The Art Project

Chapter 2

Flashback

"All veins carry deoxygenated blood except the pulmonary vein, and all arteries carry oxygenated blood except the pulmonary artery."

Okay, I can do this.

All veins carry.... arteries carry....

And I've already forgotten.

I look back into my integrated science note to cross-check.

"Okay, all veins carry deoxygenated blood except the pulmonary artery and all arteries carry oxygenated blood except the pulmonary vein."

Huh? Is that right? That doesn't sound right.

I look back into the book again only to frown.

Argh! This is pointless!

I throw the book at the wall.

Whose idea was it to make an art student study science anyway?

I sulk when my conscience tells me to go pick up the book but that thought just makes my face tighten.

I sigh and slump into my pillows only to notice my laptop by my side.

How about I take a learning break to restrain and distract myself from burning my science note.

I open the laptop and launch my favorite application to use.

My eyes glistens with the usual glitter and my smile probably covers half of my face like Pennywise as I scroll through the pictures.

A knock on the door disrupts my moment and I quickly shut the laptop before hiding it under the pillow next to me.

I reach for my book but I'm reminded it's on the floor halfway across the room. S**t! Plan B.

The intruder walks into the room and closer to my bed before I feel the bed sink in beneath it's weight.

"r****h. Are you asleep?" I hear the familiar voice of Eleanor but I don't move an inch.

I feel her stand from the bed as I continue to feign sleep and soon I hear the door close.

After a few seconds of silence I assume the coast is clear so I open my eyes.

Imagine my surprise when I find her holding my laptop and grinning at the screen.

"Would you look at that. She is awake." She chuckles at me and I quickly remove the duvet ready to pounce on her.

"Elle. Give that back." I warn moving closer to her by crawling to the other side of the bed.

"No, wait hold on this is interesting.

A picture of Jyronne smiling, a picture of Jyronne making a basket." My eyes widen when she begins describing the pictures.

"Oh my, a picture of Jyronne wiping his face with his jersey. Dang girl he's ripped." She gasps playfully.

That's it.

I climb out of bed and snatch my laptop from her.

Eleanor laughs at me as I roll my eyes and put it back under my pillow.

"I thought you said you were over him?" She stops laughing and smiles.

I wish I was but.... words are just words until actions are taken.

"Pff! When did I say that?" I chuckle and turn red but she stares back with a deadpan look.

I decide to ignore her look and climb back into bed.

Elle walks to the wall and picks up my note before walking back to me.

"I see the reason why you resorted to watching pictures of your crush." She looks down at the science note.

"How did you even get clear close-up pictures of him like that?" She asks with serious curiosity and I stare at her blankly.

"It's called focusing and zooming in." I reply sarcastically before retrieving the book from her and sitting back down.

"What a waste of your photography skills." I gasp.

"Says the girl who has brain space for dance moves of her crush." At that she also turns red.

Either the banter continues or she surrenders.

"Let's just end the conversation here." She surrenders.

"I agree." I comply with a smile and we soon burst out laughing after.

"One more week of exams and we are finally down for a three months vacation, boy I just can't wait." Eleanor sighs before slumping on the bed.

"I never knew science students enjoyed vacations." I tease with a smile on my face whilst staring into my book.

"Hey, we're not all bookworms." She glares at me and I chuckle.

"So what are we going to do during the break? I'm thinking--" She states and I raise an eyebrow at her.

"Would you look at that. We're not even done with the exams and you're already planning the vacation." I cut in smiling and Elle blushes with embarrassment.

"Science students." I scoff causing her to chuckle and hit my leg.

Silence falls into the room and I divert my eyes from the notes to my laptop under the pillow.

I really can't help it!

Eleanor chuckles again at me and I realize I've been caught red handed.

"Anyway, I'm gonna leave you to your light skin king, bye radish." She gets up and leaves through the door with a smirk on her face.

A curious look rests on mine after her departure.

Huh? She came all this way just to do that? That was a special moment I had going on. I bet she knew I'd be doing that and decided to barge in on me.

I get up and walk to her room next door before placing my ear on the door. I listen for any movements or sounds but nothing can be heard. Silence means something is going on.

I c***k my knuckles and neck before turning the handle

"Surpriseeee!" I barge into her room running and jump onto her bed at the end.

"Ria!" She exclaims before pulling away from me and I use that opportunity to grab her laptop.

I read some of the words typed and she quickly snatches it from me before my eyes go wide.

"You're writing?" I ask with a smile on my face.

"Yeah, I got bored with learning." She titters and smiles back with her perfectly white teeth. I quickly reach for her laptop again and she screams.

"Ria!" She quickly climbs out of bed with her laptop whilst chuckling.

"You promised me your first update before everyone else." I argue with a serious look on my face.

"Zariah it's not ready."

"Come on. You say that all the time even when it's clearly perfect."

She sighs. "I'm serious, it's not ready and you're not going to see it until it is."

I sit up on her bed and exhale hard. "Fine."

She climbs back onto the bed clutching her laptop to her chest then shoos me with her hand.

I roll my eyes before getting off the bed.

"How about I edit the grammar for you by--"

"No." She cuts me off.

"Nice try, but I'm still not gonna give it to you." She rolls her eyes and I frown heavily.

"What did I ever do to have a talented writer as my best friend who won't share her talents with me." I pout.

"Umm, your dramatic criticism." She chuckles whilst staring into her laptop.

"Hey it's not my fault the female protagonist makes dumb decisions." I argue again and she looks at me with a deadpan look.

Eleanor is my soul sister. She's one of the few people in my life who I totally let my guard down when they're around. You'll probably think we're 10 year olds when you see us together in the comfort of our own world.

"Fine, I'll leave you to your fantasies." I head for the door.

"But just to be clear the story isn't actually about a sociopath, right?" I ask half way out of the room and she chuckles.

"No spoilers. Goodnight radish." I pout before grabbing a jacket by the door.

I throw it at her face and chuckle. "Goodnight my light skin queen." I blow a kiss at her frowning face before walking out.

Now we're even.