Nevermind

Chapter 6

Nevermind~

EVELYN

I close my eyes because, unfortunately, I was still standing straight, and the ground had yet to open and take me in.

"Are you okay?" She asks, and I nod.

"I...my cat died yesterday, and my mother called to tell me about it. I was so sad yesterday. I didn't see Kieran, though. Would you two be coming for the class?" I question, and Rose shrugs.

Lord, forgive me, cause I have sinned. I didn't have a cat, never.....

"I... it would be in my best interest to take the class, but I'm very packed at the moment, and my mother thinks I should take singing class." She says with a sad smile.

I didn't know she could draw and paint until this morning when I saw her with the nerd boy, Kieran. They can paint, and I thought they'd be joining the art club.

"Oh. That's... sad. I mean— you clearly know your way with a brush, but it's okay." We part ways as I head for Mr Shaw's office.

After hours of thinking about this job, I've realized that taking it would strengthen my academic record and give me the recognition I know I deserve, so why shouldn't I take it?

I talked to Vee about it,t and she was happy, and she told me to take it and damn everything and everyone to hell, so here I am...

"I guess you've thought hard about it?" Mr Shaw asks, and I nod.

"How much did you say I'll be getting for it?" I ask. If I'm going to do something like that, result or not...it definitely won't be for free.

He smiles.

"One hundred dollars."

"Really?! For just the mural? What else would I do?"

He laughs.

"Of course, it's just for the Mural. You're expected to do nothing but the mural, and you can decide when to begin."

~•~

"Should I just enrol as a student in CrownFord?" Vee asks.

I pick a bigger brush and examine its tip. The first thing you need to begin a painting is a well-trimmed, properly shaped brush.

"Unless you want your parents to find out where you are...then have at it," I say.

"God! Nobody said how hard it is to run from home."

"And nobody said you should run from home and leave life, running from one small town to another..." I pause and turn to see her glaring at me.

"My apologies." I raise my hand in surrender.

"My mother called today; I'm pretty sure she tracked my cell during the call." She says, and I turn to give her a look.

"Why am I still in the dark about why you're running from home? Are you being forced to marry a nobleman of high standing or societal baggage?"

"Ha! He would suffer my wrath if that was the case. I would make him suffer till there was nothing left on him but bones and sand!" She punched the bag so hard, the salesperson jumped.

I had begged Vee to shop for paint and brushes with me for the mural.

I'm still trying to create the concept and decide how to begin, but one hundred dollars was enough motivation to get something started before the end of the coming week.

"So you're going to paint each hockey player on your tablet and then do it on the wall when you're done with each of them? I don't follow?"

"The mural on the wall will have all of them on it, but the one on my tablet will have each of them, and it'll be used to design caps, shirts, according to Mr Shaw. So..." I shrug.

"Hmm... that's actually good. But then you'll be painting the Royal Highness of Greatness. Will you be okay? From what I heard, he's a cold son of a bitch."

"Vee!" I scold, looking around.

"Oh, please, no one knows us here, and not everyone knows him. Besides, we're not in Albion, so I can insult him as much as I want."

We picked everything we needed, and Vee followed me to my suite.

A few days ago, I was so desperate to leave this suite, but now... it's feeling more like home.

"You get to live in luxury; why do I get to live in an apartment that smells of mice and the fan doesn't work at 3am, unless I use a stick to swing it around and then...the toilet clogs every damn time I flush, and let's not even talk about my neighbours. They fight a lot, and every morning, the police bang on their door. I feel like throttling them to death sometimes."

"Wow," I say, surprisingly.

That is a lot, and I wouldn't be able to stay a day there. I would lose my mind.

"So can I stay here for a few weeks? I'm thinking of renting the apartment out to another person and getting half the rent." Vee asks.

I look up, totally grateful that God had decided to help me when I needed him the most.

"You want to stay here?"

"Don't look at me like that. I've suffered a lot these past few months...if your neighbour upstairs decides to make lewd noises tonight, I'll go up there and give him a piece of my mind." She says, and I shake my head, knowing she would do as she says.

"They didn't do it last night though, so I think we're good tonight... probably," I add, as I unpack my goods.

It's been so long since I painted something, and seeing the new items we got, I've been bubbling inside ever since.

Vee pauses, her eyes on the wall but her gaze distant as a frown mars her face.

"Is there a problem?" I ask.

"Nothing. I'm just curious about something." She says, and I move closer.

"Remember when Julian joined us for the festivals at the Freys?"

I frown.

"You mean Prince Julian? Do we know any other Julian?"

"Of course that Julian." Her brow dips. "I've never really liked that guy; he has always felt... impossible to flow with."

"Julian is friendly, but sometimes annoying... nothing much compared to his elder brother." I chip in.

"Oh, I forgot that they're cut from the same cloth! Must've been the silk they were cut from." She giggles.

"How dare you talk about the King of Tessarion in that manner! You shall be beheaded!" I exclaim dramatically.

"Forgive me—"

A knock on the door gets my attention, and I peek through the hole to see who it is.

Who is that? I squint my eyes to see well, and when sea-green eyes meet mine through the small hole.... I stagger back.

"Who is it?" Vee whispers.

"Prince Alexander," I whisper back.

Her eyes widen, and she rushes to the door.

"What does he want?" She asks, and I shrug.

The Crown Prince of Albion has never wanted anything to do with me...so I'm wondering what he wants now?

TBC