*Tristan's POV*
The little blond cutie who I was now fairly certain is in fact gay avoided me like the plague for the rest of the day. I oddly found it adorable that he was scared of me. Was I sadistic? I didn't think so. It was Jessie's fault for having such a small body and such big eye's. It made him look like an cute little anime boy.
Anyways, though I scanned through crowd after crowd of people at this school, I didn't find a cuter boy. So I was stuck with Jess, which wasn't such a bad thing, considering I had a reason to be near him and I already liked him.
"Promise to behave?" Vanessa asked me a fifth time.
I nodded sincerely. "I won't get into any more trouble at detention. Pinkie promise"
We locked and shook Pinkie's, but Vanessa still looked at me in a motherly way, telling me I better be good. I didn't exactly blame her, considering I was already not taking the detention all that seriously. Dad didn't know, and all I had to do was help the drama department in anyway they wanted.
The principal had taken me out of my first class of the day to explain all of this. He said I'd probably be a stage hand and have to help the actors run through line's. I hated Shakespeare unfortunately, and they were performing a mid-nights summer dream, or what not.
Vanessa hugged me a quick goodbye and kissed my cheek, then she was off to soccer practice. I sighed and made my way reluctantly to the gym, where I did NOT want to be. When I stepped inside I saw a range of people. Kids carrying clipboards and directing other kids who wore odd clothing that could only be costume's. People painting back drops, and making clothing and wings.
Hmm. It actually looked like it might be a decent production. A few scattered teachers helped out but it mainly looked like the children were doing fine on there own. I was looking for a teacher... Ms. Lovett. I spotted a woman nearby who I figured must be her, and hesitantly walked up.
"Ms. Lovett?" I phrased it as a question.
She nodded looking up. her eye's were bitter, and she was dressed in a tidy suit of a woman's edition, as in, she was wearing a skirt that fell to her knee's, not pants. Her hair was in a tight neat bun pulled to the back of he hair, and she wore next to no make-up. I had instant respect for her.
"Mr. Markem told me I had to help out here until I was finished with my detention term. I'm Tristan Stone"
She nodded, looking slightly amused. "I know exactly who you are Mr. stone, I was warned in advance"
I tried to keep from smirking like a trouble maker, but it was hard. "What am I supposed to do?"
She didn't even pause. "Don't ask me Mr. Stone, ask the actors and directors and what-not. You can even help out with the art department if your any good, and if they invite you to do so"
I nodded, and wandered off. I figured that as long as I looked like I was working, no one would give me trouble. This wasn't half as bad as I'd first expected. So just hang out here for half an hour after school each day, tell Paul I'm hanging out with other kids, no big deal.
I explored for a while. It was a basic gym except for the massive stage. On the stage artsy kids were making all kinds of things. Different coloured wings for the fairy's, clothing, props, and background picture's. I examined it all with interest.
I was pleasantly surprised to see a tiny blond by the name of Jessie painting a forestry background. It was actually pretty good and gave the illusion of light filtering through the leafs of tree's. I stepped closer and examined it more thoroughly.
Then I examined him more thoroughly. He had tiny smudges of green paint all over his face and plain white t-shirt. Hmm, he hadn't been wearing that at lunch.. He must bring a change of clothes to paint in. He bit his lip as he concentrated on the small details.
"That's not bad" I said smoothly, getting the satisfaction of seeing him jump.
He tried to wheel, but being crouched by the large painting as he was, he simply feel on his but. He stared at me first in shock, then annoyance, then in horror. I snickered lightly then offered him my hand. He looked at it uncomprehendingly "Need help up?" I asked.
"Umm" he murmured, biting down on his lip again.
I sighed and took my hand back, putting it in my pocket. "So what are you doing here?" I asked casually.
"Umm.. Painting?"
I sighed again "Yes but why?"
"Umm.. Cuz I do it everyday after school. Except for Fridays"
This boy had an affinity for the word 'umm' didn't't he? "What do you do on Fridays?"
Had he simply answered, I wouldn't't have cared, instead he blushed and looked away. "That's not really any of your business" he said, in what he probably figured was a cold voice. He looked about as dangerous as a bunny.
I drew my eyebrows together though, now curious. He ignored this, and attempted to go back to painting. I could tell he had a hard time with me watching over his back, because his hands shook slightly, making the line's uneven.
"Don't you have detention?" he asked snottily.
"Why do you think I'm here?" I asked right back.
He grumbled, muttering something under his breath, and went right back to trying to ignore me. I got the enjoyment of watching him paint for about ten minute's, then he started to clean up his art supplies'. "What are you doing?"
"You really are nosy" he said offhandedly.
"Here I'll help" I said, picking up some stuff.
I helped him take some of the supplies to the bathroom to wash the brushes in the sink. As we scrubbed the paint out and the water thinned it, making murky colors wash down the drain, I looked up at Jessie. "Are you leaving?" I asked, hopeful that the answer was no.
"Yes" he replied, not looking up.
"Is it because of me?" I felt smug at the thought that I made him that nervous. He looked up and rolled his eye's, followed by a noise that I might call a snort in someone less delicate.
"Don't flatter yourself, your ego's already to big to fit through the door"
I laughed a little at that. "Why are you leaving then?" I said, still with lingering trace's of smugness.
"I've got to baby sit my little brother" he explained, subjecting to my prying.
"Oh" I said disappointed. "The way I was thinking about it was more fun" I informed him.
He rolled his eye's again, they were so overly blue, I was ninety nine point nine nine percent sure he had contacts in. just to be a hundred percent sure, when we were returning the paint to the cupboards and the paintbrushes to a little plastic cup where they all sat in, I voiced my curiosity.
"Are you wearing contacts?"
He looked taken aback by my randomness. "Umm" there was that word again. "No. Why? Does my vision seem particularly good?" he smoothed out his hair absentmindedly. I noticed it as one of his many habits. He smoothed his hair, he bit his lips, and he chewed his nails.
I shrugged "Not really"
"Oh. Kay. Well... I've got to go now."
Awkward silence.
"Bye then" He waited for a reply then gave me a slight wave. I made no gesture of goodbye in return and he seemed to think that rude of me. Grumbling under his breath, he turned and left the gym. I wanted to laugh. He was that annoyed because I didn't say goodbye? He'd be mine within a week. Maybe less.
The rest of the half hour was dull and I didn't do much. Whenever someone asked me for something, I'd tell them I was doing something else, for someone more important. That shut them up. I'd been all happy at getting away with doing nothing to, when I went to Ms. Lovett to tell her the half hour was up.
She gave me a disapproving glance. "If you think I haven't noticed your work ethics, your wrong Mr. Stone." she informed me. "Today doesn't count as a day you served in detention, so you'll have to make up for it with an extra day." she continued, then scribbled something on her clipboard.
My mouth lolled open. "That's so not fair!" I protested.
She turned to full out glare at me. "Mr. Stone, I understand that you don't take school, and perhaps if I'm correct, life, all that seriously. And just like the rest of the world I'm not going to cut you any slack. Also, if you continue to whine, I'll make it an hour you stay after school each day"
I nodded mutely, though I'd now answered Vanessa's friends debate .Ms. Lovett was the worst teacher in the school! "That's more like it" she said pleased. "Go now" she said, shooing me away with her hands, as if I were some stray bug buzzing in her face, annoying her.
Cursing her in my head, I grabbed my backpack and stalked out the door.