The Art of Dying

“Well, that was intense.” I said to Dixie once the bell rang.

“Just wait, we still have an hour left.” She said. We were having a fifteen minutes break between classes but we had two dance classes back to back, so we decided to hang out in the under belly of the school ─the basement. “So, what do you think of Shawn?”

“He’s hot, but then again almost every guy here is hot.” I answered.

“I know what you mean.” She said with a small snicker. “Anyone in particular grabbed your attention.” She asked from beside me on the bottom stairs leading to the basement. Blake’s face flash before my eyes only for Abbigail’s to take its place, then Zane’s.

“Well the Saxton brothers are real sexy but I’m not looking for anything.”

“Don’t you think they’re a little strange?” She asked looking at me with what appeared to be light suspicion.

“I think my roommate’s boyfriend is weird. You know, Oliver Pratt-Lambert. He’s really… odd. But not them,” But then I remembered the way Blake acted when he saw Chris, it was weird. “Well, Blake is, maybe, a little but weird… I don’t know.” She appeared to be studying me for a moment.

“If you say so…” She replied distractedly but then she said: “Wait, you’re roommate with Cassandra-Claire Mortis?”

“Yeah, why?” I asked confused.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” She said absent-mindedly. “It’s just surprising since I’ve never seen her have a roommate before.” Oh, that’s odd.

“What about you?” I asked. “Any lucky guy caught your eye?” She laughed.

“No.” She answered. “Guys are only after one thing and I’m staying clear of that… At least this year.”

“A wise decision.” I replied, imitating an old wise man.

“Thank you, oh wise one.” We then both started laughing. The bell rang again, indicating that we should head back to class. We stood up and went back to Shawn’s awesome, if intense, dance class.

“You were pretty good out there.” Dixie said as she walked with me to my dorm after class.

“Are you kidding me? I sucked.” I haven’t danced since I was thirteen, before Guillaume’s death. “You, on the other hand, were amazing.”

“I know.” She said chuckling. “But seriously you were great. You just might need a little more practice for the popping and floor work but your twirls and leaps were wow.”

“Well, thanks.” We arrived at my dorm. “You want to come in?”

“Nah thanks, my brother is probably waiting. He’s giving me a ride home.”

“You don’t live here?” I asked.

“No, I live in an apartment with my parents and my older brother, a little outside of town.” She said. “So, I’ll see yah Wednesday in class.”

“Yeah, ok. Bye.”

She gave me a small wave as she left.

Well I made a new friend, yay. C.C. was on her bed, when I came in the room, doing her homeworks. I’m glad I didn’t get any yet. “Ah, you’re back.” She said as she lept from her bed and grabbed my hand to drag me back to it. “Ewww you’re all yucky.”

“Thanks.” I mumbled sarcastically.

“So… What took you so long?” She asked.

“Um, I made a friend?”

“Great! Do I know him or her? Is it a he or a she?” She asked excitedly. I gave a small laugh.

“It’s Dixie Tallion. She’s in my dance class.”

“Oh.” She said seemingly disappointed.

I stood from her bed. “Well, I’ll go take a shower now. You know, since I’m all yucky and stuff.” I rummaged through my things, grabbed some fresh clothes and made my way to the bathroom.

When I emerged from the bathroom, dressed in black sweatpants and a matching black T-shirt while toweling my hair dry, I observed that C.C. wasn’t anywhere in sight. Only a folded piece of paper was left in the middle of my bed ─a note. Leaving my bright red towel on my shoulders, I grabbed the note and read its content:

Del,

I went to see Oliver. Don’t wait up.

C.C. your roomie

What to do? What to do, now? I resumed my toweling, debating on whether to do a graffiti on my side of the room or read my mom’s journal, only to be interrupted by someone knocking on the door. I dropped my towel to the floor and went to answer it.

On the other side I was surprised to see Zane. What is he doing here? “Um, hi?” I asked confused.

“Well, hello.” He looked me up and down leisurely with a half smirk gracing his lips. He looked passed me into the room and asked: “Is Cassandra in there?”

“No, she’s with Oliver.” His smirk grew at those words.

“So, I have you all to myself. Hmmm. Well madam, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner?” I raised my brow at that. Is he really serious? “A bit much?” He asked with an amused smile.

“Yeah.” He gave a warm laugh, his brilliant blue eyes alight.

“Okay, then would you like to go eat dinner with me?” Better with him then all alone. Plus he’s a nice ‘eye candy’.

“Yeah, ok.” He was really sexy in his get-up of dark blue jeans, white T-shirt and black leather jacket.

“Great.” He said.

