The Bad Boy's Muse

You're the most beautiful girl...

Grace POV

I was putting on a boyfriend jean and a crop top with a denim jacket with a pair of black sneakers; Aunt Harriet’s recommendation. Aunt Harriet had braided three cornrows at the upper side of the hair leaving out a two-single strand on both sides of my face while she held the backside and the braided cornrows with a black ribbon, I look ed different. Satisfied with her craft, Aunt Harriet had given me a thumbs-up sign before dropping me off at school.

I could feel eyes on me as I started for the stairs leading to my locker, I adjusted my new backpack over my shoulders trying so hard not to fall. At different corners of the school compound, some students were packed in groups of two or three whisperings to themselves; they stopped when I passed. I knew Aunt’s Harriet recommendation was a bit freakish, I could have followed my mind and go ahead with the frock I wanted to wear this morning.

“Grace?” a voice called out from behind me making me stop in my tracks.  I was climbing the stairs that led to the school’s reception.

It was Steve when I turned, he looked so stunned and was staring open-mouthed at me.

“I know this was such a bad idea” I ran down the stairs towards him clutching his hand like life-support “Do I look that bad in it?” I asked anxiously.

“N-no, Grace,” Steve said after a while “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve set my eyes on since I started coming here,” he said solemnly.

“I know you’re only trying to be nice” I chuckled “I’ve been getting stares from when I first stepped into the school compound, even now” I complained. 

“Those are nice stares; listen you look so beautiful in these. You should totally take a picture and post on your i********:” Steve brought out his phone and before I could protest, took a snapshot of me.

“The expression on your face would be a total die for” Steve chuckled raising the phone away from my grasp.

“C’mon, Steve you cannot post these pictures of me else I’d be a total…” I pursed my lips “bummer”.

“Why is that?” he eyed me suspiciously while typing at his phone.

“If my mother sees me in this outfit, she’s going to have a feat and I wouldn’t want that”.

“Well, go tell momma that this is America” Steve blew me a kiss and disappeared into the crowd. I will definitely kill him.

After taking two wrong turns, I finally made it to my class just before the first lesson started. The teacher entered the class as soon as I did and locked the door. I could feel tons of eyes following my movement as I entered the class and walked towards my seat.

“Hi” Rohan called out as soon as I sat down.

“Good morning” I called out wondering what he thinks about my stupid outfit.

“Had problems locating the class?” he asked with a smile that indented his dimpled cheeks.

“You cannot imagine” I whispered “I feel so useless whenever I walk those halls. The classes look similar and it’s hard to tell them apart” I wailed.

Rohan chuckled “I think It’s time to draw you a map of some sort” he whispered back.

“Mr Rohan if you and your friend are quite finished at the back you let us know so we can get on with the lesson” the teacher cut into our conversation.

We quickly leaned away from each other and adjusted our seat position ready to take the first lessons for the day. Just before the teacher got into the lesson for the day, Rohan passed me a slip of paper as the teacher’s back was turned.

“you look beautiful today” it read.

A smile escaped my lips as I turned towards Rohan who had a smile on his face too, he looked so beautiful “Thank you” I whispered and without thinking blew a kiss towards him.

“Miss Wilson, since the chemistry between you and Mr Rohan is too strong to be controlled this morning, I need you both to report yourself to the principal. I really do not want to start this beautiful week with detention hanging over my neck”.

