11. 'Exhibit'

*Qin Shan POV

After my talk with Song Meng, it became a routine. I could expect him to be waiting for me after Third class every day. To be honest, it felt really good to have someone other than Huan or any other girl to talk to. Sometimes, when we are talking, I try to bring up the subject of his past but he always notices and diverts the conversation. I'm starting to really trust this boy that I know hardly anything about. Alarm bells are all ringing in my head but I ignore them. Something is different about him and I think I can trust him for sure.

The halloween dance is only three days away now. Time has really flown by. I've gotten social with some of the other kids in my Second, Third and Fourth classes but in Mythological studies, I only know Song Meng. This isn't too bad though, however, because he sits with me everyday and nobody has tried to bother me since that first day. Unfortunanetly, I still catch a few nasty glares from time to time from Zhong Long's clique.

Art class is really incredible because every group and pair are putting the last touches on their exhibition pieces. I stayed with my vampire theme and painted a night sky around him. The teacher, Ms. Han Shuang has suggested using a type of gold overcoat on the entire thing to make it shimmer. I'm truly excited.

"Your talent will definitely be showcased at the dance. I am very proud of your hard work these past few weeks." she says every single time she comes to look at my progress.

"Thank you!" I say, knowing that I should really be thanking Song Meng for the inspiration. Without him, I would be completely lost in my mind and probably develop something less than extraordinary. 'Hmm, I haven't actually told him my art is based off of him.' I decide to show him today when he picks me up for our daily 'therapy chat' as we joke about it.

So much has changed from my first day of school. I have really started to open up to the people around me. I learned so much about the environment I am in such as the fact that Song Meng actually has a really good sense of humor - a dark one - but still! I've really been thinking about him too much. My mind goes over everything he says in our conversations for the rest of the day and I really can't stop smiling. The teachers are happy that I no longer seem as gloomy and that I've fallen into the routine of typical school.

The period is over and the last touches to my painting are done. I grab my bag and step outside. I text Song Meng and tell him that I'm waiting for him. Within a few minutes, I see his tall figure coming up the stairs, clearing a path through aweing students. His attention is focused completely on me.

"Come with me. I've got something amazing to show you!" I am excited. He seems to sense how restless I am because his leisurly pace quickens.

Inside the room I direct him to my smaller canvas. It is about three square meters as opposed to the rest of the classes five square meters. His eyes scan the other canvases before focusing on mine.

"Petite canvas for the petite girl, huh?" He teases. I roll my eyes, I could only expect some type of joke about this situation.

"What do you think of the art?" I am curious. Looking at the painting to him, the resemblence is uncanny. However, he scrutinizes it before lowering his head to my level.

"I love it. How did you think of something so grand?" He's teasing again but I sense that he has been genuinely touched by my painting.

"Well, I had the best inspiration." I say, I feel my cheeks start to light up hot fiery pink. I don't dare look at him now and focus all of my attention on the painting in front of us. To my surprise, his hands make their way around my waist.

"Thank you." He says, burying his face into my hair. If my face was pink before, it's scorching red now. Other students come in and witness the scene. They freeze but I feel their eyes looking all over us. Well, so much for keeping our friendship even a little bit of a secret.

"It seems we have an audience" I whisper to him.

"Mmm, I don't mind." He says it so calmly. Like it has no affect on him that we are going to become the talk of the school. I get nervous about the attention that is surely to come.

"Hmm, so much for an ice prince reputation then, huh?" I can't help but tease him. He doesn't seem to care about anything. He is not focused on anything but me right now. Reputation or not, he proves once again that he is never going to leave me, that I can really trust him not to abandon me.

"Ready to go?" he says suddenly. He lifts his eyes up to stare coldly at the surrounding students. They all pretend to be doing other things, cleaning, looking at the other art, looking things up on their phones. But, well, we've really become the exhibit here.

"Sure." I say with a smile. To my surprise he takes my hand and leads me to the door. I try not to look stunned. If he keeps up this act, then I'm afraid that our friendship will no longer exist the same way. I'm afraid I'll fall completely for him. But I realize in astonishment, I don't think I would mind that. Not at all.