90. The chapter with Liam's Masterpiece

Christian

Cam and I watched the boy walk away in silence. My friend's situation really wasn't easy. But I hope he can work things out without having to drop out.

We entered the cafeteria, finding the girls and Theo already settled at their usual table. Rose smiled as soon as her gaze met mine, making my heart race.

Camille and I got our lunch, settling into the vacant seats at the table, greeting our friends.

" How was the exam? " Rose asked as soon as we sat down.

" Christian almost missed the time," Camille teased.

" But I was on time. And you, did you manage to hand in your self-portrait? " I stared at Rose.

" She invaded our project illustration class, but she managed to hand it in” Sky teased her friend.

" What matters is that I did it,” Rose hummed.

I watched the girl, feeling proud of her recovery. She had been able to put everything that had happened behind her, and although she still attracted attention, especially from the girls who occupied the sorority table, Rose ignored them like nobody's business.

We continued to exchange our experiences in the morning until Cam pointed out an absence in our group.

" And where is Liam? " she asked.

"I texted him this morning and he didn't get back to me. I'll try to call him later," Sky sighed, "but if he's working on the painting, it's wasted time. He's not going to respond to anyone.”

That's when, to our complete surprise, the door of the cafeteria was suddenly opened, everyone's attention turned to Liam who appeared in the place carrying the MDF board he was working on yesterday, but the fact that the painted part was facing him made it impossible for us to see the final result of his artistic frenzy.

Our friend was in a very crumpled and paint-stained outfit, and his attitude reminded me of Rose's father after so many cups of espresso.

" Liam? " Sky blinked in surprise as the boy approached with determined steps.

Without saying a word, he placed the plate on the table without any delicacy, making all the eyes of the cafeteria focus on our table.

" Liam, what is this? " Theo stared at the boy.

" This is my work of art," he declared with a satisfied smile on his face.

Audrey, who was sitting a few tables away, turned around with a disdainful expression on her face.

" Another work of art?”

The girl let out in a considerable tone of voice, which echoed through the cafeteria, drawing laughter from her friends. But Liam seemed unmoved by the provocation.

" That's my masterpiece, Audrey,” he returned with one of his characteristic smiles.

" Really? How many of these have you done since we met? Twenty? " once again laughter followed the sorority leader's answer.

Rose started to get up, looking ready to put an end to the matter, probably using Liam's painting to hit the other girl on the head, but I held her in place. Van Derr Wall was not a poor defenseless little boy, he knew who, or rather what, he was dealing with.

" Like that? I've never done one, because I hadn't found the right source of inspiration. But now I'm sure this will earn me a spot in a gallery." His gaze turned to Rose before he flipped the board over, revealing its contents.

I widened my eyes as I saw the image of my girl printed to perfection. Every detail, from the shade of her skin to the colors of the tattoo on her nape, the shadows and sparkle of her eyes. And the background was composed by a somewhat psychedelic explosion of colors highlighting even more the realistic image of the girl.

" Oh my God, are you kidding me? Liam, it looks amazing " Rose stood up awestruck.

Everyone seemed surprised by the perfection printed on the screen, even Audrey seemed to have lost the ability to think of any petty provocation at that moment.

" Man, I knew you were good, but I didn't imagine you were capable of this, you look like a picture " Theo complimented.

" 'In the end, I just needed an inspirational muse. And I got three. My girls " he winked at them.

Audrey stood up, looking outraged by that comment, approaching the table.

" You had me for all this time, you want better inspiration? " she crossed her arms staring at the boy.

" Only if it was inspiration for a horror movie," Rose muttered next to me, receiving a cross look from the other.

" But you were never my girl,” Liam returned simply.

Audrey glared at him hatefully before turning away and walking off in silence, stomping hard towards the cafeteria door, and it didn't take long for her friends to run after her without even finishing their food.

Liam sat in the vacant chair, admiring his work of art with a dreamy expression.

" Liam, it's beautiful. Really," Rose complimented him.

" Liam, did you sleep? " It was Skyller's question, who seemed concerned about the dark circles that surrounded her boyfriend's eyes.

" I'm going to do a series, I want a picture of all of you showing off your tattoos " He warned without taking his eyes off the painting, ignoring his girlfriend's question " Even you two, I'm going to work on vacation. I was serious about displaying them all in a gallery.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. He's gone crazy for good.

" Are you serious? " Theo raised his eyebrows.

" If you think I'm going to take a shirtless picture for you, you're very wrong,” I muttered.

" Rose, can you help me with this? " The boy turned to his friend.

" Sure, I'll take a picture of him next time we're having sex,” she said back.

" Perfect!”

" I was being ironic, Liam.”

" Not me, I'll take the picture anyway,” he said with a smile.

I stood up, already tired of that conversation, determined to run away before the boy insisted on it any further.

" I'm not sending any pictures, and I'm going to pack my bags, I have a plane to catch later," I muttered.

" Liam's going to the airport too, he's meeting his parents in Florida and I'm taking you two," Rose warned.

" Okay, I'll see you later. And the rest, I'll see you in two weeks.”

I said goodbye to my friends, ready to see my family again, wondering what it would be like to spend two weeks away from the people who had become so present in my days.