Love's might

Chapter 5

Nancy as always glared daggers at Emma and when class was over and they walked to take the art class, she shoved hard into Emma causing her book to topple out of her arm and walked past.

“Now that's one mean girl, I wouldn't want to and can't hang around with,” James muttered as he bent to pick up Emma’s fallen book. “Even if she’s to teach me a subject for me to ace it.” He handed it to her as she gave him a warm smile in gratitude.

“Are you still up for the revision?” she asked as they continued down the hallway.

James looked at her sideling and smiled. “I’m always up for it if you are,” he grinned as they walked through the classroom doors.

James tried to his disappointment when instead of her following him to a seat, Emma went on to sit at the other end with Nancy. It didn't help that she never sent him a glance and he knew he would sound so possessing if he asked her to come over to sit with him.

“Strange one, I must say,” Jack said, as he followed his friend's gaze on the two girls.

James nodded. “I didn't say anything that would get her upset, so I can't explain this,” he nodded towards Nancy was engrossed in sorting out her supplies and perhaps a little she looked everywhere but not at Emma.

“Maybe she has a taste for only female company and you just happen to be a pest.” Jack jeered before ducking his head away to avoid an imaginary blow from James.

Class started with them drawing portraits from small copies of paintings of Abraham Lincoln. Jack spilt his paint from his palette when he stopped to look at Wilson’s painting which looked realistic enough while prodding James to do the same. Two sets of eyes grew wide as Wilson put deft strokes of his brain to the canvas all the while the teacher paced around looking at their work.

“You are dripping paint on the floor, Jack,” Mr. Felix warned as he came round to their side.

James and Jack looked up into the face of their teacher before looking down at the floor. There next to Jack's feet was a tiny puddle of colors and the palette sloping at a dangerous angle.

Jack righted his hands and apologized.

“Clean it up before you go on your break,” Mr. Felix scoffed before walking away. The whole class who had been following the drama quickly averted their gaze and focused back on their work.

When the teacher reached Emma's he let out a sound of surprise.

“Very impressive, Nancy. And you too, seem…,” he seemed to have forgotten the new student's name.

“Emma, sir. Emma Winston,” she said.

“Emma, keep it up.” And with that, he walked away.

James commented on how he was curious to know how well Emma had done her painting.

“Do you want to be the next Michelangelo?” Jack briefly looked up at him, as he struggled with getting an even brush of the paint onto the canvas.

“It wouldn't hurt would it?”

“Look, if you have successfully convinced Emma to help with science and maths, then I don't think it will be wise to push it further and ask she helps you with art.” When the perfect touch wasn’t coming through, Jack turned his attention to another spot on the painting. And the bell rang for a break.

Jack and James packed up the supplies they had taken out and collected cleaning materials. They set to work focusing on the puddle when Emma came up to them.

“You know it will help if you maintain more concentration in class for you to get better grades she said. Her book was tucked under her arm.

“We were only admiring a work of art. You can't blame us,” Jack said, his eyes fixed on the floor.

“Does that count for glancing at me during Literature class?”

Jack's face burned as he eyed his friend warily. He had been carefully sneaky about it. Was that what James and Emma had discussed as they lagged behind the class?

“I was only impressed,” he said rising, and dumping the wads of paper towels into the bin in the corner before he went over to the sink and washed his hands.

Emma nodded as if in understanding and pointed at her watch “James, if you are done, let's go.”

James looked between his friend and Emma. She looked back at them until finally with his hand, Jack waved them off.

The duo walked out of the room and down the corridors first to the class to pick up their materials then to the cafeteria.

“We have to rush with lunch. Which means we need at least thirty minutes to go over one of the subjects,” she said glancing at her wristwatch.

“I was thinking maybe you could help me with the chem assignment since that's the next class we have. We could have lunch under the shade in the garden outside.” She gave him her order as he went in to get their food while she settled outside.

James strode ahead, made the two orders and walked out into the canteen garden with abundant shady trees and green shrubs. The table Emma had chosen faced the school block and was in the shade with enough sunlight to spare.

They went through the assignment flipping between the textbooks and notes and snatching up bits of food off their trays. James admired her patience with him when he failed to grasp some concepts. And when the clock turned on she dragged the note to herself, finished writing the assignment in a surprisingly close imitation of his handwriting and was able to finish the last of her food.

James hadn't gone far with his so they opted for a takeaway pack at the canteen and rushed down to chemistry class with books and pens in hand and slightly out of breath.