Black Velvet

I had a strange first day, Alex and her friends were lovely but as the day went on it became clearer and clearer that they ran the girl world in school and I had been "lucky" that they had taken a liking to me. Alex and I had History, Gym Class and English together. I had Art and Science with Marnie so I was set for friends when I went into most my classes. Currently I was splitting away from the group to go to Art with Marnie.

"Come sit with us at lunch okay?" Alex said, I nodded obediently, "Don't sit with anyone else, trust me they're all dumb and we have the best lunch spot," she murmured in my ear before proceeding to kiss me on my both my cheeks, "See you later ladies," she then winked before walking off down the corridor. My eyes lingered after her. Her skirt was short where she had folded it up with safety pins and her hair hung light and glossy down her back. I dragged both my eyes away and turned my attention to Marnie who quickly linked arms with me and started down the corridor.

"How's your first day been?" she asked sweetly.

"Yeah it's been great, you guys have really helped," I replied carefully.

Although they were such sweet girls deep down I knew that I needed other friends. I knew how suicidal it was to stay in one tiny clique. I wanted to be able to branch out and make all sorts of friends but admittedly having met them straight away had put me at ease. Marnie led me out of the school and across the yard. The Art block was out of the way in a new building at the end of the field, Marnie explained that it had been built last year and I let the babble flow over my head, "What's the teacher like? Mr..." I began to ask, checking my schedule, "Way?" I asked. She pondered for a second before shrugging.

"He's been here a few years, he's about thirty two and yeah, he's pretty typical art teacher and his wife manages The Hartford Arena," she paused, "It's where all the musicals and bands play when they come here," she concluded before I could ask what it was. I smiled and let her open the door.

The art room was big, with a desk at the front and tables lined the middle of the room. The walls were filled with paintings and creations from previous students and the walls were lined with canvases bearing similar work. The classroom was already hectic and bustling. Students were already running around with paints and paper all of them yelling and chatting mindlessly. I let Marnie lead me to her table which consisted of herself and two other good looking boys.

"Bret and Andy," Marnie introduced the boys quickly. I nodded and smiled at them both as they both looked me up and down curiously, "She's new," Marnie then added and they nodded. I made pathetic small talk with both boys and they seemed as uninterested as I was. After a few minutes I left Marnie take over and only interjected when I felt it necessary. I started to wonder where the teacher was but didn't want to ask for fear my new friends would abandon me as quickly as they had taken me under their wing. The door suddenly swung open and a man with long black hair and a black velvet jacket strode in. His arms were filled with paper, one hand clutching what were presumably his car keys and the other hand was wrapped round a takeaway coffee.

"I know I'm late!" He laughed loudly as some of the boys jeered, "I had to get your last assignments!" he yelled at the boys, dumping his stuff on the desk before clapping his hands loudly, "Has anyone met or know of an Amelia Roseden? She's new today-"

"Mia's over here, sir!" Marnie yelled, pointing at me as she said it. Mr. Way's eyes landed directly at me and he smiled, "Alex and I have been taking extra special care of her," she smiled in a flirty manner, Mr. Way laughed.

"You and Alex are the prime examples of caring, doting human beings, Marnie," he smirked and Marnie faked looking shocked before rolling her eyes at him and grinning. Mr. Way was a typical art teacher in the sense that he was over friendly and vibrate. Deb had been the same away when she used to teach art to over sea students at the college where we used to live. I was used to exuberant artist types and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the classroom. "Get up here then Amelia, I'll set you up with your work -oh and welcome you of course!" he smiled.

I got up and walked to the front of the class, re-doing my pony tail as I went. He slapped his seat, gesturing me to sit down and he perched on top of his desk before taking a long sip of his coffee.

"How's your first day treating you?" Mr. Way questioned, his eyes staring directly into mine.

"It's good, settling in well," I replied, playing mindlessly with my hands.

"So I'm assuming you've met Taylor and Georgina as well?" he grinned, "They're lovely people, you should have some fun with them," he finished. Weirdly I felt like he knew I didn't fit in with them especially well, I appreciated his understanding and even more so I was glad I wasn't just being insanely judgemental about a group I had only just met. Mr. Way briefly explained the project for this semester was centered around only using one colour and its various shades to create images and how he was doing this to limit and challenge his art students. He spoke animatedly before sending me back to my seat beside Marnie. She was giggling away with the boys, mindlessly painting a flower using different shades of blue. She looked up when she saw me and tilted her head to the side.

"What?" I questioned, suddenly feeling a little paranoid about her unwanted stare.

