Surprisingly, Dante is at our table before me. It's a first. I'm not sure if I was that slow getting here, or if he rushed.
His head is down looking at his wrist as I enter. As soon as I breach the door, his head pops up and his eyes land on me. My step falters under his scrutiny. The way he's looking at me makes me want to turn around and run, not walk, out of the room.
Dante stands like he knows exactly what I'm thinking, and he'd be willing to chase me if I did. His head tilts to the side and his eyes, which seemed so intense seconds ago, soften.
The hard edge of his jaw relaxes and it changes his appearance completely. I go from wanting to run away from him, to run toward him instead.
With a small shake of my head I remember I can't. Not only because he has a girlfriend, a girlfriend who isn't very nice and he isn't very nice to either, but because I can't let anyone know me. My mom would freak out if she knew I was even entertaining the idea of talking to him and the other guys.
That thought reminds me it might not even matter anymore, mom’s gone. Maybe for good.
I take a few tentative steps forward. Dante pulls out my stool as I round the table.
“Hi Laura,” he drawls in his deep baritone.
My heart thuds painfully hard once, before rushing on in a quick staccato.
“Hi Dante,” I reply while putting my bag on the floor and sliding onto my stool. Mr. Adams saves me seconds later when he calls the class to attention.
Thankfully we're both too busy finishing up our portraits to do any talking through the rest of the class.
I have been sneaking looks at him every chance I get though, sometimes when I do, he's already looking at me.
“All right guys, we have until Thursday to get all these beautiful faces ready for display. Principal Cooksey and I will select three works from each grade for submission into the Scholastic Art Awards.
As you all know it's a pretty big deal to be selected and an even bigger honor to win. So, leave a little of yourselves on the paper for everyone to see and maybe, just maybe, one of you will walk away with a pretty nice scholarship in a few months.”
The noise level in the class picks up a bit after his announcement; excitement floats in the air, settling on everyone's shoulders with weight.
Dante stares at his drawing, it's so amazingly detailed I would believe it was a photograph if I hadn't seen all the work he's put into it over the last week.
“It's really beautiful, I bet you'll win.” My words flow out easily. Not just a compliment, but full honesty.
His head turns, and his eyes meet mine and he looks sad, almost troubled. His mouth parts on an inhale before he whispers, “I thought I wanted that.”
“But?” I ask when it seems like there is one.
“But I'm not so sure anymore. It doesn't feel important anymore, ya know?” His words are softly spoken, like he's not sure he should even say them out loud.
“I think it's important. What you can do... the way you can make it looks so real. It's really a gift. Something you should be proud of.” I don't know where the words come from, but they're the truth. He is gifted.
“Thank you.” He sounds a little surprised.
The bell rings and neither of have returned our stuff to the back of the room. As the other students start to scatter, I look away from his amber eyes and rush through sorting my things.
When I return to get my bag, he's still standing at the table, waiting for me. I look at the empty doorway, expecting to see Delaney slithering through any second.
“Ready?”
I nod even though I'm not. My tongue feels thick in my mouth when I mutter, “I'll just meet you, go on ahead.”
Dante's brow furrows. “I thought we’d just walk together.”
“Aren't you meeting Delaney?” He looks shocked for a brief moment.
“No, why would you think... never mind. Let's get out of here.”
I follow him from class, still nervous we might be seen together. I feel guilty the whole way because Delaney has every right to not want me hanging out with her boyfriend. Not when he makes my heart beat so fast, and how hearing him speak is like being covered with