What Happens in Art Class...
Chapter 8 (G)
I gripped my hair as I paced my living room in a panicked frenzy. I should have seen it coming. And once it had arrived…I had no idea what to do. It was a nightmare. I could just smell the disaster waiting to happen.
“Gee, calm down. It’s not so bad.” Mikey said from where he was lounging in my arm chair.
I turned on him, “Not so bad? You think the fact that I’m going to meet the mother of the student I’m illegally dating is ‘not so bad?’” Yeah. It was parent-teacher conference week, and I was so unprepared.
Mikey shrugged, “It’s not like she knows you’re dating Frank. Just act natural about it. It’ll be fine.”
He was right, of course. There was no way she could possibly suspect anything. But I still got this gut feeling that by the end of the next day I would either be fired, in jail, or both. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. So I took a deep breath and tried to relax. That way I wouldn’t throw up the steaks Mikey had cooked for dinner.
…
I noticed right away that something was wrong with Frank. His eyes were bugging out of his head, he didn’t work on his project at all, and his pencil kept up a steady rhythm on the table. I wanted so bad to comfort him, or at least ask what was wrong. I had a pretty good idea, but I wanted to make certain. But for some reason I couldn’t get the words out. Maybe it was that fear that if I talked to Frank someone would figure out that we were together…
“Mr. Way, am I doing this right?” I was finally about to ask when that stupid Ross kid decided to butt in. I looked at him, biting his plump bottom lip, then at his paper which had a perfectly drawn ribbon across it. Stupid guy just wanted attention, and I wasn’t really in the mood to give it.
“Yes, Ryan. That looks fine.” I went back to my desk after that, trying to focus on some of my work.
“Will you quit hitting on the teacher?! It’s fucking gross. I mean, you’re how old?” I barely heard the hiss from Frank. Wait, first I was “okay” and now hitting on me was “gross”? Maybe I was wrong about why he was so upset…
“Fifteen. Why, what’s it matter?” Okay, that was kind of gross. I would never consider dating someone that young.
“He’s seven years older than you! Just back off.”
“’Back off’? This isn’t about age difference. You just want him for yourself. Well, I won’t stop you from competing, but we both know I have the prettier face.” That kid was too full of himself. Nobody was prettier than Frankie. Not in my eyes.
“Whatever.” I couldn’t tell if that was a good whatever or a bad whatever, but I didn’t have long to think about it because the bell was ringing and soon Frank was taking control of my lips in the best way imaginable.
“Whoa!” I exclaimed once he pulled away, allowing me to breathe, “Not that I’m complaining, but what’s got you so fired up?”
“Nothing. Everything. Fucking Ryan Ross, Fucking parent-teacher conferences. Take your pick, really.” So my hunches were pretty much correct. Poor thing…
I brushed the hair from his face, “Take a deep breath. First, stop letting Ryan get to you. I’m not going anywhere. Second, what’s so bad about parent-teacher conferences?” Yeah, I was a dirty hypocrite. My insides were still churning slightly from the thought.
“Should I start with the fact that I’m doing crap with my grades or the part where I’m fucking my art teacher?”
Grades aside…Ouch. “I’d prefer the word dating…”
He exploded suddenly, “Why? We’ve never been on a date. All that’s happened is sex. I mean, that’s what you were always after anyway, right?”
“Frank…” I honestly had nothing to say to that. It hurt so much that he thought of it that way. Even if it was the nerves talking. This was never just about the sex…I mean, the sex was great, but I felt a connection with him too. One that went past physical pleasure. I actually felt tears pricking my eyes slightly. I needed to dismiss him before he saw. “We’ll talk about this later. I have to get ready for the first parent.”
…
Fifty billion parents later and it was finally Frank’s turn. I had calmed down greatly by hen, but I still avoided looking at Frank’s face just in case. I got a pretty scary first impression of Mrs. Iero. She was one of those straight backed no-nonsense women. And she didn’t look happy at all.
I shook her hand and let the fun begin. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Iero. Mr. Iero couldn’t make it?”
“Oh, no, he had to work.” So there was a Mr. Iero. Glad I wasn’t meeting him. I’d be way more jumpy than talking to this small woman. Small but powerful looking…
“How unfortunate. I have to say, your son isn’t my best student.” Honesty is the best policy. If I didn’t try to lie, I could probably keep the truths I didn’t want known hidden.
“Yeah. I’ve been hearing that a lot today.” So Frank wasn’t kidding about his grades. I did not want to see the wrath she was going to turn on him later. I’d have to remember to make him feel better…No, wait. Focus on the conversation!
“I didn’t mean that he’s a bad person…I was mostly referring to his work. I expected a little more effort from a senior, but all I’ve seen are lazily thrown together projects. This is obviously a concern seeing as this is an effort based class.” I actually scared myself with how professional I sounded.
“May I see some of this artwork?”
“Unfortunately, I’ve sent all of his projects home with him. I’m sure he’d be more than willing to share them with you.” Judging by the look on Frank’s face, I was wrong. Not that I really thought I would be right. Frank’s art….Just wasn’t good.
“As far as his character traits go, I find him to be an enjoyable person. What he lacks in artistic drive he makes up for in staying after school to clean my room. I never asked him to do this, so I have occasionally awarded him extra credit for it.” Time for praise and the closest thing to admitting I was in love with her son. She smiled and nodded, obviously convinced by what I was saying.
“Is there anything else you need to discuss with me?” I didn’t even have to think before shaking my head, “Then I’ll be on my way. Come on, Frank. I’m sure Mr. Way has other people to speak with.”