I slipped into my ‘Converse’ shoes, grabbed my cafeteria pass and we were out the door. “So, where were you today? I didn’t see you anywhere.” I asked as we waited for the elevator.

“I only have classes in the afternoon.” They can do that?!

“They can do that!?” Why wasn’t I informed of this, I hate mornings. The doors opened and we stepped in the elevator.

He chuckled. “Well, not really but I ditch.” He pressed the button for the third floor.

“Oh.” Now I was disappointed.

“Hey, cheer up. You can always ditch with me.” He said suggestively.

“Yeah, um, no. I can’t.”

“Suit yourself.” He said unaffected. The doors opened on the third floor and we stepped out.

“So, what’s up with you and C.C.?” I asked as we made our way to the ‘caf’. “Why does she appear to hate you?”

“Who knows…?” He answered cryptically. “We’re here.” Surprisingly there weren’t that many people in the ‘caf’, well it is still pretty early... I selected a green salad with a piece of cherry pie and some grape juice.

I looked at Zane and noticing he didn’t take anything, I asked: “Aren’t you going to take anything?”

“Nah, I’m not hungry.” He then leaned in close to my ear and whispered. “Not for food anyway.” Startled, I almost dropped my tray as I took a step away from him.

“Whoa.” What can I say to that? I was speechless. “Er…”

“Next.” The cafeteria lady at the register said.

“It’s your turn.” Zane told me amused by my reaction.

“Jerk.” I mumbled under my breath. I heard him chuckle as I turned my attention to the cafeteria lady. I gave her my pass, she scanned it, gave it back to me and I left with Zane following after me. I was about to make my way to the terrace/garden, when Zane stirred me in the direction of an empty table in the back of the cafeteria.

“Why don’t we eat here instead?”

I gave a sigh. “Ok.” And we both sat down at the plain, grey, circular table. “Why did you want to eat with me if you’re not going to eat anyway?” His response from earlier inadvertently popped in my head making me blush. ‘I’m not hungry. Not for food anyway’. Get your head out of the gutter, Del. He seemed to know exactly what I was thinking about, for he smirked. Jerk.

Embarrassed, I turned my attention to my food and took a bite out of the salad. It was really tasty, very crisp and fresh ─yummy, and a good distraction.

Putting me out of my misery he finally answered: “Well, you are a beautiful woman and I would very much like to get to know you. Is that a crime?”

“No, I guess not.” I answered with a small smile.

That night, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I tried to find a reason as to why Zane could be this much disliked. He was really nice and funny this evening and a perfect gentleman if you put the sexual innuendos aside. He’s great. We talked and the time seemed to fly.

Before I knew it, he brought me back to my dorm and tried to steal a kiss but I was fast enough (thank god) for him to catch my cheek instead. I still remember him as he said ‘One day I’m gonna taste those lips of yours and you’ll see, it will be so great, you won’t be able to get enough’. Pffff, yeah right, as if... I grabbed my MP3 from the bedside table and fell asleep listening to ’Béatrice Martin’ a.k.a. ‘Coeur De Pirate’ and her angelic voice.

My alarm went off at 7:30, its insistent blaring doing nothing to help me like mornings. Ugh, time to get up. As I dragged my unwilling form to the bathroom, stopping on the way to gather fresh clothes, I noticed C.C. was sleeping peacefully in her bed. How the hell, she can sleep through all that noise is beyond me.

I left my clothes on the counter and got out of my over sized ‘Pon & Zi’ T-shirt and pink polka dots PJ bottoms then I stepped in the shower.

I quickly washed myself with my familiar calla lily body wash and shea shampoo. I stepped out and towel dried my body then my hair with a bright red towel. I dressed in black jeans and a grey T-shirt leaving my necklace as the only accessory that I’d wear today. I wiped the condensation from the mirror, applied my usual makeup, brushed my teeth then left the bathroom.

“Hey.” C.C. said sleepily once I emerged.

“Hey.” I replied going to get my hair dryer. “Would you like me to bring you breakfast in about fifteen minutes?” She stood going to the bathroom.

“Yeah, that would be great. Thanks.”

“What would you like?” I asked her while I plugged my hair dryer in the wall.

“A muffin and some coffee please. Black, no sugar, thanks.” She said with a small grin before disappearing in the bathroom. I quickly dried my hair then grabbed my pass and did a quick trip to the cafeteria to get C.C.’s order plus a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of green tea for myself.

Once I got back C.C. had yet to emerge from the bathroom and so I put our breakfast aside on my bedside table in order to resume doing my hair. I grabbed my straightening iron and flattened my hair. When I was done, C.C. wasn’t out yet. Oh, well. I started eating my semi-hot oatmeal after pouring some maple syrup over it.

