Where do they go when it’s cold?
“My name is Scott.” I passed to the blond boy with glasses.
“I’m Josh.”
I nodded at the rest. The smallest of the group stuttered through his name. It was something with a T or D, but I didn’t catch it.
“What was that?” I leaned closer, and the boy blanched and turned away. The older boy stepped up. “His name is Todd. My name is Ethan.” He pointed to the last of the group. “This is Jace and Brian.”
We continued to practice for another thirty minutes, but it was getting dark and cold. I worried they needed to start home, but it wasn’t my place to say that.
I glanced at my watch. “Nice to meet you boys. I need to go grab some tools, but I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
I passed the ball to Ethan, who caught it and nodded. I got the feeling he was still cautious of me, but he was at least smiling at me and not scowling now.
Chapter Fourteen
SCOTT
After a weekand a half of planning and constant talk of the trunk-or-treat, I figured it was time for me to work on my end of the deal with Marissa. I waited outside the partially-abandoned strip mall, rocking back on my heels, my breath visible in the air. I checked my watch again. Apparently, Marissa did not know about the fifteen minutes early or you’re late rule.
I stepped away from the door, allowing some high schoolers to pass in pairs. Wednesday date night for the win, except mine wasn’t a date. Marissa double-checked twice when I asked her about an impromptu London planning activity tonight.
The art vision board night was the perfect way to get to know Marissa better, which would help me plan her London trip. It frustrated me that she would change the subject any time I asked her what she wanted her future to look like. Maybe this class would help her figure that out. The stubborn woman refused to carpool even though it was forty-five minutes away, and now we were late for class. Hopefully, her carwould make it.
I heard Marissa’s vehicle before I saw it. Four minutes later, she pulled into a spot. She hopped out, swung her door shut with a loud slam, and grinned at me as she rushed to my side.
“Hey.” Her voice was soft. “Now, do I get to know what we’re doing?”
“What happened to living in the moment?” I winked.
She chuckled and walked past me as I held the door open for her. I scanned our Groupon tickets, and we made our way to the back of the class, avoiding stray easel legs and piles of art supplies. We sat on paint-splattered wooden stools and faced our canvas boards.
“Now, as I was saying,” the art teacher waved in our direction, “tonight is about creating a vision for your future, and I want you to use whatever medium you want.” She pushed her black-rimmed glasses up her nose. She tucked back her curly hair, which matched the disarray of her art studio.
I looked at Marissa, hoping to see a grin. She was scowling.
“What do you think?” I whispered in her direction.
“Not what I was expecting,” she whispered back.
“I think it’ll be fun and it might help you figure out your future goals and what you want to do in London. Then I can use it to plan your trip.”
She nodded. “Right. Fun.”
“The goal for the night is to be creative.” The teacher turned and gestured to a table piled high with different supplies. “There’s a stack of magazines in the front of the class. There are markers and paint to the left. Let your imagination flow, wander the room, and see what speaks to you. Then let it take you wherever it wants without worry or judgment. Now, let’s make some art!”
Marissa leaned over to me. “Did you notice everyone else in this class is like fifteen?”
I chuckled. “Yeah. Goal exploration is wasted on adults.” I shrugged. We joined the throng of youth heading to the front. Ihad no idea how to paint, but I knew what my goals looked like. This would be so easy.
Marissa followed me to the front of the room. Grabbing a few magazines, colored pencils, and markers, she sulked back to her seat. Her shoulders drooped inward. Maybe I shouldn’t have done this as a surprise. Marissa looked like she would rather be anywhere but here.
She watched as kids crowded for markers and paint, their faces eager. I put my focus on my board. Maybe she didn’t want an audience.
I thumbed through one of the business magazines I had grabbed.
Nice!
