Few people considered it necessary to have art lessons in the ninth grade. In primary school, it was something exciting and special compared to maths or writing. You would sit and draw whatever you wanted, and in Julia's class, they would play audiobooks. Starting in middle school, you could say goodbye to all that and instead sit there trying to build a linear perspective. Today, as it was one of the last lessons of the school year, the work could be done on a free topic, but it would still be graded.

"I still don't understand" Ela rebelled sincerely, trying to keep up with Julia, whose one step was equal to Ela's one and a half "who in the ninth grade needed that art?"

"Well..." Julia said thoughtfully, "I guess so, but there should be all-round development.

A couple of steps into the classroom, Ela overtook Julia and stopped her, answering: "That's true, but in the primary school, or middle school, but in the high school? Really?"

Julia wanted to say something to that, but their conversation was interrupted by the bell ringing, ordering everyone to go to class. After a short noise, consisting of the bell ringing and the students' shouting, an almost dead silence fell. The students, having taken their seats, mostly continued to chat and go about their business, despite the efforts of their teacher Mrs. Wright to encourage the teenagers to engage in fruitful creative work.

„At such a wonderful time, I wish you all inspiration and strength to create your masterpieces."
Julia admired the sincerity with which Mrs. Wright encouraged her students and talked about art. Julia could spend hours listening to her talk about the features of classicism and the history of art. It was as if the teacher felt subtle vibrations in herself that made her voice sound like music.

Julia could not draw as well as Alex, but she loved it just as much. Especially when she had a good opportunity to listen to her favourite songs in her earphones. However, there was one caveat: she always followed the unspoken law of meanness: "you draw well only when you don't need to"; that is, while sitting somewhere in maths or physics, she could scribble almost a masterpiece in her notebook with a pen, but in art she could sit through almost the entire lesson without achieving anything. Luckily, this time the stars aligned, the higher powers had mercy, and the circumstances were such that gradually a cosy courtyard began to emerge on paper, similar to those that hide between houses in the old streets of some city.

Alex himself felt almost at ease. He was given complete freedom and, having opened his thick sketchbook, which was a little worn by time, and picked up a simple pencil, he began to draw. He drew lines, shaded with a light, yet expressive movement, and gracefully withdrew his hand, making strokes. Nothing could stop him, his soul was flying, transferring the image of something in his head to the paper.

Or rather, someone.

What was Ela doing at that moment? Taking advantage of the fact that art classes were not held very often, she managed to sit down with her best friend, Julia. They were exactly the kind of tandem that no teacher who often worked with this class wanted to combine, because it only meant that there would be two less students to study. Many people took the opportunity to sit down with the right person in art class. Ela wasn't a big fan of drawing, so the only thing she could do was to sneakily look up some lessons on her phone and turn them on. Frankly speaking, it didn't do much good, so her main mission was to cheer Julia up in moments of short-term crisis.

"What kind of an idiot do you have to be to draw basic things so shitty?" Julia was indignant with herself.

"Is 'shitty' your phrase for 'damn good'?" Ela replied rhetorically, her already large puppy eyes now the size of a big coin.

At moments like this, she realised just how self-critical creatives are. She was afraid to imagine the mental anguish Alex was going through. Although it didn't bother her too much, because he didn't really represent anything to her: he was tall, pale, grey-eyed and blond, which reminded her of a ghost.

The forty minutes passed differently for everyone, but everyone heard Mrs. Wright gently address the class, telling them to take turns bringing their work to be checked. Do you remember how I said that Alex felt at ease when he was drawing? Well, it was at this stage that he started to get nervous like no other. In order to avoid not having the best contact with other students, he usually went to hand in his work last, getting himself some extra time to finish something. This semester, art was the fourth lesson, which meant that the teacher would be here for another fifteen minutes, so he had more than enough time.

"How are you doing? Finishing up?" Ela cast an inquisitive glance at Julia, who was furiously drawing something.

"Just a minute," Julia said thoughtfully.

"You know, it's been about seven minutes now" Ela continued, "Anyway, I'm going to cafeteria. I'll take everything as usual, and you can give me the money later."

"Okay," Julia agreed, smiling softly, "You remember what kind of croissant to take for me, right?"

"Chocolate!" Ela shouted in a cheerful tone, already walking down the corridor towards the cafeteria.

The moment of truth had arrived. Julia got up from her desk, stretching her neck, and walked briskly to the teacher's desk.

"What has Julia prepared for me today?" the teacher asked, peering at the drawing with interest.

Mrs. Wright spent about a minute asking Julia about the details of the picture. After making a few cosmetic corrections, she gave the girl her grade with a sincere smile on her face: "A solid A". At that moment, Alex slowly approached the table.

"And what do you have, Alex?" Mrs. Wright asked, picking up his work.

"A portrait" Alex said with a sigh.

The teacher thoughtfully looked at his work with her kind eyes surrounded by light wrinkles that radiated sincerity.

"Alex, I'm delighted" she said, shining her snow-white smile on him; it was clear that her delight was completely and utterly sincere. This made the him blush, looking down at his shoes.

Julia, who had shown great interest in his work, often acting as a role model for Alex, as Ela had done for her when she was painting, glanced at the sheet curiously.

No one, not even Julia herself, could understand what had touched her in this drawing. She had always thought Alex's works were really beautiful and interesting, but none of them could compare to this one. It was also impossible to say for sure whether it would have left such an impression on everyone or whether Julia was the only one who felt something unusual and pleasant when she looked at this portrait.

At this point, Mrs. Wright told Alex that he had great potential and that he was worthy of participating in large-scale art competitions, to which he only laughed shyly. But Julia didn't hear a word they said anymore.

"Of course, I would be happy to take this work, but knowing your principles, Alex," the teacher began, smiling ironically, but Alex, who was smiling, did not let her finish: "Yes, I'll keep it to myself."

Mrs. Wright did not go against her principles when it came to this. Especially when it came to someone's art.

With that, she began to pack her things into a textile bag she had made. Alex also slowly walked towards the corridor. Only Julia stood as if dug in in the middle of the empty classroom, still not realising what had just happened to her.

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A/N: heyoooo

hehehehe something's starting ^з^ SOMETHING IS STARTING MUAHAHAHAHAHA *author's villainous laughter*

I think that there may be moments here that will not be very clear to some readers, because I wrote based on the reality in which I live - Ukrainian. Please know that if you have any questions or do not understand some points, you can always ask me, I will be glad to answer)

Sorry for the cliffhanger, I know it may be annoying but, who doesn't like and hate it at the same time? Right? Next chapter gonna have more action, pinky promise)

Honestly, aren't there too many descriptions? because I'm a bit scared already. How do you like characters? Plot? Write in comments. BTW, I added a portrait of Julia in the start of story, how you like her? TBH I took some ideas for her appearance from mine. I'll be glad to any comments, votes and suggestions)

Rage & Love~