2.20 Not Inspired

Spring is in the air, and so is the start of a new term. Tatum's art class is unchanged but they have new assignments. 

"For this term we'll be focusing on oil paintings for the big project. Still, just like last term, I expect you all to submit weekly sketches for your portfolio. Same grading rules and late submission windows, you know the drill." Mr. Potts is not in high spirits today. Still, he gives the class a small smile. "You guys have more freedom with the project this time around, you can paint almost anything you want- within reason, of course. But before the big project, you'll be making some preliminary pieces. To refine your technique." 

While Mr. Potts outlines who will go where and what grading criteria he's using and blah blah blah she starts thinking of her painting. Her mind goes blank. Somehow the more freedom she's given, the fewer ideas come to mind. 

This is why when she finds herself in front of an easel, she only tentatively dabs her brush on the canvas. Something will come to her eventually, right? 

Elias looks at her brush strokes and shakes his head. "Not inspired? I have that problem too, sometimes. Less and less now, though." 

Jereme, standing two easels away from Tatum, rolls his eyes. 

"Less talking more painting," Mr. Potts commands, not looking up from his email. 

Some cartoon characters slowly appear on her canvas. 

"Ah, is that from Lily Pad and the Giant Frog?" Lester asks when he sees Tatum's easel. 

"Yeah, they were the first thing that came to mind. My sister watches that show all the time." 

"Aren't we supposed to make original pieces?" Elias asks. 

Tatum flushes, "I just couldn't think of anything..." 

Lester frowns, "No one said it had to be a completely new idea." 

Elias shrugs. 

The students lapse into silence, each working on their "warm up" pieces. 

Tatum's head is buzzing now, but not with ideas. She hasn't talked to Elias since prom. She swears she's probably imagining it, but Jenell seemed...cold to her at the dance. She'd like to ask Elias about it, but she'd sound crazy, right?

"How was prom?" Tatum asks casually. 

Elias shrugs, "Alright. Skipped out during the prom king and queen announcement, though. It seemed too extra for me." 

Lester smirks a little. He was the one who ended up winning prom king and isn't surprised that Elias is annoyed about it. 

"Embarrassed about losing to me again?" he taunts. 

Tatum recoils slightly. She's not sure why Lester and Elias don't get along with each other. Before high school, she was never in the same classes with them. She's never heard of them fighting either. 

"Maybe we should just focus on painting," she suggests uneasily. 

Chanda laughs next to her. "You know boys- so competitive." 

Jereme's nose crinkles, "Hey, that's generalizing!" 

Chanda only laughs again, dismissing Jereme as she normally dismisses everyone. 

After school, Tatum comes home and instead of doing her homework goes to her chemistry set. 

The list of ingredients for her sister's potion is sitting on the table. They found most of the things they need, but Tatum can only scratch her head at the instructions. What kind of company makes a chemistry set for kids, but then expects them to know how covalent bonds work? Tatum wonders to herself, annoyed. 

Chemistry class has always been such a huge pain. Tatum considers just calling it a day and forgetting this entire thing. 

But some invisible weirdo is tied to her sister somehow. She has to at least try. 

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AN: So it's been a while, again. Life got crazy, etc. I'm hoping I'll have time now to write stories and play sims 3 again!