Chap 5: Oh great! I'm starting to like him! urgh!

Chapter 5: The boy I like

Kristine raised her eyebrow and said, “Your house plumber?”

“Yeah, I mean the one that does his business in the water pipes thingy ya know.” I answered jokily while we walked together towards our classroom.

“I know what a house plumber is.” Kristine said as she stopped walking and looked at me. Man! I was just joking… and then we continued walking again. “I mean, he doesn’t look like those low-life-with-their-underwear-showing-while-they-are-working house plumber. If you know what I mean.”

“Yah, I do.” I giggled. I remember Mr. Cheese (yeah that’s really his name) our real house plumber, when he was fixing the water pipe in my bathroom his underwear was showing! I laughed so hard when I was out of my room. Just a question though, why do their undies have to show? Oh well… must be one of their plumbing rules...

“Why are you still here anyway, Kris?” I asked.“Mr. Rodriguez told me to get his books on the faculty, you know that old guy. He can hardly carry a chalk.” She laughed.

It was no surprise to me that my teacher was mad at me when I entered our room. I mean, he should have been used to it. I’m sick of his speech thrown at me every single day that I am late! I could even memorize his lines, so much overused speech here!

“Ms. Cathrel!” Mr. Rodriguez said, my drama teacher and then he would scratch his forehead. “I’m sick of seeing your face every morning having a grand entrance in my class. I’m tired of hearing all your different dramas every time. So please stay out of the room until my class end. And Ms. Kristine you may enter the class now.”

I watched Kristine placed the books on the table and went back to her seat.

“But it wasn’t my fault that my alarm didn’t alarm.” I defended.

“Well, it obviously isn’t my fault!” Mr. Rodriguez answered back. OK, so maybe that was a weak reason but fine I’ll just go out. I’m sick of all his dramas anyways.

So I walked out of the room and sat on the bench on the school hall. Hmmpfh! I let some air out of my mouth to my forehead coz my hair was on my face. I took my sketch book out of my bag and a pencil, and then I placed my feet on the bench to stand as my table. Once I get hold of my pencil it seems like my veins are pumping those artist-waves.. I’m not good at explaining this sensation I feel every time I hold a pencil. It seems like the power just flows out then immediately I would start drawing.

I looked around to see what I could draw this time, and then I spotted someone that makes me blush every time, Ethan. He was sitting on another bench few feet away from me while reading a book. I just don’t understand why I like him… maybe because he’s always been kind to me? Or maybe because he gave me tips in Art class, or maybe simply because of he is an artist like me? Oh well… either from those I just like him.

I started sketching his body position… then I added some details of his clothes. He was wearing jeans and a green shirt with blue lines on the chest portion. I stole some glances at him, I’m sure he doesn’t notice that. While I’m sketching his face, my heart pumped fast. OK, what was that all about? Then I stole another glace at him but I saw him looking back at me! Oh my! My heart started pumping fast again okay so maybe faster. I looked away from him and glued my face to my sketch book.

I can see from the corner of my eye that he closed his book and walked towards me. I covered my face with my stupid hair so that Ethan wouldn’t notice that I was blushing that time.

He decided to sit beside me and I tried myself not to look at him.

“What are you drawing, Cathrel?” he asked. Aww… Ethan if you only know!

“Um… it’s nothing.” I answered quietly.

“C’mon I saw your pencil’s been doing its job for the past few minutes.” He smiled.

Okay, what will I tell him? I need help here! “Umm… you might find it surprising but I’m drawing…” I gulped and continued, “Umm… you...”

Ethan isn’t that type of guy that would say you drew me? You must really like me!, that would be something Kyle would say! Okay, why am I thinking of Kyle at this moment? His ugly face is highly unwanted at this minute so… Kyle… shoo!

“Can I see?” Ethan said asking for my sketch book. “But I don’t quite understand why me? I mean do I look like a wonderful model to you?” he asked while laughing.

I handed him my sketch book and smiled. “It’s because the light that was striking at you was wonderful.” I reasoned out. Okay this is my lame reason number 2 for the day. Could my reasoning get any worse? *roll eyes*

Ethan looked at it and said, “You are quite good, Cathrel, especially with all the shading and the folds of the clothing.” The he looked at me and said, “Are you sure that this is what I look like when I was there? I mean, I look better in your sketch!” then he smiled.

I smiled. No Ethan you look better in real life and to be exact, right now. Okay this is my happiest moment for the day, wait what am I thinking it’s only 7:45 and there could be other wonderful things that might happen this day.