I was halfway through my meal, when C.C. got out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam. She was dressed in a long, bohemian, black dress, her long hair down with a few small random braids in it. “Thanks.” She said brightly grabbing the brown paper bag on my bedside table.

“The coffee might be cold, though.” I said after swallowing a bite of my oatmeal.

“Doesn’t matter.” She said attacking her muffin like a starving wolf. She’s really funny. Once she ate half of it, she slowed down and ate the rest more slowly. “So what are your classes today?” She asked with a mouth full. I swallowed my last bite of oatmeal, stood up and grabbed my schedule.

“History, French, math and English. You?”

“English, science, French and math.” She said. “The only thing that makes it less boring is that Olly is in three out of these four classes.

“Good for you.” I replied, happy for her.

History was fascinating if only for the fact that Mr. Kirk was very animated when he talked and he moved a lot about the room. I barely had time to get back to my locker, on the first floor on the other side of the school, from Mr. Kirk’s classroom on the third floor, before I had to rush to my French class as the first bell rang.

Entering the classroom, I took a seat towards the back of the class and waited for the final bell to ring. Setting my things on my desk, I grabbed a pencil and started doodling absentmindedly on my notebook while I waited the beginning of class.

The bell rang and a few late students entered. The teacher then closed the door and began class. “‘Bonjour tout le monde.’ Welcome, my name is ‘Madame Harris’ and I am your French teacher.” Said the teacher with a thick American accent. The expression; ‘Speaking French like a Spanish cow’ crossed my mind ─her pronunciation was terrible. She was a short woman, in her thirties, with her platinum blonde hair in a neat, tight bun. She wore a cream blouse paired with a plum pencil skirt and black stiletto pumps. “Now we will begin by─” A knock at the door interrupted her.

She answered it and Blake entered, excusing himself for his tardiness. The teacher told him ’de ne pas en faire une habitude’ and let him go take a seat. He went down the rows of desk and took the only available seat, right next to me. Great ─not.

Upon seeing me, he gave me a warm smile that I returned. Feeling unwanted butterfly in my stomach I quickly turned my attention back to the teacher. She put us in teams of two, telling us to move our desks together then she gave each team a sheet of questions. We were given about twenty minutes to get to know our partner, then we had to do an oral in French of about two minutes to present him or her to the class.

And damn it, I’m with Mr. tall, dark and handsome with deep unfathomable eyes. Grabbing a plain lined sheet of paper from my binder, I turned to face him. “Hey, so um, would you like to start or…” He left the sentence hanging.

“How about we both answer each questions instead of going one at the time.”

“Yeah, Ok.” He said, nodding his head slightly. “So you’re Delphine Alexandra Valiquette.” I was surprised he knew my full name but then again, I knew his. C.C. told me.

“Yeah, but it’s pronounce Dell-fin, not Del-feen. You know, like, a dolphin, but with del instead of dol…” It was fun teaching him how to pronounce my name. He finally got it after the sixth or seventh time.

“So, Delphine.” He put emphasis on my name, saying it right.

“Yeah, and You’re Blake Gabriel Saxton. You’re sixteen?” I asked.

“Yeah, you?” I wrote his answers down on my sheet.

“Yeah. So, your favorite color?” I asked.

“Green or ’vert’ in French.” He said. “Yours?”

“It changes everyday. So, you can write; ’ça varie de jour en jour.’” I answered with a perfect French accent. He looked at me open-mouthed. “What?” I asked self-consciously.

“Wow, it’s just, you speak French so well.” He said impressed.

“Thanks, it’s my first language, so... yeah… I don’t really know why I have to take this class, to be honest.” I said rambling. Shut up, Del! “Anyway, favorite animal?”

“Eagle. I’m guessing you already know what it’s called in French?” He said teasingly.

“Yep.” I said popping the P.

When the twenty minutes were up, I got to know quite a bit about Blake. And it didn’t help to smother my crush on him, finding out all that we had in common or the playful banter we had over the things we disagreed on.

We listened to some horrible American accented presentation and then it was our turn. We both went up front and looked at the class. Damn I hate oral presentations. I could already feel myself blushing with all the attention on me. Blake (bless him) chose to start.

“Voici: Delphine Alexandra Valiquette. Elle a seize ans. Sa couleur préférée varie de jour en jour. Son animal préféré est le chien. Son plat préféré est le spaghetti. Son film préféré est ’City Of Angels’ et son activité préféré est écouter de la musique.” He then gesture that it was my turn. “Delphine.” I was really nervous, so I fixed the wall at the back of the class ignoring all the eyes on me.