She led her son away, leaving me to deal with more parents for the next half hour. And all I wanted was to be with Frank…
“Gee, calm down. It’s not so bad.” Mikey said from where he was lounging in my arm chair.
I turned on him, “Not so bad? You think the fact that I’m going to meet the mother of the student I’m illegally dating is ‘not so bad?’” Yeah. It was parent-teacher conference week, and I was so unprepared.
Mikey shrugged, “It’s not like she knows you’re dating Frank. Just act natural about it. It’ll be fine.”
He was right, of course. There was no way she could possibly suspect anything. But I still got this gut feeling that by the end of the next day I would either be fired, in jail, or both. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. So I took a deep breath and tried to relax. That way I wouldn’t throw up the steaks Mikey had cooked for dinner.
…
I noticed right away that something was wrong with Frank. His eyes were bugging out of his head, he didn’t work on his project at all, and his pencil kept up a steady rhythm on the table. I wanted so bad to comfort him, or at least ask what was wrong. I had a pretty good idea, but I wanted to make certain. But for some reason I couldn’t get the words out. Maybe it was that fear that if I talked to Frank someone would figure out that we were together…
“Mr. Way, am I doing this right?” I was finally about to ask when that stupid Ross kid decided to butt in. I looked at him, biting his plump bottom lip, then at his paper which had a perfectly drawn ribbon across it. Stupid guy just wanted attention, and I wasn’t really in the mood to give it.
“Yes, Ryan. That looks fine.” I went back to my desk after that, trying to focus on some of my work.
“Will you quit hitting on the teacher?! It’s fucking gross. I mean, you’re how old?” I barely heard the hiss from Frank. Wait, first I was “okay” and now hitting on me was “gross”? Maybe I was wrong about why he was so upset…
“Fifteen. Why, what’s it matter?” Okay, that was kind of gross. I would never consider dating someone that young.
“He’s seven years older than you! Just back off.”
“’Back off’? This isn’t about age difference. You just want him for yourself. Well, I won’t stop you from competing, but we both know I have the prettier face.” That kid was too full of himself. Nobody was prettier than Frankie. Not in my eyes.
“Whatever.” I couldn’t tell if that was a good whatever or a bad whatever, but I didn’t have long to think about it because the bell was ringing and soon Frank was taking control of my lips in the best way imaginable.
“Whoa!” I exclaimed once he pulled away, allowing me to breathe, “Not that I’m complaining, but what’s got you so fired up?”
“Nothing. Everything. Fucking Ryan Ross, Fucking parent-teacher conferences. Take your pick, really.” So my hunches were pretty much correct. Poor thing…
I brushed the hair from his face, “Take a deep breath. First, stop letting Ryan get to you. I’m not going anywhere. Second, what’s so bad about parent-teacher conferences?” Yeah, I was a dirty hypocrite. My insides were still churning slightly from the thought.
“Should I start with the fact that I’m doing crap with my grades or the part where I’m fucking my art teacher?”
Grades aside…Ouch. “I’d prefer the word dating…”
He exploded suddenly, “Why? We’ve never been on a date. All that’s happened is sex. I mean, that’s what you were always after anyway, right?”
“Frank…” I honestly had nothing to say to that. It hurt so much that he thought of it that way. Even if it was the nerves talking. This was never just about the sex…I mean, the sex was great, but I felt a connection with him too. One that went past physical pleasure. I actually felt tears pricking my eyes slightly. I needed to dismiss him before he saw. “We’ll talk about this later. I have to get ready for the first parent.”
…
Fifty billion parents later and it was finally Frank’s turn. I had calmed down greatly by hen, but I still avoided looking at Frank’s face just in case. I got a pretty scary first impression of Mrs. Iero. She was one of those straight backed no-nonsense women. And she didn’t look happy at all.
I shook her hand and let the fun begin. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Iero. Mr. Iero couldn’t make it?”
“Oh, no, he had to work.” So there was a Mr. Iero. Glad I wasn’t meeting him. I’d be way more jumpy than talking to this small woman. Small but powerful looking…
“How unfortunate. I have to say, your son isn’t my best student.” Honesty is the best policy. If I didn’t try to lie, I could probably keep the truths I didn’t want known hidden.
“Yeah. I’ve been hearing that a lot today.” So Frank wasn’t kidding about his grades. I did not want to see the wrath she was going to turn on him later. I’d have to remember to make him feel better…No, wait. Focus on the conversation!
“I didn’t mean that he’s a bad person…I was mostly referring to his work. I expected a little more effort from a senior, but all I’ve seen are lazily thrown together projects. This is obviously a concern seeing as this is an effort based class.” I actually scared myself with how professional I sounded.
“May I see some of this artwork?”
“Unfortunately, I’ve sent all of his projects home with him. I’m sure he’d be more than willing to share them with you.” Judging by the look on Frank’s face, I was wrong. Not that I really thought I would be right. Frank’s art….Just wasn’t good.
“As far as his character traits go, I find him to be an enjoyable person. What he lacks in artistic drive he makes up for in staying after school to clean my room. I never asked him to do this, so I have occasionally awarded him extra credit for it.” Time for praise and the closest thing to admitting I was in love with her son. She smiled and nodded, obviously convinced by what I was saying.
“Is there anything else you need to discuss with me?” I didn’t even have to think before shaking my head, “Then I’ll be on my way. Come on, Frank. I’m sure Mr. Way has other people to speak with.”
She led her son away, leaving me to deal with more parents for the next half hour. And all I wanted was to be with Frank…
@PumpkinPieMotherFucker
Sorry...I really had planned to wrap it up in a concise way, but the passion for this story just isn't in me anymore...
9/22/16