A work of art

Music recommended : Overdose by Alessia Cara

(Author's POV)

Somewhere in the hallway.

'Dude, what is your deal?' Levi retorts with an angry voice.

Jacob scoffs. 'What's my deal? You're really asking me that? Why the hell would you do that to Charlotte?!'

Levi squinted his eyelids before understanding what Jacob was talking about. Then he snapped his fingers. 'Oh you mean when I touched her lap yesterday?'

'Asshole.' Jacob went for a punch but Levi dodged it.

'You want to fight me?' Levi laughed mockingly.

Jacob hissed. 'We are supposed to protect Charlotte. That's what her mother wants and you're trying to having your way with her kid?!'

'Have my way? I'd never do that to any girl.' Levi smirks and pockets his hands.

'You'd never do that to any girl? Like I haven't seen you do that to Lin?' Jacob yelled.

'Hush, baby. Speak softly.' Levi winked at his brother.

Jacob clenched his fists. 'You were never like this, man. What the hell happened to you? You're drawing tattoos now, getting piercings and even fucking girls? That ain't you, man. You're different from the boy Marie raised.'

Levi threw a punch at Jacob. 'Shut up. You're asking what the hell happened to me? I'm grown, man. Marie's dead!'

'You're an asshole for saying that!' Jacob held his hand to his cheek.

'I'm gonna put you in a coma again.' Levi grabbed his brother by the collar and landed the second punch. Strangely, he hesitated at the third.

'Go ahead. Put me in a coma like you did last time. You can kill me if you want.' Jacob roared.

'Shut up. I'm trying to calm down. Don't refuel my anger.' Levi sat on the neatly polished floor with his back to the wall. 'Come on.'

Jacob joined his brother on the floor.

'I didn't touch Charlotte because I wanted to, okay? I took something from her.' Levi began.

Jacob scooted away from his brother. 'Jesus Christ. You took her panties?'

Levi made a face. 'Hell no. Not if she wanted me to.'

Jacob shook his head. 'Kill the joke, man. That's disgusting.'

Levi laughs. 'Nah. I didn't take her panties. I took a letter.'

'A letter?' Jacob was confused. What kind of letter will fit in a girl's panties?

Levi revealed a small pink piece of paper.

'You got me exaggerating the size, man.' Jacob said dryly when he saw the paper.

'Just read it, cub.' Levi passed the paper to him.

His eyes trailed a few lines before they widened. 'What? Someone's after Charlotte? But how? A lamb can't be a target twice.'

Levi stood to his feet. 'Wrong. A lamb can.'

'How?' Jacob was confused.

'As the wolf that caught her, I didn't submit her card to the Principal so Hide and Seek will be played again.' Levi explained.

'Shit. How could you forget?' Jacob yelled.

'Chilax. I had alot going on. Sheesh.' Levi scoffed and helped his brother up.

'You know who sent it?' asked Jacob.

'I don't. Lenin and Derek just arrived so they probably don't know who English is but I might be wrong. I might be right.' Levi looks at the security camera on the wall and lifted his middle finger.

'We have to protect Charlotte. H. A. S is tomorrow and Charlotte doesn't know about it.'' Jacon pleaded.

'Fine.' Levi looked away from the camera.

'Thanks, man.' Jacob exhales.

'Wait, you like English?' Levi asked. A mischevious grin graced his lips.

'No. she's a friend. That's all.' Jacob confesses.

Levi smiles. 'Okay. If I get her later, don't get upset.'

'I won't.' Jacob ran after his brother once he saw him leaving.

As they walked together, Levi threw him a kerchief.

'Wipe your lips.' Levi says.

'Thanks.' Jacob accepts it.

After walking in silence, Jacob couldn't help but ask. 'Where exactly did you find this paper?'

Levi halted to a stop. 'No way. The holy boy wants to know sin?'

'It's just a question.' Jacob replied nervously. Levi always teased him.

'The day you get laid, I'll donate $1 million dollars to the church.' Levi laughs.

'Stop it. I'm asking where in her panties did you find it?' Jacob yelled.

The students in the halls threw looks at him and he hung his head immediately.

'Aww. Don't be shy, cub.' Levi pats his brother's head. 'That wasn't so bad. I'll give you an A for effort.''

'Tell me.' Jacob pouts.

'Well, I didn't find it in her panties. It was in her skirt pocket.' Levi replied nonchalantly.

