Chapter 2

As Mrs. Ruby discussed my painting, I wished that I could be anywhere else. It felt strange to have people comment on it as she asked them questions. 

“You’re right, Alana, I think the cloud formations and the shadow of the bird create an almost three-dimensional effect. My question is, does that enhance this painting or take away from it?” She met my eyes as I tried to duck behind my easel. “Apple, what do you think?” 

My heart pounded as all of the attention in the room turned toward me.

“I don’t know.” I frowned as I picked up my paintbrush and began to add a few touches to the painting in front of me. I had no idea why she had decided to do this, but already I had plenty to say about it—just not in front of the rest of the class.

As the discussion continued, I did my best to tune it out. Whatever her reason for this was, I didn’t have to be part of it if I didn’t want to.

I’d spent most of my life checking out when things made me uncomfortable. It was easier than confronting the uncomfortable feelings that upset my stomach and made my cheeks grow hot.

I tuned Mrs. Ruby out so much that when she walked toward my easel, I barely noticed that it was her behind me. When she paused beside me, I jumped and looked over at her. 

“Apple, I hope you’re not too upset with me.” She kept her voice low. 

I noticed that the other students had begun to work on their projects. The focus was no longer on my painting and I hoped that it would not be on me either. 

“I don’t understand why you did that.” I met her eyes. “I thought we had a deal.”

“We did—we do.” She smiled as she looked over the painting in front of me. “Apple, it’s hard for me to ignore your talent. I think maybe if you get used to people seeing your art—to hearing comments about it—you might be more willing to join the arts program or at least claim some of your paintings.” 

“No, I’m sorry.” I sighed as I looked back at my painting. “I love to create, Mrs. Ruby, but that’s all I love. I don’t want the attention. I don’t want the criticism.” I glanced at her. “Can’t I just have one thing that is just mine? I don’t want to have to share it.”

“It’s your choice.” She nodded as she stared at me. “But I do wish you would consider other options. In fact, if you’d like me to discuss it with your parents—”

“No!” I started to say more, but the door to the classroom swung open and another student strode in. I felt some relief that Mrs. Ruby was distracted by his presence. It was Ty, a pretty good friend of my friend Mick.

“Excuse me for a moment, Apple.” She pointed at me. “This is not over.”

I forced a smile. Mrs. Ruby had been pushing me a little bit each day in an attempt to get me to show my work with my name attached to it. But I didn’t want to. She had no idea how stubborn I could be. But she would figure it out by the end of the year, that was for sure.

Curious, I watched as she walked over to Ty. 

He wore a baggy hoodie that covered most of his long blond hair. His uniform pants were worn and faded in places. Was that just skater style? I’d seen him skateboarding around the courtyard. He always had a hoodie on, even though it wasn’t really allowed. Maybe he thought it made him look cool. To me, it was just a sloppy style. 

As I swept a paintbrush across the painting in front of me, I listened to the conversation between Mrs. Ruby and Ty. 

“Can I help you with something?” 

“Uh, I’m supposed to be in this class now.” Ty held out a piece of paper. 

“Oh? I hadn’t been told about this. The class is already full. But I’m sure Principal Carter has his reasons.” 

“I guess.” He cleared his throat. 

“Okay, well, we’ll get you an easel and you can get started on something. Before we get to that, though, I need to discuss a few things with you.” She gestured for him to follow her up to the front of the classroom. 

Once they walked past me, I watched the two head toward the front of the class. It seemed odd to me that a student would be transferred into a full class. I couldn’t help but wonder why it had happened. But I also didn’t care too much. As long as he left me alone and kept Mrs. Ruby occupied, he was welcome to stay. 

I lost myself in the process of creating the next section of the building. I knew all of its cracks and discolorations. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss any of them. I added the hornet’s nest tucked beneath one of the upper windowsills. After a few minutes, I decided to shift gears and work on some of the bushes and trees in the background of the painting. After choosing the perfect shade of green, I used careful touches of the paintbrush to create each tiny leaf. 

Detail mattered to me. They always had. I found beauty in the smallest things, from a pebble among rocks to a minuscule bud on the thinnest branch of a scraggly bush.

It wasn’t long before I forgot all about my painting and all about the new boy in class. In fact, I forgot all about being in a class.

Instead, my mind settled on the painting. I strolled around the bushes and trees I’d created in search of any detail that I’d missed. A cracked piece of bark here, a nearly hidden nest there. I could hear the mama bird chirping, warning me not to get too close. I could smell the fresh air laced with a hint of rain. That thought made me look up at the sky. The clouds—they should be fuller, heavier, darker. I lifted my paintbrush to the sky and began to recreate it. 

When the bell rang, I nearly dropped my paintbrush as I was jolted out of my imagination. 

“That was your painting, wasn’t it, Apple?” Alana stared at me. 

I blinked. I hadn’t even realized that she’d been standing next to me. 

“What painting?”

“You know what painting.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s gorgeous. You should show it off!”

“Thanks.” I covered up the painting I had been working on and began to gather my paintbrushes to clean them.  

“Not that you’re going to listen to me.” Alana crossed her arms. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay with those boxes? I could come help you, Mick won’t mind.”

“No, it’s fine.” I smiled. “I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry. Good luck with Mick’s dad.”

“Thanks.” Alana shivered. “I’m so nervous!” She groaned as she walked out of the classroom. 

Once my paintbrushes were clean, I grabbed the bottle of green paint that I’d been using and picked up the cap to close it. I turned toward the shelf where the paint was stored without much thought as to who might be in my way. Most of the time I was the last to clean up.

Distracted with thoughts of the painting, I walked right into someone. The bottle of paint squished between our chests and squirted splashes of green paint up into our faces. 

“Ugh!” Ty gasped as a glob of paint landed on his cheek. 

“Watch it!” I huffed, then winced as paint splattered all over my cheeks and neck. It was cold and sticky. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t been covered in paint before, but this was entirely unexpected. Of course, it was Ty who got in my way. “Unbelievable!”