Cat Pov
Jade and Tori were doing great. Next on the list for Sikowitz and me was Trina and Andre. It sounded like a weird idea, but maybe even if it was just for a little while Andre might get Trina to be little more humble. Unfortunately, my mental planning was interrupted when a student entered class; it was that new author.
I had read his book, and I really enjoyed it. However I wasn't about to fall all over him just because of his book. That was until Sikowitz told him I would be his instructor for the next month. I would show him around, take him to classes and keep the other girls away.
His name was Syn. He wasn't at all like I expected him to be. He was always apologizing, and he didn't seem to like all the attention. He had never been seen before he came here so no one had known what he looked like when he got here. He told me he used that to sneak around the crowd and get to class.
He didn't look like I thought he would either. I had pictured some kind of geek or maybe a celebrity style look. He had bright blonde marine cut hair. He had startling blue eyes and a quite beautiful smile. His skin was even paler than Jade's, and he was very shy. Out of everyone at Hollywood Arts he really only talked to me.
He told me he acted that way so people might leave him alone. He had moved here hoping that since everyone here was talented, he wouldn't be hounded for being an author. That plan had quite simply backfired. He was always trying to be funny around me, but his jokes were really cheesy. Still he seemed very nice.
We were heading back to Sikowitz's class after three weeks to report. I had really grown fond of this guy. He was really sweet and completely afraid of Jade. He could have beaten her, since he had gone through years of premilitary training programs, but he had code that disabled him from ever laying a hand on a girl. Also he didn't like how Jade looked at him everytime she saw him near me. I knew she was being defensive of her best friend, but if I liked him it was my choice. I think I was starting to make that choice.
"So how do you like Hollywood Arts?" Sikowitz asked over enthusiastically.
"Very much. It's very beautiful, and the art and writing classes are interesting. They seem a little slow though."
"How so?"
"Well here are some of my sketches of characters from my novel." He handed Sikowitz a pile of drawing. They were incredible. I hadn't thought such detail possible in pencil drawings. Each was a sketch, if you could call them that, of the main six and a new character he had made for the next novel.
How had he gotten such detail? These looked like super HD black and white photos. I knew they weren't only because the scenes and outfits they were in could not be real. Not in our reality at least.
"You drew these? Why are you going to our school at all when you can do this? These are incredible. With this kind of talent you could teach the art class." They were pencil drawings each on 18 by 24 inch paper. They were far better than anything any famous painter or artist I had ever heard of could even dream of doing.
"My agent said coming here would be a waste of money, but I wanted to do it for the experience and to see if there was still more I could learn. I know there is still more I can learn from the teachers, just not in drawing. More in acting and in singing."
"Well then I'm glad you joined my class. How about you and Cat do a scene for the class tomorrow?"
"Okay that sounds great." I said.
"Sure. It would be a good way to start on a nice beat with the other students."
"Then it settled. Here you'll do a scene from your book. I'm sure you'll be familiar with the emotions in it." He handed us a small script. The scene it had in it was the betrayal scene. He said he would have the others join us for the scene, but we would be the stars. He would play Synchro, the protagonist; I would play Gabrielle, the love interest.
The next day he told me that Andre would play as Justin the betrayer, Tori as Dani the airhead, and Robbie as Arthur the brains of the group. We started the scene with Syn in the center by a fire. We had been moved to the auditorium for this scene. I'll just be describing the scene from here on out. Everyone other than Jade knew the book by heart so they would get the scene and where it was in the story.
I entered in looking concerned. He had been very distant from us all lately. Synchro had been so distracted by something.
"Synchro are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine." He said half heartedly as he poke the fire.
"You've been acting strange. Come on. I'll take the watch."
"No because he is making his move tonight."
"Who?"
"Justin. Move Gabrielle!" he yelled as he drew his sword blocking Justin's swing. I hadn't even seen or heard him coming.
"So how long have you known?" Justin asked in a cold voice. I had never heard him speak like that.
"Since he put that mark on you. Since the start. You won't hurt them. This is between me and you."
"You're right. I will kill you and return to my master with these three as my prisoners. He will be so pleased."
"Justin listen to yourself." The scene went on with the fight scene and Justin's eventual retreat. When it was over everyone in our class applauded. How could Syn be such a good actor? I read every single one of his expressions and they all pointed to him actually feeling each emotion he showed as the character. It's like he can manipulate his emotion completely.
After we finished and Sikowitz told us that he would make a great actor, we sat down together alone.
"How can you hide every one of your own emotions when you act. I've studied to be a mentalist, and even I couldn't see anything that said you felt differently than your character."
