Chapter 12 - "Portrait..."

Clara's PoV

'I'm more than capable of walking down the corridor' I laughed, going to shrug his jacket off but he stopped me, as we came back from another trip to the running track for a training session.

I was getting better and able to do three laps around the track without getting too exhausted where as Matt could run three times without even breaking a sweat.

We're both trying to be able to do 10 laps around that track in under two hours and we're going to take a full practise at the weekend.

'Keep it. I've got another one. And anyway - it signifies you as claimed I guess'

'Claimed? As your girl?' I joked making a joke out of it but he blushed a little, shrugging his shoulders.

Ever since that kiss - things haven't been awkward between us at all but mainly because neither one of us has bought it up or mentioned it.

I thought that he might - but maybe me running away from him had freaked him out a little and he had now decided that we were better off friends - which we probably were.

'Not at all. It's just a nice thing to do' he said, as I wandered away down the corridor.

I had only been here for a month and already I was thinking about him in that way.

I was just so glad to be away from Casey though. It was really nice to be able to walk into the room and know that the worst I'm going to see is a make out session between Richard and Lilly - which Matt had warned me about but until you see it first hand you've got no idea how disgusting it is.

In fact until now I had really considered myself as a very on my own person. I hadn't even considered the idea of a boyfriend.

'Night Matt. Early morning run at the weekend?' I asked.

'Oh. Shit I forgot to tell you. I'm going home this weekend now'

'Why?'

'Cause Mums up here getting Rose for some thing she has at home this weekend and so she's making me and David go home as well' he said rolling his eyes.

'I want to go home' I mumbled considering face timing my Mum tonight now.

'You should'

'No. Half term is when I promised that I would go home. Mum and Dad are picking me up on the 26th of October for the week... Ahh shoot. That'll mean that I'm not even here for your birthday'

''Huh?'

'Your birthday? Halloween. Douglas told me'

'Oh. I guess yeah. Doesn't matter. We'll make up for it some time'

'Maybe Dad will drop me back on Halloween. Then I'll get to see you' I grinned. 'Who's older?'

'Hmm?' He questioned making himself comfy on Lilly's bed.

'Will she want you on her bed?'

'She'll know no different, and to answer your question David's older. 18 minutes older and boy does he not let me forget it' he scoffed rolling his eyes.

'18 minutes is a lot of minutes isn't it?' I wondered.

'3 more minutes and I would have been born in November. That way we wouldn't even share a birthday. I'd still be younger but at least I'd get a different day... Hell in fact I'd get a whole different month'

'Then we would share a month. That'd be cool' I grinned, rummaging through my draw for pencils and the correct chalks.

'Your a November huh? What are you doing?'

'23rd. Remember that date. Anyway you said that you wondered what my drawing skills were like so I purchased an above average canvas for the chin and am going to draw you'

'Right now? I'm not sitting here for hours while you draw'

'Welcome to the age of digital technology' I says rolling my eyes. 'I'll take a picture and print it out. Come on. I'm not a miracle worker - it'll take me a week or so to complete it'

'Then do I get to keep it?'

'I'll wrap it up and put a bow on it' I joked.

'Sounds like a good plan' he grinned.

- - -

When Lilly walked in I shot her a pleading look to not mention the kiss between us because we hadn't spoken about it between ourselves - so it would just make it very awkward if he found out that k had told Lilly about it - of course it wouldn't surprise me to know that Richard knows about the kiss.

'Whoa. That's amazing' Lilly said as she watched over my shoulder, sketching the features of his face.

'I'm really not sure what to do about the hair'

'Neither is he, believe me that guy has no control over his bush of hair' she scoffed.

'I can hear you. I'm right here'

'You should look. It's amazing. It's no wonder she's on a scholarship'

'I don't want to see it. If I look now - it won't be a surprise later will it?' He pointed out jumping off the bed. 'Anyway, it's 9 o clock so I'll be off now. See you tomorrow Clara' he said waving as he left leaving me and Lilly to it.

I waited and continued drawing while she had a shower, and wasn't too surprised to hear her mention it as soon as she came out.

'I've given you time to think about your lie. So are you boyfriend and girlfriend now or what?'

'No. We haven't spoken about it. It's been almost a week since we kissed and he hasn't bought it up'

'Have you?'

'No. I was waiting for him too'

'And what if he's waiting for you to bring it up? What if he's waiting for you to mention that you like him?'

'Who said anything about liking him?'

'You kissed him in the field - do I look stupid?' She scoffed throwing her hair in an untidy bun and climbing into her bed. 'Just get on with it and ask him out already because this denial is getting old very fast' she sighed rolling her eyes.