Back at the Start (02)

I'm tempted to try to get Kaleena to stick around, just so I can avoid awkward questions, but class just started. There's no way I do that without causing a whole scene.

Instead, I hope Kaleena can at least cause some distraction for us by asking, "What's next? This was just the warm up, right?"

"Sounds fun," I tell her. Then I realize a way I might be able to avoid having to explain to Belle why I'm drawing her baby daddy in art class. "Do you need a demonstrator?"

I push my chair back and stand up. "I'd love to learn!" I answer more eagerly than I feel. I mean, I am curious, but mostly I'm just wanting to avoid awkwardness while I can.

Kaleena guides you to the front of the class and introduces you as her assistant for the day. Who in the class looks surprisingly jealous?

Kaleena opens up her laptop and hands you her drawing tablet and pen. She hooks up the video projector and takes the opportunity to show you and the rest of the class how to use the program.

Alice Olivia looks a little jealous when I'm introduced up front. I guess maybe she's into art more than I realized? Or maybe she just wanted a chance to do something more interesting than following Skylar around for once? I'm not sure why she looks so jealous, but she does. I try not to let it distract me, though, as I learn the program in front of everyone.

Kaleena explains to the class that Krita is a professional open source painting program that is absolutely free. She uses you as the demo person to work through the toolbars until you find the right brush size that feels comfortable with your stylus. She coaches you through drawing contours with lots of encouragement and patience. How does it feel to be the demo girl as you learn this new program and approach?

It’s sort of fun to be the special one in this situation, highlighted for everyone in a way. It’s also a little scary. I don’t want to look like an idiot in front of everyone and it’s not like I’ve practiced this or anything. I try to rely on my artistic talents and let the technology piece sort itself out from there.

I look over at Bentley when I get nervous, expecting to find a supportive face in the crowd.

I feel my fears subside at Bentley's nod, then when I notice how Rosalia seems to be drawing nearer to him, I give him a quick flash of a curious-slash-eyebrow-waggly smile that says, "What's going on there, buddy?" without saying it out loud. I turn back to drawing again before things get weird though, focusing on learning this new tool.

Bentley smirks and then laughs softly at your questioning look. Kaleena continues teaching you Krita and works with several students as they attempt their first contour drawing. Who looks the most bored with this simplistic art chore?

It might just be that I'm the one helping with the demonstration, but Annika looks like this is all SO incredibly boring and beneath her. She's texting at her desk and hardly looks to the front at all, choosing the stare at the wall more often than she looks at me or what I'm doing.

The class seems to come to a quick end when the bell rings and everyone packs up their stuff to move on. Belle waits for you by your backpack. Bentley looks like he is going to wait, too, but he sees Belle and starts to move on.

What do you do?

I know I could probably say something to Bentley and he’d stick around - be a sort of buffer between me and Belle - but it’s been a whole class now since I drew Quinn. I’m banking on Belle having either moved on or talked herself out of addressing it at all, so I just give Bent a little wave then head over to grab my backpack from my table with Belle.

"Sorry I kind of abandoned you," I tell her brightly before she can call me out on it. "I had to try that new program. Pretty cool, right?"

I head toward the hall with her, relieved that she's just letting the Quinn drawing go. "Statistics," I answer, leaving the "AP" part off because it sounds pretentious and because I'm not sure I should've signed up for any AP classes at all. I'll probably tag Galinthias in for this one, assuming she's still on the clock like she should be. "So I guess that's like Shark Tank math or something."

I keep pace with her, trying to avoid hurrying too obviously while still making good time through the crowded hall. "Well, I think we both agree that most of school does. Just, like, generally." I turn a half-smirk to her, like we're in this together. "Living for the weekend, right?"