"I don't really act. I just feel. It has always come naturally like that. Especially Synchro. He is my character so I would be even better at playing him. I take in the character, and my mind just becomes theirs." He looked so earnest when he said it too. I could tell now though from this close that there was no sign of lying or acting. He even gave off an air of honesty.
He was such a nice guy. He wasn't corrupted by fame and fortune. He was so innocent. I knew what kind of people this world had from my brother. This guy was one of the rare few though who really only saw the good. He didn't lie. He simple radiated purity. He was what I appeared to be to everyone. He was a true innocent. So I did the first thing that came to mind.
I took his cheek in my palm, turn him to me and kissed him. Before him I had only liked girls. This boy however had showed me that not all men are pigs. He hadn't made a move despite showing obvious signs of liking me. His cheeks were always blushed when I was near. His eyes got a dizzy look in them when he saw me. He had been that way since he first saw me in class.
At first he froze, unsure what to do. He obviously hadn't had a girlfriend before. He had been a shoulder to cry on for most of the girls here; he was someone easy to talk to. He would listen with deep attention and would be able to comment on what we were talking about. He really did listen to us. He never even made a move on anyone regardless of having the chance to make one. He just like being able to help.
Now he was mine. He started kissing back after I threw my arms around his neck. He was such a good person I wasn't going to let anyone else steal that from him. He was mine.
We just sat there like that for a while kissing. When we finally separated he had a blissful look on his face.
"So you wanna get something to eat?" I asked.
"Sure... I mean sure! I'd love to get something with you." He was so easy. I wouldn't manipulate that more than I needed to because I really liked him. He really liked me, and I had simply sped things up.
We went out to a pizza place where I learned that despite his shy nature, he was a cold hard carnivore. He loved the meat lover's special pizza slice. He only ate one, but he really liked it. I just giggled. He was very attractive, but not like most guys. He didn't have the great hair or the way with the ladies. He had a military type of handsomeness. He was great with girls, but as a friend only. Just someone people could vent to. I really liked that.
We went back to his house, I had called my mom saying I was staying over a friend's, and I stayed the night with him. He still didn't make any sort of move. He did return any affection I gave him though. He had a nice place; two rooms, a bed, couch, and tv. He had a small kitchen and two bathrooms. He had planned on giving me the bed, but I insisted we share. We just slept together quietly. I held him tightly and he held back. I had found someone I could trust with my love. Someone who wouldn't take advantage of me. He was truly the one.
He had told me the next morning after bringing me breakfast in bed that he only had a small place because it was all he needed. That's when a bright red cat jumped on the bed next to me. It just sat there with me.
"That's Catarina. She's my pet. I've had her for two years now. She has been the only one to see me for me. At least before you."
"My full name is Catarina. That's a weird coincidence. I like it though cause she looks like me too."
"Not as beautiful, but the same hair." He was so sweet. He quickly left me to get dressed. After we got our stuff ready we hoped in my car and drove to school. Boy were the others in for a shock.
Tori Pov
None of us had seen Cat or Syn since yesterday's performance test. It was designed to evaluate Syn's skill as an actor, and I had to admit the kid was a natural.
"Does anyone know where Cat is? She has two minutes till class." Robbie asked.
"I think I know exactly where she has been." Jade said. She was Cat's best friend and knew her better than anyone.
"Really where?" Andre asked.
"With her new boyfriend."
"She has a boyfriend already? Girl moves fast. Know who it is?" Andre asked.
"Come on am I really that unappealing to everyone?" Robbie whined.
"Yes." Both Jade and Rex said together. It was one minute before the bell when Cat walked in, hand in hand with Syn. There was no way this boy had made a move. Even after only three weeks, we could tell he was too shy to make a move, despite obviously liking Cat. She must have made the first move.
"So you two have a good time?" Jade asked.
"Yup. We stayed over his house last night. I got to sleep in bed with him."
"YOU WHAT!" Robbie yelled. He was now up at Syn's neck huffing and puffing.
"We just slept in bed. No naughty stuff. Hey shiny spoon!" Jade was holding a spoon in front of Cat's face to distract her before she could say anything else. Robbie sat down, knowing Cat wouldn't lie. He obviously wasn't happy with this considering the huge crush he had on Cat.
"So you guys made out though right?" Jade asked. Syn suddenly got a blissful look in his eyes, like he was recalling a wonderful memory. Considering his personality, making out with Cat would be his best memory.
So they were a couple now. That just left Andre and Robbie to pair up. Sikowitz had told us of he and Cat's plan to pair us each up. I didn't know who they had planned for those two, but I wasn't about to miss out on helping out. Those two had brought me and my Sweet Darkness together. We would have been the last two girls people would have thought a couple in all of Hollywood Arts. Now our two couples were the Shine and Darkness of Hollywood Arts, and the long time airhead and new kid of the school.
This was going to be one interesting school year.