“Why are you here outside just like me?” I asked while getting my sketch book from him.

“Same thing as you are!” he laughed.

Ahh! Ethan we are so meant to be together! We both love art and we both wake up late in the morning! Can we be more any alike?

Our conversation ended when one of his teachers asked him to go inside their room. Oh great!

“Okay, I’ll see you around Cathrel.” He waved goodbye but then he turned back at me. “And oh, if ever you’ll try to draw me again, please tell me so that I will prepare a wonderful pose for you!” he said while laughing. “Kidding!” he added then headed off to his room and disappeared.

Ahhh! I don’t care if Mr. Rodriguez wants me to stay out everyday as long as Ethan is late too! Haha! OK stop day dreaming Cathrel. Oh well, back on being alone. I miss Ethan already.

---

When I was eating in the cafeteria with my BFFs including Joey Zehr, I was smiling while eating my food. They were looking at me and they asked each other.

“What’s wrong with her?” Nikka asked Joey while eating her banana split that Joey bought for her.

“Aliens must have invaded her brain. Like in that movie I saw where the girl wasn’t actually a girl but a robot and then on his head there’s that tiny green stuff they call alien with all those controls.” Joey answered while trying to make Nikka understand.

“Wait!” Jenn said. “I think I’ve seen that movie!” then she was silent then added. “Ah... No...I don’t remember.” And then went back to eating her hamburger.

“She must’ve eaten something funny!” Loulaine concluded. “Like?’ Jenn asked.“Like—um… booger!” Loulaine answered as if she just hit the one million prize.

“Seriously guys, those hypotheses of yours are just plain stupid.” Candy stated. Gee, she’s the only one who’s serious here. “You can just ask her.” Candy suggested.

“What’s wrong with you, Cathrel?” they all asked in chorus.

I was waiting forever for them to ask me that! But it was amusing to hear them guess. This is why I love these guys; they are just stupid like me! Haha…

So I told them about me being late and they were all like “Yeah, we know that already. It’s already becoming your habit.” Then I told them about Ethan and our conversation and my sketch of him and all. They were all smiling at me.

“Aww.. Cathrel, that was so wonderful. But I hope you don’t have to do that everyday, being late that is.” Nikka said.

“But if being late means being with her crush, why not?” Loulaine opposed.

“But that’s already wrong, man.” Joey said.

“It’s Laine not man.” Loulaine corrected.

Ahh! I just love my BFFs! They make me laugh over some stupid pointless things.

---

In my Art class… we were asked to make a small sculpture of any Greek God. The best part was that Ethan and I are being paired! Ahh! Could my day get any better? We collected the material we will use at the teachers table then Ethan asked me.

“So where can we do this?”

Okay without second thoughts, I said. “At our house tonight, you can have dinner there.”

“Are you sure your parents wouldn’t mind?” he asked worriedly.

“Positive!”

---

We ride the bus to our house since I didn’t bring my bike to school.

I opened the front door. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!”I signalled Ethan to follow me and place the clay beside table were the telephone was located. I found my Mom and Dad in the kitchen cooking some dinner.

“Hi mom! I brought a friend with me.” I waved Ethan to come closer to me. “Mom this is Ethan from my art class.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Harrington.” Ethan greeted while shaking my mom’s hand.

“Nice to meet you too, Ethan.” My mom smiled. She seemed to like Ethan now! I mean, who wouldn’t?

And he did the same thing with Dad.

“Are you gonna stay for dinner?” Dad asked while slicing some carrots with Mom.

“Yes, he will!” I answered.

“That’s good then! Coz I’m cooking my specialty tonight!” my mom said excitedly. “And I want you to be the first to taste it.”

“It would be an honour.” Ethan said while putting his hand on his chest.

“Such a sweet boy.” My Mom said and then returned to her slicing.

---

It was dinner time and everyone was in their seats. Dad was in the center, then mom, Ben, and Joe. On the other side was Adrian, Ethan and me. Everyone seemed to like Ethan that night. We were laughing together at some jokes Ethan would share. Then I heard some footsteps from the stairs then it was walking towards the dining room. I was busy talking Ethan and the others were busy with their conversation. It all stopped when someone said.

“Who’s he? And why is he sitting on my chair?”

Everyone looked at the person who said those. It was well… you’ve guessed it, Kyle. And who said that Ethan’s chair was his chair?