'If the paper was in her skirt pocket, then why did you touch her lap?'Jacob was taken aback by his brother's behaviour.

Levi looked at his left palm. 'To feel her skin, man. It was so smooth and supple. Makes me want to bite it.'

Jacob coughs nervously. 'Let's go to class. We're late.'

'You can't hide forever, Virgin.' Levi called behind Jacob.

'Shut up ' Jacob yelled.

Levi laughed in response and ran after his brother.

*******

(Charlotte's POV)

Art Class

01 : 29pm

The door slide open and the teacher walked in.

'Think you're lucky, huh?' Lin turned on her heels. Her friends following.

I placed my hand atop the spot Lin had pulled on. Thank God, there was no blood. What is she upset for? I did nothing wrong

'What the hell did she say to you?' asked Gracie who pulled up a chair and sat next to me.

'Students, settle down. There are seats at the back.' The fortune reading teacher said. I think I've seen him before. What's his name again? Langley? Wait ! He's one of the 5 principals.

Gracie follows my gaze and chuckles. 'Sexy, isn't he?'

'What?' I snap out of my daze and turn to her.

'I mean, the man's hot. I don't get why Asian men are so hotter than women. It's so unfair.' Gracie sighs and reveals her paint brushes and pencils.

I look at Mr Langley. Gracie was not wrong. He has a beautiful pearl skin. His eyes and short hair bore the same brown colour, with a nice jaw and perfectly carved cheekbones. Seriously, he's a tall and handsome glass of fine vino, all right. The man has got it going on, no doubt about it.

'Like what you see?' Gracie pinched my sides and I nearly winced. 'Hey, I saw Lin leave. What did she say?'

I try to reply but Mr Langley has a frown on his face and I purse my lips.

He begins the class. 'Welcome to Art Appreciation class, everyone. I'll be handling today's lesson - Making portraits.'

Jacob and Levi both walk into the class. This is the second time I've seen them together. It becomes clearer to me that they're twins.

'You're lucky my lesson just begun, twins. Grab a seat.' Langley tells them. As they settled down, he went on with the lesson.

I watch the Wright brothers. They were splitting image of each other. It was like looking in a mirror but there was a difference. One of them had brown eyes, the other, blue. When Levi looked at me, a smile flickered over his features, highlighting his extraordinary good looks. Although there was something in his eyes I couldn't give a name.

Mr Langley was done explaining the instructions to us for the portrait making. For the exercise, there was to be a pairing - the artist and his model. Everyone else found a partner except me. Of course, everyone would find a partner. I didn't. Gracie left me to sit with Adolph. While sitting alone, someone walks over to me. It's Matty.

'Sup. Didn't expect to see me here, did ya.' he smiles.

'You're right.' I smile and look over at where Levi sat with Lin. They're partners as expected. I watch her touch his jawline, his cheeks and his hair. She's enjoying it and so is he. That scene annoyed me so much I almost snapped my pencil in half.

'Jealous?' asked Matty.

'No. Sit down.' I take out the sharpener and insert my pencil into it.

'I saw the way you looked at Levi and Lin. You're clearly jealous.' he continues and it begins to irk me.

'Can you please stay quiet? I can't concentrate with you talking.' I shut him up as I begin drawing.

While drawing, I would steal glances at Levi and Lin. They both didn't notice until Levi caught me. I looked away immediately. My face turns red.

'He's giving you steamy glances.' Matty chuckled.

'Get your head outta your butt.' I didn't know when I said that out loud. Wait! That was supposed to be my inside voice. Did I yell? God no.

As I expected, everyone gave me eyes and Mr Langley comes to where I sit. 'Any problem miss - -

'Charlotte' I reply. Then add. 'There's no problem at all.'

'Are you comfortable with him as your partner?' asked Mr Langley.

'Yes. Everything's okay.' I smile nervously. Please, leave.

'Okay.' Leaning forward, he points at my paper. 'Your stroke here is rough.'

'Oh. I'll do well to correct it, sir.' I smile nervously. Again.

'Happy sketching.' he leaves. Finally.

Matty who couldn't hold back his laughter, threw his mouth open and laughed as though I was a joke. 'Your smile earlier resembled that of the Joker. Seriously the similiarity was vivid.'

'Shut up.' I lift my eraser to my paper and begin to correct my mistake.

