The Adventurous Adventures of an Invisible Teenager

Chapter 2: Grand Theft...Best friend?

Now if there's one thing to never do, it's to make Ash late. She's like a wild beast that happens to have a cute face, dimples, and blonde hair. Oh and above all, never ever tease her when she's in this situation. It just makes everything so much worse.

Trust me, as her designated best friend for about eleven years now; I know these things about her. Sadly I somehow am always late everywhere, no matter what time I wake up or prepare myself. It's just the inevitable. She's the early bird and I'm the worm, and right now Ash does look like she could eat me right now. In one single gulp.

"Jessamine, get your beautiful, but annoying, self down here! I need to go! We are already ten minutes late!" Ash yelled from the bottom of the stairs. After we had talked about the painting and my parent's decision and had our little bonding moment, she had glanced up at the clock and ran down the steps in a speed of light, bringing us to the present situation.

"Hold your horses Ashley! I'm just grabbing my bag and my painting! I'm going to give it to Mrs. Jenson." I yelled back in an equally loud voice, sticking my head out of my mosaic doorway. I gave a little yelp when I found that Ash was right in front of me. I tilted my head pausing to stop shoving my shoe on and looked at her, preparing to run if it was needed.

"H-h-hey there, Ash. Fancy seeing you here? I thought we had to go?" Her bright blue eyes narrowed, searching for any sign of me 'being-oh-so-frustrating' as she liked to say, and shrugged her shoulders when I didn't. I barely had any time to take another breath before she hurdled past me into my room, snatched up my painting and bag and proceeded to push my out of the door. Well if it could even be called pushing... More like a nerd on a sugar high that loses electricity after making it to the last level, trust me, you have not seem scary till that moment.

Her wild pushing slowly started to get back to a more normal pace when we hit the steps and gravity brought us down the rest of the way. Ash moved out ahead of me, where the car was running and my brother straightened up and stood from his leaning position when she came closer. I heard Ash mumble out a small hello and step into the back, Jackson looking back at her as she left.

As much as I hate to admit it, they probably would be a cute couple. Probably being the operative word! Just not sure if Jackson deserves her or not. I guess we'll see how it turns out, but talk about awkward to the very definition! Ew. I shook my head, my hair once again flying free from my elastic and stepped out from behind the big screen door onto the rickety porch. The sun was just starting to get hot, and even though I wasn't in it yet, I was already starting to sweat. 

"Would you hurry up, Jessa? I mean honestly, I don't have all day and I don't want to waste my life waiting for you!" I rolled my eyes and hopped in the car, "Well Jack, it seems that we are waiting on you right now. Wouldn't want to be late now, would we?" Jackson mumbles under his breath some obscenities as he slams the door and we move on to school. Finally. 

In the seat next to me I see Ash practically praying on her knees to make sure that we aren't late.

Let's just say someone must not like Ash, because twenty minutes later we still were  in the car in traffic. The ironic thing was that our principal Mr. Whitmoore was right next to us singing 'Call me Maybe'. Not something I plan on doing after that experience. 

Finally we made it there and since Ash had Mrs. Jenson first period I decided to ask her to give her the painting instead of me, that way it would be less awkward and yet she would still get it. I headed to my first period to a test I didn’t study for and an uncertain future…

Ash’s POV.

Eep, I can’t believe I actually survived being in the same car as Jackson for so long! Score for me! I was happy that I chose a semi presentable outfit. Wait. I ran my hand through me hair checking to see if there were any knots. My hand got stuck halfway and my eyes widened. “Just great,” I mumbled out as we were walking to our classes. I had art first and it was right next to Jessa’s math class.

A smile came onto my face as I said in a taunting voice, “Jessa, Jessa, has to go to Ms. Mecca; to take a math test, that will make her parents feel unblessed! See I can totally rhyme!” Jessa just laughed and turned to corner so the rooms were in sight, “Ash? Could you bring this to Mrs. Jenson and give it to her from me? Today I’m not going to her class and I don’t really come here after this period…”

The silence hung in the air as I thought about how Jessa’s parents had made her quit art. I mean how ridiculous is that! Ugh, sometimes I just wanted to kidnap them and push them off a cliff... They just expect her to be the perfect little math geek and she just doesn’t have that type of mind. Instead she was blessed with  a massive talent in the arts department and they refuse to believe it.

At this very moment I stood at the edge of the door, not wanting to go in and actually do something. Don’t get me wrong I love Mrs. Jenson and how she lets us do independent study I just want to help Jessa. From the corner of my eye I saw a ragged poster hanging from the art door and I leaned closer trying to see what it said. I mouthed out the words, “Art Contest for Schol- OUCH!” The door opened and left me clattering on the floor with Jessa’s painting.

“Jesus Ash, you scared me! Wait are you all right? I swear I didn’t mean to- I mean I would never- Ash?” I looked up to see Hunter looking down on me, his 6’3 frame looking larger than usual. I rolled my eyes at his frantic worrying and said, “Jeez Hunter, I’m alive, but next time lay off the weights and open the door softly please?” He straightened and smirked realizing that I was no longer in mortal pain, his warm brown eyes twinkling with laughter.

He held out his hand, “Come on then, I thought you hated being late! But hey, on the bright side the floor has never looked better…” I grabbed his hand, pushing down feeling that rose I took my hand from his and ripped it from his. I looked up, tilting my head back to see his face far above me. Ugh, tall people. I smiled sweetly and then punched the closest this to me, which happened to be his arm.

“Ow! Who knew the midget could punch?” I heard him say as I walked past him, discretely grabbing the poster off the door. I smiled knowing full well that I probably hurt my hand more than him, not going to lie that it didn’t sound good to make him whine like a little girl though.

I walked up to Mrs. Jenson’s desk and waited for her to be finished with the announcement her voice not registering till it was later on in the speech, “…So enter in it! You never know, you could be what they are looking for,” she turned to me smiling, “Hello Ash, did Jessa make you late again?” When I nodded she laughed shaking her head and asked me, “So what can I do for you?” I bit my lip, not quite sure how to go around this and asked the first thing that came to mind.

“What were you just talking about?” She looked surprised, as if not quite sure where that came from, “Well if you had been listening,” she paused giving me a fake glare, “There’s this new contest that our school is participating in with this art academy. Basically, you send in some artwork and an application and then if you win they accept you into Westfield-Rose Academy for the Visual Arts in England. It has one of the best art programs all over the world and only the best make it in. It’s all set up they just gave the kids in our school a big chance that shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s all set up. In fact Jessa should apply, I’m positive she would get in!”

I grimaced and quickly told her the details without revealing too much of Jessa’s family life to the teacher. She listened thoughtfully and in the end shook her head. “I’m so sorry about that, she has such talent. It really shouldn’t go to waste.”

I quickly drew up a plan in my head and smiled slowly, lifting up the painting to show Mrs. Jenson, “I know exactly how to fix this.”