mute ➺ camren

Chapter Ten

"As much of an annoyance it was to have to keep nagging you to get this in, I'm glad you had the extra time. This is...extraordinary, Lauren." The art teacher complimented Lauren's hard work. Lauren hated it now. Now that her inside voice had been exposed without her consent, she felt violated. Camila had no right to look at it, especially while she wasn't there. Lauren was still furious, and as they say, curiosity killed the cat.
"I'm never let down by your work Lauren, never. You have an incredible eye for detail, and such a vivid imagination. I want you to consider the arts exhibition this year. I know your writing teacher sees potential in your words also, I think it would be really good for you." The teacher went on. But Lauren already knew she wouldn't be attending the exhibition.

Every year in Spring, the school would have an open night, in which the particularly gifted students could exhibit their work. Since it was an arts college, every type of art was welcomed. The school had courses for graphic or fine art, textile design, photography, writing, and also performing arts, so theatre, dance and music. Chosen artists, designers and photographers would have their work exhibited in the gallery in different sections, the same went with the chosen performers, there would be two dancers either solo or group, two musicians, and one theatre group to perform to the audience, which mainly consisted of students parents, and writers are chosen to read their work out to the same audience.

Lauren was told about the exhibition when she joined the school. Her portfolio from her previous high school was enough for the teacher to want to exhibit her talent to a wider audience, so the teacher would slip it in whenever she could. And following Lauren's masterpiece, she wanted to try to convince her again.
"Just think about it. You're talented, you deserve the attention." The teacher gave Lauren a sympathetic smile, and walked away, leaving Lauren to put her canvas in the storage cupboard, where it would sit until she gave an answer about the exhibition. She knew if she'd continue to say no, her teacher would have it up on a wall somewhere, even if she was the only person to ever see it.

*****

"Camila, any progress on a guitar?" Camila's music teacher pressed on at her as she sat with a school guitar, attempting to scribble down lyrics. Camila simply looked up to make eye contact with her, and nodded, giving a fake smile. She didn't like her teacher, Miss Kennard. She had her favourites, the ones who were grade 8 in something. She disapproved of Camila, the self-taught guitar player/singer taking a course in music. She had already decided that Camila was going to struggle with the content.
"Class performances are next week, and I'll be assessing you for the showcase in March. Julia, come and see me with your accompaniment sheet music." Miss Kennard spoke directly to the teacher's pet in front of the entire class. Camila looked up to see the girl give Miss Kennard the biggest grin she'd ever seen. She also noticed another girl sitting a few seats down from her roll her eyes and throw her notebook in her bag.
"You're dismissed." She had her final word. Camila had a free period, and so didn't move. Neither did the girl a few down from her. She tried to focus back on her playing. She strummed a chord pattern, and hummed a rough melody quietly to herself.
"What's your deal?" The girl spoke once everyone had left. Camila looked up, confused.
"Me?" She said timidly. The other girl shook her head and gave Camila a look.
"No girl I'm talking to myself. Yeah you, you're new right?" She asked Camila directly.

She was a pretty girl, with mousy brown hair, highlighted with blonde and set in curls down her shoulders. She had tan skin, darker than Camila, a sort of golden brown; Camila questioned the possibility of an aboriginal background. Her eyes were a deep brown, and she was beautifully curvy.
"Yeah I guess." Camila replied shortly.
"So, you gonna try get a place for the showcase? You sounded pretty good then." The girl asked.
"No, I don't stand a chance. She hates me." Camila huffed a little, setting the guitar down beside her and folding her notepad shut.
"Me either girl don't sweat it. She doesn't feel the power of Bey in my voice." The girl flipped her hair over her shoulder, making Camila chuckle a little.
"Does she not like you either?" Camila asked. The girl shook her head.
"Nope, I'm always late to get here and 'all I do is sing'," She mocked the teacher.
"How comes you're always late?" Camila asked, having noticed it before.
"I always have art before music, so I gotta get from one end to the other." She explained.
"Art?" Camila asked, thinking immediately of Lauren, and then the painting, and then the guilt flooded in.
"Yeah...why?" She noticed Camila's sudden uncertainty.
"Oh nothing I just..I know someone in that class." Camila shrugged.
"It's Lauren, right?" The girl spoke, making Camila flinch a little at the sound of the girl's name.
"How did you know?" Camila asked, stunned.
"Because you seemed so...uneasy. Everyone's a little cautious of her." She said, raising her eyebrows. Camila stared at the girl for a while before speaking again.
"Who are you?" She asked the girl.
"The name's Dinah-Jane, but just Dinah's fine."