Turns out I lied about getting part three up "shortly". What with the beginning of school and the file being on a computer that hasn't been turned on in ages...it just never happened. Please enjoy part three anyways!
________________________
“Wanted Art”
It was noon and the sun was shining as brightly as was the usual for the summer. Early summer though it was; who would complain about having a preview of what the next month would hold? Certainly not Katie, or Kathryn: the school’s most promised portrait artist (second in the name of plants). Lunch always seemed to taste better when eaten under the shade of a tree next to her friendly sister, Ali, or Alessandra: the school’s hidden ray of sunshine.
“Say, Katie, d’you think you could lend me your sketchbook for art? You’ve got that picture of a rose I really wanted to work off of…” Ali’s voice trailed off, her eyes now on the tote bag that was never left behind.
Katie stuffed another carrot into her mouth to postpone her response. "I’m sorry Ali, but I don’t have it.”
Ali stared at her sister expectantly. Was she waiting for her to tell a sad tale about someone pouring water all over her sketchbook? Perhaps it had been stolen from her bag when she wasn’t looking?
Katie stared back. "I lent my book to a friend." That was the safe way of referring to her track-running model, Kevin. Especially to Ali.
A thin, brown eyebrow raised at her and Katie felt herself drifting away from the safety of the water’s shallows. “Really? That’s unexpected…who did you lend it to? Maybe they’ll let me borrow it. It’s only an hour, after all.”
“Uhm…I don’t know. Who knows how long it will take to find them? And what if they’ve got one of those lockers that everything just sort of disappears into?”
“But we always know where our friends are.” Ali didn’t even bother to start on the second part of Katie’s excuse. Even Katie knew that was weak. Ali then began to smile, "Is this a new friend?”
Katie was no longer looking at her sister though, knowing that would make it more difficult. “Sort of…I drew a picture, they liked it and wanted to share it. I’ll have it back tomorrow, I’m sure.”
“Aww, Katie, don’t be so vague! Tell me more!” Katie made the mistake of turning her eyes to look at her sister. In her blue eyes was briefly reflected the regret of such a careless mistake before she shifted shyly and began to retell her tale. She made sure to omit any…embarrassing bits, such as specifically what she’d drawn, being vague in an inconspicuous sort of way. It was then that she suddenly realized she’d only just met Kevin. Three days, four days ago? So easily she had trusted him with her sketchbook; she felt like a fool.
“Hey, what’s wrong Katie?” Ali, seeing her sister’s distress, draped an arm around Kathryn’s shoulder and hugged her.
“It’s nothing…I just feel a bit foolish, is all.” Her cheeks were stained pink in a pretty blush. If only her eyes did not look so sad, Ali thought, it would have been the perfect time to take a picture.
“Aww, c’mon Katie! We both know you’re not foolish! If this Kevin guy’s got your sketchbook then I’m sure it’s doing just fine! Here: let’s go find him!” Ali jumped to her feet, holding Katie’s hands and trying to urge the elder sibling to her feet. Slowly and hesitantly Katie rose and gave a small nod. “There we go! And if, for some reason, something’s happened, we’ll nag his ears right off his head!”
Katie laughed a bit at her sister, “And then we will make him buy me another sketchbook, exactly the same as that one.”
“Precisely.” Ali winked and, side-by-side, the two girls headed towards the school.
The Broderick Sisters learned a few things about Kevin in that afternoon. First of all, he did not spend his lunch in a classroom, nor did he spend it in the cafeteria. He did not always sit with the “popular kids” in their area, nor did he always visit the “less popular kids” in their area. Kevin could, in fact, often be found in the gym when it was open (which was not that day) and outside when that was the better option. He did not run around outside though; sometimes he passed a football or played with the Lacrosse kids, but what he loved to do the most on sunny days like this one was lay out on the grass and nap.
“He looks happy.” Ali commented as they approached the young man. Katie could do no more than nod. He was always happy. Unfortunately the bell rang out clearly and predictably just before they reached the sleeping blond, which subsequently woke the blond. In a new twist of luck, he spotted the girls before Kathryn could force Ali to move back towards the school. He was on his feet with a beaming smile in a blink, and even quicker it was that he was jogging the last couple of feet towards them.
“Hello Katie,” Kevin smiled at her with his green eyes and she could do no more than murmur a soft reply. He then looked towards Ali, “Hello.”
“Hi, I’m Ali. Katie’s sister.” Kevin’s eyebrows twitched upwards a bit. They were now walking slowly back towards the school, not wanting to be late for class.
“It’s nice to meet you Ali. I’m Kevin.”
Ali nodded her head, saying without actually speaking ‘I know all about you’. “Katie says you’ve got her sketchbook.”
Kevin nodded his head, “Yeah, she lent it to me yesterday morning. Did you need it for something?” He glanced at Katie as he spoke, a more prominent one at least, so Ali reflected.
“Ali was hoping she could borrow it for her art class. There’s a sketch she would like to use as a reference.” Katie spoke softly, blushed at the tips of her ears and on her cheeks, and managed to smile at Kevin.
Ali smiled and nodded her head. “Just for the hour, if that’s alright.”
Kevin winced exaggeratedly already crushing poor Ali’s hopes. “Sorry but it’s still with my mom.”
“Your mom?” Ali questioned.
“Yeah, I borrowed the book for my mom.” Ali was silent while Katie continued to smile shyly. Oops, went through Katie’s mind as Kevin began to speak again. "My locker’s over here, so…I’m sorry, but I can bring it back tomorrow.”
Ali waved a hand, “Naw, don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine; take your time.”
“A-actually…if you get it back to me tomorrow I could always scan the image for you-r mother.” Katie added on the last bit quickly, realizing what she had almost said and blushed. She smiled with a confidence she did not feel, but the good intentions she had were evident.
“Could you? That would be great!” Kevin exclaimed happily.
The sisters parted from Kevin quickly and both rushed towards their lockers. “I should carry my books in a bag too.” Ali complained once at their destination.
“Lucky for you Mr. Louis isn’t very strict on the matter of time.” Katie replied.
Ali groaned. She then glanced at her sister in a way that Katie knew meant revenge was on its way. “So…what picture is Kevin sharing with his mother, anyways?”
Katie’s cheeks went bright pink. “Uhm…well…oh! I’ve got math so I better hurry!” And she was gone.
Well, it certainly wasn’t a flower, Ali smirked to herself. She’d find out tomorrow for sure.
