Chapter 4 Overcasting Shadow
Damian's POV
It was the next day, and another lunchtime had arrived.
I opened the doors to the library, and saw the sight of Rachel I had gotten familiar with by then.
I was going to walk past her like I had before, but when I reached her…this happened.
"Hey."
When I heard this, I stopped walking and looked around. After confirming that there was nobody else nearby, I looked down at Rachel.
"Are you talking to me", I asked.
"Is there anyone else around", Rachel asked.
"Good point. So, what do you want?"
After I asked this, Rachel took out her phone and held it up to me.
"You drew this, didn't you?"
After being asked this, I took a closer look at Rachel's phone…and saw my post about the drawing I did inspired by her short story.
"How did you…", I started.
"I saw you take out a sketchbook that had this drawing in it yesterday", Rachel revealed.
So she was watching me? Mother will scold me for not noticing that.
"Could you please not tell anyone in school that I'm the one who drew that", I asked. "I post under an alias for a reason. I don't want any attention on me."
"Don't worry", Rachel reassured. "Your secret is safe with me."
"Good", I said, before I started thinking of something else.
Since she brought up my drawing, I may as well ask her.
"What did you think? Of the drawing, I mean."
After I asked this, Rachel looked at the post of the drawing on her phone.
"It's amazing how you managed to capture the feeling of my original story in just one drawing", she replied.
"Thanks", I said. "Anyway, if that's all you wanted to discuss, I'll be…"
"Actually", Rachel started, interrupting me. "There is one more thing."
After Rachel said this, she took out a notebook from her backpack.
"After I saw your drawing inspired by my story, I decided to check out the other drawings you had posted", she revealed. "I…ended up writing a something based on one of them."
"You wrote something based on one of my drawings", I asked.
"Yeah", Rachel replied. "Have a look."
With this, I took the notebook from Rachel.
Then, I sat down and began reading it.
A small bird sits under the wing of a large bat. On one hand, the bird feels a sense of comfort within the shadow the bat casts. However, the bird also fears that the shadow will grow larger and larger, until it is completely engulfed in its darkness.
When I read this, I was taken by surprise.
"What do you think", Rachel asked.
"It's amazing that you were able to get all of that from one drawing", I replied, before looking at Rachel. "How did you do that?"
"Your dad is Bruce Wayne, right", Rachel asked. "One on hand, having a parent that rich means there's a lot of things you won't have to worry about. But on the other hand, that's one hell of a legacy to live up to."
After Rachel said this, I took out my sketchbook from my book bag, and turned it to the drawing she had written about.
"Or am I completely off the mark", she asked.
"No", I replied, continuing to look at the drawing. "In fact, it's impressive how much of my true feelings you were able to get from just my drawing and the knowledge of who my father is."
After saying this, I put my sketchbook back in my book bag.
"Anyway", I started, before beginning to stand up. "I'll leave you to…"
"You're already here", Rachel said suddenly. "Why don't you stay and eat here instead of going to another table?"
"Are you okay with with me being here", I asked. "I assumed you ate in the library to be alone?"
"It's fine", Rachel reassured. "You can stay."
"If you say so", I said, before sitting back down. "But don't expect me to make any small talk."
"Fine by me."
And so, Rachel and I ate our lunches in silence…together at the same table.