CHAPTER 12 (ARTIST'S BITTER MASTERPIECES)

"Why'd you have to run? Now he added like an extra hour to our shift," Shane complained as he mopped up the floor, leaving rivulets of water on the surface.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Despite the cold weather outside, I was really sweaty. "Sorry. I panicked okay? Let's just get this job done and finally go home."

Shane and I didn't manage to pull off a clean exit just like Indiana Jones. We eventually got caught when this bull of a security guard blocked the way and managed to stop us in our tracks. The guy who we escaped from got so furious that I could swear that I saw steam issuing in thick clouds of smoke from his head. He was the curator of the museum and deemed it suitable that we be punished by cleaning up one part of the gallery until he was satisfied.

This was no joke.

He wouldn't be satisfied, and I swear on peanut butter that he was even doing it on purpose. But we couldn't do anything, so we had to just carry out our sentence. Hey, at least we didn't wind up in jail and I wouldn't have had my mother yelling at me or something.

Shane seemed tired and always complained. But then again, he was always like that. I smiled at him as I mopped up a spot. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" he asked.

Shoot. He saw me?

I immediately redirected my focus to mopping the place. "Nothing."

He only shrugged, and we remained quiet as we carried on with our work. Finally, we were done after an hour. Thank the heavens that the curator finally thought that he should let us go. After this, I am so going to blab how awful the man is. Yeesh. He's like a troll, only ten times nastier.

Shane held my hand after we placed the equipment back in a broom closet. I immediately let go. He only looked at me.

"Huh. I see. No worries," he shrugged and continued looking forward, as if nothing had happened.

I could only turn red. I still don't feel so comfortable about him holding my hand. A part of me is okay with it, but a part of me feels pain. Oh I don't know.

"Let's check out the gallery. The one with the display of amateur artists," Shane said excitedly and this time yanked me so hard that I nearly fell to the floor.

We finally arrived at the place, with Shane dragging me with such force. My hand grew red, and I had to slap him.

He began to stare at the paintings on the wall while I leaned on a wall. My feet tapped the floor from time to time as I looked about.

Hm. I haven't been in this place for quite a while. It doesn't seem changed.

"Norah," Shane suddenly whispered.

I could only look back and give him a look that said 'What?'

He went closer to me, very slowly. My eyes grew wide.

Oh my gosh! Peanutbutterfudge! What the heck is he doing???

He stood in front of me, so very close now. I could only stare at him, completely nailed to the spot.

"Don't move," he said gently.

I only closed my eyes.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. I was panicking inside.

I waited for a few seconds. Oh gosh.

"There. Done," he smiled.

I opened my eyes. Huh? What just happened?

"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.

He really wasn't about to-?

"There was an ant in your hair," he chuckled. "No problem now."

Oh! So it was an ant! Jeez!

Nevertheless, my cheeks began to feel hot. How could I even think that??? Duh Norah! Duuuuhhh!!

"What? You thought I'd kiss you?" Shane said with a teasing expression on his face.

"No! Dimwit!" I said and began to grab a painting from the wall so that I could throw it at him.

Wait. Oh shoot. I shouldn't be breaking stuff. Cripes. I always forget that.

I sighed and let go of the painting. Thank God I actually listened to my common sense. My body could only take so much punishment.

I sighed. "Anyway, let's just go home."

"Wait. A few more seconds," Shane said.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh fine. A few more seconds."

"Yey! Maybe ten minutes! Is that okay with you? Of course it's okay! Thanks!" he grinned excitedly and pecked me on the cheek. He then began looking at the paintings on the wall.

I never knew that I could turn scarlet.

I could only observe Shane as he went about looking at the exhibits. It was like a monkey learning how to use his own tools. Hm… Yeah… Shane does remind me of a monkey at times. Maybe a chimpanzee or an orangutan.

"Norah? You have an artwork here?" Shane asked as he looked at a painting.

I smiled. It was about time that he noticed that. "Yup. It's called 'Day'."

"Well, it stinks."

I glared at him.

He broke into laughter. "I was just kidding. It's nice, really."

"Thank you."

The painting had half of its background painted a deep color of blue, and the other half was of a bright and eye-catching hue of yellow. There were the sun and the moon. On the moon's side, stars scattered beautifully across the canvas in different formations. The sun had clouds enveloping it, as if embracing it. Its rays were a brilliant color of orange mixed with yellow. I remember this. It took me three days, and well, Shane was the inspiration behind it.

"What made you think of this?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the painting.

"You," I replied immediately and he only looked at me. "I figured we were like the two halves of day. There has to be two to make one whole day, but we never meet. The morning tries to chase the night, but when everything's dark, the sun has to go away. I guess we're like that. We wanted to be together, but we never really got along. We tried to make it work, but something stops us. Kind of corny, I know. But I was thinking deeply about it."

He was only silent.

"It still stinks," he replied and grinned mischievously.

"Oh shut up Shane!" I retorted.

He laughed. "I kid. Wow. This is a real piece of work Norah. I… never knew you'd use art as a medium for what you felt."

"Well, I did. It felt good. I was originally planning to have a painting of a guy getting gobbled up by snakes but this one seemed more exhibit-worthy."

It was his turn to scowl. "Oh shut up Norah."

"Now we're even."

We smiled at each other.

"You really… felt bad, didn't you? I realized that when you never called," he said, all teasing gone from his voice.

I nodded. "Yeah… I did. We had fun, but I guess it just wasn't supposed to be…"

"I think about you, you know."

"Do you really?"

"Always. Do you think about me?"

I was silent for about three seconds.

"Yup…"

He shuffled forward. I was now staring directly into his eyes.

"You know what Norah?" he asked, now so close to me.

"Shane…" I tried to push him away since I was feeling uncomfortable.

He didn't budge, not even a millimetre. "No. I have to say this. You know what Norah?"

I gulped. "What?"

"I still love you."

Then he kissed me.

And all of a sudden, everything went black.

I woke up the next morning curled up in a fluffy bed.

Whoa. What just happened?

I yawned and stretched my arms. Hm… The bed's nice… Wait…

WAIT A JELLY BUTTER MINUTE.

This is not my bed!

This time I took a good look around my surroundings. There were clean white curtains on the windows and I swear that I did not have a brown cabinet with posters of Simple Plan on it. This looked like Shane's room.

Where was I?

I looked at my clothes. I was now wearing a loose gray shirt and some shorts.

Hey, where'd my clothes go? What happened? Where's Shane?

I paused for a minute, trying to figure things out. Then I felt like screaming.

I blacked out!! What happened???? What did Shane do??? Where are my clothes????

Don't tell me…

NOOOOO!!! I cannot fudging lose that 'now'!! I'm too young!!! Oh my gosh!!!! Shane you pervert!!!! How could he deflower me????? And I was unconscious too!!!!!

And in the middle of my panic, the door began to click open. Then he entered the place.