintings." I heard Blair say behind me. I nodded as in a let's go.

I followed behind her out the door. I looked back at Harvey, he had no idea that we were already leaving. He was so caught up in Maddison. I took a deep breath and let it all go as we drove away. I spotted Max leaving the theater I gave him a weak smile and faced towards the road again.

I left Blair at her mansion of an apartment and arrived at my own house. I stepped inside and locked the cold doorknob behind me. I flopped back on the couch,threw my coat aside and let the sound of trickling rain on the roof rock me to sleep remembering the way Maddison starred at Harvey I secretly couldn't stop thinking about it. And to top it all off the way Max stony gaze.