Chapter 24

Monday afternoon, and Art sat, staring at the class infront of him. Ally, Mara, Nienna, Raven, Alex, Seiji and the twins, who had recovered. Everyone else was fast asleep. Eagle stood, leaning against the doorframe, "Do you really need me?" he asked.

Art laughed, "Not really, but you can stay if you want, I recon we'll just piss around anyway."

Eagle grinned, and shrugged, "Alright then, it's not like there's anything better to do."

"Right then," Art turned to the kids, "I think we only have a couple of complete pairs, so we'll have to ignore our overall term project, and focus," he sniggered, "On Art."

Seiji put his head in his hands, "Oh dear God," he muttered,

"I'm kidding, don't worry." Art smiled at Raven's terrified expression, "I would like you to draw a picture, any picture, of a person, but it can be anyone. Paints, pencils, and everything is in the cupboards." he turned to Eagle, "Eag, can you get them some paper."

Obediently Eagle went and fetched some A4 paper, and started to hand it out.

"Seiji," Art grinned, "Come here."

Seiji scolwed slightly, but did as he was told.

Art grabbed him around the waist, and pulled him onto his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around the boy's slender body. "That's better."

"Uh," Seiji smiled, "Why?"

"Why what?" Art grinned, "Because I love you," he answered, knowing that would fit all questions Seiji could ever answer, "And also because you're cute."

"Umm, Art..." Eagle began,

"What?"

"Can I kinda steal one of your pupils, just for a second."

Art frowned slightly, "o.....k....." he said suspisiouly, "Who?"

Eagle grinned, an evil glint in his eye, "Alex, can I have a word."

"Uh, ok." Said Alex. Terrified, he followed Eagle out of the room.

Art laughed softly, "Looks like someone's going to get murdered," he whispered in Seiji's ear,

"Aww," Seiji laughed, "I want to be the murderer."

Outside, Eagle had Alex pinned up against the wall, "You ever get into bed with my sister again and I will rip you to shreds." he hissed

"Why?" Alex frowned slightly,

Eagle stood back, a little confused, "What do you mean, 'why?', because she's my little sister."

"She's sixteen years old, I think she's old enough to make her own decisions." He paused, and grinned at Eagle, "And if you really want to know, I wasn't very happy about her getting into bed with me, but she did it anyway."

"Oh,"

Alex grinned, "But I totally understand you, she's so sweet, I think if I'd kill me.....................if it wouldn't make me dead, that is." He laughed,

"Just don't hurt her, ok?"

Alex grinned, "As if I would."

Art wrapped his arms around Seiji, placing a peice of paper infront of him, "Draw!" he commanded.

Seiji scowled, "I am not your dancing monkey."

Art laughed, "Please draw me a picture."

"Who of?"

Art grinned, "Whoever you want." Art looked up at the rest of the class, who were all obediently drawing. He watched Fergie lean over, and without really concentrating draw something on Tor's paper. "Fergie," Art said sternly, "Let Tor draw his own picture."

Fergie scowled, "No fair, he asked me to!"

"Tor, did you ask him?" Art asked,

"Well, he's better than me!" Tor scowled, "My pictures always look better if he draws them."

Art shook his head, "I want you both drawing your own picture, ok?"

Seiji twisted his head around to look at Art, and the turned back to the paper, to carry on sketching.

"You drawing me?" Art asked.

"Yuhuh." Seiji grinned, "I think you're reeeaaallly pretty."

Art frowned, "Seiji, what is up with you?"

Seiji laughed, "I'm sorry, I thought you didn't like it when I was grumpy."

Art smiled and kissed the side of Seiji's head, "I like it when you're you, ok?"

By the end of the lesson, everyone was covered in paint, mainly because Tor and Fergie had a paint fight, and everyone else got covered, and absolutly no productive work had been done. The combination of those two facts meant it was a really good lesson.

Art decided to wake the rest of the year for supper as otherwise they wouldn't sleep for the rest of the night, thus proving to the world in general, that just occasionally, he could be a sensible adult. They all sat around the table, half of them really cheerful and happy after an Art lesson, and the other half still practically asleep.

