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"JAYDEN!" MARLENE YELLED ONCE HE ENTERED THE BUILDING. Heads turn towards them, some judgemental, some with disgust, but most shook their heads and looked away. "You're okay!" They rubbed their cheek against mine as they pulled me into a tight hug, "sorry again for not telling you about the weed."

"It's okay," I chuckle pushing my taller friend away. "I wish we had made up a better excuse though, being alone with two of those older brothers was hell, I would rather have come to school."

"My poor Jay-Jay!" They yell rubbing my back. "I can't believe we left you to the sharks! I'm so sorry!" They wail, but soon their mouth was stuffed with a mini chocolate muffin.

"Shut up, Marls!" Arlo says as he pried their hands off of me. "God, what are you a seagull?"

I couldn't help but snicker as Marlene gave Arlo an offended look with their arms crossed – munching on the muffin. Arlo shook his head and grinned down at me, "hey dude, glad your back." He chuckles, rolling his eyes, "maybe now, I don't have to listen to their whining about you not being in."

"Yeah, but I'm glad I'm back." I say smiling, "I was locked up in my tower with sharks surrounding me and watching my every move."

The taller boy was looking behind me and smirked, "yeah, watching your every move sounds about right."

I sighed, "which one is behind me?"

Arlo wraps his arm around my shoulder, he brings his face in causing me to look at him weirdly, his eye shifted behind again. "Carson.....oh, and here comes Wesley." He chuckles keeping eye contact with them before getting extremely close to my face. "They think I'm kissing you." Marlene took out a camera and brightly flashed it on us, pretending to fan over us.

"Oh, shit." I say, "now, I'm going to get picked on even more in that house....thanks a lot."

"You're welcome." He simply says, taking his face away from mine, pretending to lick his lips; sending me a wink and a smirk. I didn't even want to look back, I was tempted but I didn't, but I watched Marlene aim their camera the brothers way and snap a picture.

"C'mon Jayden, we have art with Miss McDonald!" Marlene said taking my hand as they heard the bell ring, I waved to Arlo who went the other way, he looked very pleased with himself.

When we reached the class we went in and took our seats, the art teacher had introduced herself enthusiastically, I watched as she danced around the class and handed me a jotter with blank thick pages, Marlene showed me that your draw people in there who inspire you. You could use charcoal or any kind of paints – pens. I think I was going to love this classroom, I watched more people file in, but my smile almost dimmed when Wesley walked in, he looked mad, I saw him glance over, but I pretended to look at the blank pages.

I stiffened slightly when I noticed his seat was right behind Marlene and I's. I grabbed one of the ink pens and wrote down my name on the front, "hey, wanna come to the mall with me and Arlo?"

I thought about it and I gave an nervous smile, "sure, I could do with some new patches and trinkets. Oh, maybe even new posters!" I say practically jumping in my seat.

Marlene quietly whooped, "I swear this doesn't involve smoking and drinking....I just wanna get some new rings."

The teacher clapped her hands gathering everyone's attention, "alright everyone, I have some things to do on the computer, but I want everyone to do a portrait of someone. Now, it can be anyone, someone that inspires you or an actress or your partner next to you."

Everyone grumbles, but bang to get their equipment out of the treys from under their desk, Marlene shares theirs with me. "Who're you gonna draw, Jay?" She questions.

"I'm gonna draw my mom, she was someone who inspired me to stay strong." I say with a faraway look in my eyes. I snapped out of it when the redhead placed their hand on my shoulder with a sad look in their blue eyes. I smile at them, "what about you?"

"I'm gonna draw Mrs Johnson, she's my chemistry teacher and my god, that ass–" I stop them from yelling out and laughed quietly, god, I couldn't take them seriously.

"Okay, I get it, your teacher looks good." I say scrunching my nose.

Marlene smirked, "sorry, I forget that you're a virgin."

"Marlene!" I felt myself turn red slightly, "I am not a virgin!" I really wasn't, I had given it away to someone I thought loved me.

"Okay." They say with a chuckle and a look filled amusement that clearly aimed towards me. They began to settle down and start drawing, I huff and start sketching out the head and putting the lines where her features should be. I start lining out the ball of the shoulders and began working on my memory of her.

Her long brown hair curled around her face and down past her shoulders, her bright brown eyes that represented the earth glowed whenever she stared at me. Her red cheeks, her pink lips and the small tint of caramel that bounced off each curl of her hair. Her smile, that smile – it warmed everyone's hearts. I felt my eyes beginning to tear up as I watched those bright brown eyes turn dull as she grew sicker. She tried to smile, telling me she'd be okay, that she loved me and always will. I felt my hand grab charcoal and shade around the areas of the paper, I wasn't aware of Marlene's concern stare that was drilled into me. I couldn't – I couldn't mess this delicate art piece up, it had to be perfect!

I was so lost in finishing the piece I didn't even hear the bell go. I ignored Marlene's attempts to snap me out of it, I could faintly hear them whispering to me. I felt a cold hand touch my shoulder, I flinched out of it and looked around at my surroundings. I noticed the class was leaving, nobody seemed to notice my little blip. The hand left my shoulder as Marlene stares at the art work and gave an awkward hug to me.

"I think it's done," they whisper, "your mom, she's beautiful." This caused me to stare down at my drawing, it looked exactly like her. I smiled and suddenly realised that I had ruined a perfect day.

Jayden 'who can never have a good day' Lynch, you've done it again.

"Sorry for ruining the mood." I mumbled, "I got caught up."

"Nah, you're allowed to feel these emotions it's what makes us human. You're still mourning, and you can draw anything you want." They say giving me a comforting squeeze, "everyone can have a good day and a bad day at the same time, it's normal." They say grabbing their things and putting into their backpack, they packed my bag and offered me a hand. I took it and wiped my eyes and started to follow them out the door.

Their hand felt warmer than mine. Then who touched me and helped me come back from the blip? I can still feel their cold – clammy hand gently, but firmly squeeze my shoulder. I shake it off and continue to head with Marlene to English.

I seemed to have calmed down and cooled off as we walked past other students, "thanks back there." I say to the redhead who shrugged. "I mean it, no one's ever helped me like that before."

"You might not wanna hear this – I couldn't quite help you out of it. You snapped out of it when Mills....Wesley touched your shoulder." They said with a nervous laugh, I grew pale, I couldn't believe it.

"Shit." I said, Marlene just laughs it off and grabs my arm pulling me inside of the English class. "Could this day get any worse?"

The teacher smiles as we enter and then starts with our lesson. I couldn't really focus due to getting told that Wesley was the one that helped. Why would he help? He hates me. Well, the feeling was mutual. But he calmed me down, I thought it was Marlene....but they admitted it was him.

• • •
Edited.
Weasley and Carson being fooled by
our bisexual king! Someone get Arlo
his crown!

thanks for the support! <3

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