CHAPTER 12 (MUSEUM)

I felt much better now that Shane was at my side. To be honest, he sort of saved me. Kind of like those knights-in-shining-armour type of guy, and he just saved me from an ogre of a day.

At times my hand would brush against his but then I'd pull away. After all, we were just roaming around town as 'friends'. This was no opportunity to rekindle our old flame.

Whatever. I just wanted to get away from stuff.

Stupid Nate. Stupid Nate. I really hate him now. How could he do that to me? And that Medusa!! Seriously, all that's left is to have her hair be composed of snakes!

"Norah, quit staring at the ground as if it did something to you," Shane smiled.

Oops. Have I been staring at the pavement that long? Ah well, I was busy plotting on how I could place Kelley in a pit full of vicious lions. That would be a picture-perfect moment. I began to feel better just thinking about it.

"Sorry," I said and began looking up the sky. Gray clouds had begun to form in the sky, making the area look grim. Pretty soon I guess droplets of rain would start pouring down violently.

"Let's go there," Shane said, pointing to a building.

I looked up, since I was still in a foul mood and was still staring at the pavement. The building was wide and had probably about two stories. It was decorated with ancient-looking windows that looked even older in the dark weather. People were milling in and out of it. It was painted a dark blue and there was a wide entrance. I immediately recognized the place.

I used to go here during the summer a few years ago, for art class. They had an excellent program here at the 'Golvadeir Museum of Arts', and the best thing was that they'd display the best artworks of those from the workshop in a gallery. Mine was displayed, and it would be there for a very long time. In fact, the instructor was so delighted by my work that she wanted to stay in the museum forever.

Yeah right. But I did feel flattered. Or maybe even flattened.

The artwork was about…

My thoughts stopped to a screeching halt right there.

No… I don't want to remember that.

I looked at Shane and suddenly grew red. He looked at me with a curious expression on his face.

"What's wrong? You think I'm handsome, don't you?" he grinned mischievously at me.

I gasped and slapped the back of his head. "Over my dead, corrupted and maggot-ridden body!"

He only chuckled, apparently not taking me seriously and continued directing me towards the museum.

I huffed. Whatever. He's so cocky because he's so handsome.

"Let's get you inside," Shane said as he looked at the sky, which had grown to a darker shade. "You might get wet and die of a cold."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "You want to die?"

"In your arms, yes."

I only stared at him and blushed. He continued to grin, apparently feeling satisfied. Well, he succeeded.

I couldn't stop blushing. Why'd the pea brain have to say that?!?

We got inside, and sure enough it began to pour. The museum was slowly being vacated and I saw some children running about, with the curator running after them in panted breaths. I only smiled.

"Hey, you've got something in your eye," he said. "Did you cry?"

I noticed that a tiny droplet from the rain had managed to land itself on my cheek. I brushed it away quickly with the back of my hand. "Nope. Just a rain droplet."

"I'll bet that if I was a teardrop in your eye, you wouldn't cry," he said and I had a feeling that I should've just punched him.

But instead, I decided to just play along. "Why?"

"Because you wouldn't want to lose me."

I laughed hard. When did Shane get so corny?

"That's so corny!" I laughed.

He shrugged. "What? I was trying to see if it worked."

"Well, you totally and utterly sucked."

He tried to put on a wounded face.

"But it was sweet," I replied and grinned at him.

He began to smile. "Yey. Come on, let's explore the place a bit more."

I shrugged and let him lead me around the place; which was funny since it was his first time here but I just went with the flow. I've never seen him this excited.

We ventured into the painting gallery. There were a few local artists, which were just as good as the ones who were already world-renowned. And more than once Shane made a kid cry because he threatened to take away a kid's lollipop. I had to slap him in the back of the head several times. He's such an idiot, but being around him just makes me feel better.

I was staring at a painting of lilies when I realized that Shane had suddenly disappeared. I stood at the tip of toes to get a better view of the place. There were only a few people, considering that Shane scared most of the kids. But I didn't see Shane?

Where the heck was he?

I roamed around and craned my neck in different angles to be able to see him. But he was nowhere in sight. I was at the pottery gallery now, and the place was empty.

"Shane?" I finally said out loud.

No response.

"Shane?" I repeated.

Still silence. I began to feel scared.

"Shane!" I called out, sounding both scared and worried.

"Shane!" my own voice echoed back.

Huh? What the heck was that?

I traced back to its source. I looked at a huge Chinese pot.

Something's fishy.

I walked over to its side and sure enough saw Shane squatting and sniggering. He had a camera in his hand.

"Aw… You were so worried about me. The expression, the tone. It was all so perfect. I am so glad I recorded it," he grinned at me as he played the video from his camera. My voice called out once more, and I realized just how pathetic I sounded.

I slapped him on the shoulder. "You idiot! I thought something happened to you!"

He finally stood up and walked away from the Chinese pot. He was grinning triumphantly. "Well, it just shows that you're worried."

"I am not!" I protested.

"Yes you are," he continued to tease me unrelentingly.

"No!" I said and in my fury, had to hold on to the Chinese pot. All of a sudden, I felt something in my hands.

I gasped in horror as I realized that I had destroyed a part of the pot. Shane could only gape back at me.

OH MY GOSH!!!!!! Why do these type of things happen to me all the time?? Must I suffer a lifetime of misfortunes??? Hello Fates!! Lachesis, Atropos and Clothos!! I don't think you're being fair to me!!

"Shane!! The pot!!" I began to babble frantically as my mind tried desperately to come up with a solution. None came to mind.

"I don't know! You broke it!" he replied and stared at me helplessly.

Oohh.. He does have a point. I did break it…

"But you drove me to it!" I said, hoping he'd feel guilty and help me clean this mess up.

Unfortunately, he looked like he would not take any part in all of this. Oh my gosh. I think Eris has just given me the worst kind of misfortune ever.

I held up my hands. "Look, maybe we can get away. We'll just run off and… I'll fix this… Somehow…"

"Oh I don't think that would be necessary," a cold voice said behind us.

I froze and my hairs stood up.

Oh… Cripes…

I turned around and saw a man staring at me with a raised eyebrow and a disapproving frown on his face. He did not look happy at all. He had curly brown hair and cold blue eyes that made me wonder if he was really human.

"Now, shall we go to my office and solve this matter?" he asked.

I had a plan… Of course… Why hadn't I thought of that? How stupid of me!

Now to employ it…

"Shane…" I whispered to him so that the hawk wouldn't hear us.

"What?" he hissed back.

"RUN!!!"

I took his hand and began to run off.

Of course. When all else fails, retreat. Duh.