Tired and exhausted from the Spanish exam, she found herself wandering the corridors of her college. The sense of arriving on time to her art class discouraged her from taking the final steps toward classroom. She felt nervous as her hands clutched on her large portfolio case containing her large 18”x 24” drawing pad along with her large 18”x 24” newsprint paper pad. In her other had a small looking toolbox that contained her art materials.
She heaved a deep breath while looking at the time. Her eyes then scanned the area for any familiar faces. As if the heavens above read her mind, she heard a familiar voice call her name.
“Kagome,” the voice rang into the air causing her to turn around and caught the long silver hair she envied. Her dark hair swayed to the front of her face, obscuring her vision. Agitated, she blew at her hair and swiped the remaining strands behind her ear.
“Oh hey Inuyasha,” she greeted with a small smile. She looked him over noticing something was out of place and instantly recognized that he did not have his large portfolio case with him. Frowning, she gave his hands one last glimpse before meeting his dark gaze. “I see you don’t have you art case with you. Did you forget about that the final art portfolio is due today?”
Shaking his head and sagging his shoulders, he turned away as if ashamed to look at her. “I just came from work. I forgot my art portfolio, however, I thought I would come to class.”
She frowned again and glanced at the empty classroom not too far away. And searching her surroundings for any familiar faces, she saw none. “Then miss class.”
“What!” he exclaimed, his eyes seemed to be bugging out from his eyes sockets.
A part of her wanted to laugh but she held her grim expression. “Please heed this advice and miss class. It wouldn’t make any sense not to have your art case with you or for a matter of fact a valid excuse for the professor. The only sensible thing for you to do is to miss class.”
Waving his hands frantically in front of him while shaking his head, meant his denial. “I can’t miss class. Plus I don’t want to miss this class. We only have two more classes left…”
She interrupted him before he blabber on about the class and the professor’s grading system. “You are not prepared. You do not have a valid reason for not having your art portfolio. Two great reasons for missing class today… What you should do is, go home, and as soon as you reach home, you send him an e-mail to the professor giving him a good reason why you couldn’t make it to class today. Use an excuse like you’re not feeling well.”
“But…”
“How many classes did you miss already?” she asked interrupting him once again.
“Four classes.” She nearly collapsed to the floor at his answer.
“Oh my.” She brought a hand to her chin as eyebrows furrowed. Her forehead wrinkled displaying her planning to foil posture as she deeply thought about her friend’s position. The class only met once a week and he missed four classes so far. It was enough not to grant an A as an overall grade in the class. “I think you better come to this class then because you seem to be barely passing it. There’ s so much work you need to make up for.”
“I did make up the work,” he stated quickly. With those dark eyes staring directly into her large brown eyes, she knew he was telling the truth. Now it was only to get him away from class before the professor came by. The professor always did have a knack to arrive to class early to begin lectures and spend the next four hours having his students draw.
“Okay, go home and make some good excuse why you missed class today. When this class is over, I will call to tell you what you missed and you could make up the work by doing something similar to what we did in class at home. Also in the e-mail, ask the professor for the class assignment. He gives a great review online, therefore you have my and his perspective on what went on in class today,” she directed. “Then you could hand him your portfolio along with your sketchbook next week.”
He nodded his head while absorbing her information. “Promise me you will call after this class is over.”
“I won’t promise a thing. But if I don’t call you, then I will send you an e-mail,” she confirmed. Putting down her art things, she dashed to him and pushed at his larger form. Her small frame guided him away from class to the main hall. Giving him his final push, she told him to go. And as fast as he came, he went, leaving the main building.
The moment she turned around, she saw the professor heading to the art classroom.
***
It was now an hour since class first began. Her 18”x 24” drawing pad was in front of her, laying on the canvas stand. Her eyes strayed from the drawing to the objects beside the canvas stand. From time to time, she found her gaze going beyond the objects to guy sitting close by. He too had long silver hair that fell below his shoulders. Unlike Inuyasha’s dark eyes, his golden eyes seemed to scorch anything he focused on. Right now, those eyes moved to the objects. As if sensing her stare, his eyes shifted a little until they met her gaze.
For a moment it seemed as time stilled. Both of them stopped moving their pencil on their drawing pad. Her breath hitched as those gold eyes penetrated through her skin, causing a shiver to travel up and down her spine. And then a clunking sound broke them both of their trance. Looking down at her hands, she saw that her pencil was no longer in her hand. Instead it was on the floor not too far from him. Flushing out of embarrassment, she got up from her seat, bent down and retrieved her pencil. However, when she stood up, her eyes again met his gaze and it seemed as if time stilled.
But the initial shock that an hour and half passed broke her trance and her feet led her back to her seat. Positioning herself on the stool, her pencil began finishing the outline of the table and the objects placed on the table. Once she completed drawing most of the objects, she got up from her seat, opened her bag, took out her chocolate bar, and was about to walk out the room. However, she had to pass him first.
Lightly with such impressive manners she said, “Excuse me please.” She heard him mentioned something but it was not clear for her to comprehend him. And while on her way out, she could not help but have her eyes glance at his paper. What she saw there left her in awe. He truly was one of the most talented artists in class. The objects he chose to draw were precise, each one defining line weight and tonal value. And again envy filtered through her body, driving her crazy.
What was it about him that had her looking? Okay, a stupid question to ask. He was handsome, serious, mysterious, silent, and so devastatingly attractive. She saw how the other girls in class literally drooled at him. Yet he kept looking at her and once their eyes met, they would drift off into another world.
Only once did she try talking to him but her attempt was futile. All he did was looked at her and the words she been planning to mummer to him died in her throat. Those eyes seemed to bore into her soul, stealing her breath, and causing her pulse to quicken. Even now while wondering though the hallways, the thought of him caused her heart to beat faster in her chest.
Returning to class was not an easy feat, especially when there was only an hour left of class to complete her work. She finished with the contour of her objects and began detailing more with line weight and tonal value. Her squinted eyes took in every detail on display. Her hands glided on the paper, catching a few admirers who traveled around to look at other people’s drawings. Her concentration was so deep; she missed those stunning eyes that glanced at her every now and again.
And time was up. The portfolios were handed in once the class assignment was added into it. She called her father to pick her up from night class while her hands gathered her belongings. By the time she finished talking on the phone, she saw him tug his backpack on his shoulder and disappear from the classroom with his art supplies in hand. There went Sesshomaru.
