The Art of Mending Memories

The Art of Mending Memories 27

The Art of Mending Memories Chapter 27

I walked into English class stifling a yawn. Art class was relaxing as always. I was working on a lighthouse scene with a paint canvas. My mind was still focused on the paint mixes as I took my seat next to Jason. I was also really excited because one of my favorite painters was having an exhibition nearby in a few weeks. Paul and I hoped to go.

"Hey," Jason greeted me.

"Hey," I said absently, my mind refocusing and taking inventory of my surroundings. I noticed Kara talking to the teacher, Miss Day, probably about the essay due the next day.

"How was your weekend?" I asked Jason. He hadn't been able to go to homecoming because his family had flown out to visit his older sister across the country. "How's Lily?"

"Lily's doing great," he enthusiastically replied. "She loves her job, her apartment, the community. She is so happy."

"That's great," I smiled. "I'm so happy for her."

"Yeah, we are too. You should see her place. It's pretty nice."

"Hey guys," Kara interrupted, slumping into her seat. "How's it going?"

"It goes," Jason and I replied simultaneously. We broke into laughter as Kara rolled her eyes.

"I heard you had a nice homecoming," Jason said to me.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "People gossip was too much."

My friends laughed at me.

"Grapevine news travels fast," Jason told me when his laughs had ceased.

"How long are your essays?" I inquired, blatantly changing the topic.

"Five pages," Kara responded immediately.

"Damn. Yours is five pages? Mine's only three," Jason grumbled.

"Three what?" Kyle asked as he quietly arrived, making Kara jump. I had, of course, been aware of his presence a few short moments before.

I couldn't sense Aaron of Jeff nearby, which was a little odd. Usually the three arrived together. Concentrating harder, I sensed the two outside the classroom, at the end of the hallway; neither seemed to be moving.

The bell rang and I was jerked out of concentration.

"Where are Aaron and Jeff?" Jason asked Kyle.

He shrugged. "I don't know."

"You'd think Aaron would want to be here," Kara mumbled out of the side of her mouth. Jason stifled his laughs as Kyle broke into a smile. I pretended not to hear.

Miss Day called attention to the class. "Where's Aaron?" She asked. "And Jeff?"

Aaron strolled through the door, his re haze flaring harshly in anger. "Excuse me," he said with a smile meant to charm. "I didn't realize the time."

Miss Day smiled back, charmed. "Just don't let it happen again."

"I won't," he said, brushing against me as he sat in his seat.

Miss Day continued on, not even bothering to wonder why Jeff was missing.

I was pretending to listen to the teacher when I noticed Aaron and Kyle leaning toward each other, obviously in whispered conversation. Kyle looked grim; Aaron looked angry.

"Where's Jeff?" Jason leaned over to whisper, interrupting their conversation. A quick glance to Miss Day showed her back was turned to the class as she wrote notes on the whiteboard.