The Bad Boy's Resistance

Chapter 5 - Truce?

"Passion. Power. Pain. Tell me children, what...is...art?"

Mrs Evergreen, our art teacher dramatized each word as she twirled in front of the class.

Each student sat, eyebrows knotted in confusion at her actions.

Mrs. Evergreen was quite the character, as a matter of fact she resembled Professor Sybill Trelawney from Harry Potter. She wore clear round lenses retro glasses like John Lennon, kimonos and a flower crown to match each of her wacky outfits like Lana del ray. Each of her fingers dawned a different color of nail polish, drove a multicolored hippie van and a mood ring as her wedding ring.

I know, who'd marry her? Apparently the manager of many famous rock bands. Her blog is loaded with pictures of her with everyone from Bono to the Beatles, even Madonna.

Ryder sat beside me, feet kicked up on the table and arms folded across his chest. He looked at Mrs. Evergreen as she explained our class assignments for the term. I, however was too distracted to even focus on the teacher or anything she had to say. I was too busy replaying every moment that just occurred in my head.

Over and over...and over again

"You..." he growled "You're like a kitten that thinks you're a lion. You've got a big attitude and you you're so.." he looks at me from he to toe and watches how my feet don't touch the ground. "...you're so fragile and breakable." 

I couldn't stop thinking about how small and vulnerable I was in front of him. I didn't even know him that well but he had such an affect on me. The way his muscular veined arms snatched me up and had me dangling in the air like a rag doll. I was like an egg that could be easily crushed between his fingers. I can't believe he was acting so calm at the moment considering the scene that just played out in the hallway.

I was suddenly pulled out of my trance by a few measly words spoken by Mrs. Evergreen.

"Take a good look at the person sitting next to you, because for the rest of the term that will be your seat mate and your partner for all your projects."

My eyes widened an entire two centimeters, the shock almost flingling my body off my seat.

"What!?!" I exclaimed drawing all the attention in class to me. I blushed bright red but it was no use.

"Ahh, Nova from the Latin meaning 'new'. A name that has the feel of both newness and great energy from being an astronomical term for a star that suddenly increases in brightness then fades. Also short for November, from the Latin 'novem' meaning 'nine'. I can feel your vibrations and they tell me you're uncomfortable. Child, tell Mrs. Evergreen what is the cause of this."

I was nervous enough with the whole class starting at me, but to make matters worse, Ryder had turned his head 90 degrees to stare directly at the side of my face. In fact if he was staring any harder he'd pierce two holes into my cheek.

"Uh- I... its just that I was hoping to get to choose my own partner."

"Well you did."

"Excuse me?" I said taken aback

"You see the person sitting next to you didn't sit there by chance, but by faith. The universe brought you all and your partners together to create beautiful and intimate art and music. You've subconsciously chosen your partner which means no switching, changing, or exchanging and no backsies."

Really? Did Ryder and I come together not by chance, but by faith?

I gave up with Mrs Evergreen's point. She continued teaching when I felt a shooting pain in my pinky toe.