None of the characters are copyright to me. ALL BELONG TO JCV!!!!
OH! And "Awakening" official art located on my dA- link in profile
From Experience?
Word spread around Leftborough High about Todd's seizure. None of his peers knew before that he was Epileptic, so almost every kid was a tad kinder to the art freak they once avoided. But, to Todd's advantage, no one found out he was gay.
The one thing that scared him most about how kind the student body was, one of the cheerleaders opened the art room door for him. They were the worst of them all when it came to treating him like dirt, but because of some stupid medical malfunction, they did a 180 and became the nicest kids in school. Most kids would strive for this treatment. Todd hated it. He hated everyone for being so nice to him because of one event. It was…weird.
"Todd! So sorry to hear about your accident," Mr. Lamburg, his art teacher, sighed, "But I bet your sick of hearing that. Can't wait to see your new work after class."
"Whatever," Todd sighed, getting out his paints and walking to his corner stool. He liked working in the back, where no one could bother him… except, that is, for Keef.
"Heya Todd! Whatcha drawing today?" he squealed, smiling at our hero. Todd rolled his eyes, not wanting to be rude today. He just wasn't in the mood to be very social.
'Maybe if they see what exactly happened when I had the seizure, they might drop it,' Todd thought, smirking, 'like Pepito, and Nny, and the restraints. That'll shut them up'
Todd hummed merrily, setting up three canvases for the day. Usually he did about four a class, but today there was a reason. Todd wanted everything to go back to normal in school. At home. With Johnny. For some reason, Johnny avoided him that morning. Todd could understand why, but he didn't enjoy his best friend ignoring him like that.
When the bell run, Mr. Lamburg walked over to Todd's corner. Usually now, when the school day was over, they would talk about which canvases to sell, and Lamburg would spiel to Todd about the graphic images he painted. At least something stayed constant.
"What's this series?" Lamburg asked, intrigued by the first canvas, depicting a demon standing in the door of Todd's art room, Todd clutching his head.
Todd chuckled, "This is what happened to me yesterday. In art form."
"So what's going on in this first panel?" Lamburg asked, half afraid to make Todd retell his story, half interested in what the teen had to say.
"Well this first canvas depicts my friend Pepito, the antichrist, triggering my illness," Todd smiled, watching the reaction his teacher had at the antichrist being his friend, "The second shows the nurse putting me in the restraints in the ambulance. Those things could barely hold me, as you can see. The final canvas is my friend Johnny and I. He was there for me." Todd stepped back and smiled, looking at himself latched onto Johnny's waist.
"It's actually informative. It could show the world what kids like you have to go through. We must sell it!" Lamburg smiled, patting Todd's back, "I actually like it when you do art from personal experiences. Do some more. It's rather nice."
'Personal experience, eh?' Todd chuckled to himself.
----
That night, Todd sat in his art studio, staring out the window, trying to think of something to paint. When it hit him. 'Paint from experience.' He began the lineart of the dark house next door, with a small light shining from the living room as if a TV was on. Then a window surrounded it, followed by a canvas with a lineart of the house on it, and a hand.
Todd's hand.
He snickered and colored it in daintily, adding in a small bleeding heart on the canvas. When it was done, it was his finest work he ever laid eyes on. "Nice job, Casil," he laughed to himself, "Now do you want to sell this, or keep it."
The stereo switched songs. Todd at first paid no mind, but then noticed the lyrics speaking to him. Ever since Shmee had been permanently silenced, music seemed to have taken his place.
To you it was just a moment. But I took that moment home; drag it out when I'm alone.
Without you. I keep it in my dreams. It keeps me company…
Visions of the night before. Such a sentimental moment. It pulled slightly at Todd's heartstrings. He didn't flinch. He didn't seem disgusted. He seemed accepting.
I pray for you to speak to me, and tell me it was more than just a moment to you.
Todd tried to cover his ears, but the words broke through his hands, delivering a melodic message as sharp as a razor yet poetic as a songbird into the depths of his soul.
----
A small knock resounded on Johnny's door, waking the man from his sleep on the couch.
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Why can't we speak for just a moment? - IKE