For once, Matt sat with the lower sixth, slipping gratefully back into his old place beside Eagle.

"Oh," Ally looked up, "Decided to grace us with your presence ey?"

Matt turned to Eagle, "I'm to tired to face them."

Eagle grinned, "I know exactly what you mean."

Mara reached out a hand and gently stroked Tor's cheek, "Are you ok Torin?"

Tor grinned, "Yeah," he caught her hand, still touching his cheek, and pressed it gently to his lips, "Love you." he muttered,

Mara didn't bat an eyelid, although it was the first time Tor had said it, acutally, Fergie had said it to her, but she didn't know that. "Love you too." she grinned,

Fergie just carried on staring at the notebook infront of him, and then he picked up a pencil, and started to sketch.

"Whatcha drawing?" Seiji asked,

"Nothing," Fergie smiled faintly, "Just scribbles."

Tor turned away from Mara, "Not eating Ferg?"

Fergie shrugged, "Since when have I ever?"

Tor grinned "Eat." he ordered

"No,"

"Eat for me?" he picked up a chip off his plate and fed it to Fergie, letting his fingers linger just a fraction of a second too long on his brother's lips.

"Ugh," Mara shuddered, "You two are so fucking....intimate."

"Intimate?" Tor frowned,

"Not quite," Fergie smiled.

Exactly in unison, they turned to face her, grinning at her at exactly the same time, "It's easier if you think of us as one person." They said together.

Mara's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped, "I....uh....eh....." she stammer.

"Awww," Tor broke his stare, andleant forward, burying his lips in her hair, "It's ok, it's just tricks Mara, just tricks."

"Don't ever do that again." Mara spluttered, "It's fucking terrifying."

Tor wrapped his arms around her, "Of course not." he lied.

Andi knocked on the door to the Art room, it was wednesday afternoon, and she had just realised that the upper sixth that she wanted to work with were in Art's lesson. "Uh, Art," she grinned, "Wanna do me a favour?"

Art looked up, "What kind of favour," he said, waggling his eyebrows at her.

Andi laughed, "Not that kind." she grinned, "Would you like to do a pupil swap?"

"Pupil swap?"

"I need some of your uppper sixth art group, well, actually only four of them, but how about I look after them, and you can have the lower sixth?"

Art frowned, "That means I get about 15 kids, and you get about 7, no fair!"

Andi smiled, knowing she had already won, "But you get Seiji."

Art scowled, "I hate you somethimes Andi, how come you always win."

Andi grinned, They're in the drama studio, please come and remove them."

"I'm not giving them an Art lesson, otherwise it'll muck up my term plans."

"Thats fine," Andi sniggered, "Take them into the costume cupboard, see what fun you'll have."

Art rolled his eyes, "And you call me sick minded."

Together, Art, Andi and the upper sixth traisped over to the drama studio. Eagle, Ariadne, Phillip and Thomas looking forward to getting to play their parts, the rest of the class not really looking forward to having to watch.

Art burst through the door of the drama studio, "Hello everyone!" he grinned, "It's you're favourite teacher."

Ally groaned, "As if we don't see enough of him."

Seiji smiled, "You can never see enough of Art." he grinned, "I spent 2 years in a 10 by 6 foot room with him, you can never see enough of Art." he looked up at Art, who rolled his eyes.

"I think it's possible," Art laughed, "I'm fairly sick of myself by now." he grinned, "Come on guys, we've be sent to the costume cupboard."

"The cupbaord?" Nienna looked p,

"Weeelll," Andi laughed from the door, "I think cupboard is an understatement, it's really just a nickname now."

Art led the kids down a long random corridor, they went down a set of stairs, "Where are we going?" asked Mara.

"The costume cupbaord is in the basement," he thought for a second, frowning slightly, "Well, actually the costume cupboard is the basement." He reached a door, and pushed it open, the darkness was so thick it seemed to seep out of the room, into the lit corridor. Art reached inside the door, and flicked a switch.

Bam, a set of lights near the door went on,

Bam, further down the room, another set

Bam, Bam, Bam

Slowley the lights were kicking into action, and the room filled with light.

