I didn’t know what to say to that, and quite frankly I didn’t believe it, I mean there was no way River never had a girlfriend I mean he was incredibly talented and attractive it just didn’t add up. And I didn’t bother to entertain the thought of being the first, the thought of beinghisfirst.
That's if I was evenhis....anything.
"I'm sure he snuck them all away to his secret tower in the middle of nowhere." Mer figured and I laughed, we both did.
“Maybe he did.” I wondered gazing out the open window.
“Maybe he wants it that way.”
After my little study session with Mer, I made my way to my art class. You'd be surprised how heavy art supplies are to carry across campus. We all settled down into our seats, I took notice of River who was wearing a plain white Dior t-shirt and those edgy-looking razor blade earrings, he'd painted his nails black and I thought they looked pretty. I liked that he wasn't afraid to express his femininity in the littlest things. So many guys had trouble doing that and found themselves unable to express themselves in the ways they want to because of toxic masculinity. But I guess that wasn’t River. Not at all. One of the things I liked about him was that he was so secure in who he was that outside opinions would never be enough to get to him. It was admirable, maybe I could be like that someday.
Monsieur Etienne rushed into class and told everyone to remain silent while he made an announcement.
"There's going to be an art competition held at the museum of modern art Wednesday night." He announced and everyone was on the edge of their seats. "Now I know this is pretty last minute but if you can find it in yourselves to create a masterpiece worthy of winning, you'll get the opportunity to have your painting displayed in the museum for an entire week!"
"Excusez-moi monsieur, but who will be judging?" A girl who I think was called Elle asked,
"The competition will be judged by Art Critic Eloise Alarie, now I suggest you do your best, it's not often that opportunities like this are made available to such young talents like yourselves so make the best of it, bonne chance!"
I could already see everyone making notes and researching their ideas but I know exactly what I'm going to submit to Madame Alarie, But I had examinations all week and I wasn’t going to have the time to craft something new without sacrificing my grades in my other classes. I wished that I had the time, but I didn’t. So I would submit my lost girl painting. You could never go wrong with what you know, right? That painting was what won me the Ohio exhibit and got me into this very school. I made my way over to Monsieur to tell him the news.
"Monsieur I'll be submitting my Lost Girl painting to the competition," I told him and he looked almost disappointed,
"Madame Nnandi, as your mentor I can tell you now that you must consider something new." He suggested placing a hand on the table,
"Désolé monsieur but you said yourself that it's a good piece no?" I retorted, “I don’t think I’ll have the time to make something new.”
"Good, yes, but goodenough? That may beg to differ in a competition like that." He delivered, "Are you certain of your decision?"
"I am sure, I'll be submitting that painting," I assured him, it had gotten me that far and hopefully it could have gotten me even further.
Monsieur gave me a disappointed laugh fixing his glasses, "Very well then, best of luck." He told me and I smiled making my way back to my seat.
As I made my way over to my seat I passed by Victoria's desk and saw her open sketchbook, it was a sketch of a ballerina dancing on a ledge, on one side you've got an adoring audience, and on the other, you've got all the terrible things she did to get to that place, all the terrible things she did to stay on top.
"You're very talented Tori." I complimented and she shrugged with a laugh,
"Everyone here is talented." She reminded me looking around the room, "It's just a matter of who makes the cut, and unfortunately, not everyone is granted such a privilege."
"You've got to believe in yourself more, if you don't believe that you're the best I can assure you that no one else will." I advised her and her dark brown eyes remained firmly on me, "Too many great artists wither away from their own self-destruction."
"I can assure you Armani that I'm no Van Gogh." Victoria shrugged,
"Or Richard Gerstl or Constance Mayer," I added as a joke and she laughed, “They both drove themselves rather mad with talent.”
Then my gaze shifted to River who was wholly focused on his art at the moment and paying attention to no one as per usual. Victoria followed my gaze and smiled knowingly.
"I'll ask you this only once, do you fancy Kennedy?" She asked and my cheeks caught fire at her words.
"What? No, of course not." I lied and she laughed,
"There's no point denying it, anyone with eyes can see that he's fit." Victoria retorted, "Look if you really fancy him I'll back off, he's got a little too much baggage for my taste anyways."
“And here I thought your dream job was in baggage claim?” I joked.
“Oh, never.” She assured me, shaking her head.
I promised Fabian that I'd have lunch with him so I made my way onto the patch of grass on the main campus where he was waiting for me on a red and white picnic blanket and a straw basket in hand. I waved at him and he smiled, beginning to unload the contents of the basket.
