We're All Full Of Lies

The second the shrill ring of the bell finished echoing throughout the classroom students leaped from their seats and cascaded out the door, yelling “goodbye” and “have a good weekend sir” as they went. Frank let the smile that had been etched on his face all lesson drop a little and I draped my arms over my desk and let out an irritated moan. Damn detention. Mr Way looked over at us, “I’m going to get a coffee, don’t go anywhere” he muttered before sauntering out of the room.

I raised an eyebrow at Frank, smiling mischievously “I think it’s time I had a better look at Mr Grumpy’s artwork”. I slipped out of my seat and rushed over to the cupboard that contained the canvas I was oh so desperate to have a look at. I crouched down and began to open the door.
“Mira, I don’t think that’s a good idea, you shouldn’t go looking through other peoples artwork” Frank hovered over my crouching body.
“Oh come on Frank, look, all I want to do is have a peek, nothing major then I’ll put it right back”
“Why do you want to see it so bad?”
“I, uh, I have my reasons” Should I tell him about the murders matching up with the paintings? No, well not yet. “How about if I find what I need, then I’ll tell you, sound good?”
“But what are you looking for?”
“I’ll tell you if I find it, now keep an eye out for Mr Way, I’m dead meat if I get caught” I shuddered at my comment, If Mr Way was behind these murders, then I would literally be dead if I was caught.
Frank shuffled to the open door of the classroom and poked his head out. “You’re all good, for now” He said shifting his weight uncomfortably.

With that I flung the door of the cupboard open the smell of fresh paint infiltrating my nostrils. I wrapped my arms around the canvases and pulled them all out in one go. My eyes darted over each canvas, all of which were adorned with a kind of intricacy that only the best could achieve. Every detail, brush stroke and colour was perfect and perfectly placed. As I finished looking at each one I moved them back to their place in the cupboard, that was until I reached the last one. My jaw hung loose as I took in the painting. It was by far the most spectacular of them all, even though the only thing yet painted was a boy, there was no background, it was just the boy. I held the canvas up in front of me absorbed by the sight. Then it hit me. That one detail that made this painting go from stunning to stupefying. It wasn’t the tortured angst on the boys’ face. Or his cowering position. It was his jacket. The exact same jacket Mikey had been wearing to school for the past few days.

“Frank! Frank! Get here now!” I called, shuffling to my feet frantically.
“What?” Frank said running to my side, “What? I don’t get it, what am I supposed to be looking at?”
Should I tell him? Yes. Mikey was in danger and I needed at least the support of Frank to help me help him. After all I was accusing my teacher of murder.
“Okay, just look at this painting here and then connect the dots” I said as I pulled out the one with the girl in the pink dress.
Franks eyes widened at the sight of it, “Th-this, is that the crime scene from the murder?”
I nodded.
“B-but why is he painting this?” Frank stammered his eyes grazing over the grotesque image, “Why would he be painting crime scenes?”

I groaned and pointed to the signature and date in the corner, “This was painted on Tuesday, the girl was killed on Wednesday, get where I’m going with this?”

The colour drained from Franks face and he look like he was about to pass out, “Oh my god, you don’t think he could be the mur- No! This is crazy, he’s a teacher for fucks sake, this is, oh god”
“There’s only one explanation, he paints these scenes, then goes and recreates them and look at this one, notice anything familiar?” I pointed to the painting of Mikey.
“Is, is that Mikey?” Frank stammered.
“Sure is”
“You don’t think he’s going to you know….try something tonight do you?”
“I don’t know, but Mikey is in danger and we have to stop Mr Way before he gets the chance to hurt him”

The clicking of dress shoes against flooring broke the both of us from our conversation. “Oh shit, hurry we have to put these back” I whispered.
Frank and I moved quickly, frantically shoved the canvases back into the cupboard. We launched ourselves back into our seats and regained our bored composure before Mr Way made it into the classroom. I felt sick to my stomach at the sight of him and had to grab hold of the desk to stop myself from pouncing and throttling him.

Mr Way must have noticed because he smirked in my direction, “Bit tense are we, Mira?”
I glared at him, “You have no idea” I said through gritted teeth.
“It’s quite sad, this is our last afternoon enjoying each other’s company” Mr Way sighed sarcastically as he pulled out a canvas from the cupboard. I had made a mental note of where I placed the Mikey one and sure enough that was the one he grabbed.

As he placed it on the easel at the front of the room he spoke again, “So Frank, you seem to be in a slightly better mood than your companion”
Frank stiffened and a shade of crimson coloured his pale cheeks, “Uh, I,” Frank turned to me unsure of what to say. I just looked at him and shrugged. “I, I’m okay” He said slowly. Nice one Frank, totally convincing.
“Just okay? With all that stammering I would have thought you were at loss for words, any reason as to why?” Mr Way said winking at Frank.

Frank went an even brighter shade of red and didn’t answer Mr Way’s question. He just stiffened and crossed his legs. Mr way laughed a little before disappearing behind the canvas once again.
“Frank, get a hold of yourself! What the hell was that?” I whispered, making sure Mr Way didn’t hear.
“I don’t know okay! It’s just a lot to take in, I mean we’re in a classroom with a murder who wants to kill our best friend! Sorry for freaking out a little bit, I thought he was-No don’t worry” Frank looked down at his hands.
“You thought he was what?” I urged Frank to continue.
“I said don’t worry about it” Frank snapped.

Then it hit me like a tonne of bricks. The winks and suggestive comments. Frank blushing like mad every time he saw Mr Way. The way he tensed up and crossed his legs all the time in class. Oh god Frank had more than a schoolgirl crush.

Frank must have noticed my frozen expression of shock and realisation.
“Mira! Mira!” He said snapping his fingers in front of me, “What the hell man you just completely zoned out”
“Why did you go back to classroom the other day after detention?” I looked directly into his eyes, not letting him break the current staring contest.
He shifted uncomfortably, “I- I told you, I had to get something I left behind”
“Bullshit, don’t you dare lie to me Frank” I hardened my expression trying to get Frank to admit to it. He knew I was onto him and he had nowhere to run.

Franks concern soon turned to a sourness that laced his face and words. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me towards him. I could feel is breath on my ear as he spoke.
“Look, I’ll tell you later alright, but under no circumstances are you to utter a word or you won’t have to worry about Mr Way being a murderer because I will kill you” Frank released me and sat back in his seat.
“Damn boy, okay, that was intense” I said releasing a breath I had held back.
“This is serious shit okay Mira, I don’t even want to tell you but you’ll end up nagging me until I give in, so this is just easier” Frank said fiddling with the sleeves of his hoodie.

Notes

I am so sorry for the wait! But I hope it was worth it, things are starting to be pieced together in this chapter ;)
Sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes!
And please comment and all that other stuff, and don't be afraid to let me know what you like and don't like! Constructive criticism makes for better writing I reckon! x