Butterflies In The Basement

Craft

Persuasion pov

"Party??" I said with displeasure. "Bullshit, now you know I don't party, Sarah." I stood in the middle of the hallway with my hands on my hips.

"Please Sua, it's your birthday, and KJ is throwing one right around the corner from Dezmond's house! You never want to have fun, and this party is calling your name! I'm telling you, It's like you're scared to enjoy yourself."

She moved her long black braids out of her face and crossed her arms at the same time I crossed mine. Our debates on my birthday happen every year; The case and the jury. Though she wasn't wrong, This whole year I've been concentrating on my college resume and extra curriculum. I'm almost surprised I remembered my birthday. I can't help but spend my time doing something productive; that's just the person I am, I have zero plans, but a party doesn't even sound like me.

"Just this one time, I miss all the fun stuff because of you," she said while rolling her eyes. We turned toward the B hall and continued walking to class. The bell rang loudly, causing us to speed up just a little bit.

"Nobody is stopping you from going. I can leave the door unlocked tonight-" She immediately cut me off, "BUT ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY! Why would I want to go to a party without my main bitch."

Sarah and I have been best friends/sisters since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and got pregnant back to back, me being born in May before Sarah in June. Sarah has been a blessing.

My mom passed when I was in the 5th grade. My dad went off the deep end after he was told she left him nothing. They found him dead in his second families garage a year later.

"All I'm asking is for you to think about it, please." She put her purse on her shoulder and walked me to my classroom before continuing down the hall to hers.

"Yeah, I'll think real hard!" I yelled at her, causing her to flip me off. "Maybe," I mumbled.

I looked up at the classroom door in front of me, fixing my hair and my lashes. Art is my favorite period of the day, and not just because it's the 8th. I let my knuckles lightly tap against the door.

"It's open," A deep voice called out from the other side.

I walked in slowly and smiled at my class. Everybody let out a few giggles and laughs at my tardiness but soon gave their attention to the tall, well-built, caramel-skinned male standing in front of the whiteboard.

"Sorry I'm late, Mr. Cole." I walked to my seat slowly while still locking eyes with him. Even after I sat down and put my bag under my chair, he cleared his throat but always said nothing. The look he gave me was almost like he was telling me, 'You're in trouble.' I felt like a little kid all over again.

"So you didn't mark me tardy, right?.........sir?" I bit my lip, asking the Lord for help.

"I don't think he's letting this one slide today. You get treated like the rest of us this time." Said the red-haired girl sitting next to me, looking amused by the silence he was giving me.

I rolled my eyes and looked back at him.

He just shook his head slowly before getting a black Expo marker from his desk and drawing a big circle on the board. His words soon dripped from his lips, followed by his thick French accent.

"Today's assignment is straightforward, so I expect everyone to have it done by the end of class."
He looked at me and raised his eyebrows.

"I want everybody to take out a piece of paper and draw any shape you want, make sure it takes up the whole page. I don't care if it's a Pentagon, Triangle, or Square."

Everyone nodded, knowing better than to move before he finished giving instructions.

"I want you to draw anything that you think represents you. I love to see symbols, numbers, and patterns."

He gave his circle and zig-zag background and added green and blue roses inside it with two colored markers.

"Give your shape some shading and texture, some personality. You have 40 minutes, begin. Persuasion may I see you outside."

I mentally slapped myself while getting out of my seat and following him outside the classroom. Once out of the room, he closed the door behind us and crossed his arms.
~

"What I tell you about being late to my class. no reason why you should be coming in after the bell when Economics is down the hall." He stared at me with all seriousness.

I just let my hand brush up against his. "I'm sorry, cole..." His eyes were menacing, and he towered over me. My eyes traveled across the black ink on his arms that shyly peeked out from under his sleeve while his eyes traveled down my black crop top and ran over my ripped jeans. He licked his lips and sighed, abruptly gripping my wrist and rubbing his thumb against the back of my hand.

"Don't let it happen again. I wouldn't want to punish you for it." He turned his back towards the classroom door and dragged his free hand over my bare stomach, tapping my belly ring before leaning over to my ear.
~

"You okay?." My teacher spoke softly, waving his hand in front of my face. I quickly cleared my throat and fixed my slumped posture.

"Huh? Oh yes, sorry for being late." I slightly wiped the side of my mouth.

He stared at me once again, only this time, in confusion. He rubbed the back of his neck.

"This is our issue. I love having you in my class and when you choose to do my work it makes me very proud. The only thing about you that is unacceptable is your time management." He furrowed his eyebrows.

"We've always crossed a couple T's and Dotted a couple I's for each other when it came to lateness or when I'm distracted with family stuff but we both need to do better when it comes to handling business. In a outstanding way, Me as a teacher and You as a student, you understand?"

I nodded slowly "I love you too. I mean, like I love art and being in your class. My last name is Craft, remember." I smiled awkwardly, causing him to grin a little before letting out a deep chuckle.

"Am I too hard to understand? Jeez, I know I'm French, but I'm trying to guide you in the right direction?" He crossed his arms again, dropping the seriousness in his tone.

"I completely understand you; I've been in your class since my freshman year, and I believe nobody understands you around these halls better than me." We both exchanged goofy looks before he put his hand on the door handle.

"Happy birthday, young lady. Make wise decisions today." he opened the door for me, and we both went back to doing our own thing.

————

After an hour of me pretending to work, the last bell of the day rang. He remembered my birthday. I guess that's a reason to celebrate.

To be continued-