With a sigh I started: “Ok. Donc, voici: Blake Gabriel Saxton. Il a également seize ans. Sa couleur favorite est le vert. Son animal préféré est l’aigle. Il aime bien manger du spaghetti tant qu’à son film préféré: il s’agit de ‘The Dark Knight’ et son activité favorite est jouer de la guitare.” I said my oral so fast, I bet I could rival ‘Louis-José Houde’ ─ok, maybe not that fast but close.

It was silence for a while until the teacher cleared her throat and said: “Well, that was very good. Er, vous pouvez vous rassoire.”

Blake and I made our way back to our seats. Mmmmm, he’s really got a nice back. “You were great.” Blake whispered to me before we sat down at our desks.

“Thanks.” I replied shyly. “You too.”

“I try.” He said with a small, charming smile.

When the lunch bell rang, Blake and I walked together to our lockers. As long as I didn’t look him directly in the eye, I could mostly control the butterfly, babbling and uneasy feelings I have around him ─all symptoms of my attraction towards him. Why did he have to be so, ugh, perfect?

After going to the ‘caf’ together to get our lunch, we went outside to our usual table under a wisteria tree, all the while talking animatedly about this and that ─random things─, as we awaited the arrival of the other members of our little ‘group’.

“Okay, so if you had to choose between becoming a pirate or a princess, which would you pick?” Blake asked before he took a bite out of his nachos. I laughed.

“Hmmm.” I feinted mulling it over while I swallowed a bite out of my sandwich. “A pirate princess, arrrrrr.” He laughed. Gosh, he’s got a sexy laugh. Now it was my turn to ask a random question. “Ok. Um, oh. If you were to make a soundtrack of your life, what songs would be on it?” Now it was his turn to ponder the question but whereas I was playful, he seemed really serious as he mulled it over before answering.

“‘How to save a life’ by ‘The Fray’, ‘Into the ocean’ by ‘Blue October’, ‘Animal I have become’ by ‘Three Days Grace’, ‘What I’ve done’ by ’Linkin Park’” He said while looking intently at his plate.

“A bit ‘emo’, no?” He looked up at me then with a sexy, crooked smile and amusement shining in his light eyes. “Don’t get me wrong those songs are awesome, but, for the soundtrack of your life…?” The mirth in his eyes vanished and a burning intensity replaced it. Damn it, that spark again.

“Well there’ll be also: ‘Collide’ by ‘Howie Day’ and ‘You and me’ by ‘Lifehouse’.” I couldn’t look away I was trapped in the abyss of his blazing blue orbs. Why did I have to look directly into his eyes? My brain refused to function properly at the moment, the only thing I could do was stare at him as he stared at me with blistering intensity. What do I do? What do I say?

“Hey, babe.” Abbigail said, effectively breaking whatever spell that was, as she sat next to him. Setting her tray on the table she grabbed a hold of Blake’s black leather jacket lapel and gave him a big passionate kiss. With that I focused on my sandwich as I tried my best to ignore the irrational envy and anger I had towards the curly brunette in Blake’s arms.

“Ewww, stop that, I want to eat my lunch not throw up, ugh.” C.C. said as she sat down next to me with Oliver beside her. The grossed out expression she was sporting contorted her lovely features into a grimace and made me chuckle. Gosh, I love the awesomeness that is C.C. Mortis.

◊ ◊ ◊

In the span of a couple of weeks, I’ve developed a sort of routine. Every morning, I’d eat breakfast with C.C. in our dorm then I’d go to class and eat lunch and dinner with the ‘gang’ all the while avoiding Blake’s gaze as much as possible. If I absolutely had to talk to him, I would focus on his luscious mouth with the two little lip rings on his bottom lip instead of his heated kohl lined gaze, ─it was distracting but at least it brought me a little more control over myself than if I were to look directly into his eyes─ otherwise I would try to avoid him, except in French class since our seats were next to each other and I didn’t have a choice.

On Saturdays, I’d see Dixie and we would practice our choreography. She helped me with the hip hop part while I gave her pointers with the contemporary moves. We usually met at the dance studio, in the early afternoon ─she was tight with Shawn and so he entrusted her with a key for practicing there─ and we’d practice until her older brother came to get her for dinner.

I remember the first time I met him ─Dexter, her older brother─. He walked into the studio and was basically a total hunk, looking for Dixie. What a big surprise ─not. He stood at about six foot tall with flawless cocoa colored skin, warm brown eyes and a killer smile. Dixie, seeing him, stopped dancing and went to stop the CD in the stereo. “I’ll be back in two secs.” She told her brother before going to get changed.

