The Model

It was the first night for weeks that I finally could sleep through without being interrupted by dreams or strange visitors. Just my alarm clock pulled me back into reality at 6 am sharp.
Sighing I turned it off, with heavy lids. Ela was mumbling something and pulling her pillow over her head. She never has been a morning person.

"For the love of god, can't we have a day off once?", she groaned into the dark. I just chuckled and stood up to push the dark curtains open.

Squinting, I looked directly in the bright sun climbing up the blue sky that promised a nice and warm day. Spring was right there and pushing away winter.

"It's beautiful outside", I said, looking back to Ela, who was curled up in her sheets and still half asleep.

With my bag full of cosmetics I waited in line to shower. It wasn't that crowded yet but it would be half an hour later.

The hot water on my skin made me relax and feel good again. This day was going to be good. I was going to be back in school, see my friends and see Andy later. I smiled at that thought and combed my fingers through my hair to wash out the soap.

After getting dressed in my normal t-shirt and jeans attire, Ela and I made our way to the bus station down the street. People sometimes looked at us with pity in their eyes but I didn't feel like I needed pity. I had a bed and food and friends. That made me happy and thankful. It could be worse.

Ela always made me listen to her music which was a mixture of punk and metal. It wasn't my type but it didn't bother me either.

Lost in my thoughts I looked out the window and whenever someone dressed in a black hoodie passed, I expected to see those glowing blue eyes but it never was him.

I was caught up so deep in my thoughts that I didn't even realize when we pulled up to the school. Ela had to practically wake me up from my daydream and pull me outside.

"Welcome to the world of the living", she smiled and nudged me softly. I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"Right..."

My first period was art, which obviously was my favourite part of the day. We always were allowed to listen to music while painting.

Today we started with a new project. "People that inspire" was the topic.

I sighed and didn't particularly know what to make of it. It was as if my mind was just being vacuumed. All my ideas seemed to be sucked out of it. I hated when that happened. It felt like stepping in a bright white room with nothing in there.

"Damn it", I cursed under my breath and looked at the white canvas in front of me.

"Don't let Mr. Salzman hear that", a deep voice said behind me and let me jump. But it wasn't Andy's beautiful baritone. It was Jesse, the most wanted boy in school. I wasn't innocent of having a huge crush since third grade. All Andy-related thoughts were forgotten and there were just these chocolate brown eyes as I turned my head with flushed cheeks.

"I didn't want to scare you", he smiled and sat down on the stool next to mine. He then looked at my empty canvas.

"Is it like... Snow? A snowstorm?" Wrinkles decorated the dark skin on his forehead and I couldnt help but smile at how cute he looked when he was confused.

"I... Didn't do anything yet", I said, voice cracking. He laughed and shook his head.

"I could've figured... Anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the spring formal with me."

My breathing stopped and my ears began to heat up. Jesse Parker wanted to go to the spring formal? With me?! Oh my goodness gracious...

"Y...Yes... Um... Sure!" My stutter was bad but he still smiled this white winning smile and stood up from the stool, winking at me.

"Awesome!"

-

"Congratulations", Andy said, lying on my bed, head hanging down the side with his legs leaning against the wall.

I jumped, not expecting him.

"What? What are you doing here? Ela..."

"She'll come around later. Lady business, you know?" He smirked at me.

"And you know that why?"

"Never mind. So how do you want to celebrate today's achievement?", he smiled and sat up, brushing the hair out of his face.

"How...", I wanted to ask, but I let it go. He was so secretive that I didn't want to try.

Again, he just smiled but I could swear I could see something else in his eyes. Was it a glimpse of... Jealousy?

"How was your day?", I tried to distract him and luckily he let me to.

"It was fine. I actually painted a little and spied on you." My cheeks flushed a little again and i tried distracting myself with putting away my things.

"You seem to do that often. Spy on people", I said, looking down to unpack my backpack.

"Sometimes." His voice was so close to my ear that I jumped and a wave of goosebumps rushed over my arms. He was closer than I expected.

"And you seem to be scared often." He leaned against the desk where my backpack sat. I looked up and saw a slight, lopsided smile on his lips.

"Sometimes. When certain people decide to hunt my dreams and then unexpectedly show up in the middle of the night."

"Who would do that?" His eyes sparkled with slight amusement.

I felt much more comfortable in his presence and actually I was happy that he was here. I didn't know why it was that I fully trusted him but it started when we had that talk about the mission and himself. I felt sorry for him and he was so nice and fun to talk to.

"So...", he began, looking at me. "You said yes?"

"Yes to what?"

"The dance."

"Are you jealous?" I smiled and crossed my arms. He looked away and ran his hand through his hair.

"Um... No... Just curious..."

"Sure", I chuckled and jumped on my bed to lay down. Andy looked at me, sighing. But he didn't say anything. There was a little silence were we just looked in each others eyes, me smiling and him looking like a lost puppy.

"I'm not jealous."

"The more you deny it the more it's clear that you are", I laughed and he groaned, rolling his eyes.

Notes

Ugh, exams are killing me right now... Anyways, here is a new chapter. It's a little bit to show you more about Taras daily routine... Kind of... Lol. I hope you like it!