Partnering Up (Damia)

[Appoline Meian]

Art class is usually one of Appoline's favorite times of the day. Sitting wherever you want, not really being noticed by anyone else, being allowed to draw through an entire period without getting scolded by the teacher... it's normally a relaxing experience.

Until paired assignments come along.

The teacher had finished grading the previous week's assignment already and had assigned them a new one only moments before - a painting challenge with partners. The goal was pretty simple; find a partner, agree on something to paint, and work together to create the final product. There were only two problems with this as far as Appoline could tell (at least, from her perspective):

1) This meant she had to talk to someone (and Amos wasn't here), and

2) She had to work with color (she didn't paint very well).

Despite this, she glanced around the classroom, watching as people paired up with laughs and shrugs, depending on their enthusiasm towards the assignment. After all, it was an open project - free form, realism, or surrealism didn't matter as long as you worked together.

Hiding herself behind her hair (the white patch of which had been tucked and pinned under the rest), she sketched listlessly with a simple pencil, marking the patterns in the tile and... well, basically doodling. She didn't really look up at all until a pair of shoes crossed her vision, and even then she just stopped sketching.

"...Can... can I help you?" Peering up with one blue eye, her face flushed slightly at being looked at by another person.

[Damia Owens]

Why was Damia even in this class?

Once again, she was found asking herself that question. It had seemed like a good idea when she had signed up. She had needed an elective and art was supposed to be easy - therapeutic even. However, by now she had determined that it was anything but. All it ever caused her was stress. Nothing she tried to do ever turned out the way she wanted it to. The lines were all wrong. The colors were off. Even shading boxes to make them look three dimensional had turned out to be a nightmare.

But now? With yet another horrible assignment uncompleted but behind her she had been confronted with a group painting project. Damia didn’t know what she wanted to do – give up or cry inside. As she sat frozen, however, the other students began to pair up.

Damia looked around. It was no surprise to that no one approached her. She was older than everyone else and had had few classes with any of them… none of which she’d made friends in. After a minute everyone had a partner except for her and one other girl, the girl hiding in her sketchbook. Damia recognized her from class. She was good. It surprised her a little that she was alone… and that she was just sitting there. Worse yet, it meant that Damia had to do something.

Stealing her nerves, Damia made her approach, but even as she neared the other girl she was at a loss of what to say. That was – until the girl spoke. However, that only brought on confusion. Had Damia misjudged something and she wasn’t supposed to partner up with this girl for some reason? It suddenly seemed not only plausible but undeniable. “Um, well…. The assignment. I thought… we were all supposed to work with someone…. and you and I.” Quickly, back peddle and escape.”…unless you’ve got something. I could just…. Do something else… or something. I know I’m not good, but I could help… somehow, at least.”

[Appoline Meian]

Appoline chewed her lip thoughtfully, a bit sheepish. She hadn't meant to sound cold or anything - she just didn't know why anyone wanted to pair with her. As the girl before her stammered something that sounded halfway between an excuse and an apology, the pretty Asian looked up at her face. She was a lovely girl - a natural blonde, very green eyes, and soft fair skin. She was attractive in a way that wasn't just artistic; give her a couple years and she'd be stunning.

Appoline dropped her gaze almost immediately after that thought, blushing. She needed to answer, not let this poor girl flail about with nothing to say. "It's..." She cleared her throat and tried again, looking up with a very timid smile. "It's all right. I don't... have a partner yet, either." She gestured to the seat next to her, inviting the other girl to sit.

"Ah... I'm... well, my name is Appoline," she started again, her shyness disallowing her to look this very pretty, normal looking American in the eyes. "I, ah... I pencil sketch, mostly. What's you're name?" The mostly-deaf girl reached up to brush her hair behind her ears, but stopped herself just shy, letting her hand fall back into her lap as she glanced nervously to the other girl. Why did it have to be paired assignments?

[Damia Owens]

Damia didn't know what to do when silence followed in the wake of what she said. Her eyes dropped from the girl. Soon she found herself looking away. What now? She was just debating on a method of retreat when the girl cleared her throat. Damia looked back and tried to smile a little to show that she was okay... even if she felt horribly awkward.

Sit? Okay, she could do that. Damia took the seat next to the girl and waited. She didn't know what she was waiting for, but it was the only thing she knew to do. Wait and see what happens, then maybe find something to say or do. So she glanced again at the girl's sketch, looking up to her briefly when she spoke.

"Damia," she replied, trying to smile a little. "I uh... don't really do anything." But that wasn't exactly conductive to the conversation. "I mean... art wise. I just... I guess I thought it would be good to take the class.... I like your drawings though, they're really good." She smiled again to show that she was sincere. That should help. "Do you... have anything you'd like to paint?"

[Appoline Meian]

"It's nice to meet you, Damia," came the soft reply. Appoline forced herself to turn in the seat and face the other girl, despite the fact that she still felt like she wanted to hide. But, she'd promised, hadn't she? And no one had bullied her yet, so she had no excuses. It was time to try.

Frankly, that was easier said than done.

"Well, ah..." Appoline thought a moment, chewing her bottom lip. "I really... I really like drawing people. I'm not so good with colors, though, but I can show you examples. That is, if you want." Flushing crimson, the Asian girl forced herself to sit straighter and look at the blonde beside her. As an afterthought, she deliberately brushed the hair from her face, revealing the other half of her face; identical to the other, save for a light brown eye the peered out rather than blue. She had the feeling that this girl was just as shy as her; if she hid, nothing would get done.

Of course, she only did this for expediency's sake. Appoline was absolutely terrified at the moment, and very little could be done to calm her. She hated that part of herself, but it was better than making friends all the time and being shut down hard.

"Ah... thank you, by the way," she added softly, giving a slight smile. "I've been drawing since I was a little girl. I can teach you some tricks, if you like."

"B-but, we should think about the project," she stammered, forcing herself back to the task at hand. "Is there... is there anyplace... or anyone... you really like here? In Pilot Ridge, I mean. We can start there - I don't know a lot of people o-or places yet."