part0019

“We have the van ride back to school.” He stood up and walked over to me. “You said it takes time, right? So, we’ll have to spend some time together. I want things to be good between us. I want to stick around at art club.”

Art club, I reminded myself. That was why he was interested. He wanted to get his community service hours filled and he wanted to be around the kids. It didn’t have much to do with me.

“I want you to stick around. The kids do.” I cleared my throat. “It’s been great having you there.”

“You mean when we’re not fighting with each other.” He smiled and shrugged. “That’s what I’d like to prevent.”

“Me too. I can’t stand it.” I sighed. Then I noticed his frown. “Not you. I didn’t mean that I can’t stand you, just what you say. No, I mean—what I say—what we say to each other.” I groaned.

“Relax.” He shook his head. “We’re not going to get anywhere if you get nervous over everything you say.”

“You’re right. Oh.” I glanced at my watch again. “I told Mrs. Ruby I’d meet her downstairs. I’d better go. See you in the van.” I turned and headed down the spiral steps.

As I moved quickly down them, I could feel his gaze on me. He could watch me the whole way down. What if I slipped? How embarrassing would that be? I slowed myself down and tried to appear calm and collected as I reached the last step.

No, I didn’t just run away from someone who’d suggested he’d like to talk more about me. I didn’t make up a lame excuse that he likely didn’t believe just to escape.

“Apple! Where’s your partner?” Mrs. Ruby walked over to me. “Did he leave you alone? I’ll have to speak to him about that.”

“No, Mrs. Ruby, he didn’t leave me alone. We finished our assignment and I thought I’d see if you needed help with anything.” I glanced around at the scattered students. “Maybe gathering everyone up?”

“Yes, that would be great, thank you. We do need to get on the road.” She smiled as she glanced around at the works of art that surrounded her. “Isn’t it wonderful here?”

“Yes, it is.” I smiled in return.

Once I’d herded everyone toward the van, I began to search for Ty. Finally, I spotted him already in the van seated in the back. If I’d wanted to, I could have boarded and sat down beside him.

Instead, I focused on getting the other students on. This created a buffer between us and made it impossible for me to sit beside him. Then again, maybe he didn’t want to sit beside me, maybe that was why he was the first one in the van.

The entire drive back to the school I over-analyzed the possibilities. When we were alone in the darkness, I could have sworn he’d made an effort to touch me. I thought his arm around me meant that he might be interested. But, now that I was in the light again, I could clearly see that he’d just been being nice. He wanted to be my friend so he could keep attending the art club.

The first moment I could, I got out of the van and headed straight for my sacred space. I didn’t want to take the chance of running into Ty again—not until I got some things straightened out in my mind.

As I wove my way through buildings in the direction of one in particular, I checked over my shoulder to be sure that no one had followed me. I needed some time to myself. I needed a way to express what I was feeling. For me, there was only one way to do that.

When I reached the abandoned building, I was relieved to see that there was no sign of anyone else inside. I shared the space with my closest friends, but much of the time I had it to myself.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Once I’d confirmed it was empty, I gathered up my paints. It was time to get it all out—the best way I knew how. The interior of the building had become a paradise for me. I could paint on any wall, even on the ceiling.

I chose a space not far from the window, right beside the pile of cushions that covered the floor. I grabbed my paints and began to spill my feelings out onto the wall. Normally it would be a landscape of some kind. Many times, I painted images of the sky. But as the lines and curves began to take shape on the wall in front of me, my heart dropped.

This wasn’t my usual creation. Not at all.

Instead, it was a face. As the details began to fill in, they confirmed my first guess.

“Ty.” I stared at the image I’d created. How could I paint him?

Annoyed, I grabbed a thick paintbrush and painted over the image until no trace of it remained.

After a few deep breaths, I tried again. I’d just finished outlining his face and hair again when I heard noise behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Alana and Mick land on the pillows on the floor.

“Uh, excuse me?” I stared down at them, my paintbrush still in my hand, and did my very best not to sneer at them.

“Oops.” Alana laughed as she rolled off Mick. “Sorry, Apple, I didn’t know you were here.”

“Me either.” Mick jumped to his feet. “I guess we were a little distracted.”

“Seems that way.” I rolled my eyes and turned back to the image I’d just painted on the wall.

“Who is that?” Alana peered at the painting in progress.

“No one.” I slashed some blue paint over Ty’s golden hair. I couldn’t let anyone find out, especially not Mick. He would never let me live it down. “I’m done here. You guys can have some time alone.” I pushed past Alana, toward the door.

“Apple, is everything okay?” Alana caught my hand and looked into my eyes.

“Great.” I smiled at her, then pulled away. “Enjoy.” I hurried to the door as my heart raced.

If I stayed a moment longer, I was certain that they would figure out who I’d been painting. How would I explain that to them? I couldn’t even explain it to myself.

As the door closed behind me, I wondered where to go now. If I didn’t find some place to hide away, I ran the risk of seeing Ty again. Although the thought caused a jolt of excitement within me, I also had no idea what I would say to him. It would be safer if I was back in my dorm, hidden away from everyone, just like I liked it.

After one glance over my shoulder in the direction of the hideout I’d just left, I broke into a light jog.

Yes, young love was very much in bloom at Oak Brook Academy. I knew it happened. It had happened to Mick and Alana, it had happened to Fi and Wes, but that didn’t mean that it could happen for me.