“Hey, what’s up? I’m Dex.” He said smiling charmingly at me.

“Nice to meet you I’m Del.” We then started to talk about music and the likes until Dixie came back out of the changing rooms. With one look at us, a frown formed on her pretty face.

“Oh, no. Nuh, uh.” She said as she walked over to us.

“Dix, it’s not…” Dexter tried to defend himself but she didn’t let him

“No way, Dex. Just no. She’s not going to be another one of your conquests.” With that she grabbed his arm and started to drag him away before he could utter another word. “See you in class, Del.” She shouted over her shoulder. I waved them a small ‘bye’, despite the fact that they couldn’t see me, as I watched them walk away, amused.

Sundays, I hung out with C.C. and most of the time it was just the two of us ─girl time as she put it─ but sometimes Oliver joined us. It felt a bit weird when he was there, but oh well ─I got used to it.

And of course most of my evenings were spent in the company of Zane. At first he just sat beside me at dinner, which antagonized C.C. for some reason, but then he asked me to stay after each dinner to take walks or just talk. And despite C.C.’s warnings to stay away, I decided to give him a chance.

The first time he asked me to stay after dinner, was a sort of shock. It was about a week after the beginning of class, he was sitting beside me at dinner and whispered in my ear: “Would you care to accompany me on a walk after dinner?” I was surprised but I thought: ‘hey, what the heck?’ and I accepted.

After dinner, Blake left with Abbigail practically dragging him away (they really act more like siblings than a couple), Oliver gave a passionate kiss to C.C. saying he had to study for a test that’s coming up (which is weird since we were in the beginning of the year but, oh well) which left Zane, C.C. and I alone. Throwing a look of disgust Zane’s way, C.C. said: “Del, let’s go. There’s nothing interesting here anymore.”

“Um, C.C. It’s just that… I…um…” I didn’t know how to tell her that I was staying with Zane after dinner…

“The charming Delphine agreed to stay with me and take a walk.” Zane said. “You’re welcome to join us, of course but I suspect that you find my company less than desirable.”

“You’re right, I would rather be anywhere else than in your company.” She replied. “I don’t know what you see in him but please be careful.” She said addressing me. And with that she left me with Zane. Since then, we became great friends ─I think. And when the couples hung out, we did the same and made fun of their lovey dovey faces or mushy gestures, and despite the pang I felt at seeing Blake and Abbigail together, hanging out with Zane, made me forget about my silly little crush, if only just for a little while. I don’t get why nobody in our little ‘group’ likes him. I mean despite the sexual innuendos and his one track mind, ─oh, and the fact that he doesn’t give up with the kissing thing─ he’s a really great guy.

Sometimes Chris would join Zane and I to hang out. He’s really nice and sweet and I still don’t get what the fuss over him was, the first time we met him.

“C.C.! Over here!” I shouted to her on the court. We were in gym class and for once my height was an advantage ─we were playing basketball, one of the only sports I actually enjoy. C.C. and I were on the same team, and we worked well together sort of like Shaq and Kobe used to.

Miss Lewis, our physical education teacher, came back from her office situated next to the changing rooms and blew in her whistle. The game stopped. She was a tiny, athletic woman around twenty-five with a short pixie cut of bright red hair. “Delphine, you need to get to the front office.” What? Why? I didn’t do anything wrong. C.C. looked at me with a confused look on her face which I returned before leaving the gym and going to the front office.

I marched through the deserted corridors in my pink lollipops PJ bottoms (I always wear PJ bottoms in gym, it’s comfortable) and oversized ‘Nike’ T-shirt, hearing my ‘Converse’ hitting the checkered marble floor as I walked. What could they possibly want with me? I did nothing wrong. Sure I stay up late but I never missed class ─yet. And, ok, I once arrived late in dance class but that was three weeks ago, surely I can’t be in trouble for that now. Arriving to the front office I was greeted by the same receptionist as when I first came here. “Yes?” She asked, once she saw me.

“Er, I was told to come to the front office.” I replied.

“Delphine Valiquette?” She inquired.

“Yeah.”

“Vice Principal James would like to see you in her office. Your mother called she’s on the line and would like to talk to you.” What did I do that was so bad that they had to call my mom? OMG, I’m freaking out. Ok, don’t freak out Del. Don’t freak out. “You can go right in. It’s the first door on the left.”

“Thanks.” I mumbled as I followed her directions, stopping in front of the first door on the left where ‘Principal Mortis’ was written in big, black letters on the frosted window of the slightly ajar door. I knocked lightly once on the door, before going in.