Matty exhales shortly. 'My bad. I didn't know laughing made you upset.'

'Laughing doesn't make me upset. Its the way some people laugh that annoys me.' The moment I said 'some' I looked away from the drawing board to him.

Matty hung his head. 'Sorry.'

I sigh. 'Don't do that. It'll make me feel bad. Now, lift your head. I've got to ace this.'

Looking occasionally from the board to Matty's face almost made me dizzy. My eyes were becoming tired.

'Stop' I can hear Lin's chuckle ahead. Peeking from the board, I see her patting Levi's shoulder playfully. Yeah. Enjoy your boyfriend.

'If you're going to keep looking at them, I'll stand up and leave.' Matty said dryly.

I rolled my eyes and returned to my drawing. 'I'm not looking at anybody. I'm almost done. Sit still.'

'Do you like Levi?' Matty blurted out.

'Bloody hell!' I yell again.

It distracts everyone again and I swear I could see lightning spark in Mr Langley's eyes. I must be a nuisance to him. Thankfully, he doesn't summon me to the front nor send me out of class. Lin called his attention. It looked like she did me a solid but we both know she just wanted to kill time.

To Matty, I whisper. 'Don't make me upset. Its bad for my complexion.'

'Unlike you, I don't turn red whenever I'm mad.' Matty laughs.

I ignore him and begin to shade what's left. In a few seconds, I was done.

'Finally.' I exhale softly.

Matty yawns and stretches his hands. 'Jesus. Sitting still should be one of the dumb ways to die. My body feels numb.'

'I should say that. I'm the artist.' I lean back in my seat.

Matty scoffs. 'Well, I'm the model. I strike the pose and you sketch. The position I take may be life threatening and all you'll do is capture what you see.'

'May I remind you how difficult it is to draw and paint? Talent doesn't just fall from the sky.' I argue.

Sophie should see me right now. I made my first argument.

'Levi's looking at you.' Matty said out of the blue and I look behind him. He's right. Levi was staring at me with those seductive blue eyes. I look away.

I act unconcerned. 'He wasn't looking at me.'

Matty gave a foolish little smile. 'Oh we both know that's a lie. I observe him. Levi looks at you all the time. At assembly, at lunch today, in class. Come on. You don't think …..

I almost palm my face. 'You're getting ahead of yourself lf that's what you're thinking.'

Regardless, Matty wasn't stopping. 'With the way he looks at you, I'm surprised his eyes aren't shaped like little hearts.'

I gave my hair a quick tug. 'You're wrong. If his eyes are shaped like anything it'll be pitchforks. Levi's purpose on this earth is to torment me till I'm old and gray. That devil doesn't like me.'

'Oh really? Let's test that.' Matty threw his arm across my shoulders and pulled me close. 'I will prove you wrong.' We both turned in Levi's direction.

At first, he wasn't looking but when Matty leaned towards my ear to whisper something, Levi almost flew out of his seat if not for Jacob who held unto his arm. The glare that left his eyes were intimidating enough to loosen the bladder of Matty.

'Alright. That's it. I'm out.' Matty pulled away from me. 'You're saying he doesn't like you? Levi nearly stared holes into me. That look says "I will kill you".'

I felt a tinge of embarrassed colour run into my cheeks. It can't be. Levi, possibly, doesn't like me.

The bell rings and students move to submit their work and so did I. Matty's theory was proven to be absolutely ridiculous. Levi couldn't possibly see me as a woman. And frankly, I don't ever imagine myself with that handsome devil-angel.

I spent the rest of the afternoon avoiding him as much as I could. Our last class for the day was canceled so I decided to kill time in the library alone. Thank God, it was empty. Students seldom visit this library. I was told most of the books here were history. And I am a history buff. I find a corner to sit and arrange my notebook and pen on the desk. Before I could flip the book, I see a paper sticking out of the side and turned the page over. There was a note. A pink note which read : "Stop running from me, English."

This has Levi written all over it. In annoyance, I scrunched the paper in my fist. 'That skinny tight-arsed son of a -

'I knew I would find you here.' A voice interrupted me. His voice.

I whip around to find Levi leaning on the jamb of the doorway.

'What do you want?' I asked harshly because that's the language he speaks "harsh."

'This place is a library and last time I checked; it wasn't built for you.' he strolled in.

I watched him move gracefully. With the way he ran his tongue over his lower lip, I knew that he was a dangerous male.