Wonder • Five Hargreeves

27.5

France. A Winnie Short.

"Hi! You must be lost- can I help you?"

The classroom was warm and lit with an orange glow. Long smooth desks filled the majority of the room, each scattered with haphazard art-supplies and immaculate pieces of work.

It looked like a professionals work space, save for one small thing; Winnie Hargreeves was passed out at the end of one of those desks.

Her face squished adorably to a finished canvas, when she was awakened by this overly peppy and assuming voice. Winnie blinked her eyes slowly.

"Sure-" She yawned, slowly picking up her head, "Point me to the nearest tea-pot."

A lanky raven haired girl with caramel skin stood besides her. She had sharp features and big soulful eyes. Within those eyes shined annoyance and superiority.

It reminded Winnie of Five whenever he said something clever and no one understood him.

The girl stopped, pinched her lips, and then chittered nervously, "No no- I meant... like... You are here."

Winnie stared at her with lazy eyes and lifted her lips into a flirty grin, "Excellent observation. Tea?"

The french girl bristled awkwardly. She didn't know how to get her point across to this awfully confident girl. She wasn't supposed to be there!

"You are in the advanced artisan classroom. It is strictly reserved for a masters study of their art styles." The girl recited, getting a little bothered.

Winnie stared at her blankly and then squinted her eyes. Her mind was drawing a blank. Honestly she thought the girl was hitting on her at first. Shes heard and used the 'are you lost' pick up line almost a dozen times prior. Never had it been executed so poorly though.

"Yeah... thats the official title. Its really just a place for the more 'well-versed' students to mess around." Winnie shrugged and gathered herself from the table.

She stumbled out of her chair and promptly knocked over a tub of blue ink, spilling it over a blank canvas. Winnie cursed tiredly and picked it up to look at the damage.

"How would you know what this class is really for?" The girl hissed.

Winnie ignored her and held the painting above her head. She tilted the canvas to either side, then decidedly flipped it upside down, letting the blue ink drip off the bottom.

"Here, hold this." Winnie handed her the painting and the girl, bewildered, did as she was told. She glanced down and then back at the tiny blonde.

"Are you going to answer me?"

Winnie rubbed her eyes and squinted at the painting once more, using the opportunity to step back and look at the blue pattern from a distance.

When Winnie didn't reply again, The girl snapped shrilly, "Excuse m-"

"Do you want some tea?" Winnie interrupted. It was like she didn't notice the girl was speaking anyway.

Winnie walked back to the crowded orange tinted window sill. Among the mess of art supplies was a stained kettle and electric burner. Winnie flipped it on and fished out two clay mugs.

"No!" The exasperated girl cried, still clutching the canvas, "I want to know why you are here!"

Winnie gave her an ugly look, like she wasn't quite sure if the girl was stupid or not. She then looked at the two mugs, back at the girl, and the mugs again. That went on for several moments.