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I sigh while searching my bag for my sketchbook, already regretting I bothered to say anything. “Now, don’t be harsh,” I say while flipping through the pages. “This is just the first design. I plan on tweaking a few things. We don’t have to use it at all.”
I pause when I find the page, my fingers brushing against the strokes. I hardly remember drawing this last night. My feelings for Alex took over: frustration, love, sorrow, anger, desire. I allowed everything to flow through me onto the page. The faceless image before me displays what looks to be a woman with long, curly blond hair. A hand cups its cheek. The face is tilted, as if it’s looking up, but there are no eyes. Most of the shading is done in blue, black, and red, conveying my emotions. There are hardly any details in the breasts. I haven’t even drawn clothes over the figure, which would distinctly make it Charlie’s style.
Charlie gasps as I hand her the book. “Oh, wow. This is amazing. Not my style at all, but indeed, amazing.”
“Really?”
Charlie nods, her fingers lightly touching the page. “You should definitely keep this. I think you should probably try to get this shown somewhere. But,” she hands me my sketchbook back, “not my style.”
“I know. Like I said, it’s just the first design. I’m thinking the position will be something like that and then we can put more detail in the clothes.”
Charlie taps her chin, looking thoughtful. “Maybe we can speak to Ms. Weaver, show her our thought process. I’m sure she can give us some ideas of how to tap into each other’s work. Some exercises, perhaps?”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea,” I say with a shrug.
Something bangs against the door and both I and Charlie flinch. I turn toward the sound, looking through the door’s window and finding Lauren pressed up against it with Josh hovering above her. I swallow my gag as they turn, seeing Josh’s lips pressed against Lauren’s.
Charlie groans. “Can’t they wait? Or skip class and do that elsewhere?”
“I thought you were all about getting to know your sexuality, Charlie.”
Charlie scowls. “I am, but this,” she waves toward the door, “is definitely not that.”
“Then what is it?”
Charlie leans close to me, her eyes stern as they hold mine. “Control.”
“Josh,” I hear Lauren say through the closed door.
I watch as Lauren pushes him away, her face red while he scowls down at her. Lauren looks around, her face bright red. She looks embarrassed, nervous even. Josh grabs her and pulls her toward him, but she covers his mouth with a hand before he can continue their make out session. He smacks her hand away and I jump. That was a bit more forceful than needed, I think while gripping my desk.
“What?” I hear him shout. “What is it now?”
“N-nothing,” says Lauren, her gaze on the ground. I see her mouth moving, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. She looks more upset while Josh looks even angrier. He rolls his eyes and turns toward the door, pushing it open and briskly walking away from Lauren. She slowly steps inside, her hands rubbing her arms up and down.
“Josh,” she says, her voice weak as she watches her boyfriend sit with the group of girls in the corner.
He doesn’t say anything, his back facing Lauren as if she isn’t even there, standing at the front of the room, watching him with tears in her eyes. This is painful to watch. How can Lauren let him do this to her? She should end it. He isn’t worth it.
I watch Lauren take a step toward him and the group of girls, but she stops. There isn’t a seat available for her to sit with him. The girls laugh, but I have no clue at what. Josh probably made some stupid joke. He’s such a freaking asshole. I’m tempted to invite her to sit with us. My mouth opens, I lift my hand, but before I can say anything, Lauren dumps her things on the desk in front of her. She sits, her back facing me, her hands reaching for a book in her bag.
My mouth closes and my hand lowers. I sigh, looking over at Charlie and finding her scowling at Josh. He’s flirting with those girls, in front of his girlfriend, making her listen to it. Part of me wants to yell at him, tell him to stop acting like an asshole… But I know he’ll just use it against me, and I know Lauren will tell me to stay out of it.
I just wish there is something for me to do. I can’t stand watching this.
