He looks at me like I have two heads. “The Ball?”
I laugh again. “Sorry. I sound like a character from one of Jane Austen’s novels.”
He continues to look at me that way. “Artemis, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I lightly slap my forehead. “Oh, you probably don’t know what the Winter Ball is, do you?”
“Should I?”
I give him a quick explanation. “So this year, my parents decided to drag me and my brother along. And we need dates. I mean, we can bring someone. Like a friend or whatever.”
He squints like he’s still confused.
“Are you interested in going?” I go on. “With…me?”
His eyebrows knit. “A ball?”
I shrug. “It used to be this grand ball like hundreds of years ago. Really, it’s a charity event, not a ball, but I guess the name stuck.”
He’s quiet. I’m about to say something, but Mrs. Lee comes in and starts the lesson.
We don’t get to continue our conversation until lunchtime. I find Ryan in the art room, where he’s studying our painting.
It’s completely dry and looks amazing. I admit, my shark is pretty darn cool. A little less sophisticated than the rest of the painting, but it still looks awesome.
I poke him in the ribs with my elbow. “We make a great team, don’t we?”
“Yeah.”
We even got some extra points on our history project because we finished it early.Mrs. Lee was so impressed with us, she’s letting us skip tonight’s homework.
“Are you going to work on another drawing?” I ask him.
He shakes his head, dropping down on a chair. “Not really in the mood.” He rubs his eyes. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Oh, sorry. Are you okay?”
He doesn’t say anything, but from the hollow expression on his face, I know he’s definitely not okay.
“Anything I can do to help?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Thanks. I’ll be fine.”
I squeeze my fingers together in my lap, my gaze moving to him, the painting, then back to him. “I heard you and Brianne are a thing now.” Shoot. How the heck did that slip out?
“What?”
“You and Brianne. Everyone’s talking about it.”
His eyebrows dip so low they nearly reach his eyes.
“So it’s not true?” I ask.
“No.”
I don’t know why a relieved sigh seeps out of me. “It’s so like her to lie about that. Just to show off.”
“Show off? I’m sure Brianne can have any guy she wants.”
