Fake It

(02) fences

Turning to her art teacher, Hayley gave Mrs. Merrick a small smile. "l read about this riot in Ferguson... I made this to represent the pain of that night."

"That's really good, Hayley" Mrs Merrick nodded, looking at the artwork - which was incredible, but had nothing to do with the project she was meant to have done. "But tell me something, Hayley. Which part represents you? As a unique individual?"

Sighing, Hayley gave a small shrug as her teacher walked away. Looking at her artwork, she found nothing wrong with it yet felt like she'd failed.

Hearing a familiar voice speak to her, Hayley looked up to the girl who'd just approached her.

"Hayley, Lynn and I have been discussing your work. You know, about how you're not afraid to be dark" Jenna looked at Hayley's artwork, feeling the different textures and materials.

Hayley sighed, not knowing whether Jenna was giving her a compliment or a sarcastic comment.

Hayley assumed it was the latter, seeing as she'd never spoken to the girl before but knew she wasn't the nicest of people. Watching Lynn walk up to her, the girl sighed.

"Darkness is pure" Lynn added, resting her arm on Hayley's shoulder as she stared at the artwork. "But let's be honest... We all know nobody here appreciates that."

"Lynn and l were just discussing the amount of artists who are only truly appreciated posthumously" Jenna spoke as she shrugged.

"Think Van Gogh..." Lynn suggested with a shrug. "And all the others."

"Well, then we realised the only time your art will be appreciated will be when you're like one of them" Jenna wore a fake, friendly smile as she spoke slowly.

"I think you know what we're saying" Lynn nodded, before walking off with her friend.

Hayley stared at her canvas - she hadn't looked up or acknowledged either of the girls when they were beside her.

Hayley thought for a moment about why she even bothered to turn up to school. The girls were right in a sense. No one seemed to appreciate her or even notice her, that's for sure.

Hearing the bell ring, Hayley stood up and placed her canvas into the storeroom, as well as everything else she had out.

Walking outside, there were swarms of people rushing to get home. Rolling her eyes, Hayley remembered that her Dad said he may be late.

"That's it for another day, kids" Jack began, speaking into his microphone. Everyone groaned at the sound coming from the speakers - yet again. "My prayers go out to a certain someone who got dumped earlier today by his amazingly beautiful girlfriend."

"Just relax" Ben punched Josh's arm gently when he noticed his friend was frowning. "No one actually knows for sure that it's you."

"Keep your head up, Josh" Jack announced, causing people to turn and look at Josh - some of them laughing. "lt happens to the best of us, and today... it was you!"

"You better do something, mate, because your legacy is in major jeopardy" Parker sighed, looking around at the people who were laughing and staring at Josh - which was dying down anyway.

Josh looked down at his feet in embarrassment. This sort of thing didn't happen to popular guys, so why was it happening to him?

"I mean, you were Josh Franceschi - the best class president and the best athlete the school had ever seen. Plus, you were a bad-ass guy who no one messed with" Parker spoke as though Josh was none of those things now. "Now... Well now you're just a little bitch who feels sorry for himself."