Art Room

The weeks had flown by as Julie finished her assessments. It was now a week until the end of term Art Exhibition, something she enjoyed each year. She didn't love it for any awards but for the creative ability she and her fellow students could show. Parents would come and the local community would too. Each person had a vote, and they'd vote for their favourite piece. Julie never voted for herself, thought that'd been wrong. But that was still a week away and she hadn't finished her entry. She'd been struggling with her initial idea, a impressionism style piece. It would have been amazing but she hadn't done any work on it for weeks, instead staring at it for hours before first class. She now sat before a new blank canvas knowing what she wanted to paint but not being sure about it. She wanted to paint him, to convert her many sketches of him into something better. She just hadn't gotten the nerve to ask him and she knew if she only painted him it'd look strange.

She came up with a plan, knowing what she needed to do. She stood from her stool, leaving her equipment, sprinting out of the room and through the halls. She slid around corners enjoying her excitement. She slid around the final corner and coming face to face with the man she was obsessed with. She mentally cursed herself and her luck. He was standing at the front door of the school, peering outside. She however, was sliding towards him along the smooth floor begging for the ground to swallow her. She put her hands out, closing her eyes bracing for the impact. Instead he turned around and grabbed her shoulders halting her movement. She shook gently as she whispered a 'sorry' to him. He let out a heart laugh as he let her go. "Julie you're a real hazard aren't you." His voice was deep but happy. Her eyes opened as she lost all her courage and her plan went out of the window. "I...ummm...I....Can...." She was a babbling mess as she looked up into his dark eyes.

He continued to smile down at her, not phased by her inability to speak. Thankfully he took control "Julie, are you doing something for the art exhibition?" His voice was gentle as he guided her outside. The sky was coated in clouds yet again, the rain a real threat. He sat with her on a bench in the courtyard. "Yes, I want to paint." He hummed at her response, "You do a great painting each year. I always vote for you. Your skills are great. Did you know I'm presenting the awards this year? I finally accepted their nagging." He let out a laugh that she matched. The school asked him to present awards at all events but he always declined, she was glad he'd been there for more than two seconds this year. "Are you sure you can survive being social for two hours? I usually leave after the first twenty minutes and only go back for the awards." He chuckled at her question shaking his head. "Smart girl." They sat in silence for a short while, enjoying the warm breeze.

"What is that you want from me Julie? I know you want something, your babbling before gave it away. You're the only person who isn't scared of me here so please don't start now." He was right she did want something, something she still wasn't sure of. "I want to paint your family. May I have a family painting to use as a source?" He instantly looked at her, shock all over his face. "You only have one week." He was concerned and slightly surprised. "Well Mr Hareena, I am fully aware of that. But if you believe I cannot do it I am sure I could find something else to paint." Her anger came through her voice as she glad at him. His hand came to settle on-top of one of hers on the bench between them "I did not say you couldn't do it. Come with me I'll get you a family portrait." He stood with a smile and offered her his arm, the perfect gentle man. She stood at took his offered arm.

Her 5'5" stature compared greatly to his 6'7" height. She studied him as they walked along the path to his home. It style was similar to the school, it still looked grand even while giving off a welcoming feel. "The rumours about you could never be true..." She spoke to herself as they entered his foyer. The tall ceilings were amplified by the gentle lighting. He chuckled and guided her into a library, the walls were coated in books, there were even some stacked in piles on the floor. "I'm greatly sorry for the mess but I'm still waiting for the extension to be completed, here look." He guided her towards some wood panels that he slid aside to reveal a large adjoined room that had furniture but no shelves.

She nodded before turning to him. "I have some basic home improvement skills, my father was a carpenter. I could come and help." She smiled at him but he didn't smile back. " As much as I'd enjoy having your help, it'd be inappropriate." He turned away from her and strode back to the foyer, she followed closely. He retrieved a family portrait from above the fireplace, he was just a young child in it. He didn't hand it to her, instead walking back out the front door. She stood there stunned before he hollered back for her to follow.

They bother entered the Art room to find it full of a 3rd form class. Her easel was still set up in the back corner, her blank canvas and trashed original painting left untouched on the table beside it. She retrieved another easel and set it up for his portrait. She turned to him and found him staring down at the many sketches of him scattered across her desk. "Shit. Ummm, just put it her Mr Hareena." She pointed to the new easel before rushing to shove her sketches into her backpack. She looked up at him as she passed to see a slight blush on his cheeks, something that probably also showed on her fair cheeks. After the debarcle was finished she sat on her stool and immediately started painting one of his family members. He grabbed a stood and sat watching her work.

It was his mother she was painting, she was amazing and captured his mother's warm gaze perfectly. Once the day was over and many classes had come and gone she'd finally finished painting. She sat back, studying what she had done. It was very good. "You captured her perfectly. Well done Ju." He praised her as he stared into his mother's eyes. She looked over her shoulder startled, "You stayed." her voice was soft as she looked upon him. He still wore his suit, it was black this time with a burgundy shirt. She touched his chest gently, seeing sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry you lost her." His hand came to rest over hers as he looked up at her. He was eye level with her now, his sitting form lining up with her standing one. His legs were spread and she stepped between them, her hand still on his chest as her other hand slid on-top his shoulder.

She had been obsessed with him for weeks and now she was practically on him. "M...Mr Hareena... I..." she stumbled over her thoughts as she gazed into his eyes, they had darkened. He smiled big, sharp teeth poking out, but she wasn't afraid. She gently touched one, marveling at them. Reality hit then as he jumped back covering his mouth. He turned from her and rushed out of the room. She sighed at herself and collapsed on her stool, she had a lot of painting to do and couldn't indulge in a fantasy where someone loved her. As she moved her last canvas to the drying rack the door squeaked. She looked over her shoulder to see Brenna standing there with a large mannequin. She wobbled into the room placing the mannequin down with a huff. "I'm sorry Julie, I thought the room was empty." She looked flustered trying to put her supplies down. "It's alright, I'm just painting, do what you want." Julie kept the sadness from her voice as she placed a new canvas on the easel. She continued to paint each family member, leaving Mr Hareena for the biggest canvas.