Chapter 4 To Crap be the Glory

Surprisingly, Liam wasn't tricky like I thought. The three of us were laughing our heads off when we decided to draw each other. I was drawing Liam while Eric paints me, and Liam draws Eric. I took off my coat in fear that I'll get paint on it, so I was just in my white razorback, it was just one of those you can easily buy in a set, so it's cool to get it artsy dirty, right?

I tossed my head back, laughing when I saw Liam's drawing of Eric. I knew he didn't like him, but seriously.

"You're mean," I said.

"No, I am not. It's called caricature." Liam points out. He was a good painter, and obviously, he made Eric one of those bubblehead pictures and exaggerated everything.

I laughed again and showed him my picture of him. He scrunched his nose and stared at it.

"Is that supposed to be me?"

"Yes," I said proudly. I am not as gifted as he was, and well, let's just say mine looked more like an Archie character than an impression of him.

"You have a future in comics," Liam said, making Eric and I laughed again.

Liam turned to Eric, "Let me see yours, Picasso."

Eric shook his head, looking embarrassed again, like in the car.

"C'mon, it can't be that bad." Liam pushed on, "It won't be different seeing you were painting, sissy."

"Hey!" I lightly hit him on the upper arm, acting hurt, but all he did was laugh and caught my hand. "You better have not made fun of this, Eric."

Eric chuckled, "Cherry blossom, I love my life, and I wouldn't think of pissing you or Anna as I have said earlier."

"Then show us." Liam whines, like a kid growing tired of asking.

Eric glanced at me, "Don't hate me." he says, then turned the painting toward us.

The moment we saw it, my jaw dropped to the ground, and I'm sure Liam was fuming beside me.

"What the fuck?!" Liam shouted. Yup, fuming.

"Mr. McCartney, is there a problem here?"

We looked up and saw our art teacher, Ms. Jenning, walking up to us, looking disappointed at Liam's choice of words.

"Oh, Uhm, no, Ms. Jenning, just…" he glanced at Eric then grabbed his painting.

"Hey!" Eric and I said.

"See here? That's hell-a-good, don't you think, Ms. Jenning?" Liam says, showing her the Eric painting of me. Ms. Jenning stared at it, obviously in admiration, "I mean, I'm not happy that he thought of my best friend like that, but this is hell good!"

Fuming stupid, I thought, giving Liam an imaginary punch.

Instantly Ms. Jenning snapped out of her staring and gave Liam a look, he was usually her favorite student, but that seems to be changing soon.

"If I hear another curse from you, Liam, I will have to send you to the principal's office."

"Sorry…" Liam says.

Then she turned to Eric, "But I have to agree, this is good, Mr. Johansen."

"Thank you," Eric says, blushing as the class was all watching us now.

I crossed my arms over my chest, not liking how Ms. Jennings was staring at Eric, nor do I appreciate the class looking at us. Plus, Eric's painting of me in the bathtub surrounded by cherry blossoms.

"You must be very proud of this, Ms. Grey, for Mr. Johansen, be able to paint you like this." She said.

I shrugged, feeling my cheeks burning. "I'm not sure, Ms. Jennings, but it is good."

"It is, and I hope that you'll agree to have me hang it in the gallery-"

"No!" Eric and I said in unison.

"And why not Ms. Grey?" Ms. Jennings raised her brow at me.

Cause I'll be damned if the whole school sees me during bath time, that's why bitch! I thought. Liam chuckles but straightens up the moment Ms. Jennings turned to him.

"Uhh, I…"

"I told her I'd give it to her." Eric cuts in. "For her birthday…."

"Oh…" Ms. Jennings says, obviously disappointed again.

Man, if she weren't human, I would have told her to jump off the bridge or something.

"Well, I hope you can make me one which I can post in the gallery…" she glanced at the painting again and at me, "One less provocative, maybe?"

Provocative? I was not insulted in whatever way! But then again, thinking of what Siam might do to Eric, I'll let this slip.

