I stepped into school that day, thinking little of it. I made my way past the crowds of people in the narrow hallways to my classes and tried my very hardest not to bring too much attention to myself. I had only two more years before I never had to see these people again. I could start somewhere new where no one knew what had happened to me or what color my blankie was when I was six. They did not notice me anyways, let alone the fact that I was avoiding them. Horrible scheduling left me with my favorite class at the end of the day. The hours dragged on and I quickly hurried to the room once that sixth period bell rang shrilly and welcomingly in my ears.

When I arrived, I realized that I was not the first person there. A few girls at the table next to me were already chatting away with the latest gossip, Landon, the boy I sat at a table with, already had his sketchbook out, and the boy in the faraway corner had his headphones stuffed into his ears, not paying attention to anyone else in the room. I set my bag down and sat on my stool, smoothing the skirt of my dress as I waited for my teacher to come out of her office. I sighed and pressed my elbows onto the table, resting my chin in my hands as I glanced out the windows. The clouds threatened me with snow and I shivered at the thought of it. I glanced around the room as more people began to spill in before I noticed the boy in the corner glance up at me. His expression made it seem like he was holding his breath, his eyebrows pulled together and his lips pursed. Once he noticed my stare, he pulled out his headphones, looking up to the front of the room quickly. It had been the first time that he had ever so much as looked at me. He had moved here with his brother and sister the beginning of this school year. I suppose if I were more social, I would try to get to know him better, but to be brutally honest, there was something about him that intimidated me. He was not one to start a conversation and I could only guess that he would not be thrilled if I did him the honors. I had actually sat at his table the first day of school, thinking he might need a friend. It was nice to see a fresh face. Not to mention that I do believe his looks scared everyone away. I had felt bad for him. I waited for him to say something the whole period, but he never did. The next day, he was all the way on the other side of the room.

I followed his gaze and noticed my teacher making her way out into the class, a white sheet of paper in her hand. I sat up straight, the late bell ringing when she opened her mouth to speak. She sighed and waited patiently, smiling softly at each of us. She was the type of person that held this wise disposition about her. It was almost as if she knew something each of us did not. She seemed to favor me over everyone else in the class, always praising me for my paintings in front of all my peers. I watched as she cleared her throat and pulled her fingers through her graying hair, "Good afternoon everyone. I have the pleasure of announcing our new project for the month," She glanced around at my classmates, but stopped when she got to my face, giving me a small wink, "I have paired you up with a partner and through the weeks, you are to paint a portrait of that person. It is your decision to decide the composition and design. This is an advanced class and I am expecting the very best."

I was excited for this because my attitude was one of business. I would treat this project professional for the sake of my own nerves. As the chatter died down, she spoke again, "Now, when I call your names, go sit with your partner and begin planning. Make plans outside of school, please. Class will be specifically history this month," Groans sounded in the room and I sighed as well, "Samantha and Grace, Richard and Becca, Larissa and Emmett.." I froze in my place, my back straightening up when I heard my partner's name. I could only feel his eyes on my back as I wondered if he would move here or if I should go over to him. I turned my head slightly, moving my eyes until they met his. He was staring intently at me and I felt my breath catch in my throat. He made no move towards me so I stood up slowly, pulling my bag onto my shoulder, walking to his table and sitting down. I carefully avoided his eyes as I pulled out my sketchbook and a pencil. He sat up straight next to me, setting his arms onto the table. He seemed as if he would yet again, never make a word. So I took a deep breath and spoke quietly, hoping he had actually heard my whisper so I would not have to repeat myself, "Any ideas?" I made myself look at him after I spoke, knowing it would be rude not to do so. He looked confused and I wondered for a moment if he would respond at all. I let my gaze fall back down to the table, knowing this was going to be one of the worst months I have had in a while.

"Not exactly, no," I was surprised by his voice, not expecting it to sound so smooth and rough at the same time, the noise making the hairs on my arms stick up. I looked back at his face to see the source of his musical words, my eyes widening slightly. He had the smallest of smiles on his lips, "What about you?"

I blinked once and shrugged, opening to a blank page and scratching my lead across its surface, "Erm. I actually did have an idea. Are you busy tomorrow after school?" I watched him carefully and suddenly noticed his eyes set into his pale skin. They were a deep golden and I could not help but picture how beautiful they would be to paint. I then began to blush a deep shade of red, only realizing the words I had just spoke. They were not meant in the same context that they are normally used with people, but just the thought that I had spoken them made me nervous and somewhat vulnerable.

He rose an eyebrow and I wondered if he were having the same thoughts as me. But that would be near impossible. He pulled it back down to its normal position before he spoke again, almost as if he had never changed expressions in the first place, "Nothing at all."

I waited for something else, but he gave me nothing so I nodded slowly, "Right. Well. Would you mind doing it then? I like getting a quick start on things."

He nodded in agreement, "That will work. Where would you like me to meet you?"

I easily pictured the old pizza parlor downtown with the empty room upstairs. I could see him sitting on the ragged couch, smiling widely at me. My heart jumped, "Number 374 on 4th Avenue downtown. It is an old pizza place. You will notice it once you get on the street."

He nodded and smiled with a closed mouth. It was still more gorgeous than any person's full grin I had ever laid eyes on, "Right. So I guess I will just meet you there after school."

"Yes, I suppose you will."

The rest of the period involved me quietly sketching my ideas down while he glanced over my shoulder. I could easily tell that he was doing it despite the fact that he was seated as far away from me as possible, his posture still straight. I tried not to give too much away with my drawings as I avoided the strong urge to look over at Emmett again. When the bell rang, I barely realized that he had left. He was so quiet that I was surprised when I looked up to find him gone.

The next day I walked into my last period, only expecting a repeat of the day before. Instead, I found a smiling Emmett seated in the same seat, beckoning me forward with a waving hand. I looked behind me before I moved towards him, shyly sitting down in the same seat. He smiled widely at me and it was hard not to look at his face. I took my place next to him, bringing my things back out onto the table as the bell rang. "May I?" His pale hand was gently laying on the top of my book, pulling it towards him in the slightest. I glanced up at him, my eyes staring into the gold of his irises. My heart beat faster as I nodded, clearing my throat and looking back at my teacher who was now at our table.

"I am really looking forward to what you two are going to create," She gave me a sly look, resting a hand on my shoulder, "I know it will be incredible."

I smiled politely and blushed like I always do whenever she calls me out. Emmett promised her we would not disappoint and she left again, moving on to other tables. When I looked back down he had already opened my sketches, moving quickly towards the most recent one I had done last night. It was the couch I was planning on having him sit. He studied it, his fingertips lightly tracing the outlines of it on the page. I swallowed and cleared my throat quietly, nodding, "I just wanted to sketch out the background so I have a better feel for the overall portrait."

Emmett just nodded at my words, his eyes still transfixed on it. I could not help but to watch his perfect face. His defined jawline outlining his thin lips overshadowed by a sculpted nose. He truly was a painter's dream. I could barely believe I had not noticed these things about him before. It felt like hours before he pulled his hand through his shaggy dark hair, bringing it off of his forehead. His eyes glowed even more now that they were surrounded by an alabaster white. He looked up at me and my face burned once he spoke, "I suppose I trust you. I must say your other work is quite fascinating," He grinned crookedly, showing off his teeth, "So I expect this would be no different."

I could only nod since my lungs had failed me and it was becoming difficult to breathe. Luckily, our teacher began to speak and I turned back up to face her, ignoring the pressing need to continue to stare at Emmett Cullen.