Break
"How's life on crutches, Bella?" She gave me a look, something composed of a sneer and a smile, and I shrugged, "Just asking." She sat down next to Edward at the table, across from me and Angela, setting her crutches to the side.
"It sucks." Well, obviously.
I shook my head, shrugging. "At least you don't have to participate in Gym." At that, she gave a smile, laughing lightly. "Besides, they aren't that hard to get used to. Sometimes it just takes a little bit longer for people who've never messed with them, especially if you're clumsy." That got everyone's attention, and the question, though silent, was hanging in the air. "I'll leave it at I've had to deal with more than one broken bone in my life." I popped a grape into my mouth -first day eating food at school, yay for me- , returning my attention to my sketchbook.
I would have to start painting soon, on an actual canvas, so I could finish my art project in time, but I still had a few days, so it wasn't too big of a deal. I'd probably head over to Jacob's and paint while he worked on his bike that way I'd have some form of company that didn't want to paint with me.
"Oh, Kovu, did you do our biology homework." I lifted my head towards Bella, and blinked.
"We... had biology homework?" They laughed, but I was dead serious. I didn't remember any biology homework! "No, seriously, we had homework?"
"Yeah, we were supposed to write up a 500 word paragraph on the stuff in chapter 27 of the text book." Oh, well, sucks for me then. I hadn't even read the chapter. One bad homework grade wasn't going to kill me though. I was passing the class and that what mattered. "We have one due next Friday too on chapter 28."
"I should probably start writing these things down."
"That'd be a good idea. You wouldn't want to fail because you forgot to do homework. I mean, it's like the easiest part of the class." Jessica, ah, how I did not miss your voice. She had made it a point to pretty much ignore me the entire time Bella was gone, leading me to the conclusion that she only tolerated me because I was friends with Bella. Angela and I would hang out at lunch, and of course Eric was there, all over her, and even Mike would come talk with us, bringing along a very unhappy Jessica usually, who normally wouldn't say anything to me and just spend the entire lunch hour stuck to Mike's side, commenting when one of the others said something.
No idea what I did to her, but considering my previous record with people, I didn't think too much on it. No point in dwelling on unimportant details that will have no real effect on my life~
"Anyway, we've been working on stuff for prom and..."
I decided that point would be a good one to zone out of the conversation as I had zero interest in anything to even remotely do with prom. I didn't plan on going and unless someone tied me up and literally, forced me to, I was going to keep to that.
Prom, to me, was stupid anyway. You go, hang out with people and dance while being all prettied up. How does that even sound fun? But, of course, Jessica and Angela were looking forward to it, and I'd suspect their boyfriends were as well, if they intended on holding up the supposed "prom tradition" anyway. Bella didn't seem very interested in it either, but Edward would likely wind up taking her anyway. I can only imagine the fun they'll have if she's still using crutches by that time.
Man, why did school have to be so boring. Especially lunch. It was cool to have a break, but with nothing to do but chat or doodle, it didn't exactly go by fast. I just wanted the day to be over with so I could go home, get the rest of my art supplies, and go hang out with Jacob.
Who was, surprisingly, waiting for me, as I noticed when I arrived at his house that afternoon, canvas in one arm and bag of paints and supplies over the opposite shoulder. "Figured you'd come around today." I tilted my head, setting my things down carefully on the floor of the garage, "Well you told me you had that," he motioned to the canvas which was empty save for a light sketch, "to finish and you always come down here when you have something important to work on. So I figured I'd see you either today or tomorrow."
Didn't realize I'd made a pattern out of it, or a habit... well, that was rather neat, and thinking about it, he did have a point, but can you blame me? At home, Vitani would want to stick around me and 'help', or would constantly be asking what this was and what that was and why I was doing this and that, and mom would likely want me to help with dinner or start on some of the housework while she cooked.
Which I normally didn't mind, but I actually had work to do.
"Jacob~! What's goin' on, man?" One of Jacob's friends, uhm... Embry, if I remember correctly -I met him once before- entered the garage, hug grin on his face. "Oh, hey Kovu! How's it goin?"
"Well enough. Nice to see you again, Embry."
As he and Jacob began talking about whatever it is Embry had come over for, I set up my canvas against the wall, sitting on top of a toolbox as I knelt in front of it. I opened my back and pulled out my first three, and main, paints, red, orange, and yellow, as well as a bottle of water, plastic cup, and my selection of brushes.