The kids stood there, staring, open mouthed, they had expected a small dusty basement, but what stood before them was a marvel. Row after row of costume rails sat on a shiney wooden floor. One corner of the room was filled intirely with mirrors, in thousands of different directions. Against one wall stood about 15 or 20 desks, seperated by an empty costume rail, and on each desk, was a mirror, surrounded by thousand opf light bulbs. Scattered across the floor, all around the room, were bean bags, in every colour of the rainbow.

J squealed, she had found the make up. A huge cupboard stood in one corner, and when opened, it revealed thousands of tiny little drawers, filled with different lipsticks, eyeshadows, foundations, mascara, blusher and eyeliners of every colour of the rainbow.

The twins were down the other end of the room, they had found the cd player and loads of cd's. In a few seconds the sound of the beach boys was blasting around the room.

Seiji had found the props corner, where all the personal props were stored. There were boxes of wings, and of guns, and telephones, bags, hats, wigs, gloves, scarves, everything, animal masks, even some bunny ears, and, mots importantly to Seiji, a box of swords, even if they we'ren't very sharp.

Ash was in absolute heaven. There were so many pretty clothes, everywhere. He giggled out of sheer delgith and excitement.

Raven pulled a poofy pink ballgown out of one rack, "You should wear this Ash!" she laughed,

"Nuhuh," Ash giggled, and grabbed a pink tutu off a different one, "this one!"

Nienna looked up, "That's a great idea!" she laughed,

"What?"

"We should dress up all the guys in dresses!" she laughed.

Silence

Ally looked to Art, "You can't let her. Please don't let her."

Art laughed evilly, "As long as you keep the place tidy, and only have one outfit per person out at a time, I couldn't care less."

Toni grabbed a bean bag, and flopped down on it, "Sit down ladies, we need to plan." she laughed,

Raven, Nienna, J and Mara all grabbed beanbags and went and sat in a circle.

Satu glared at Art. "What have you got us into."

Art laughed, "Oh come on, it's only a dress, it's not that scary."

Toni looked up, "Not only a dress," she laughed, her eyes sparkling, "An outfit."

Mikey frowned, "What's the difference?"

"Ohmygod," Mara shook her head, "I can't beleive you just asked that, the difference is everything, a dress, a dress on it's own is nothing, accessories are the world!"

Ash laughed, "Can I wear something cool,"

"Wait, wait," Matt looked at the five girls, laughing and grinning, and frowned, "Do you mean to say, that you five are going to pick outfits out for all of us, and we have to wear them."

"Yep." Nienna grinned,

All the guys except Ash and Fergie, turned and glared at Art,

"What have you got us into,"

Art laughed, "It's only a dress."

"Right," Toni grinned, "Down to business"

"I think the twins should wear the same thing," Nienna suggested,

"Oh god no," Mara laughed, "Then I'll get really confused."

J stood up, "I think we should just walk around and pick them out, and see what we do."

"Plan," Raven smiled,

Together, the five girls stood up, and started to walk around. Mara laughed, and pulled out a floorlenth, midnight blue, off the shoulder floorlength, split skirt, evening gown.

J laughed evilly, "Satu, I think,"

"Definately," Mara handed the dress to Satu, "Put it on please."

"What the fuck?"

"Please wear the dress." said Mara, and the fearsome five continued around the room.

Raven picked up the pink tutu Ash had dropped on the floor, "Ally?" she suggested, grinning.

"Awww," Ash stuck out his bottom lip, pretending to cry, "I wanted that one,"

"Oh, we'll find you something really pretty, don't worry Ash." Raven laughed as she handed the tutu to Ally.

"You have got to be joking." he scowled.

"Nope."

The girls continued. It wasn't long before they found a little black skirt and a blazer and tie.

"Mikey," J grinned, "That's so Mikey."

Mikey laughed, "Hell yeah, I reckon purple is so me."

The girls giggled, and J handed the outfit to Mikey.

