Melody
I managed to make it through class without spontaneously combusting so that’s a good thing. The rest of class ended up being a lecture on the history of Rome to prepare us for our Julius Caesar unit so I didn’t have to talk to Rue at all.
Sometimes I hang back a bit after class to talk with Ms. Bridgers but today was definitely not one of those days. I bolt the heck out of class the second she says we’re dismissed. I have math next and obviously those equations aren’t going to solve themselves. It’s a horrible excuse but I let myself get away with it.
Once lunch rolls around I meet up with Liza at our usual spot. She greets me with her trademark cheshire grin. “Hey, how are ya?” she asks.
I plop myself next to her and spill the whole story.
“Wait, so, Rue Weaver? The one in our art class? Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked incredulously.
I gave her a small shove “Because I know you’re
going to do something stupid.”
She shrugged and took a bite out of her lunch, “That’s valid, I probably will.”
“You better not.” I laugh. We talk about everything and nothing until the bell rings for us to leave. That’s the great thing about Liza, we’ll talk forever but it’ll only feel like moments. If someone asks either of us what we talked about we’ll laugh and say we can’t remember. It’s just the way that we are.
—-
I love the way that paint covers a canvas. It reminds me of a fresh start, covering old tracks. I love that way that paint looks, almost edible. I’ve gotten weird looks for saying that before but it’s true.
Today in painting class, my last class of the day, Ms. Laurence tells us we’re making an abstract acrylic piece. I’ve always loved abstract, not intense abstract where it’s just blobs on a canvas, but more of a twist on reality. Liza’s the opposite, loving the chaos of splattering paint everywhere. She often goes home as a colorful mess.
Usually my brain is swarming with so many creative ideas that I’m overwhelmed and can’t pick one to do. But today my brain’s filled with images of Rue, and it doesn’t help that she sits across the room from me where I can easily see her face.
Liza snaps in front of my face. “Oi Mel, am I losing ya?”
I shake my head, but don’t stop staring at my blank paper. Liza’s was already covered in thumbnails and ideas. Most of which were just scribbles because she probably planned on throwing paint onto the canvas.
Liza looks over at Rue and back to me. “Look I know she’s hot but you’re not being yourself right now. I need attention right now and you’re rather rudely ignoring me.”
That makes me smile, “Sorry,”
“Do you have any idea what Mr. Wright was talking about in math today?” She asks. We have the same math teacher but just different periods.
Today's math class had introduced a new topic and in typical gay fashion, neither Liza nor I had any idea what was going on.
“Absolutely not.”
“Damn.”
From across the class I saw Rue call over Ms. Laurence for help. They chatted for a moment before Ms. Laurence started walking in my direction.
“Hey Melody, Rue is having trouble with abstract art, and considering you’re my best student I was hoping you could help her?” She asks me sweetly. Even though it’s still kind of near the beginning of the year, I’ve taken classes of hers before.
Liza started shoving me out of my chair enthusiastically, “Of course she will!”
I grabbed the edge of the desk to stop myself from eating shit on the ground. I turned to Liza, “I will?”
“Yes you will.”
“Excellent!” Ms. Laurence started walking back towards Rue and I had no choice but to follow.
I glanced back at Liza who gave me a double thumbs up and an ecstatic grin. Crackhead I thought. My hands are shaking and my cheeks start to heat up.
When we reach her desk, Rue looks at me and I have no idea what’s going on behind her eyes.
“Melody, this is Rue and Rue this is Melody.” Oh yeah, I’m familiar.
“Nice to meet you.” She says with a slight husk in her voice. Holy shit. If the ground would swallow me up I’d be eternally grateful.
“You as well.” I was feeling proud of myself for forming an entire three words without stuttering when she says:
“I’m glad you’re feeling better than earlier.”
“E-excuse me?” I stutter. What had happened earlier? I don’t remember making a fool of myself earlier but it was entirely possible—
“In english, you looked a little pale.”
