Blue sneaked in the same way she had sneaked out previously at some minutes past eleven. She threw her newfound toy to the side of the bed as she struggled to get out of her dress which was torn at its edges. She decided to switch on the lights and pull off the rest of her undies.
First, she must get the switch. She tried to get her hands around the switch, and when her hands finally found it, she sighed with relief. Immediately, the lights flooded the room, her eyes bulged and her heart flew out of her. Her aunt, Danielle Nane sat still at the edge of her bed, arms folded as her eyes stared directly at Blue's. Blue's hands flew up to their body to conceal her revealing, naked skin.
"Where are you coming from sneaking in like a rat who needs cheese?" Danielle asked her.
Her hair was in wavy curls, Blue noticed oddly... Blue glanced back at her door, had she forgotten to shut her door with its lock? She thought.
"I w..went o..out," Blue shuttered.
"Don't tell me you went to play basketball?" Her aunty brows shot up.
Blue looked at her aunty in thought. Should she tell her aunt the truth or counter the words of her aunt? After all, no one saw her. But she did play basketball.
"Yes, Aunt Danielle," Blue said as she bowed her head slightly.
"Your mum forbade you not to get involved in that sport. Why would you choose to disobey her?" Danielle asked.
"You shouldn't tell my mother, please!" Blue's head shot up at once, her eyes were pleading.
"You almost broke your ankle because of this particular sport. There are other sports, so why basketball? Never should I hear you getting involved in basketball. And, why would you go out dressed like that to play basketball?"
Blue nodded silently, her head went low. "Yes, Aunt Danielle. I promise never to play basketball." She said calmly.
"I will overlook this crude act of yours. Next time this repeats itself, you will be grounded." Danielle stood up to leave.
Blue shifted from the entrance for her to pass. When the door was closed behind Danielle, Blue picked up her teddy bear which was hiding under the bed, it must have rolled itself there. She hugged it to her bosom, and he sunk into the bed.
*********
Blue was lost in space, staring out the window until one of her classmates, Yusef puked a finger into her elbow. She startled, turned back to the teacher who was staring back at her.
"You are called," Yusef whispered to her. He was dark-skinned and had dark eyes.
Mr Blink stood in front of the whiteboard tapping away a foot. He had on huge eyeglasses like Danielle Nane, one would think that he was related to her.
"Thinking of home?" Mr Blink asked her.
Other students laughed in unison as they all turned to look at her.
Blue dragged herself up, unable to reply to that. What had he asked of her?
"I was asking you a question," Mr Blink said to her.
Blue looked in the direction of where Freya sat. She sat in the second row, third seat behind Ariana. Freya kept mouthing inaudible words to her.
"Miss Name, I did ask you a question."
Blue dragged her eyes off Freya, and back to Mr Blink. "I didn't get the question, Mr. Blink," she said.
"That is because you weren't even listening." Mr Blink tutted then turned to scan the classroom. "Ariana, please stand up and repeat the question."
A white-skinned girl, blonde with bright, grey eyes, who sat in front of Freya Ling, stood up. "What is the metamorphosis of a butterfly?" that was your question, Mr. Blink," Ariana said sweetly to Mr. Blink then shot a side glare at Blue.
Blue rolled her eyes and then looked away, turning to look at Mr Blink.
"Thank you, Ariana." Mr Blink said then turned sharply to Blue. "Can you answer that, Blue?" He asked her.
Blue shut her eyes briefly, muttering a silent curse. Of all days, Mr Blink chose to embarrass her today? Why? What had she done to deserve such cruelty? She only wished that the ground would open up to swallow her heartily.
"See me after the class, Blue. I wonder what is occupying your mind when you should be focused, sit down."
Blue sat down with a stone-colded face. Someone snickered beside her and she shot him a gnarl.
Freya came over to Blue's seat once Mr Blink was out of the classroom at the end of his period.
"What were you thinking? I was trying to tell you the answer." Freya exclaimed.
"Well, I was probably too dumb to have noticed." Blue frowned as she sighed.
"But what were you thinking to have been so engrossed?" Freya slurred the last word.
"Aren't you going to our next class?" Blue diverted the course of the conversation.
"No, don't do that." Freya waved a hand, she looked around. The rest of the students were leaving the class for the music class.
"Miss Jons won't be in the class by now. You do have a way of changing the subject. Aren't you attending the class soon?"
"Mr Blink asked to see me," Blue answered her.
"So, you are going to skip music class?" Freya asked her.
"I won't be long, I promise." Blue started to move.
"How can you tell?" Freya ran after her, gripping her arm.
"Freya, please go on to the class. I'll meet you there."
Freya nodded, let go of her arm, sighed then started down the other direction. Blue walked on and climbed the staircase that led to the staff's room. She passed the art room, stopped, and walked backward.
Something caught her eye. She paused in front of the glassy slide door and squinted her eyes to get a better view. After struggling with her conflicted emotions wondering if she should mind her business or go ahead to intrude into another's privacy. She pushed the door open and took her first step inside.
The room was widely spacious, artworks of all shapes and kinds were in view, and sculptures, and pictures made with canvas and oils, circulated the room. Someone sat in the center of the room in a donkey painting a picture. It was a picture of a girl who was drowning in a clear, blue pool. Blue was so entranced by it that she didn't notice that the boy had stopped painting and was gawking at her.
"This...is... stunning." She said, her hand rising to touch the painting board.
"Excuse me. How did you manage to come in?" A voice broke into her trance.
"I'm sorry... The....," She paused when she saw the look of the boy. His hair was black as ebony, his face spotless, he was darn too handsome with firm, full, pink lips. Was some balm added to his lips? Because that did the trick on her.
"Are you deaf? I am asking you a question." His voice rose an octave higher.
"Oh." Blue looked back at his eyes. They weren't peaceful, fury was buried in them. "The door was opened, so, I just strolled in." She answered him, demonstrating as she talked.
"You shouldn't be here. Why should you be here?" he had a scowl on his face.
"My bad," she tried a weak laugh, "I was so caught up by this beautiful picture that I forgot.....," she was interrupted.
"You shouldn't be here. Leave," he crossed his legs and stood up, pointing at the door.
She couldn't understand why he was so vexed at her presence. She glanced at the door and then back at him. Why would someone as handsome as he was have so much temper inside of him?
"Leave!" he yelled.
Startled, she almost jerked out of her skin. "I'm leaving," she blurted out then silently cursed herself under her breath for not minding her business.