Mikey grinned at Ally and Satu, who were standing holding their dresses, "Aww come on guys, it's just a bit of fun." he said, and dissapeared behind a clothing rail. He took of his own blazer and tie, slipping his trousers off, and pulled on the skirt, he slipped the blazer on, and tied the tie. He walked out from behind his hiding place, strutting and wiggling his hips, laughter dancing on his lips and twinkling in his eyes. "Like how I look?" he asked, hand on his hip.

Seiji grinned and took a straw boater with a little purple ribbon on it, and rammed it on to Mikey's head, "Perfect." he laughed.

Mikey batted his eyelashes at Art from underneath the brim of the hat, "Aren't I a perfect little schoolgirl Mr Art?"

Art laughed, "That is so twisted."

From a corner of the room, the girls burst out laughing. Off the rack they had pulled a really short, baby blue dress, with a sewn in lace petticoat, and a little white apron with a lace pocket on the front. A blue headband edged with white lace was also on the hanger.

"Oh yeah," Art looked up, "That's from Alice in wonderland."

"That's" the girls giggled, "That's so Seiji!"

"No.Fucking.Way" Seiji scowled.

"Awww comeon Seiji." Mikey laughed, "I don't want to be the only one dressed like this."

"Fine." Seiji glared at everyone, "But only if Ally puts on the tutu."

"Come on," Mikey grinned, "It's not really that scary."

"Fine." Ally laughed, "But only because I think Seiji would make a great Alice."

Mara held out the dress to Art, who, grinning, took it, and grabbed Seiji by the arm, he pulled him behind a clothing rail. While Ally struggled into the tutu, Art started to undress Seiji.

"Not the knives." Seiji instructed.

"I'm thinking maybe the wristknives might have to go."

"Awwww," Seiji scowled, "You spoil all my fun."

Art slipped the dress over Seiji's head, tying the apron around his waist, and the headband in his dark hair. Laughing, he ran over to the props box, and found a pair of long white evening gloves.

Seiji shook his head as he pulled them on, "What the hell am I doing." he turned to Ally, "Shall we go."

Art ran back out into the open, before the two boys walked out, and took out his phone, holding it at the ready.

"Aww come on," Charlie laughed, "Catwalk for us!"

"No," Seiji scowled

CLICK went the camera on Art's phone. A lovely picture of Seiji, scowling, in an Alice in Wonderland outfit, with Dr Martins on his feet, and knives still strapped to his calves.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR!" Seiji screamed.

Art laughed, "Amber."

"What?"

"I'll show it to Amber, she's coming here for half term."

"You......you little." Seiji lunged for the phone, but Art, just an inch taller than him held it out of his reach.

"No," Art laughed, "I want to show it to my sister."

"Wait," Ally looked up, "Is this the sister that Seiji is sleeping with?"

Seiji turned bright red, and Art nodded, scowling.

"And she's coming for halfterm?"

"Yes."

Ally laughed, "This could get compliacated."

It was nearly the end of the lesson, All the boys were wearing dresses, including Art wearing a really cute pair of bunny ears aswell, Alex was in a princess dress, Ash was wearing a white dress, with fairy wings, and a tiara and he had a wand, and a pair of gloves, Ash went kinda mental. Now the five girls stood waiting for the twins to finish changing.

"You dressed yet?" Mara asked.

"Yuhuh," said one of them, as he stepped out, wearing a black crop top, with the letter F emblazened on it, and a mini skirt.

"You are?"

He laughed, "Tor,"

"Then, why the F?"

Tor grinned, "We like to confuse you." He turned to Art, "Is there a top hat in the hats box."

Art laughed, "Indeed there is," he ran and got it, his bunny ears flowing out behind him as he ran. He handed the hat to Tor. who dissapeared behind the rail to give it to Fergie.

A few seconds later, Fergie appeared. This time, no-one laughed, the scary thing was, Fergie actually looked like a girl.

"Blimey!" Ash's mouth dropped open, "You make a really hot girl."

Fergie laughed. He stood, hand on one hip, leaning slightly on one leg. The crop top was slipping off his slender shoulders, the skirt nearly falling down his delicate hips, the top hat slipping over one eye.

"Jesus Ferg," Tor laughed, "He's right, you really are very sexy."