But when class ends, I check what I’ve drawn. My heart skips a beat when I take in the brown hair, green eyes, and sweet smile.
I quickly shut the pad, my heart lurching some more.
***
I grab something from the cafeteria, then make my way toward the art room. I still can’t believe…I drew Artemis…
A hand clamps around my arm, and I lift my head to find Brianne before me. She pushes a wide smile on her face. “Hey.”
I pull free. “Hey.”
Her eyes rove over my tray of meatloaf, or whatever the heck it is, and she frowns. “You’re leaving?” She bats her eyelashes as if that’s supposed to do something to me.
I’ve given this girl enough hints to leave me alone. But then again, I’ve done the same to Artemis. Yet why does it only piss me off when Brianne’s in my face? And how can I forget that I drew Artemis? I’ve never drawn a girl before.
She clutches my arm again. “Sit with me and my friends.”
“No.”
Her eyebrows scrunch. “Come on, you know you want to.” She gives me this flirty look that once again does nothing to me.
I push past her, forcing her to drop her hand, and stalk toward the art room. I can feel her watching me, the anger at being rejected burning off her.
I enter the art room and set up a canvas on an easel. The best thing about this place is that it’s empty right now. Kids are either busy with classes or at lunch.
Now that I gave the money back to Jason, I really need to get these paintings done if I want to afford that guitar. I’ve been selling my stuff online and the feedback has been great. But I can’t concentrate for some reason. I keep telling myself that Ineedthat guitar. It’ll be gone before I know it. I can’t lose it—it’ll be like losing my dad all over again.
The guitar belonged to Dad’s favorite musician. He worked hard to save up for it, and spent a ton of money on it when I was ten. And he let me play it a few times, though I hesitated because I was worried I’d wreck it. Then he had to sell it because we were behind on rent. I can still remember the forlorn look in his eyes when he left with it and came back empty handed. I always promised myself I’d buy it back for him one day. Toobad I never got the chance. But I want to do it for him now.
“Ryan?”
Artemis is in the doorway, lunch tray in her hands. “I figured I’d find you here.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
She sits down in the chair next to me and places her tray on the table. “I decided to keep you company. And don’t worry, we don’t have to talk or be friends or whatever.”
I gape at her. “Why would you want to keep me company?”
She doesn’t answer as she bites into her meatloaf. “This is disgusting.”
I wasn’t planning on eating, anyway. I haven’t had much of an appetite this month, but it’s gotten worse ever since the dance.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a pack of M&Ms. “Want some?”
I shake my head. She pops a few into her mouth. “Too bad we can’t leave campus. I’d sneak out, but then it’ll be all over the news what a bad girl the mayor’s daughter is. Ugh, I hate being scrutinized all the time. It sucks.”
I don’t know what to say to that, so I keep quiet. I kind of know what it’s like to be in the spotlight, being a former soccer star. But that feels like it was a lifetime ago. Many things from before last month are blurry. Except for memories of my parents. I’ll never forget them.
“Are you sure I can’t take a teensy weensy peek at your drawings?” She tilts her head toward my sketchbook sitting on the table. Then pops a few more M&Ms into her mouth.
Like the speed of light, I snatch my sketchbook away from her reach. “No. It’s private.”
She holds up her hands. “Okay. Sorry. I didn’t mean to snoop or anything.” Her gaze zips to the canvas. “What are you drawing? Looks like a river.”
I shake my head. “No idea.”
“You have no idea what you’re drawing?”
