Forbidden Lessons.
Music and chatter filled the exhibit, though for me, things were quiet and calm. I was walking alone, glancing at the art around me, and stopping at a few to study. I couldn't deny the fact that I felt lonely and bored since I couldn't find the two artists who were displaying tonight. My parents were talking with usually buyers and guests, my brother was more then likely sitting near the bar, playing a video game, but I still wouldn't want to join either.
Walking up the curved staircase, I nodded at two familiar faces while slowly making my way to the second floor. 'Where could they be?' My eyes left the steps and moved to the top of the stairs; my irritated expression changing to a bit of a surprised one, but I still smiled at who I saw. We met in the middle of the staircase, standing near the wall so others could pass. "What are you doing here?" I found it hard to hold by my true joy of seeing this Uchiha and based on his expression, I had a feeling he knew.
"My friends are the artists that are being featured here, but I'm surprised you came to this one." All of a sudden, my nerves melted away and things seemed natural.
"Deidara-kun and Sasori-san are your friends?" He nodded and by his face, I knew what he wanted to ask. "I was the one who talked my Dad into letting them show here and because of that I had to help organize and set up." As I started to explain, I began to walk up the stairs instead of standing around awkwardly with Itachi following me closely. "My parents also weren't happy with me just barely passing my exams so it was punishment at the same time."
"Don't you have a tutor?" After that question, I realized what I had just mentioned. I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks so I snapped my head to the right hide my embarrassment.
"Not a very good one…" A chuckle. "Hey, it's not my fault I can't focus for more then five minutes at a time!"
He leaned over just a bit to whisper, "You always focused for me."
A smirk was clear in his tone, a blush was clear on my face.
For once, I couldn't think of a witty comeback. I just gnawed on my lip while fiddling with the end of my dress. 'God damn flirt.' I cursed to myself.
"Say, is your father here?" I turned my head, but kept it low so he wouldn't notice my bright face. Itachi's eyes were looking around the exhibit a bit obviously.
"He should be here somewhere." I smiled slyly, not even bothering to hide it since his charcoal orbs were looking at everything but me.
"Then I should I, I wouldn't want to cause any problems." He walked off quicker then I imagined and made me call out as I dove to grab his arm. His eyes looked down at me with confusion and anger reflecting in them. I could see myself in the darkness of his eyes; I was smiling sweetly even though I knew he'd be annoyed with me.
"Tonight I'm running this and my parents probably left already to go on a date. You're too paranoid." My joking brought up a glare and a smirk.
"How many times have I told you not to play games?" Shaking his head, his arm slipped around my shoulder as mine went around his waist, and my other free hand rested on his chest.
"Lots!" A grin danced across my face.
We continued walking around, looking for Deidara and Sasori and while Itachi was filling me in on his studies at the university, I overheard one conversation at the perfect moment.
"Oh~ look at that guy~"
My eyes secretly looked at three women who were giggling and staring at Itachi.
"Of course he already has a girlfriend. She looks pretty young though…"
"Isn't that Ayaka Tottori's daughter?"
An f-bomb went off in my mind. If word got out to my mother that I was with an older guy, acting all 'lovey-dovey' it would be lockdown. As I tried to find an escape route, a man walked up, offering them more drinks. That was my chance to tug Itachi along to get out of their view.
He kept asking where we were going and all I could say was, "Oh, you know~" with the wave of my hand. Improvising, we went to the patio. Barely anybody was out there and those who were, I didn't know. I mentally sighed as I went over to the railing. Leaning against it, I stared at the night sky. Tonight was amazing - fireflies, a humid summer night, starlit sky, and the muffle of music in the background. My mood had instantly changed at the new atmosphere. "Sorry about that…it was stuffy in there." I didn't bother to look at Itachi; I could already feel his eyes watching me.
"No need to explain. It was a little uncomfortable with all those people watching." Still his eyes watched me. This felt so much like the past…
But now we could be considered stangers.
"Hey, Uta!" My head whipped around and my teal eyes glared at my brother, Choku. I could see Itachi turn casually turn around and lean against the railing so his back faced my brother, though I knew it was so my brother wouldn't recognize him. Choku looked bored and tired as he leaned against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets and his eyes looking lazily off to the side. "Mom and Dad said you gotta drive me home."