The final sketch I had chosen to base my painting off of wasn't something spectacular or anything like that. It was actually fairly simple, and seeing as I didn't have anything happen, other than getting my ass kicked and learning about the vampire deal, neither of which I thought would have made good subjects for the project, I decided to paint La Push beach. An evening based image, it would be when the sun is almost gone, the sky a mixture of reds and blues and purples, dark, thundering clouds decorating the sky, a bright, full moon seen through them. The waves would be high, violent almost in reaction to the weather and moon phase. On the beach would be a figure, myself, though it wouldn't be detailed as such, standing and staring at the sky set before me.
It was, if I did it right, going to be absolutely bursting with the 'emotion' and 'feelings' that the teacher wanted. It was a representation of my life since moving to Forks, and what had already happened, so, yeah.
Not a bad idea if I do say so myself and so long as I actually made it a point to work on it, and not get too distracted, then I would be able to have it completed by Monday, which was the due date. As I began, I made a mental note to myself to start painting at least a week ahead of time if she gave us another project like this to work on. I mean, I'd be able to get it done, but it would feel... rushed. At least to me.
Perfectionism was a curse but one that only got at me when I had to paint... or draw. For a grade.
I think it was just a part of me that wanted to be better than everyone else. Something to prove that I was worth more than what people thought. Or, something to that effect anyway. I never did actually figure that part out, but that's how it always was so I figured there was no point.
"Dude, that's awesome." Being snapped out of my thoughts caused me to jump and flecks of red paint flew, landing right on Embry's face, which was unpleasantly close to me. "Hey!"
Jacob thought it was hilarious, of course, while I just shook my head, "You asked for it. You never interrupt someone that deep in thought without being prepared for the consequences. You should consider yourself lucky. I did it once and wound up with the paint water all over me."
Oh, yeah, he did. I had forgotten about that. "What can I say? I get really into my work." Embry wiped the paint off of his cheek with his fingers and proceeded to clean them off on my face, leaving red streaks of paint on both. From what I could see of my reflection in the side mirror of the rabbit, it looked like war paint. "Nice, Embry." So now I'd be stuck with paint on my face until I went home and showered, because I was not about to wipe it off on my jacket, though I did momentarily consider the idea...
"Just returning the favor!" He began laughing too, and I rolled my eyes at him, turning back to my work. "What are you painting that for anyway? And what is it?"
"Class project. It's due on Monday. As for what it is, you'll find out once it's done." Which... would be Sunday night, hopefully. While I didn't intend on getting distracted, little details would bug the hell out of me until the last minute when I had no choice but to leave it alone to completely dry. "And before you complain that it isn't fair, he" I pointed to Jacob with the paintbrush, "doesn't know either."
He pouted, or something, I couldn't really tell, "Fine then. I'll just sit here and watch you with so much intensity that you'll feel so awkward that you'll tell me just to get rid of me." He sat down next to me, pressed into my right side and sure enough, stared hard at me, not my painting, me. With another roll of my eyes, I dripped my brush in the red paint once more, and went back to work.
"Embry, you do realize that isn't going to work, right?"
"Oh, why not?"
Jacob just laughed and I heard him fiddling with his tools again, getting back to his own work. I could still feel Embry staring at me as I did my thing, but I happily ignored him, even going so far as to give a smirk and start humming, just to show I didn't care. Seriously, I had a little sister. As if I wasn't used to this.
"You should paint me." My eyes shifted and I looked at Embry, "I want to see if you can capture my hotness."
"Like you need anything to add to that ego of yours. C'mon, Em, leave him alone. He's working."
"So are you!"
"Well go hang out with Quil then."
"But he was doing homework!"
Taking in a deep breath, I shook my head, "Embry." He looked back at me, "Shut up." And so he slouched, pouting, but he did remain quiet, just sitting there. I watched him from the corner of my eye, just to see what he'd do. He'd look around, sigh, look around more, mess with something laying on the floor. As he perked up though, I grew suspicious. What was he-
Okay, so I could squeak, did not know that.
Embry had picked me up, and I was now hovering like two feet in the air, "Cross your legs." Confused, but hoping it would make him put me down, I complied, and repositioned my legs. As soon as I did, he set me back on the floor, plopped down next to me, and put his head in my lap. "While you guys are being boring, I'm gonna catch up on some beauty sleep."
"Yeah, yeah. Beauty sleep. We'll see you sometime next year then."
He made a face back at Jacob and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. I continued on, determined to at least finish the sky portion of my painting before heading home, but I was paying attention to him. It only took about five minutes until he was out like a light. Curious, I prodded his cheek with the end of my brush, and guess what? He didn't move or make a sound or anything.
I looked up to see Jacob grinning at me. "So, should I assume he's a heavy sleeper?"
"Oh yeah."
I suppose I could take a small break from my project. After all, it isn't often a situation like this presents itself so... easily.
Now, the big questions, what type of artwork should we decorate the poor, sleepy Quileute boy with and how much of him should we cover.