Chapter 8: A Dire Situation

JULIA

“I’ll send in your partners this evening,” our Advanced Painting teacher, Mrs. Dorothy White, and the strictest teacher I had ever encountered in my entire life said.

“Like I said–no choosing of partners. This piece will be sent by the end of the month. No asking for extension of deadlines,” she continued before grabbing her items on the table and walking out of the classroom. “Oh, and no complaining.”

With that she left the classroom without saying a proper goodbye.

I sighed and shook my head. I had also attended one of her classes before. It was hell. I was sure she had retired by now–but, it seemed like she was even younger than before. It must be from all the college souls she had sucked. Mrs. Dorothy White was really someone who couldn’t be messed with. She's the sole reason why a lot of students do not graduate.

I was about to pop my earphones in when someone suddenly tapped my shoulder. I placed my earphones down and looked at the girl right next to me.

“Hi,” she said in a friendly tone.

I smiled and greeted her back.

“Wow,” she muttered, causing my eyebrows to raise in inquiry.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m just amazed by how pretty you are.”

My eyes widened and I quickly shook my head. “Well, you’re really kind.”

“No, I’m just telling the truth,” she continued. “I’m the type of person who doesn’t joke around with this. You’re objectively really pretty. I almost got lost in your eyes.”

I scratched the back of my neck, feeling slightly awkward. Just then, someone sat on our table, interrupting our conversation.

“Is she talking about how pretty you are?”

My mouth opened slightly, not finding the right words to say.

“She looks shocked,” the other girl chuckled. “My name’s Harper. This beauty-obsessed girl is Gianna.”

Gianna shook her head. “I can’t help it! I like portraits. So, I know the type of people who are very hard to draw.”

“Hard to draw?” I asked.

“Well, it’s harder to achieve perfection,” Gianna explained. “Less attractive people are easier to draw–not that it’s a bad thing.”

Harper rolled her eyes. “It definitely sounds like a bad thing.”

“Anyway,” she continued. “Gianna really wanted to talk to you yesterday, but she was intimidated. Out of everyone, she was only interested in you and Heather.”

“Oh,” I muttered. “Thanks, I guess?”

“We heard you’re a returning student. How old are you now?” Gianna asked.

I pursed my lips. “25,” I answered.

“Dang!” the two of them said at the same time.

I playfully rolled my eyes. “That’s not that old!” I defended.

Harper scratched the back of her neck. “So, you were born in the 1900s?” she asked.

“Woah,” Gianna said. “1900s.”

I clicked my tongue and shook my head. “You guys are only around three or four years younger than me. Please stop making me feel like I’m ancient.”

The two of them burst into chuckles. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter,” Harper said. “You look younger than us at the end of the day.”

“However, if I may ask—why did you take so many years off? And do you know Heather, by chance? Mr. Matthews said she was also a returning student.”

Now, that was a question that stumped me. Aside from Sarah and my family, there was no else who knew about my pregnancy.

I opened my mouth to come up with a white lie when I suddenly felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I held out my hand as I retrieved it.

“Wait a moment,” I muttered.

The two sighed in disappointment, but they let me be.

I frowned when I saw the caller ID–Ellie.

I quickly answered the call and placed the phone against my ears.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“We have a situation!” she exclaimed, sounding breathless. There was some commotion heard in the background, so I reckoned it must be their break time.

“What is it?” I asked, feeling a strange feeling brewing in my stomach.

“I know you said I should monitor Andy, and I did. I really did. It would just be weird to accompany him to the toilet, so I let him be. However, I didn’t expect him to come here! That freaking bastard, I’m telling you–”

“Ellie,” I said, sounding confused. “Get straight to the point.”

“Evander and Andy met.”

My eyes widened, and my hands unintentionally balled into fists. 

“What?” I whisper-shouted.

Harper and Gianna threw me curious looks, but I didn’t heed their response. This was an emergency!

“What do you mean?” I asked in a slightly calmer voice.

“He went here to visit me,” Ellie explained, sounding guilty. "I didn’t think the two of them would meet in the restrooms. Then, before I knew it, Andy was eating the fries and ice cream combo that my brother never shares with anyone!”

I let out a deep breath. “Evan doesn’t share that with just anyone; and Andy does not take food from strangers!”

“I know,” Ellie exclaimed. “It must be the family ties.”

“Ellie,” I said in a warning tone.

“Sorry,” she sheepishly apologized. “Anyway, I think you should come pick him up early. Evander is going to fetch me later for lunch, and if he sees your mom picking him up, it will be over.”

I glanced at my watch and sighed. There was still some time before my class with Mr. Matthews. It should be fine.

“Alright,” I muttered. “Wait for me; and don’t let them see each other anymore.”

“Got it,” Ellie said. “He already left, so we don’t have anything to worry about.”

With that, I stood from my chair, capturing my two new friends’ attention.

“Where are you going?” Harper asked.

“I need to fetch something real quick,” I said.

“Class starts in half an hour,” Gianna said with a frown.

“I’ll be back before that,” I said with a nervous smile.

The two of them exchanged wary glances before nodding. With that, I left the classroom and quickly boarded a bus. Fortunately, there was one running at that time.

I arrived at the school, feeling breathless despite not doing anything. There were a lot of thoughts racing in my mind. We had just moved into this city last week! How could Andy meet his father already?

I ran to the entrance but stopped in my tracks when I saw a familiar car parked just right next to the guard house. I frowned and looked around the place.

And that’s when it happened.

Ellie said he had left.

So, why was he here?

The two of us stood frozen, looking into each other’s eyes.

“Julia?”