"Why can't you just walk, it's not that far." My arms crossed as I pouted at him. He rolled his eyes at me while muttering something about sisters under his breath.
"Uta." The whisper made my eyes shift to Itachi. "Go on ahead." When I felt the light tap on my arm, I looked down.
I smirked.
Pretending to be upset, I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "Alright." I groaned. Choku began to walk away so I took that moment to quickly dial my number into Itachi's phone and hit 'send'. I pulled my own phone from my pocket to stop the ringing. "I'll be back in a few." I winked.
Inside, Choku was waiting for me on the other side of the glass door. "Wasn't that-"
"No."
"Twenty."
I glared at my brothers' cocky smirk, but I still had no choice but to slap twenty dollars into his open hand. "Ya' know…I'm kind of glad I got to run this show tonight." My stupid grin got me a scoff from my brother.
"Girls."
Loud pounding on my door at 9:42 in the morning was my wake up call. Muffled by the knocking, I could hear my brother telling me to unlock the door. After pulling my head out from under my pillows, I struggled to push my hair out of my face. Only having one eye visible, I gave in. As I got up to get the door, I snatched my phone from its charger. One new text message greeted me when I flipped the screen open.
New Message
From: Uchiha Itachi
Deidara thinks he left his keys in the museums office.
"Hmm?" I hummed at my brother, my eyes finally looking up at him. I didn't hear a word he said since I was reading the message and the annoyance was clear.
"Breakfast, idiot." He rolled his eyes, but I hadn't noticed. I was already replying.
Re: (Uchiha Itachi) Deidara thinks he left his keys in the museums office.
Stop by at 3ish. I gotta clean up so we can look for em then.
"Uta, put that phone away and come eat." My mother bickered while I stood in the doorway, waiting for the message to send. Sitting down, I put my phone near my plate that was already loaded up with cinnamon toast and eggs. Breakfast was quiet other then the sound of silverware clinging together and the bacon frying. My thoughts about where Deidara could have left his keys and how much more American my family could get were interrupted by my father finally starting the morning conversation.
"You're starting school next week, right Uta?" My groan was my way of responding "yes" as I bit at my bacon like a carnivore ripping the flesh off its prey.
"Let's not forget the idiot is changing schools too." Choku added, with laughing eyes as he bit into his toast. I hissed.
"I still don't see the point in making me transfer." I grumbled, stabbing my eggs. "It's not like my grades will get better…"
"Oh yes they will." My father spoke, finally setting down his newspaper. "If you wanna get out of this school and back to your old one, you gotta do the work."
click, click, click
"Uta are you listening?"
"Hu?"
New Message
From: Uchiha Itachi
We'll be there.
Re: (Uchiha Itachi) We'll be there.
Btw, you're not welcomed unless you want your hea
"That cell phone will be gone if you get one low mark on a test." Closing my phone without finishing my reply, I slowly slipped it under the table.
"Got it…" I said quietly. Then I snapped. "But why does it matter if I do good in school? I'm just goanna be an artist like the rest of this family – not counting that thing you call your son – so it's not like I need to know the formula to find the angle of a roof or what the fancy word for a monkey is!" By now, I have had this conversation with my parents for the hundredth time and by now I must have got the same answer for the hundredth time.
"You want us to give you the art exhibit, correct?" My mother spoke up, now sitting down to eat since all the cooking was done with. I avoided all eye contact as I played with my eggs and gave a small nod. My dad was finishing off for my mom about how I won't get it without a business major. I leaned back in my seat.
Re: (Uchiha Itachi) We'll be there.
Btw, you're not welcomed unless you want your head to be beat in with a sculpture. xP
"Understand, Uta?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Oh, I forgot to mention. If anything happens, Choku will be your tutor."
"What?"
"Ahahaha, yes!"
"After what happened with…" Anger was obviously filling my father just by the thought of Itachi, so my mother continued.
"It's hard to trust strangers and we can't find any women who have spots open for you, so your brother will help you."
"He's 14!" I yelled. "How is he supposed to be able to help me?"
"He's a genius, honey."
bam.
"Uta…get your head out of your food."