Found Along The Way

Chapter twenty-four

It had been 4 years since Anya had attended a school. After high-school she went straight to college and got qualifications in Art and Art History, before graduating and doing freelance work while continuing to attend the art group at the college. The work she did for people kept her financially stable, she was talented and people recognised that. Her mother would constantly tell her that it was an unreliable career, but Anya knew it was her dream, and what she was meant to do. However, she was always waiting for an opportunity to reach further In her career, but didn't know how. Until the ceremony.

Castleford Arts was a university style academy which accepted talented students of any age to train their skills and go on to successful careers, and now Anya was one of the accepted.

She was worried she'd get lost walking through the incredibly fancy halls of the school, it was huge and she could barely remember the directions she was given on the tour a month before enrolment. It was September, finally the beginning of the semester and an exciting time for everyone at the school. She reached the classroom that was written on her timetable, room 8C, and knocked on the large wooden door. After standing in silence with no response for a solid thirty seconds she pulled down the handle and eased the door open, revealing a huge classroom, filled with professional easels and large paintings that could've been in a museum. Summer morning sunlight shone through the two large windows at the far end of the classroom, illuminating the whole room and making the artwork around it glisten.

The room was beautiful, a place Anya couldn't wait to get to work in, but it was empty, no other students except herself. Was she in the right place? She checked her timetable once again, a confused expression sitting on her face.

"Well take a seat then my dear," A tiny voice said from behind Anya, startling her. The voice belonged to a petite, old woman with long grey hair that was elegantly braided over her shoulder, reaching her middle torso. She had dainty features that matched her soft voice and very small body that Anya didn't even see when she walked inside.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there miss." Anya said with a slight laugh at the shock she was given.

"Not many people do, I like to sneak up on unsuspecting new students, you were my first jump of the year!" The old woman joked in return, pointing Anya towards one of the desks in the front row of the classroom. They were all fairly large desks with designated easels next to them. "Take a seat here dear, the rest of the class should arrive soon."

She began to write her name on the large, Green chalkboard on the very front wall of the classroom. Her handwriting was incredible, smooth and swirling, each letter joining flawlessly onto the next, 'Mrs. Woods'. Anya gazed at the stunning handwriting of her new teacher, before snapping out of her trance and reaching into her bag for her sketchbook and pencils. Soon the class was full of people with the same dream as Anya, their ages ranging from eighteen to what could've been thirty for all she knew. Women with pixie cuts and loud summer dresses, men with mohawks and scarves, there wasn't a single boring individual in the room.

Once everyone was seated, Mrs Woods got their attention with three sharp claps, and began her introduction.

"Welcome everyone to your first class of the next 2 years at this school, and the first class you'll attend every week. I am Mrs Woods, your tutor and the person who will make sure your time here is well spent. I have never let a single person leave this school disappointed, trust me when I say you will go far from this." Anya had butterflies in her stomach at the determination in her words. "This is where you'll do most of your work, painting and sketching, creating the best art you can possibly create. Of course I will share you with your other tutor, Mr Green, who will be teaching you art theory and history, the boring stuff." She joked lightly. "Now, I know artists aren't always the most vocal of people, your expression doesn't require words, so we're going to get to know each other in the way we know best, painting. Paint whatever you like, the sky is your limit, but it has to express you as a person." Mrs Woods said with an encouraging smile, before clapping once again, ushering everyone to begin their work. Immediately, the room was filled with concentrating faces and talent spilling out onto canvases. Anya looked around the room half an hour into the class, and was astounded by what she saw. Eagles, volcanoes, cars, water, wine, glitter, graveyards, churches, The diversity was immense and it was clear this group of 13 people had a lot to express. Anya had chosen to paint the woods of that night seven months ago, when it was glowing with fairy lights just for her, the sunset golden between the trees, and her drawings scattered along the path. That woodland was a place close to her heart for a number of years, and was now even more since Lucas created that magical evening.