Arriving in the art classroom, they greeted the teacher.
"Hello Ms. Avery." Silas and Alice echoed.
Ms. Avery smiled.
"Hello guys, I'm looking forward to seeing your portraits later."
Silas and Alice looked at each other and smiled.
"Don't worry, they are going to be amazing." Alice said with a smile.
"I certainly hope so."
With that answer Silas and Alice walked down to their corner. Alice was walking in front with a little bounce in her step, she was clearly happy.
When they arrived in their corner, Alice sat down and looked at the white canvas in front of her, she then looked over at Silas who had also just sat down.
"Are you excited?"
Silas seeing her smile and energy couldn't help but feel excited himself.
"Yeah, a little."
Alice nodded.
They sat there and waited for the teacher to give out the paint and brushes.
The rest of the students arrived, found a seat and teamed up with their deskmate.
After everyone was seated the teacher, Ms. Avery explained what we would be doing and some tips and tricks on how to paint better.
Then she walked around and handed out paint and brushes.
Silas looked at the paint he had been given. It was most of what you would need.
Alice looked over and smíled.
"I want to start."
Silas nodded.
"Get into position."
Silas moved until he got into a position that he thought was good.
Alice frowned.
"Not like that, turn your head a little."
Silas complied.
"No, no, no, not that much."
After some back and forth, Alice was still not satisfied. She stood up and walked over to Silas.
She looked back and forth then she reached out and grabbed his face. Silas was surprised, so forward?
She moved his face back and forth a little. After some more adjustments she was done.
"Alright." She raised her chin and said.
Just then she looked down and met Silas eyes. Their gazes froze.
Alice quickly turned her head away.
"Let's continue." She said as she walked back to her canvas.
As she sat down she adopted a serious look, but if you looked into her eyes you could see the suppressed shyness and embarrassment.
Why did I do that? Ahh, how embarrassing. Is he mad?
Alice took a close look at Silas's face but saw nothing, he looked as if nothing had happened. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Silas started right back, frozen in the posture she had wanted him in. He tried for eye contact multiple times, but she was simply avoiding his eyes.
Hehe. Silas felt some schadenfreude, you come up here and touch me so intimately without my consent. Tsk. Am I some common whore?
Alice focused on the painting and she was surprised by how still Silas could sit.
"Good, I'm almost done."
She made some finishing brush strokes and then she was done.
"Alright, I'm done."
Silas nodded and stood up, intending to walk over and see the portrait.
"Hey! You can't peek, not until you've made my portrait." Alice said with a playful grin.
Silas raised an eyebrow then smiled.
"Sure, get into position and I will paint you."
Alice smiled and sat down, she moved back and forth until she sat in a position she thought would be good.
Silas smiled and looked at the canvas. It was now time for revenge.
"No… that's not right, move a little to the right."
Alice nodded and moved a little to the right.
"No, not that either, turn your head to the left."
Alice complied, no hesitation.
Silas shook his head.
"Wait."
Silas took a few steps forward and soon stood in front of her.
He reached out his hand and grabbed her chin, it all happened so fast Alice was caught off guard and her chin ended up in Silas's hand.
Silas leaned in really close and looked back and forth.
Alice tried to turn her head but was stuck. Of course she could break free… but.
Just then Silas leaned in and locked eyes with her. He smiled.
"Here let me."
Silas raised his hand and fixed her hair a little.
This was all just to tease her, she looked good in all the ways she had posed.
Silas then let go of her and took two steps back.
"Mhh, perfect, now sit perfectly still."
Silas walked back behind the canvas and hid his face. He was holding back a chuckle.
Her face… haha, she looked like a deer in headlights.
But the Silas picked up the brush and looked at the canvas then at Alice.
He still needed to do a good job… especially after all that teasing, hehe.
Silas started painting, this was very different from the sketching they did last week.
The brush against the rough canvas, how the paint went from a smooth glide to a dry stroke.
And how the different colors acted and mixed.
Sigh.
This painting stuff might not be for me.
Silas looked at the 90 percent done portrait in front of him. It looked like Alice, it did.
But something wasn't right, it lacked soul… a spark.
He kept brushing, adding details.
I just don't get it! How!?
Silas frowned hard.
Alice saw this and was worried.
"Are you alright? It's fine if it isn't perfect."
Sigh.
Silas nodded and put down his brush.
"Alright, I'm done."
Alice smiled and moved around.
"Alright, let's do a reveal."
Silas nodded and picked up his painting.
Alice already had hers in hand, she was very excited for this.
"Okay so on three."
"One, two… three."
As Alice's voice fell they both turned their painting around.
Silas looked at her painting and was surprised. There it was, the spark or spirit. What is it?
The painting wasn't better than his, in the sense of looking good from an objective standpoint. There was just something different.
Alice on the other hand was shocked. What was this?
How!?
It's too amazing.
She was lost in thought and surprisement as she looked at the painting.
How could he be this good? Wasn't he a complete novice last week?
"How are you this good?" Alice asked.
Silas looked up at her face.
"I don't think it's that amazing, yours is better."
Alice pouted. He dodged… but she did like the compliment.
Just then the arts teacher arrived.
"Wow!"
"These are amazing."
She looked back and forth between the two paintings, she just felt it was too unbelievable, two people in her class that are this good? Impossible… right?
"I must get to hang these on the wall."
Silas and Alice looked at each other. Not sure about that one teach.
This time it wasn't just landscape… it was their faces.
After Silas and Alice exchanged some glances. Silas finally spoke.
"Ms. Avery, we actually wanted to gift each other these."
Alice nodded like they had discussed it long ago.
Ms. Avery nodded in understanding, she wanted them up on the wall, she was proud of her students afterall… but she could also understand them. She knew their concerns, she wasn't stupid.
"Alright, but don't forget to sign them."
Alice and Silas nodded.
Ms. Avery nodded one last time then moved on to the next group with undiminished energy.
Silas and Alice breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hehe, now I want your painting." Alice said.
Silas nodded.
"I was planning on giving it to you, it wasn't a complete lie."
Alice smiled
"Then you will get mine."
They quickly signed them then exchanged them.
Soon class ended.
"Silas, I will call you later." Alice said as he walked away with the painting, she had to get her English books.
Silas smiled.
"Yeah."
With that they separated and Silas headed for his locker. His biggest concern now was if the painting would fit in his locker.
Maybe.
CHAPTER END.