The Art Project

Chapter 5

I sit at the desk in my room learning for my next paper which is history. It's also my favorite subject.

I turn to the next page and...

"Radely!" I hear Zackary scream from his room next door.

A sweet sweet smell of revenge in the air. I can almost taste it.

"Radely!" He comes knocking on my door loudly and I have to open up.

"What's up?"

I act all sweet when suddenly some strong odor comes from below that makes me want to gag.

"You did this." He accuses and points to the bucket between us.

"I don't know what you're talking about Rohberry." I tease him sweetly with his nickname I derived from his middle name, Rohan.

As if it wasn't enough that both our first names starts with Z, they just had to add one that goes with our hair and match them too. Parents.

"Oh I see, so my sneakers accidentally found themselves in a bucket of acid?" He clenches his fists and jaws.

"I don't know, you probably abuse and traumatize it so much it committed suicide." I retort and hold my laughter. That feels like a good burn.

Zackary moves back and chuckles before nodding.

"You broke our boundary rules. I'm gonna get you." He grabs the bucket and turns to leave.

"Also you leave my precious sneaker collection out of this." He turns back and warns.

"The same with my grades!" I yell back before he slams his door shut loudly.

That was a pleasant feeling and experience. I smile before walking back to my desk.

But this means I'm gonna have to start locking my room again.

Argh! Boundary rules. I should have thought this through.

***

"What time will you leave?" I ask Zackary the moment we arrive in school.

"Why do you want to know?" He raises his brows and I roll my eyes.

"So I can set up another prank on you." I joke and he stares back with a blank expression.

"Get out of my car." I chuckle and undo my seatbelt before alighting.

"Technically it's dad's car since it's his money." I correct whilst leaning onto the car.

"I didn't ask to be born little sis." He shuts his door and locks the car.

I frown.

I hate it when he calls me little sis. It's just three minutes difference for crap sake.

"I want a ride back home." I meet up with his strides and he stops walking.

"You never go home with me." He looks at me curiously and I sigh.

"That's because you don't leave school early, weirdly for someone who hates school."

He rolls his eyes and starts walking.

"I don't hate school. I just hate the teachers and the learning." He smiles at me and I mentally facepalm.

"Why do you want a ride back home anyway?" He questions as we pass through the metal detectors.

"Because after my paper which is in the afternoon, I have to redo my student ID which you annoyingly destroyed. It'll be late by the time I leave school." He smiles when I mention the part about my student ID. I should really stop leaving it lying around to be tampered with.

"Sure, my paper is in the morning but I'll be practicing at the court after that. Just meet me there when you're done."

"Thanks Rohberry!" I yell causing some students to stare at us and he glares at me before walking away.

Some students seem jovial as I walk pass them. It must be the science students. They write their last paper on Wednesday then they'll be done for the break.

This really sucks because I have a paper on Friday, which is the last day of school, and they'll just be roaming around. I'm so envious that Zackary is going to be part of them.

***

I'm at the principal's office now waiting in a short queue to his assistant's desk. She'll be the one to help me with my student ID, and hopefully I'll get it on Friday before the break.

In an hour I'm all done and heading towards the basketball court.

The assistant gave me an override card which I used to access my locker. I retrieved my precious camera along with some important books and emptied the locker for good before returning the card. I won't be able to access my locker anyway until I'm given my card.

I wear the camera around my neck as I near the court.

The sound of sneakers being dragged on the floor along with the shout of boys can be heard as I walk in.

I spot Zack almost immediately with his outstanding red hair. He tries to make a dunk but is immediately blocked by a defender and he frowns heavily.

I can't help but smile. I raise my camera and take a picture of him and suddenly everyone looks my way.

Crap. The flashlight.

Zackary looks at me with his jaws clenched and I begin to think I won't get the ride home.

I shoot the players an apologetic smile even though they're not all that bothered.

Amongst the guys looking my way I catch one's gaze which is still lingering on me. Jyronne looks at me and I forget how to breathe.

He's far from me, but not far enough to notice the beautiful color of his eyes.

They somehow remind me of all the beautiful brown things in this world everytime I look into them.

But he's a gaze holder. It's something I've realized about him. And the one thing that makes me nervous around him because I can't hold eye contact, even though he has a nice body and face I can stare at all day in a magazine.

I almost look away out of timidity but he suddenly waves at me.

He then does some weird signs with his hands where he points at me then himself.

"Huh?"I look at him confused as he smiles and does it all over again.

I immediately blush when I realize what he's trying to say. He wants me to take a picture of him and that would absolutely be my pleasure.

But honestly if he knew the number of pictures I already have of him without his permission he'll probably have me arrested or something.

Before I can raise the camera...

"Sunshine." I hear someone call from behind and I turn to see Conrad walking towards me as well as Zackary.

I wonder why he isn't playing though.

"Hey Conrad." He reaches me first and gives me a brotherly hug like he always does.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Jyronne also joins and I try to keep my cool in his presence.

"Carter why are you out of your jersey?"

"I'm making him drive Zariah home." Zackary replies and my eyes widen.

"What? Wait, you're not taking me home?"

"Sorry Ria. I still have some practice to do. I'm losing my game as a captain." He brings up an excuse and I gape at him.

"What?" He questions my look with a raised eyebrow.

Unbelievable.

And here I was looking forward to going home with him because we rarely spend quality time together.

"Why don't I take her home." Jyronne states and I almost choke on my saliva.

"No, you're our best center, I need you here." Zack retorts.

Jyronne doesn't look pleased for some reason as I try not to glare at my brother.

"Beside Conrad doesn't mind." He shrugs.

"Yeah I don't. I actually miss spending time with sunshine here." Conrad places his arm around my shoulder and I squirm a bit.

Jyronne pushes Zack aside and I use that moment to push Conrad's arm away.

He's like a toleratable Zackary to me.

"Are you seriously putting you sister in the hands of pretty boy and his driving skills?"

"Hey! I heard that." Conrad retorts with a frown on his face and Jyronne rolls his eyes.

Just watching him speak does a lot of weird stuff to my brain.

He can't drive me home.

Jyronne and Zack talk for a little while and I decide to intervene.

"I'll go with Conrad." I yell out to them and they stare at me.

"It's getting late." I add before Zack walks over.

"Okay see you at home." He says and turns to his teammates as I fail to meet Jyronne's gaze.

"Let's go sunshine." Conrad shouts from the exit and I sigh.