“Oh,” I let out a nervous laugh “Yeah, I’m feeling better.” Shit, am I making a fool of myself? I refrained from looking back at Liza who was probably dying of laughter.
“You two know each other?” Ms. Laurence asked. I’d forgotten she was there.
Rue turned her attention to her, “Yes, we sit next to each other in english as of today.”
Ms. Laurence beamed, “Perfect! That makes this easier!” She put her hand on my shoulder, “I have to go help other students, please teach Rue the ropes of abstract art.” Then walked away as if that was an easy task. How do I even explain abstract art? Especially when I haven’t even come up with something to paint for myself?
“So— um, what are you having problems with?” I ask, adjusting the collar of my button up shirt. It has gotten awfully tight and hot all of a sudden. I avoided eye contact for fear I’ll simply melt into the floor.
“I usually make realistic art, I’m not good when it comes to abstract.” She gestures to her thumbnails which were all of flowers or people or some form of still life. “I’m not familiar with this type of art.”
I push up my glasses that had been sliding off my nose, trying to think, “You could always make something realistic with an abstract twist to it. That’s what I do.”
She hummed and nodded. She looked down at her sketch paper and pointed to a thumbnail of a girl. “What if I draw her but mix up all the facial features to be in the wrong spot.”
I smile, “Yeah, that would definitely work!” I made the fatal mistake of looking in her eyes. She was giving me a faint smirk. I had a feeling she knew all of this already, about abstract art.
“Thanks for your help Sunshine.” She says, that smirk still present on her lips. I’m sure my face must be on fire.
I took her comment as my queue to leave. “Yup.” I say with wide eyes. I’m aware I’m making a gargantuan fool out of myself but can’t bring myself to care at the moment. I make a beeline for my desk. The butterflies in my stomach threaten to lift me into the sky.
I sit down in my chair and Liza pokes my arm, “So? What happened?”
“I helped her with her painting.” I say numbly.
“Yeah no shit Sherlock thanks for that exclusive piece of intel. Now what the fuck happened?”
I tell her what happened, aware I’m being kind of dry. Honestly there wasn’t much to the story which is dumb considering how flustered I am over the whole thing.
“Sunshine huh? Y’all have pet names already?” Liz teased.
I shove her, “Shut up.” But it’s said with love and she knows that.
She smiles back but says, “One thing I don’t get, why’d she ask for help? It doesn’t seem like she really needed it.”
I frown, “I don’t really know. Maybe her brain just needed a little kickstart.”
She shrugs, “Maybe.”
We go back to working and chatting without many other words on the subject of Rue. Something about the whole situation had jogged my creative brain juices and I came up with an idea for my painting.
—-
The bell rings for the end of class and the school day. I exhale a large breath and crack my back. I had been unhealthy bunched over my sketch paper then canvas for about an hour which did no favors for my back pain.
“Jeez Mel, that was one nasty crack.” Liza jokes.
I stick my tongue out at her while carrying my supplies to the cubbies at the back of the classroom. My mistake is my face is turned away from where I’m walking towards.
I plow full force into the one and only Rue Weaver, spilling all my pencils, my sketch paper and canvas on the floor. I would have become one of those items if Rue hadn’t caught my wrist.
“Woah there Sunshine.” She helps me right myself then squats down to collect my things. I’m still frozen in place when she stands back up and hands me everything I dropped. “You should be more careful.”
I nod slowly. Words and I aren’t getting along right now. “Thank you.” I whisper.
She gives me that smirk again before walking past me and out of the class. I threaten to spontaneously combust for the second time today as I slowly walk over to the cubbies to put my things away.
When I get back to Liza she’s wiggling her eyebrows at me.
“Not. One. Word.” I point an accusing finger at her.
She raises her hands up in surrender, “Hey I didn’t say anything.”
“I’m so fucking embarrassed.” I whine, burying my head in my hands as we walk.
“Well that’s what you get for being a dumbass.” She dodges a punch to the shoulder I give her. “Come on, you know I’m kidding.”
“Whatever.” I say, but we’re both grinning.