Amory's POV
Did you really do that?"
"Yes."
"Are you serious, Amory?!"
I raised my eyebrows at my friend that was looking at me like I was a crazy psychopath.
"You cannot do that," she said.
"Why not?" I said rather nonchalantly.
"Because it's inappropriate; that's manipulation."
I just rolled my eyes at the drama queen before me, looking incredibly surprised, 'like this is the first time I'm manipulating things to get my way.'
When I want something, I get it; it doesn't really matter how... But I do whichever way it comes; it just becomes normal. If manipulation enters the equation at some point, it's bound to happen anyway.
We walked into the art auditorium; we were going to make music... I think, I don't really care; it's art, and it can be a variety of things, including poetry.
I love poetry, one of the things I had to drop at some point in my life. I don't think it's really necessary... I don't need it.
I go to take my seat, plastering the most prominent queen smile, which is meant to do only one thing... Intimidate.
"What if he finds out??"
"He won't."
"You don't know that." I turned to Carmen, who is still unrelenting in her questioning; now she is just being plain annoying, and it's not like I did such a bad thing considering I've done worse in the past.
I just asked Miss Smith, who is the art director, to ship me and Kale together for whatever project that is coming up. That, of course, is not allowed, and not to mention she is very strict, but then there's nothing a good blackmail can't solve.
It's simply so easy to make people dance to your tunes, especially the freaky ones.
"Miss Smith is a good woman; I kinda feel bad for her." I just laughed sarcastically at that.
"No one is good, baby girl; you said so yourself. I mean, it's part of your Bible, right?"
"But still..."
"Let it go, Carmen; it's not my fault she takes nude pictures and sends them to a trashy boyfriend, who would sell her for $20."
That finally shut her up, which I'm grateful for.
"Your prey is here," she whispered to me, and I looked back to see him walking with his friend, who for some reason is always talking.
His hands were in his pocket; I could see the silver watch peeking out of the pocket. He was wearing a button-up shirt, but two buttons were open, showing some skin. It's a long-sleeved shirt, but his own was rolled up, showing his arms, and I don't know why the hell that made me gulp.
My eyes moved to his face, and I was transfixed.
Wow... he's so... I really can't find a word to describe it. I can always admit he's good-looking even with his ugly glasses, but it's on another level without the glasses. I looked at his eyes, and it's obvious he's wearing contacts, and did he look good...
I shifted uncomfortably when I noticed his hair... did he dye it... It definitely looks a shade darker.
I was so transfixed at him that I didn't notice he had turned in my direction, and our eyes met, and at that moment... My breath hitched.
He is. Staring at me, I gulped for the second time, and the look lasted for no longer than two seconds, but what the heck was that?!
"Amory, did you hear me at all?" I snapped out of my haze and turned to Carmen, who was looking at me unimpressed.
"No," I said simply before looking around briefly to see where he sat. I watched his ever-cold eyes scan the room before he sat down with poise, taking out things from his bag nearly on the desk before him, everything in such a poised way, nothing was out of place. After looking at it for some time, seemingly convinced everything was perfect, he turned to give his royal attention to his friend, who was still talking and pointing to the stage...
I chuckled slowly; everything about Kale is weird and unfamiliar, but that seems to just attract me to him more. I smiled as I bit my lips...
What lies behind this cold ice wall that no one seems to get past? And I won't lie, I'm intrigued.
"Settle down, everyone," Miss Smith says while walking into the room. Going to move to the center, everyone hearing her voice quieted down as usual. It's Miss Smith, so definitely no chatter in her classes.
"We have come to the end of the theoretical part of our art class, and we're moving to the practical part of it, and to do that, you need to be paired in twos."
That caused an uproar, some sighs, and even happy mummering. She didn't even wait for the chatter to stop before pairing two people who seemed to be in a hurry.
"And let me remind you, according to what we did before, you and your partner are supposed to make an artwork; it could be anything—music, painting, poetry...
Since some of you are unhappy about the pairing, I'm giving you the advantage of allowing the partners to choose any kind of art that piques your interest that is within the confines of 'art' in our curriculum."
She paused to look at me where I was seated, her eyes dragging to Kale, who was shifting uncomfortably before shooting me a glare.
"Amory and Kale, you work together," she said, pinning me with a gaze that should probably make a teenager scared, but then again, I'm not an average teenager, so I just smirked at her, moving to cross my legs and look at Kale...
Wow, he had a look of horror on his face as he tried to convince his friend to switch with him, but Elijah was gone even before he started explaining. It's not like I'm going to agree to a switch anyway.
People were already clustered around the room, finding their partners and initiating conversation.
But he still hasn't moved an inch; his back is turned to me. He stubbornly sat down in his seat, glaring at the materials he previously brought out, not even willing to at least turn back to glance or look for his partner... Well, that just made me laugh. Don't worry, Kale, I don't have a problem making the first move.
I stuffed my things in my bag before moving to him through the back. Once I stood over his back, I bent down to whisper into his ears unawares just for the fun of seeing how horrified he would be at my sudden appearance.
"Hi, Kale." I watched him spring up from his seat, his hand on his ear that seemed to be smoking from the effect of my hot breath, considering it's already winter.
I smirked at him before moving to sit where he was previously sitting and crossed my leg.
"I do feel quite offended," I say, looking at him, also trying not to be affected by the way he looks.
"I mean, people always scrabble to be my partner; they literally pay for it, but you're acting like I'm not here at all. I even have to meet you here in your seat; that's not nice, Kierson."
I watched him still try to put himself together and form a sentence before giving up and glaring at me.
"And remember, you must be able to work together with your partner and make a video of the process, which includes the two individuals working together, and that in itself should be art."
She said lastly before leaving the class.
I turned to him.
"You heard her; we have to work together to make art," I said, but he just picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder before leaving, not saying a single word to me.
Seriously…