I stared at the clock at the far end of the classroom, 15 minutes until the bell. Miss Sead had been droning on about something or other - I wasn't paying much attention - while the rest of the class sat and (half) listened. 

Lazily my eyes wandered around the classroom looking for something to take my mind off of bordem - nothing. Placing the pen I had been twirling in my hands on the desk, I lay my head down and before long, I was drifting into a fantasy world. I knew Miss Sead was probably going to catch me daydreaming in her class and issue a warning but frankly, I didn't care. The class would be ending soon anyway.

I stared out of the window hoping at least the people outside weren't drowning in mental exhaustion like I was but no one was out there, and I could see why. The whole field was enveloped in a blanket of pure crystalline white. Icicles hung down from all bare branches like little shimmering trees without roots. The wind roared slapping the window pane whilst making the oaks all quake simultaneously. 

I sighed, it was gonna be another teeth-chattering, walk home. They said the weather was only going to get worse through the week and they weren't wrong. Compared to today's almost blizzard like conditions, Monday seemed like a warm summers day. I could tell by the clouds it was going to either snow or rain on the way home - neither of which sounded very appealing. And for a person like me who literally only had their blazer plus one sorta warm winter coat to protect them, it was going to be a journey through hell.

"OK class, get out your planners. You have homework. A project actually."

A series of groans and moans filled the classroom; instantly I was brought back to reality.

"Now, I don't normally do this but for your half term projects, I'm making you all work in pairs. I'm interested to see what kind of artwork two young minds can meld together to form."

Oh, this was new.

"Since it follows the season and the weather, the theme of your project is winter and its wonders."

A few more groans mixed in with some other comments filled the classroom again and it took a while before it was calm.

"Two of you will work together to produce a piece of artwork around the theme of winter. It can be any type of style you want just as long as it has something to do with the theme we're learning about," Miss Sead continued.

"Now before you all start eyeing each other over the classroom I'll tell you now that I've already pre-picked your partners for you so you can all sit back down."

I sat up straight, stretching my muscles to get rid of the tiredness that lay in them. Miss Sead rarely ever set group projects or paired work. In fact, she'd never done it before. It surprised me since - in Miss Sead's mind anyway - art was a way to express yourself through paint and pencil. A way to let your hearts thoughts and your brains feelings mould into one. It was supposed to be for you and you alone, a time to delve deeper into your feelings.

I loved art for that reason. How just by looking or listening to something you can feel the artists emotion reflect from their work. You can tell what kind of person they were and their feelings when painting a particular piece or writing a song or poem. I was never that good at art, but the concept of it always interested me. 

"OK, let's get this started." Miss Sead began handing out the homework information sheets to each of us. "I want this project done and handed to me the first lesson we come back after the Christmas holidays. And remember, I'm letting you do whatever you want so I want to see some real creativity when I next see you. Go ham, as you kids say."

I cringed at that last part.

"OK, so the pairs are... Samantha and Alex. Reid and Amy. Dave and Fiona. Ruby and..."

I listened patiently as the names were called out one by one. Unlike most people, I didn't have too many friends in my art class. I was pretty much the only person in my circle of friends who chose art for a GCSE so I didn't really mind who I got as a partner for the project. Just as long as I didn't get anyone lazy or annoying, working with people could be kinda fun.

Then, I heard my name. "Oracio and Aria..."

Aria... Aria..?

Then it clicked. Aria Furthermal. A seemingly shy, quiet, girl who mostly kept to herself. Her small height made her easy to miss amongst everyone else at school and she almost never spoke in class, therefore she went pretty much unnoticed by everyone else. Like a ghost.

I looked around the classroom for a brief second. It took me a while but I finally found her. I stared at her for a second and it didn't take too long for her to notice since she looked up from her desk. Soon enough I found myself staring into the hazel eyes of a petite black girl with brown braids tied neatly up in a bun on her head. 

The second we made eye contact I smiled and sent a little wave her way. To which she responded by giving me a brief tight smile before lowering her head back down.

Seconds later I felt a nudge on my back. Swerving around I met with James, the guy who sits behind me in art and also the renowned school bully. "Aww, poor you Colfield, I'd hate to get stuck with goody-girl over there," James whispered and sympathetically patted my back. "What a weirdo am I right, I mean look at her, never speaking always stuck with that same creepy look on her face. It's no wonder people can't stand being near her."

Mentally, I groaned. If there was one thing I hated about that lesson, it was having to sit near him. Unfortunately for me when I first joined West Ridge High I made the horrible mistake of associating with him and his so-called "friends." Like all toxic friendships, it didn't end well. Luckily, I was smart enough to distance myself from them before things got too out of hand.

Shrugging him off I gave him a glare. I didn't like people like him. The I-make-fun-of-people-because-it-makes-me-look-cool type of person.

I sighed, "Shut up would you James. Don't you have a dumpster to be crawling in or something?"

"Woah, Woah, calm down tiger I was just joking, you never heard of a joke?" James laughed and slapped my back though I didn't see what was so funny. "See, that's the thing about you Colfield. Why you gotta be so uptight? Are you sure those trousers of yours aren't wedged up your arse? It's only a few small words. Look she doesn't even care."

At that point, I was just about done talking to him. "Yeah well, a few small words can make a massive difference. I mean it, shut your mouth James or I'll personally make sure to shut it for you."

He stood up, looming over me. We may not have been that different in terms of height but when he stood that way I felt like I was 5,3 rather than the 5,11 I was - as much as I hated to admit it.

"That I'd like to see," he smirked. "You against me? You wouldn't last half a second."

"Wanna bet on that?" I challenged suddenly standing up as a few eyes turned to us.

Just then, the sound of the bell echoed through the classroom. James left instantly to catch up with his equally annoying friends before I could answer him again leaving me all alone but not before sending a smug look my way.

Leaning on the desk I rested my head in my hands and exhaled. He knew he'd succeeded in annoying me when I started to raise my voice or stand up and that pissed me off even more. That I let him get to me like that.

"Arsehole..." I muttered.

Swerving around I glanced back at Aria's table, hoping she hadn't heard James speak about her like that but when I looked back I found the table empty. She'd already left.