First Day of My Life

Chapter 3 This can't happen

The next day comes, Carlos and I are in the fourth period which is the art class. I am about to tell him about last night when Ms. Heather commanded us to sit down.

"Okay class, today's project I want you to paint me a visual..."

Ms. Heather is interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Excuse me, class." She opens the door and begins to talk to someone. She gets her pen from her ear, signs a paper and lets him in. Michael steps in and sits in an empty station across from me. He hasn't seen me yet.

"As I was saying, I want everyone to paint me a visual picture that comes with a message. Got it?" She claps her hands together. "Begin!"

I start to think about painting the door. But not just any door. A door that holds secrets, adventure and happiness just on the other side of it. When I begin to paint, Ms. Heather calls me. I see that Michael is standing in front of Ms. Heather's desk where she is sitting. He turns around when he hears my name come out of Ms. Heather's mouth. I walk to them.

"Hey, you." He actually looks happy to see me.

I smile. "Hi."

"Oh good, you two know each other. Great. Lisa, you have been in my class all three years and last semester and of course, you are my top student. I beg you to help this young man be as good as you. Don't be afraid to reveal any of your secrets." She looks back down to her papers and doesn't let me argue or answer at all. "But what about my project?" I really wanted to begin.

"Oh you can sit with him, Faith please move to Lisa's old seat." She goes back to her papers. "Come on, partner." Michael jokes.

He pulls me by my arm to move me away from her desk. I wait for Faith to move her stuff while Carlos brings my stuff for me and tells Benjamin to move so he can sit by me.

"Okay teacher where to start?" Michael grabs his utensils and looks at me for directions.

"Um well, do you know anything in particular that you want to paint?" I can't stop looking at those eyes.

"Hmm well, I do like the horizon." He looks around as he pictures the horizon filling the room.

"Okay, well what you first want to do is pick your colors." I point at the colors laying next to him. He grabs them and picks out yellow, brown, red, and orange.

"What do you think?" He shows me the colors for approval and I nod.

"Okay now, what I do that helps me see the image better is I picture it in my mind."

He begins to think when I stop him. "What are you doing?" He looks at me with confusion.

"You said to picture the image I want to paint."

I let out a frustrated sigh. "No, you close your eyes and think about a happy place that leads to your picture then stop and snapshot that image and paint it."

He laughs. "Okay, you're the artist here."

He closes his eyes and opens them when he hears Carlos laugh and murmur, "Been there."

I scold him which makes him draw his eyes back to his painting. Michael laughs and closes his eyes again. He stays like that for a minute. When he's done thinking he smiles, opens his eyes and whispers, "Got it."

He picks up the paintbrush, dips it on the orange and begins to paint. He seems like he knows what he's doing so I continue with my painting. The ten-minute bell rings which notify us it is time to clean up. I am finished with my painting and I take a look at Michael who is doing his last touches. I see how fascinating his painting is. It looks like the grand canyon while the sun is settling down which makes a perfect horizon. He finishes and looks at my painting.

"Whoa, no kidding you are an artist." I look at my painting. I drew a closed door, where outside of it is dark and the walls are cracked while behind the cracked wall a light peers through it.

I return a comment, "You're a fast learner."

He smiles, comes near me and whispers in my ear, "Who said I was a beginner?" He stands up and winks at me. He turns my face with his finger and chuckles.

"What is so funny?" I ask.

"You got some paint on your cheek, master." He picks up his mess and mine as well. "I'll take this for you."

"Thanks," I say as I stand up to head to the sink and he follows.

I dab my finger in the water and rub my whole cheek.

"The wrong cheek," he says.

I sigh. He puts the stuff down on the sink and wets his fingers.

"Let me help you." He slides his thumb on my cheek and for a moment we stay like that. He finds my eyes and that's when I know the paint is gone but he's still sliding his thumb on my cheek. I can't let this happen. I mean he deserves better. I am a total wreck for him. I mean I am poor and he's filthy rich. Wait, where did this come from? I normally don't mind social classes. However, I can't. I am not a charity case. I clear my throat.

"Thanks," I tell him and I walk back to my station.

"What was that about?" Carlos is standing by my side drying his hands. I bring my hands still covered with paint to his face.

"Hey, take those filthy hands away from me. I just took five minutes washing these puppies." He wiggles his fingers to my face. I laugh and head back to the sink to wash my hands. I pass Michael and he looks sad.