"Of course, miss," Eric says. Ms. Jennings then turned to leave, "And Ms. Jennings?"

"Yes, Eric?" she asked.

"I don't think it is provocative." Eric says, looking at her straight in the eyes, "Your instructions were to capture a moment of our partner would be at her most innocent state, so I thought that would be one."

"Oh…" Ms. Jennings glanced my way. I had to smile at how Eric handled shutting her up, though it was unnecessary. "My apologies if it came out wrong, Ms. Grey."

I gave a weak nod. Then she left as I grabbed the painting away from Liam.

"Thanks a lot, Liam," I said, oozing with sarcasm.

"Well, it is perfect." Liam said, "And I don't want to get in trouble."

"So you had to show the painting of me to everyone?"

"Well, pretty boy painted it, didn't he?" Liam then gave him a look, "And I was serious when I said I don't like you thinking of my best friend like that."

"Sorry," Eric says, glancing at me.

"It's cool." I sighed, "It is good." I handed it back to him.

"No, you keep it, burn it for all I care." He said. "Liam is right, and I shouldn't have painted you like that."

"Yeah, well, what's done is done," I said. "Besides, I get to paint Liam as one of the Archie's." I grinned at Liam, who rolled his eyes, "Nothing can ruin my day."

"That's just mean, sissy," Liam says, grabbing his art materials and accidentally flipping a brush, sending drops of paint at me and all over my arm. "Oh shoot, I'm so sorry, sissy." he grabbed the apron he was wearing and tried to wipe it off, but he just spread it all over my arms.

"Liam!" I snapped, pushing him back.

"Sorry, I didn't know-"

"Now, really, I don't like to separate the three of you," Ms. Jennings walked back to us, "but if you are always disrupting my class…."

"Sorry, Ms. Jennings," I said, trying to wipe off the paint. "Just a little accident, that's all."

"Well, you can clean up in the class bathroom." Ms. Jennings said.

I nodded and went to the bathroom, which was at the end of the stock room. I stood in front of the mirror and lavatory, washing off the paint, which was more complicated than expected. Finally, getting the most out, I checked my clothes and was glad to see it was spotless. Thank you for the aprons.

I took time to check my face and my neck, spotless. Then I heard a shuffle on the other side of the door, but no knock. I assumed it was just a student getting supplies. After all, we still had a good fifteen minutes in class when I heard things toppling over, and I had to check if someone got hurt.

I opened the door to the bathroom and saw a man standing in the middle of the stacks of paint. He turned to me and sneered. I looked up and saw he stepped out from the vent.

"Shit!" I moved back and closed slammed the door shut. I felt him trying to push it from the other side, but I gave it one final push and locked it.

Soon he was hammering his body unto it. I looked around, trying to find something that I'd be able to use as a weapon. But the bathroom was bare, and there's only a tiny window that was too small to crawl out of. Besides, I was on the third floor, and I'm not that desperate- not yet.

Suddenly, I heard the door crack and saw a large hunting knife pierced through it. I pressed my back on the wall and saw the man pull the door out of its hinges.

"Won't the princess want to come out and play…" I heard him say.

Where were the boys? Didn't they hear the things falling over?

Finally, the door cracked and flew open. He stepped inside, sneering.

"Hello princess… it's been a while."

I frowned.

What did he mean it's been a while? I thought.

He took another step nearer, holding on his blade tighter.

"You've been giving us such a run." He said.

"Who are you?" I stupidly ask.

He laughs, "Don't act dumb. It doesn't suit you."

"Then what do you want?" I snapped.

"The same thing I wanted before." He sneered, he raised his blade. I watch him as he slowly walks up to me. I know I should be calling someone right now, but do I want anyone in my mess?

You can't give up, princess. I heard someone say. Call for someone, call for him.

Him?

Call the first person you think of.

He then reached out his hand toward my neck. I closed my eyes in fear and followed my instinct.

"ERIC!"