And that was it, I started a new week at the Principal’s office.

~~~

Principal Reed’s Office

“So, about what we discussed yesterday when I was at your place” Rohan started.

We were at the Principal’s office waiting for him to return. His secretary told us he stepped outside a while ago and won’t take long. So, I and Rohan sat at the reception patiently waiting for him.

“Yeah! thank you for bringing it up. I truly forgot” I laughed sheepishly “Aunt Harriet says it’s okay except I must not stay more than 8 pm outside except on really important occasions and we have to call or text to inform her”.

“Wow! that’s great” Rohan smiled “but it’s not going to be as stressful as you think it’ll be. I draw mostly during the day except I want to capture a particular night picture so we’ll do most of the drawing on Weekdays when we don’t have to go to school”.

“So how about the tutorials? How many times in a week we’ll we meet?” I crinkled my nose.

“Every day - depends on your progress, though and how much work needs to be done plus we need to strike a balance so we don’t overdo everything too” he finished.

“Okay” I nodded my head in agreement “what do you think the Principal will do to us? Are we in too much trouble?” I asked him.

“Well, we are in trouble because according to school rules and regulations we are supposed to listen with rapt attention in class and we were caught talking. I know Principal Reed and believe me he hates insubordination and disregard for school principles”.

“That means we’re in lots of trouble” I furrowed my eyes.

“Well, since you’re new, an exception may be made for you and you can also capitalize on that and feign ignorance” he smirked.

“Well, we’ll see about that” I rolled my eyes a habit I recently picked off from hanging around Steve.

“But I doubt if something serious would happen” he continued “For one this is my first time at the Principal’s office and I’ve had good records since I came here the only problem is you might get a warning to not be deceived by me” he laughed.

“I don’t understand” I furrowed my brows “what do you mean?”.

“You know, I was rejected by every school in India before my parents sent me here as a punishment” he chuckled.

“Could you be more definitive? I cannot understand what you mean” I sighed in impatience.

“Back in India, I usually get in uncomfortable positions with a girl. Sometimes I drive them crazy or do some other nasty things but they weren’t nasty to me, so my Dad sent me down here from India as part of my punishment and more than anything, he wants me to be a doctor and not an artist. He cannot understand why I love drawing”.

“Really? Your dad doesn’t approve of your art?” I asked.

“Yes, so this one of the reasons I love it here in New York. The family I stay with, allow me to explore my talent to the fullest and give me all the time I need in the world so and I discovered I got better and enjoy art even more” he chuckled.

“I am sorry” I didn’t know why I was saying sorry.

“What for?” he regarded me in amusement.

“I know what it feels like when your parents don’t approve of the things you love doing. It’s the worst experience ever”.

“Nah! At first, I used to get so angry with my dad when he burns my drawing set or my art but later on, I decided to stop reacting violently to him and whenever he discovers any of my art and burns it, I remain mute and pretend like nothing just happened. So, he stopped burning them and there’s this particular thrill I feel whenever I sneak to draw. It was my biggest inspiration for the longest time” he smiled.

“Well, this is the longest you’ve spoken to me since I know you and I am glad you can actually talk, like make conversations” I snickered.

“I am chatty around people I feel comfortable with and you make me comfortable”.

My heart started to pound in excitement.

“Is it because I am from England?” I blinked my eyes severally copying the Cheshire stare.

“Nope” he chuckled “you’re open-minded. It’s so rare to see girls or people who just listen and not criticize and I can feel I can tell you almost anything”.

“Yeah! I am glad you think I can be a good confidant but I relate more to these situations because I come from a family where there are no rooms for mistakes. You must be perfect at all times learn to speak perfectly, your dance must be flawless, your body posture must be correct at all times, even your sleep must be done right else they feel you’re a rebel” I sighed.

He burst into laughter “It must be really hard being born with blue blood”.

“Yeah! harder than it seems”.

Just then, the door to the Principals office swung open as Principal Reed entered in his usual happy manner.

“Good afternoon,” we greeted from the reception seats.

“Grace? Jasper?” he exclaimed in shock “what are you doing here?”.

“We were asked to report ourselves to you. The both of us were whispering in Statistics this morning” Rohan narrated.

“wow! that’s a lot of information to process. Alright come right into the office” he pointed to the inner office door that had his name in Red glossy letters.

I and Rohan followed closely behind him. When we entered, he ushered us into chairs and asked Rohan to repeat everything he had told him at the reception.

“Well, Mr Arya, the only reason why you’ll be escaping detention today is cos you’ve been a model student since your arrival here,” Principal Reed told him.

I and Rohan exchanged glances; he had an ‘I told you so’ grin.

“Thank you, Principal Reed “he nodded his acceptance and stood at one corner of the office waiting for my own punishment.

“Mr Rohan you can go, I need to talk to Miss Wilson alone” Principal Reed smiled.

Rohan excused himself and left not before giving me a wink. In the office, after Rohan had gone, Principal Reed bustled around the tiny office straightening his desk, putting book from the bookshelf, he was acting like my mom who whenever she had something important to say would always create one form of drama or the other.

“Do you like Rohan?” he was replacing a book on the shelf and had his back to me and thankfully did not see the reaction on my face.

“What do you mean, sir?” I raised my chin and wore a black expression. He turned and sat on his desk facing me.

“You see, I am not trying to poison your mind against anyone in school here but you should be very careful the way you associate with Mr Rohan. His greatest hobby is to make girls fall in love with him without loving them back and some other nasty things. I know all of this” he demonstrated with his hand “is a bit too much for you but you need to watch your crowd and the people you support. You support the wrong people, you get into trouble and get detention or suspension or in a worst-case scenario, expulsion”.

“Thank you, Principal Reed” I smiled “I promise to heed to your words”.

“Yeah! and know that I let you off because you’re new and this is still kinda your first time and all of that but you need to do the right thing next time. You may go back to class now, Miss Wilson. Have a wonderful day” he dismissed me.

As I walked out of his office, I noticed subtly that Rohan had been right in all of his predictions, which made him sound all the more mysterious. I was curious to find out who Rohan really is and hopefully, I will.

“Done?” he was leaning against the wall opposite the Principal’s office.

“Wow, I didn’t know you’ll wait for me” I blurted out.

“Never leave a soldier behind so, I am just doing the right thing” he shrugged and pushed away from the wall, standing upright.

“Shall we?” he stretched his hand towards me.

“Yes,” I replied with a smile and covered his hands with mine.

Yes, I like Rohan…