LAYLA

"Alright, settle down everyone." Ms. Marano said as the chitter-chatter in the art room died. "Today, I have a very interesting lesson planned for you. This project will be done in groups of two, and I have already put everyone in a pair. I'll announce them at the end of the class." A protest rose around the class.

"Quieten down. I know you all would like to select your own partner, but that won't be the case today. So, as I was saying, what I want you to do is work together on an art piece. Each pair will be assigned a different work." I raised my hand. 

"Ms. Di Angelo?" 

"Are we going to re-create an artwork?" 

"Not quite, you'll observe the painting." Observe? "You and your assigned classmate will look at the art given to you. You can visit the nearest art museum for that. The next class, you will give me your report. There will be questions attached with the painting name I'll give you.

There won't be two answers though, both of you will have to think of an answer you both agree with, unless of course, the questions ask for both your opinions. You'll be given a week's time, so you must hand in your complete assignments in the next class. Any questions?"

No one said anything. "I'll take that as a no. Alright then, I'll go around the class and give you your worksheets. If your partner isn't present here, arrange to meet with them later." 

She gave me my worksheet as everyone else started to pair up. I looked at my assigned painting. 'Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh'. I love that masterpiece. Then I looked at my assigned partner. Oliver Deniz, who happened to be absent today. Great.

I sighed. After everyone had their sheets, Ms. Marano went back to the front of the class. "Now, go through your questions, ask if you have any doubts, and discuss softly." 

I decided to take a look at the questions, since I had nothing else to do. The questions were quite interesting. I tried to mark them out by what I remembered of the painting, but some of them required a closer look.

Finally, the bell rang marking the end of the day, twenty-five minutes later. "Don't forget to finish your project this week. Class dismissed." I packed my things and headed towards the door along with the rest of my class. "Oh Layla, wait." I stopped in front of the teacher's desk.

"Oliver isn't here today, right?" 

I nodded. She took out a worksheet. "This is his worksheet; can you please give it to him when you next meet?" 

"Sure." I said as I took it from her hand. 

"Thank you. Enjoy your weekend!" 

"I'll try." I heard her chuckle as I walked out of the classroom.

Oliver Deniz. I knew that guy, he was on the basketball team. Our first project together and he doesn't even show up on the first day. Yeah, this was off to an awesome start. I then realized we had barely even talked. I didn't know him. I didn't have his number. How was I supposed to arrange a meeting with him? I groaned as I reached my locker. I had only interacted with him once, as far as I remembered. And we didn't even exchange more than two sentences...

There was just one seat left as I entered the Maths class, in the right most corner at the back. Right beside the popular sports guy, Oliver Deniz. He was one of the non-arrogant jocks, which was a relief. I went over and sat down as the class began.

Half-way through the class when I looked over to my left, Oliver was asleep with his head on the desk, making a pillow out of his open notebook. I decided not to snitch on him, instead another thought came to my head, and I stifled a laugh. I took a black Sharpie out of my pencil-case and uncapped it.

First, I drew a little flower on the top-right corner of his notebook page. I thought of putting the marker back, but another idea popped into my head. I quietly bent over and drew a little moustache on his upper lips and joined his eyebrows to make a unibrow, chuckling slightly. He must have sensed it, because he started to stir.  

I quickly re-capped my Sharpie and put it away. Then I turned my attention back to class, trying not to look his way to avoid bursting out in laughter. A little while later, I peeked at his notebook, only to see him doodling around the tiny flower I drew. 

He saw me looking and tried to hide his handiwork, but he wasn't very good at that. I smiled slightly. That was cute. He looked at me for a split second before looking away smiling. That was when the bell went off signalling the end of the class for lunch.

"And don't forget to submit your work tomorrow. Class dismissed." 

I quickly gathered my stuff. "Oliver? What happened to your face?" 

I stifled a laugh.

"What do you mean, sir?" 

"Look at your reflection in the window." He looked at himself and his eyes widened. 

