'Cause Nothing Lasts Forever ✔️

Chapter 17 - " No, not you again"

Excursion day 1

Blaire's POV

Careful, he picked up the dart and unwrapped the paper from it.

“Wherever you go, my eyes are always on you. Don't ever think you can get rid of my silhouette,” was neatly written on the paper.

I clutched his hand tightly and he returned the gesture with a calm squeeze reassuring that everything will be alright.

“Girls, follow me,” Ms Black, our E.V.S teacher commanded.

“And boys follow me,” Mr Finch spoke with a thick Australian accent.

We followed our mentors in two different trains of students along with other teachers, Ms William, Thomas, Mr Ashton, and Ms Terwilliger.

On my earnest request, at last, they paired me up with Jase. But to my utter surprise, the opposite door belonged to none other than the great Christian and James. I swiped my key when Christian shot me a wink. I rolled my eyes and disappeared into the room.

I slouched down on our fluffy bed which was obviously a double bed much more than my expectations of twin beds. Unfolding the sheet of paper handed over by the teachers, I founded the programme schedule there.

“Okay lemme see what's in here,” I huffed and Jasmine hoped in beside me.

“Day 1 - Heard museum, Phoenix art museum

Day 2 - Papago park - Phoenix zoo

Day 3 - North mountain preserve, show butte hiking

Day 4 - Rest. Prom and party

Day 5 - The Sonoran desert

Day 6 - mystery castle and science centre

Day 7 - Phoenix symphony and pool gathering,” I read it aloud.

“Well, that sounds like something,” Jasmine sniffed.

“Yeah,” I said, scanning through my clothes and opening the sliding door of the washroom.

“I really need a cold bath,” I said, closing the door after me.

The shower was quite good. Phoenix was much hotter than San Diego. As I walked into the room, I noticed Christian nodding his head in approval while a smirk touched Jasmine's face. I wondered what they were actually discussing but he instantly left.

Two hours later after having our lunch, we were off to the Phoenix art museum. A light skater dress with a simple flat was perfect for the weather. I Googled to find out that although the noon gets hotter as dusk begins to fall, it cools down. We stepped inside the museum when Christian fell in step beside me.

I was ready to captivate each and every moment in our pendant camera. Honestly, it was awesome. The ambience, surrounding, lighting, calmness. Everything was worth experiencing.

The museum contained three specialized galleries- the art of Philip C. Curtis, Thorne miniature room, and Phoenix art kids.

It had tons and tons of paintings. It has European paintings by Ubertini, Girolamo, Bernardo, Marcellus, Jacob and what not. Especially a fan of painting like me would definitely fall in love here. I found some anonymous paintings too. Well, I can't even end the list if I go on. It held a bunch of American paintings by Stanford, Gilbert and also has a good contemporary collection. The 20th-century sculptures were worthy of time and praise.

Somewhere between the bunch of students and discovering the arts, I lost myself so much that I was unable to notice when Christian has laced his fingers with mine. We didn't notice where our three hours flew away. It was time to head towards the Heard Museum. It held all the pieces of art and culture of native Americans, it showcased the tribal life and culture so elegantly. We came to know about the festivities here and we're a little upset that we are unable to grab them.

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It was almost dark when we checked into the hotel again. It was a quite exciting and exhausting day. The temperature had relatively come down. I stood at the door chatting with Jasmine and swiped my key while Christian and James reached up to us. Suddenly they shifted their positions.

“Take care, Blaire,” Jasmine grinned as she stepped towards James and went inside with him.

I met Christians eyes with a glint of annoyance.

“Huh. Not you again,”

He shot me a knowing grin as we went inside.

We cleaned up and I walked off to the balcony while he went on poking with his phone. I don't know what I felt but my voice unbounded itself and the melody kicked in.

“Woah, there, miss talent. Which language, is it? And what are you singing?" I heard Christian asking with a confused look on his face.

“Come, let me tell you,” I said in a defeating tone, stopping my song in its very first stanza. 

We sat on the bed, crossed our legs and opened a pack of nachos to accompany our talk.

“Years ago once my father was transferred to a south-Asian country back then I was just six or seven. Everything was just different there.  Obviously, it was east but my father fell in love with the music, their classical music. He admitted me in a music class there to inculcate the love and passion for music," I went on with the story.

“Then?”

“Then, in a year I really loved their language, culture, art and music. I learnt the basics but I was a kid back then,” I saw his eyes attentive to peek into my life.

“Back here after a year, I wanted to continue with it and luckily my dad managed to arrange a music teacher here and now I'm a skilled singer,” I raised my hands and pointed at myself.

“By the way, I need to talk to you...about uh...some matters.”

“Yeah say,” He peeped into the packet of nachos looking for more of it. Sometimes he could be so stupid.

“Nothing, drop it,”

“Alright, then, I have something to know from you,” he said, grabbing the opportunity.

“Sure,”

“Where did you meet Christopher first?”

For a few moments, my mind jumbled and words stuck in my tongue, finally, I managed to say, “at the cafè.”

“Cafè?”

“Yeah. That day when I went out with James, I met him at the cafè. He asked me to pass the handkerchief,” 

“I just hope James doesn't have any connections with all these,” He whispered silently.

“No, he doesn't t, I guess. I mean at that instant he was in the washroom,”

“Just hope so,”

His face was grave. His eyes were cold and his expression said he was trying to join the several lost pieces of the puzzle.

Tensed by his expression, I pulled him into a warm hug to calm him down and ease the situation.

“Last day I saw them. Together. Discussing. Late night.” His voice was suddenly audible, and clear word by word.