Destiny Destroyed

Part 2: Chapter 16 (1981)

SEPTEMBER 1981

I'm sitting on the floor holding a paint brush. I'm in the room behind the stage at school. I look at the prop I'm currently painting and smile. It looks good. I come here two days a week to paint instead of taking my study period. Mrs. Beatty only chooses the most talented people to help paint the props they use in the plays. I was honored to be chosen. It was nice to come here alone and paint. It was nice to have some alone time. It seemed everywhere I turned Seth was there. I have free period with Seth. Giving up my free period to paint two days a week was an easy decision when Mrs. Beatty asked me. Seth was pissed at first, but he got over it. He knows how much I love to paint. He doesn't give me any space these days. He has become so possessive over the last couple months.

Tara and Gabby can't even stand to be around him anymore. There wasn't a boy in the school that would look at me or talk to me. They were all afraid of Seth. Whereas once he was so friendly, he people were nice to him because they were afraid of him.  He recently nearly pounded Matt Franks face in just for walking down the hall talking to me. I don't know what is going on with Seth. It's like he changed so much the past few months.  I haven't given him any reason to not trust me. I am getting tired of his possessiveness. It was a miracle he didn't follow me into the bathroom these days. I set the brush down and sigh. This wasn't the first time I thought about breaking up with Seth. There wasn't even a reason besides the fact that he was to possessive and I was finding I didn't want to be around him all that much anymore. I wasn't sure I even liked him some days.

I hear the door open and pick the brush back up to continue painting. I figured Mrs. Beatty was coming to check up on me. There was only about fifteen minutes left of the period. I hear footsteps and turn. Instead of Mrs. Beatty I see a blond haired boy walking towards me. "Hey," he says. I watch as he gets closer. I've never seen this boy before. I have no idea who he is. "Hi," I say when he reaches me. "You must be Destiny," he says. His voice is soft. "And you are," I ask. He smiles. "I'm Lucas Williams. Mrs. Beatty sent me here to help you paint the props."

I set my brush down. "Alright Lucas," I say waving for him to follow me. "I've never seen you before. What grade are you in," I ask as I lead him over to where the brushes and paints sit. "Tenth. I just started here a couple weeks ago," he says pushing up the sleeves of his shirt. "Here are all the paints and brushes. Instructions," I say handing him the paper. "Sink to clean up is behind that door," I tell him. "Mrs. Beatty has each prop mapped out for color. Just pick what you want to paint and follow the proper instruction sheet. It's pretty similar to paint by numbers," I tell him. He thanks me and I head back to where I was painting.

I watch him out of the corner of my eye. He's looking over the props that need painting. There's a small group of kids that paint after school. I'm the only that paints during school hours. Well I was the only one that painted during school hours. "You must be good if Mrs. Beatty chose you for this assignment," I say loud enough for him to hear. "I am," he says. He doesn't say anything else. I look at the clock and realize the period is almost up. I gather my stuff. I put the paints away and make my way to the closet sized room with a sink. I clean the brush I was using and set it aside to dry. I go back out and find Mrs. Beatty talking to Lucas. "Destiny come here," she calls to me. I make my way over to her and Lucas. "I hope you don't mind I paired you up to paint with Lucas. I know you like to paint alone, but Lucas is good. I've seen his work from his prior school. Besides I was thinking you could help him make some friends. I think the two of you will do great work together," she says.

The bell rings. "I got to run," I say and hurry out. Seth will be waiting for me by my locker and I don't want to keep him waiting. I see him leaning against my locker. Stephanie Brownstone is standing near him flirting. She is so obvious. I don't let her get to me though. Seth looks bored or perhaps annoyed. It bothers every girl in this school that he only has eyes for me. They try so hard to get him to notice them, but with no luck. He sees me and his face lights up. How can I even think about breaking up with him? Each time he looks at me it's like he's seeing me for the first time. I'm lucky right? I mean my guy is head over heels in love with me even after all this time.