Jones [H.S.]

Chapter 5

It has been weeks since Ally and Harry spoke. She kept avoiding him in the halls and also in classes as well, where he sat in the far corner watching like he always does. Ally didn't deny to herself that every time he sat in class he made her tense, nervous and extra sweaty, but she tried her best to ignore him and avoid eye contact.

Classes just ended and Ally was making her way towards the exit. Her brother was waiting in his car, on his phone typing away.

"You really need a car," He said while Ally was buckling her seatbelt.

"Why? You don't enjoy being my driver?"

Jason only rolled his eyes and started driving. Once they got home, Ally went in straight to the shower while her brother sat in the living room.

When she got out of the bathroom, Jason asked, "There is that art gallery down the street having something going on right now. Do you want to check it out?"

Ally nodded. "Sure. Do we have to dress formally though?"

"Nah, I passed by on my way to pick you up. The people dressed casually."

"Alright then. We can have dinner on our way back."

They got ready and went to the gallery. Canvases of all sizes hung on the wall and people were just staring in awe. Then Ally realized that most of the paintings were ballet dancers. As she walked, she noticed a white swan, a black swan, kids from the Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet. It was shocking along with the prices too.

When Jason approached her she asked, "Have you noticed the paintings?"

"Yes," he nodded. "The artist must be obsessed with dance."

They walked together to another section and the paintings completely changed. Chills crept on Ally's skin as she looked. There hung on the wall paintings of people faceless. But their body language didn't need a face to express their emotions. Some of the paintings were a group of people huddled together like they were trying to protect themselves from something. Another painting was of a naked girl standing, colors exploding from her head, her heart area and the center of her torso. Although the face didn't have any eyes or mouth of that sort, a tear appeared to be on her face running down to her jaw. It represented an explosion of emotions from her body, every emotion has its color. Ally was speechless.

"Hey, do you see this?" Jason nudged her.

She turned around and looked at where Jason was pointing. There hung a small canvas of a girl in black and white. Half of her face was smudged away giving ally difficulty to understand the facial expression. She looked deeply into the picture, carefully looking at the girl's eye. Then it hit her. It was her in the picture. Her heartbeat grew quicker and he let out a small, low laugh. She looked at Jason only to see him wide-eyed looking at the painting and back at her.

"What the fuck is this?" she choked.

Jason let out a small chuckle and said, "The artist has to be going to the company and watching you guys. This is sick."

"It's not funny, Jason." Ally glared at him and looked around her.

Shouldn't be the artist around somewhere?

She looked back at the picture on last time before leaving and something caught her eye. At the bottom of the canvas was a scribbled sign. She leaned forward and squinted, hoping he'd get a name out of it. All she could see was scribbles that she barely understood.

"Let's get out of here." She pushed Jason towards the exit.

They went and had dinner. Ally's mind raced with the painting she saw earlier.

The door of the small dinner place ringed signaling someone coming in and she saw the familiar figure. He walked in, his eyes searching the place until his eyes land on her. Ally locked eyes with him for a moment before breaking it and looking down at the food. Jason noticed him and he waved, causing him to walk over.

"Hey, Harry," he smiled nodding. "Nice to see you again."

"Hello," he replied.

"Come, join us. We just got here."

Ally glared at her brother and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Harry slid next to Jason and smiled.

"I hope you don't mind," Harry said as he asked the waiter for the menu. "How are you guys doing?" he asked as he looked at Ally and back at Jason.

"Good." That's all Ally said.

Harry and Jason chat away as she looked out the window her mind racing with thoughts.

If the artist goes to our company, who would it be? He could've been in our class to really catch a close up of my face. Who is he?

She rubbed her temples as she thought about it and she looked around her, completely ignoring the conversation running on the table.

"Are you done?" Jason asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

Jason hugged Harry and Ally just nodded at him before leaving.

When they got home, Ally went straight to her room, changing and getting into bed. She laid there as she looked at the ceiling still trying to figure out who drew her.

Who is he, Ally? Think. Who is always there watching everyone dance. Photographers only come when there is something going on.

Then it hit her. She sat up straight, wide-eyed.

"Oh my god, it can't be."