Then he turned to look at me. "I, um, gotta go." I said hurriedly and ran to the cafeteria, not bothering to put my books back in my locker.  

"You wait, Di Angelo! I'm gonna get you back!" Deniz shouted as I laughed.

I smiled at the memory. Maybe, just maybe, it won't be as bad as I thought. I took my bag and went out to meet my siblings. I still had to think of a way to arrange a meeting with Deniz. As I was lost in my thoughts, Liam and Lucas approached me. 

"Hey sis. Whatcha thinking?" Liam asked, standing on my right as Lucas went to my left, and both slung their arms around my shoulders.

"Nothing. Hey, do any of you know Oliver Deniz? Like, do you have his number or something?" 

"Why? Do you like that guy?" Lucas asked, wiggling his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes. "No idiot. We have a project together and he didn't show up today." 

They both laughed. "Yeah, I have it, I'll give it to you." Liam said. "Alright, thanks. Although," Lucas said, "I still don't believe you."  

"Shut up asshole."

------

Me: Where are you? I've been waiting for fifteen minutes now.

Deniz: Sorry! I'll get there in five.

Me: Just hurry up.

Deniz: Yeah, okay. 

I sighed as I put my phone down. He was late. I tapped my foot impatiently on the floor. I didn't have time to waste. Ten minutes later, he finally arrived, out of breath. "You're late." I stated. 

"Yeah, sorry. Overslept." Oliver replied.

"Of course, I know you love sleeping, especially during class." "Be thankful I didn't get revenge, Layla." I rolled my eyes. 

"Yeah, whatever. Let's start now, shall we?" I asked. He nodded and we both went over to painting from the 1800's. After about half an hour or so, we had almost all the questions answered. There was just one left. 

"What do you think this painting symbolizes?" Oliver read aloud. 

I looked at the painting. What does this symbolize? I hadn't thought of that. All I saw in the picture was the amazing artwork. I never thought about the symbolism.

"That's interesting." Deniz commented. "Is this a two-answers one?" 

I looked at my worksheet. "No. We have to give just one answer." I spoke. I stared at the picture for some time. "Alright I have an answer."

"I have one too."

"But we only need one. You can use yours some other time." 

"Hold up. Who said we'll be using yours?"

"I did just now."

"This is a partner project. We are both supposed to decide which answer we give."

"Fine. What's your thought?"

"Well, I think this painting portrays how an artist sees the world. A different point of view of what was outside van Gogh's window. It reflects what he felt while in the asylum. Isolation and insanity and he felt trapped. So, he painted this art piece as an escape."

"Oh wow, Deniz. I actually had a completely different symbolism." 

"Which is?"

"It does not convey isolation and insanity, first off. It signifies the slightest light of hope the artist had over his illness, shown through the bright stars over the dark landscape and night. It shows how he didn't let his mental health tie him down and painted this, signifying his escape from insanity."  

"Oh. But I think mine's more on track."

"Yeah, I don't think so."  

"You don't choose everything okay? You're not superior. My symbolism is more on track!"

Our voices got louder. "No, it's not! It's completely off the track!"

"It's not!"

"It is!"

"It's not!"

"It is!"

"It is!"

"It is!"

"It- wait what?"

By this time, we had caused a scene. I saw a worker running over to us. "Excuse me, ma'am and sir, but the other visitors are getting disturbed by your arguing. I'm sorry but I will have to ask you both to leave."

I scoffed and stormed out, Oliver right at my heels, as everyone watched us walk out. Once we were outside, I turned to face him. "It's your fault we got kicked out." 

"I'm sorry but how is it my fault? You're the one who didn't want to cooperate."

"I-" I sighed. "Just, go. And don't text me, I'll finish this myself. Don't worry, I'll still give you credit. You're better off at basketball." 

Before he could protest, I turned around and stormed off. I heard him go off in the other direction. I reached my car, got inside and went straight home.

So much for teamwork.