I sat on top of the desk as Watt placed a box on my bed. A maid had brought up lunch and set it on the table. Once again, it had more food than usual, and Watt’s portion looked way better than mine. There was some dessert in a plastic package. I wonder if I could convince him to let me have a piece.
Putting his hands on his hips, he took a deep breath. “I think that’ll keep you busy for a while.” He went to the chair by the small table. “Are you going to come and look at it?”
I climbed down and went to open the box. Pulling back the flaps, I smiled at the content. The covers were enough for me, and I couldn’t wait to see what was inside. I moved the box onto the floor and started taking everything out. Watt began to eat as I sorted through the books. More items were at the bottom. I lifted out a thick book with a spiral binding.
Flipping through the pages, I saw they were all blank. “What is this?”
“A sketchbook.”
“The words are missing.” I showed him.
“You draw in it. That’s the purpose.”
I clutched it in my hands. There were books made for drawing?! I wouldn’t have to scribble over words or doodle in the margins. I dug through the box and found there was more than one as well as drawing supplies. Color pencils and a wide arrangement of markers were sitting at the bottom. I dumped the rest of the items out and organized them so I could see what I had.
“Don’t draw in those books.” He pointed at the travel journals. “You’ll piss off the librarian.”
“I won’t need to.”
I opened a sketchbook. It was meant only for drawing. No one could get mad if I drew in it. Whoever thought up the concept of a sketchbook was a genius. I opened another drawing book and was confused by the thin piece of paper. Something was wrong with this one. I could see through it.
“It’s tracing paper.”
“What?”
“Put it over one of the covers.”
I did so and could see the image on the other side. This seemed pointless. It would rip so easily.
“You can trace the outline. I thought it might help you learn how to draw things.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, “because my drawings are terrible.”
Watt chuckled. “I didn't mean it like that.”
“But it’s true.” I still wanted to try it out. Maybe the thin paper might be of some use.
Grabbing a travel book, I opened it and laid one of the thin papers over a tree. I started to trace the outline with a pencil. It still looked like shit, but a slightly better piece of shit.
“I brought you something.” He reached into his pocket.
“What?”
“A surprise gift.” He tossed me a package.
Inside was one of the fancy desserts. It had sugar covering the outside, and bits of it stuck to the packaging. Could I really eat this? Astrid could be marching up here this very second to reprimand us both. I scanned the room. If I hurried and ate it, it would be gone before she arrived.
Tearing open the plastic, I removed the treat and took a bite. It was so good. No, it was damn delicious. I had missed the taste of chocolate. I finished it off while keeping my eyes on the door. It didn’t open, even as I licked the sugar off the packaging.
“Good?”
I shrugged and pulled on the edges of the plastic so it laid flat.
“Well, after you eat your lunch, I might have another one.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I crumpled up the plastic. “I’m not a child you can order around and bribe.”
“No,” he said plainly. “You’re a grown man who’s extremely stubborn.” He smiled. “A child would be easier to deal with.”
“Fucking bastard.” I stood and gathered my food before going to sit at the desk. I kept my back to him as I ate.
Stopping only to get one of the sketchbooks and a pencil, I blocked him completely from view. Watt could sit there all day if he wanted. I wasn’t going to pay him any attention. He walked up behind me, but I pretended not to notice.
Another package was dropped in front of me. I sat up straight and told myself to remain calm.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I started at the treat as the door opened and closed. Snatching it, I ripped off the wrapper. It was a different flavor. The frosting was white, but the cake had bits of blue in it. I tried not to smile as I opened it, excited to see what this one tasted like.
***
Even with the tracing paper, drawing was too hard. I preferred testing how colors mixed in the real world over struggling to draw a bush. Some of the plants in the books were so vivid. I found myself doodling different color patterns over trying to draw actual objects.
Watt yawned from where he sat by the wall, reading the book he had brought with him. Rolling my eyes, I continued working on mimicking all the shades of blue in water. Watt was treating my room as his new hangout place. Astrid hadn’t been back since the necklace incident. I guess she really was in trouble with the higher-ups. Served her right for all the hell that woman had put me through.
“Eiko,” sang a voice down the hall.
I cringed and dropped my head onto the desk.
Hellana tapped on the already unlocked door before entering. “Hello Eiko, how— what are you doing?” she asked Watt.
“Social interaction,” he replied, not looking up from his book.
“What is social about this?” She folded her arms and cocked a hip. “You’re not even next to each other.”
“I suppose”—he shrugged—“but I’m also not being told to get the hell out. It’s a win-win situation.” Watt turned a page.
Shaking her head, she approached me. “I get why Eiko is so uptight all the time.”
My eyes snapped to her. I was not uptight.
“How are you feeling?” She cupped my face. “I don’t sense anything.”
I waved her off. “I’m fine. Get out.”
“See,” said Watt. “Leave him alone, and you get to stay.”
“Shut up,” said Hellana. “I’m working.” She clasped my shoulder. “Any pain or discomfort. I can sense your energy levels are a little high.”
I breathed out through my nose. “I wonder why,” I muttered.
“What is all this?” She picked up a travel journal. “I thought they took them away.”
I snatched it from her and tucked it away in a drawer.
Watt closed his book. “I gave them back. Astrid got herself in a bit of trouble, so I’ve been watching over him in the meantime.”
“I heard,” breathed Hellana. “I worry, though. When she comes back, it might cause her to freak out on Eiko again. The woman is psychotic.”
Letting out a huff, I gathered my pencil and sketchbook and went to sit on the floor between my bed and the wall.
“Is he moping?” said Hellana softly. “What are you teaching him? I thought you were socializing with him.”
“He’s nineteen,” Watt stated. “We’re not in here playing school. He’s a grown-ass man who can do what he wants.”
“Well, look who is acting all mature. As someone who is younger than the two grown-ass men in this room, I’m going to assume both of your attitudes are exclusively due to man issues. Sorry to interrupt your male bonding session. It is obvious that women weren’t invited.”
“Hellana,” he breathed.
She marched out of the room.
“Come on.” He chased after her. “Why’d you take it like that? I meant nothing by it.”
I sat up and peeked over the bed.
Watt was standing outside her room. “Can we talk?”
“What’s the point? You have everything under control. You have the whole institution under control. You might as well be the new Astrid.”
“No one wants to be the new Astrid,” he breathed. “Like you said, she is psychotic.”
“Well, you’re working your way right up to the top by the sounds of it.”
“I don’t want to fight with you.”
“We’re not,” snapped Hellana. “I’m telling you the truth. That’s the rumor going around, which is fine. You’re better than Astrid, but so is any decent person in this damn country.”
He rubbed his face. “I’m trying to understand why you’re so upset with me.”
“I’m not upset! I’m giving everyone space like they asked.” She was quiet for a moment. “Eiko is doing better. Honestly, that’s all that matters to me, so let’s leave it there. We don’t need to discuss the matter any further.”
Watt’s eye met mine. He gave a slight nod before going to close my door. It clicked shut, and the locks turned. I had a feeling that was not where the conversation was going to end. I bolted across the room to my corner. Whatever they had to say about me, I wanted to hear it.
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