The rest of the day Nate and Alex tried to avoid eye contact but every now and then their eyes met and stayed locked for a few seconds before both shied away. Eventually art came and it was inevitable that they had to speak and look at each other.

Both sat down in the seats diagonal from each other looking away from the table.

The teacher began to speak,"Alright, I need everyone's sketches on the table. I'll be around to collect them. Now I know that it's been more than a month and I think that's a good trial period so on that I need to know if anyone is having trouble with their partner or if you just don't click with your partner."

Nobody raised their hands,"You need to tell me now because if you don't you're stuck with that person the rest of the semester."

Eyes began to dart around the room,"No? Okay then. New project! You're painting a portrait of your partner."

Alex raised her hand. "Yes Alex?"

"Are all of the projects going to be partner projects?"

"No but a majority of them are. You and the others who got the opposite sex as their partner got lucky because all of the partner projects have something to do with the body."

With a concerned look on her face, Alex quickly looked down to the table.

After all of the sketches were collected and all of the materials were out on the tables ready for use everybody scrambled to start except for Alex and Nate.

Hesitantly both started to sketch out their partner.

Alex looked up at Nate and said,"This isn't going to work."

In a rushed whisper Nate said,"I know you've told me twice because you have Dean and I'm with Miley."

With an amused half smile on her face Alex said,"No, I mean you're going to have to stay still if you want me to sketch you."

Nate started to blush a little,"Oh. How about you go get a camera from the shelf and we can take a picture of each other and we can sketch and paint from that..."

Before Nate could finish Alex finished for him,"...so it would be easier and it would be the same pose and the lighting wouldn't change. Good idea."

"Thanks. How about I take your picture first and then you take mine. Then I can start before you do since we both know I'm not as fast as you are at sketching."

"I've got a better idea. How about you stay still and I'll sketch you. Then I can come over to your house after school today and you can sketch me. Since we both know that you're faster at home." Alex finished with a smug smile.

A little bit confused and hesitant to answer, Nate said,"You'd really want to? After all I did to you?"

"Yeah. I mean it's for a good reason. This project."

"Okay. I have band practice after school today so you might have to stay longer if you want to do it today."

"Fine with me."

After class Alex and Nate got up together and gathered their things and just like always Miley ran over to Nate's side. Alex was beginning to wonder whether or not Miley did that because she was being protective or because she always followed Nate.

"Natey?"

"Yeah Miley?"

"Do I get to ride home with you tonight? You owe me for not taking me home Friday."

"Can you find another ride today? I have to work on a project tonight."

"What project? With who?"

"With Alex."

Miley's eyes bolted up to see Alex still standing there in front of Nate. Her hands slipped down off of Nate's arm and she intertwined her fingers into his.

"Walk me to my locker?"

"Sorry, not today. Me and Alex got to go."

Nate let go of Miley's hand and walked off with Alex. Miley just stood there, left in the art room just a tad jealous.

Nate led Alex to the meeting spot where they met Shane and Zoey.

Shane had his arm around Zoey's shoulders as they walked together.

From what Alex could tell he seemed to have an amused expression on his face.

Shane came up to the two and said,"Hey Nate. And don't tell me I know your name. It's Alex right?"

Alex answered,"Yeah."

Zoey gave Alex a little nod and the four walked to Shane's car.

After the four got in and buckled up Shane started the car and started conversation.

"So what's new?"

Nobody answered.

"Anybody?"

Nate answered to this,"Hey just keep your eyes on the road."

"Why yes Nate I do have something new. Thanks for asking."

Nate sighed,"What is it?"

"Jason's back from college for the week. So we're having practice this entire week after school."

"Okay."

After this announcement, a deafening silence followed for the rest of the ride.

Once they got to the house, everybody got out of the car and walked to the kitchen where they were greeted with brownies from Mrs. Gray and a hug from Jason. Jason even gave one to Alex.

Shane was the first to ask questions,"Where's Cora?"

"What, you didn't hear?"

"Nope, do tell the intriguing story."

"Alright well she got casted for a movie and she went to Europe. You'd think that she'd try to be faithful or at least a little more careful because the paparazzi are obviously going to be staking her out. She didn't really quite think it through and supposedly she did something with a guy while she was there and the media called her out. Right now she wants to lay low on the boy front."

"Aww man, that sucks! I think you should dump her. Just drop the girl."

Zoey smacked Shane in the arm. He reacted with a quick pained look while rubbing his arm and she looked at him with an admonishing look.

"So Nate. Tell me who this lovely girl here is."

Nate started to blush and he said,"This is Alex, she's my art partner."

Alex directed a greeting like smile toward Jason.

"If she's a friend than she can join us down in the studio."

"She's a friend. A really good friend."

Alex looked at Nate.

Alex and Zoey sat on the mod contemporary circle couch facing the boys practicing.

"So, are you and Nate an item now or something?"

Alex was a little taken off guard, it seemed like Zoey never spoke."Uhh, no we're not."

"You know, I am Miley's friend."

"So what? Are you trying to tell me to back off? Because I'm not with him or anything."

"I am Miley's friend but if Nate is someone that you want and you try to get him...I wouldn't look down on it."

Alex wasn't sure what Zoey was trying to say. So she just turned her attention back to the boys and listened to them until they were finished. The boys put everything back in it's place.

Zoey went to Shane's side and they started making out. Jason went upstairs, leaving Nate and Alex awkwardly standing in the room with Zoey and Shane.

Nate and Alex looked at each other, Nate pointed upstairs and together they walked up to Nate's room.

"So what'd you think?"

"About what? Your practice?"

"Yeah."

"I thought it was good, decent, well done."

"Wow thanks." They giggled.

"Not a problem. Anytime you need my opinion I will be here to give it."

"That's good. Listen I know I said that I would do the project here right now after practice but is there a way that I couldn't and we could just hang out? I know it's already late."

"I don't really think it being late will be a factor today."

"Really."

"Mmhmm."

"Then let's watch a movie."

"Well, what do you want to watch?"

"You."

Alex gave Nate a little push and said playfully,"Don't be so cheesy."

He chuckled, "Okay."

xoxoxo

I was totally going to rant about how I gave a pleasant critique to someone's story and they then proceeded to try to bite my head off and assume that I'm incompetent and can't understand the latest installment to their story but instead...

Just a clarification: when I say a variation of "Review", I genuinely want to hear the good and the bad. I won't chew your head off if you don't absolutely love my work. I don't even absolutely love my work. It's in progress and it's growing.

Back on topic: What do you think about Zoey? Do you think she's a terrible friend? or just a believer in love? Tell me what's on your mind. :)