"You're so pretty but," she sighed, "Just sit down," she said. I did as I as told and doubtfully nibbled my lip as she pulled my hair out of its pony tail. She reached into her own back and pulled out some bobby pins, beginning to pin bits of my hair back. I allowed her to do this until she pulled out her make up back, I opened my mouth to protest, "Let me do it, you'll look cute I promise!" she beamed as I regretfully allowed to do my make up, "You look so cute with some mascara and bronzer," she grinned before looking down at my skirt. She then looked at the boys, "Give your pin badges," she demanded.

"Why?" Andy protested. Both boys had band pin badges on their blazers and I too wondered what on earth she was going to use them for.

"Just give them to me, I'm making Mia the prettiest girl in the world," she smiled, I inwardly grimaced when the boys handed them over and Marnie flipped the hem of my school skirt, pinning it up with the pin badges she had gotten from the boys.

"I don't know about this-" I began before once again getting cut off.

"You've got great legs, you're skirts too long Mia, seriously you look great," Marnie said sternly, smiling at me happily, "Your face is to die for," she nodded, "Right boys?" she then asked. The boys both agreed and smirked at me, aware of the torture I was going through.

"Marnie my dear, get on with your work!" Mr. Way said as he sauntered past, shaking his head fondly.

"Doesn't Mia look so cute though, I was doing art just, not in the conventional sense!" Marnie declared, fluttering her eyelashes in an adorable fashion. Mr. Way glanced at me and then looked back at Marnie. I felt my body heat up as other students turned around to have a glimpse.

"Yes, Amelia looks very lovely, but we are in class, so get on with it!" he laughed, lightly leaning over her work, "You too Amelia, get started on something glamour puss," he teased.

I couldn't help but dislike him a little for treating me like Marnie. I didn't make over myself. I shook it off and started to draw a fish in different shades of turquoise. I wanted to think of something insanely creative to impress Mr. Way with so he didn't think I was as brain dead as I was making out but I couldn't stay concentrated. The bell went for lunch and everyone shot up and began to get themselves out of the classroom, including Marnie who once again linked arms with me. I felt a hand on my arm and looked to my left, Mr. Way was perched on his desk again, his fingers gripping my blazer clad arm tightly.

"Mind if I steal her from you?" he asked Marnie.

"I guess not," she smirked at him, "Hurry up okay, I'll save you a seat but Alex is going to want to see you," she then said directing it at me with her large brown eyes. I nodded and smiled and she let her arm fall lose from mine as she left the classroom. Mr. Way let his own hand drop from my arm as the classroom door banged close. I stood awkwardly, waiting for him to start talking.

"I've seen your work from your last school," he said, patting the space on the desk next to him. I vaulted up beside him, even though I didn't want to and I could feel the desk sticking to my bare thighs, "It's good..." he dithered, "I want to see more of you, I want real work next lesson okay? I want to see what we can get out of you," he continued.

"I didn't deliberately not do work today, it was hard to focus and Marnie is a different type of-" I stopped and started to pick my nails in my lap. I was slightly mad at myself for falling into the social trap but more so because I felt like I had disappointed Mr. Way.

"I get it," he interrupted, "But I wanted to catch you early, you need to know you have potential, don't waste it," he finished, winking at me. I smiled awkwardly, swallowing, "Anyway I liked your first look better," he continued, looking at me and lowly grinning, "Don't need all that make up Mia," he then added. I swallowed again, trying to work the little saliva I had left around my mouth, "Right go meet your new friends, I don't wanna get in trouble with those girls either!"

"Thanks Mr. Way, I'll put my effort into it next time," I apologised, taking my leave.

I found the lunch hall relatively quickly as it was in the center of the school. Alex squealed when she saw me, clapping loudly and making people turn to look at her.

"Who looks like an absolute babe!" she said, sitting me down in the middle of her and Taylor, "Marn, I am so glad you did it, I didn't think you would!" she giggled.

"Do what?" I tried to question but it came out stuttered.

"Give you a make over silly, you had all the basics but who wants to be basic right?" she smiled, taking a juicy bite out of her red, crisp apple she had on her tray. I felt relatively wounded but didn't say anything and smiled also. I wasn't entirely sure what I had gotten myself into these girls and at the same time I wasn't even sure if it was my fault I was even in this situation. I zoned out for a while, watching groups of boys, groups of girls, students who dithered by themselves. Even in the uniform we were given everyone had clearly tried to make it tailored to their own style. I wondered what I looked like to everyone else and whether after today I would even have a chance of getting to know anyone else. I ignored that small, nagging part of my brain and quietly surrendered to their conversation.

Notes