#starlena

Yo, can Garfield animal characters talk to people??? Like do they pass the Harkness Test? I’m pretty sure they don’t right?????

As I sit there watching the remaining presentations my heart starts pacing as I know I am about to present. I take a deep breath. At least the Xanax helped a bit. I look at Nate who is talking to a couple of his friends. I can’t help but thinking about messing up. This is anxiety for ya. It will start making up lies for you to believe.  

As a student is getting finished with their presentation there is a bit of clapping. It was now my turn. I stand up taking a deep breath. I walk by Nate and I hear one of his friends says, “Damn she got a fat ass.” I giggle a bit. 

“Alright Starlena. The attention is all yours.” Ms.Smith says and I nod my head. I begin feeling that attention. As I present, I feel everyone’s eyes on me. Are they reading me? Can they see through me? who do they see? I sometimes wonder if they see someone else then who I see in the mirror. Am I beautiful? 

“I just really love writing and making art. I love expressing myself through painting and writing.” I explain. I look towards Nate and smile a bit. 

“I feel like I am able to go to another universe.” 

I show one of my art pieces. It shows a girl who is standing in front of mirror, on the other side of the mirror is a broken girl crying her eyes out. 

“I made this to show that there are people who hide behind masks to seem like they are okay but when they look in their mirror, alone they see someone else staring back at them.” 

“Any questions?” I ask. I’m glad nobody asked any questions and I quickly grab my laptop walking back to my seat. 

After class, I see Rue and Jules talking to each other. I was about to get ready to go over to talk to them but a hand grabs my mine and pulls me into a empty classroom. 

I smell his familiar cologne. “Hey Nate.” 

“Hey.” He shuts the door. I swallow a bit and sit on a desk with my right leg on top of my left leg. “Is everything okay?” 

“Y-Yea.” He stutters. “I just wanted to tell how much I loved your presentation. I really loved your painting of the girl and the mirror.” 

“Thank you.”

“What are you doing this weekend?” He asks me. “Nothing much. Probably just paint.” 

“Why’d you ask?” I blush a bit. “Well I was wondering if you wanted to like hang out or something?” Hang out. That’s the first step I guess. 

“Hmm.” I raise my eyebrow. 

“I don’t know, Jacobs. Should we?” I tease a bit. 

“Up to you, princess.” I bite down on my bottom lip. “Alright then.”