A few hours later, I’m taking an exhausted and exhilarated George back home. Thankfully, his bath relaxes him and he quickly falls asleep.
Unfortunately, the house becomes too quiet and my thoughts too loud for me to relax.
I turn everything off and go to my room, where I keep a few private sketchpads. I grab my box of pencils and start drawing. First Harrison’s face as he was sleeping this morning, and then a study of his smiles.
Around three a.m., I look back at what I’ve done and realize my mom is right.
I’m truly fucked.
22
HARRISON
“Harrison,”Melodie calls in a hushed voice before I go inside the classroom.
“What’s up? Why the—” She pulls me into the nearest classroom, looking both ways before closing the door.
“Have you spoken to Fletcher?”
“In what context?”
She shrugs. “Dunno, just generally.”
I knew this was going to be a tricky situation to navigate. I know Fletcher is close to a few of the parents, especially Melodie. Did he say anything about us? I don’t want to lie, but I also don’t want to offer any information that will make us the center of the parental gossip mill.
“Not since the weekend. Why?”
The weekend could be Friday…or Sunday. Right?
“I don’t know what’s going on, but he’s not himself. We were the first ones here, and he just sat there doodling in his sketchbook, ignoring everyone as they came in.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
She sighs. “I don’t know. I thought you two were getting closer because of working on this project together. Maybe I misunderstood. I’m just worried about him.” She walks around the room and then stops dead in her tracks. “His ex! Is she back? The last time he was like this, she was back.”
I don’t know what to say to Melodie to put her mind at rest. She’s right. Fletcher’s ex is back, but I haven’t seen him, so I don’t know if there’s a correlation between that and his current supposed mood.
“Look, maybe he’s just having an off day. It happens to everyone. Who knows, maybe he was working on something and couldn’t get inspiration…or something.”
She shakes her head. “Nah, he’s not like that. Well, not usually.”
“I haven’t seen him yet. We have to catch up after the meeting, so if he’s a little off, I’ll talk to him, okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Fletcher.”
I smile, and she gives me a quick hug.
“You two really should get together, you know? You’d be so perfect as a couple.”
I chuckle. “Life doesn’t quite work like that, you know?”
“I know,” she says with resignation. “It would all be so much simpler if everyone did what I say.”
“I’m sure.” I laugh at the words I so often hear from Stella.
We go to the other classroom room, and sure enough, I don’t even spot Fletcher straight away because he’s tucked himself into a corner. His hair is down and covering most of his face.
His pencil moves fast on the small sketchpad like he’s drawing with purpose. Unlike what Melodie said, I don’t think he’s doodling. It’s more like he’s banishing his demons through his art.
