As they arrived at the arts classroom the teacher was lying out papers on the tables.
"Ohh, you must be the new student." The arts teacher had great energy and a beaming smile.
"And you know Miss Cullen, great, then you two can sit together."
Silas was taken aback, he hadn't said anything.
"Thank you miss."
"Right, you can call me Ms. Avery."
"Alright."
"What was your name, dear? I can't quite remember?"
Silas smiled.
"My name is Silas Reed."
She smiled.
"Then Mr. Reed follows Alice's example."
Silas nodded and turned to look at Alice who looked a little smug.
As they walked down to the last seats in the right corner Silas said.
"Someone's a teacher's pet."
Alice jerked her head over and pouted.
"I'm just good at art and don't run around."
Silas raised an eyebrow and said teasingly.
"Sure, sure."
"Hmph." Alice pouted her lips then turned her head and looked down at the paper.
Silas also looked down at the paper and reached out and touched it.
It was one of those thicker papers, you could only find them in arts classrooms, since they are apparently so expensive.
As Silas was once again lost in thought complaining, Alice had forgotten her earlier displeasure being teased.
"Are you any good at painting?" Alice asked.
Silas turned his head.
"No, I've never really had the time to learn."
Alice looked proud.
"Then you can ask me if you have any questions, not to brag but I'm quite good."
"Really? Do you paint a lot?"
Alice nodded.
"Yes, I like painting and reading, it's great pastime." She had a thoughtful expression on her face.
Silas nodded seriously.
"Indeed, there is a reason you're the teacher's pet."
Alice pouted again and said.
"Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore."
Silas just smirked slightly, he couldn't hold back, she just lined that one up so perfectly.
Just then the classroom started to fill up.
The teacher started to talk about how you don't need to concentrate too much on getting straight lines.
Silas felt that there was no need to go over it for 10 minutes.
Finally the teacher was done with her monologuing.
The teacher had said that we were allowed to sketch and paint whatever we wanted today, there was no specific goal in mind.
Silas picked up his sketching pen and looked down at his paper.
As he was pondering what to sketch Alice leaned in.
"What are you gonna paint?"
Silas glanced over at her and raised on eyebrow.
"I thought you weren't gonna talk to me."
Alice ignored his comment, and looked at him.
Silas didn't care.
"I don't know. As I said earlier, I can't really paint."
Alice smiled.
"Then why don't you paint the same thing as me, so you can follow along."
Silas thought about it.
"What are you going to paint?"
Alice looked down at her paper and said.
"I'm going to paint a lake view, with woods on either side."
Silas nodded and moved his chair closer.
"Then show me Miss Painter."
Alice smiled and started to sketch it out on the paper.
Silas focused his divine sense and eyes on her hands and wrist movements. He was going to see what made her painting better than others.
The way she moved her fingers, wrists, and arm combined into fluid motions.
Silas nodded, he compared her technique to the other people in the class and there was a difference.
The better the sketch the closer they were to how Alice moved.
Soon a nice lake view had taken form on her paper.
"How does it look?"
Silas nodded.
"It looks nice. Very realistic, with a special charm."
Alice smiled sweetly.
"Thanks."
Silas was taken aback. But quickly regained his composure.
"No problem."
Then Alice looked at his paper.
"Now it's your turn."
Silas nodded and moved back to his chair. But before he could pick up his pen Alice had moved her chair closer.
The roles were reversed.
He raised his eyebrow but didn't think much about it, and picked up his pen.
He started to sketch the scene, the more he sketched the better it became.
His breathing stabilized, and the pressure in the pen fluctuated, like it was all alive.
The lines started rough and not like how he imagined it, but the more he sketched the closer he came to the picture in his mind.
"Wow!? Are you sure you aren't a master painter in disguise?"
Alice was shocked, she had herself seen how he went from a total novice to painting nearly as good as her.
Silas looked at his painting then looked over at Alice's… something was different. Her's was better.
It wasn't skill per se… it was something more intangible, like his painting missed spirit.
It was as if a machine had made it.
It looked good… but it didn't go all the way. He frowned.
Silas then looked at Alice to respond.
"I'm quite sure."
Alice smiled. Then she moved her painting over and laid it down next to his.
"Which is better?"
Silas looked at her then smiled.
"Mine is very good… but yours are ultimately better."
Alice smiled.
"I thought so too."
Silas smiled and shook his head.
Just then a surprised exclamation rang out.
"Wow! Those are some nice paintings!"
It was the art teacher that had arrived beside them at some point.
She looked over the two paintings, and she was surprised by both of their skills.
When she compared them she couldn't immediately tell which was better.
"Can I hang them up in the classroom?"
She asked and looked at Alice and Silas with anticipation.
Silas glanced at Alice and she looked back, they locked eyes and saw the same intention.
"Sure." 2x
The art teacher was excited.
"Great! Sign them and then I will hang them up at the front."
Silas and Alice grabbed a pen and signed, then handed their papers over.
The teacher smiled and looked at the papers in her hands.
Silas and Alice glanced over at each other and then chuckled.
Just then the bell rang.
Ring~
Alice stood up along with Silas, then they walked outside side by side after grabbing their stuff.
Alice looked happy with a bounce in her step.
She looked over at Silas.
"I got english now, but I will see you tomorrow."
Silas looked over and nodded.
He needed to get his biology books from his locker.
After they separated Silas walked towards his locker, easily choosing the most convenient path.
As he arrived at his locker and grabbed his biology textbooks he walked towards the classroom.
"Time to spectate this iconic scene."
CHAPTER END.