The Scars Of Us

CHAPTER 25

I had gone to the arts and crafts store and got a whole bunch of supplies. My art teacher, Mrs Davies has been giving me more private lessons to really develop my skill and find out what kind of painting I would succeed in the most. She said that if I really wanted to pursue this that it'd be best to apply to a school of arts institute. But in order for me to do that, I would need to create a portfolio. 

I need this to work. As I was sketching on my bed, I felt it like it was a presence, the piece of paper that could ruin my future was sitting in my desk drawer. 

JAX

"So you nervous for tomorrow night?" Lucas asked. 

I dry my face of sweat as I answered, "Not really."

Lucas frowned, "How could you not be nervous? This could be the beginning of your career?"

I shrug, "It's not tomorrow I'm nervous about. I haven't told Milly yet."

My best friend's eyes widen, "Whoa bro, bad move. The ladies hate dishonesty. They always find out at the end and they all say the exact same line 'you should've told me the truth!'"

I sighed and rub my face as I felt my heart beat a little faster, "That's not helping. I mean yeah I should've told her, but she hates that I fight. She would've flipped out if I told her that I'm pursing a career in professional boxing."

Lucas sighs, "I know bro, but at least tell her before the dinner tomorrow night, yeah? Ain't she supposed to be your date?"

I grab my sports bag and cringe, "She probably won't come once she finds out. I kinda told her I'll do a building apprenticeship thing instead of boxing."

Lucas groans and rolls down the ground, "You're digging yourself a hole, man, you're digging yourself a hole."

I exhaled anxiously, "I know."

I went and had a shower. I looked at the time. I'm supposed to pick Milly up from her art thing. I'm glad she's found something she likes. She seemed way more relaxed and happier after doing all this art stuff. 

On the way to Milly, I kept reciting different ways of breaking the news to her in my head. But whatever I say, I feel like it's just gonna end the same. Bad. She's gonna be hurt that I didn't tell her. Then she's gonna be mad that I'm doing it at all since she thought I was gonna do that building thing. And then she's gonna say some shit about how she can't support me since I'm pretty much volunteering to get beaten up. I sigh. Yup. That sounds like her. I just pray that at the end, once she calms down, she'll be okay with it. 

MILLY

I looked at all the paintings laid out on the table. It was a series of sorts. My teacher told me that art schools don't just look for talent, they look for people who put in hard work. And when they examine an art piece, they look at common themes, how those themes are conveyed in the different colours, patterns, the texture of the paper or canvas, whether it's acrylic painting, watercolour or oil. Everything is taken into account, everything is closely examined. 

It seemed so intense to me at first, but my teacher assured me that I'm more than half-way there. Jax has been wanting to look at my paintings, but I didn't want him to see them yet. I wanted to wait until they were all complete. Because you can't just look at the one painting. You have to look at all of them to know the story. 

I looked at the time. Jax will be here soon. I took the last couple minutes to clean up and set my paintings on the drying rack. 

"Have a good afternoon, Milly!" My teacher shouted from her office.