After calling the academic affairs office for the Department of Culture and Arts to put in a delayed admission request, I hopped in the shower. It went smoother than I thought, though I won't know if my gap-year will be approved until January. Six months, huh? That may seem like a lot of time to sit in uncertainty, but honestly, I feel rather… Free. I still have this urge to grab my drawing supplies, but I think that's due to the fact that I was always doing something with my hands, and I just don't know what to do anymore.
Trying to stop my thoughts from wandering to anything art related, I put my face in the water and let it flow down me. Taking a loofah with soap, I started washing my body, then washed my hair. After rinsing off, I wrapped myself in a towel and sat down at the bathroom sink to blow dry my hair and moisturize my face. After about fifteen minutes I put my hair in a ponytail and stood up to get dressed.
Why is the chair so wet? Standing up to look at the chair, I felt a drop of liquid roll down my inner thigh. Oh, that's right, I thought. No wonder my mom thought I didn't want to go to school because of my heat cycle, it is that time for me. Using the parts of my towel that were still dry, I tried to clean between my legs and dry off my butt. I took a second towel and laid it on my bed. Opening my nightstand drawer, I took out a bottle of inhibitors and popped one in my mouth, then grabbed a bottle of lotion. After sitting on the edge of the bed I started applying lotion to my body while waiting for the pill to take effect.
About fifteen minutes later I got up, dried between my legs again, and got dressed. Walking down the hall to Emette's room, I knocked on the door.
"Yeah?"
"Hey Emette, can I ask you for a quick favor? I need some help moving a couple boxes to the car."
"Yeah, just put what you need help with in front of your door and I'll take it down. Give me just a minute."
"Thanks!"
Heading back to my room I slid the two boxes filled with my art supplies in front my door. Then I grabbed the two easels I had and made my way downstairs to put them in the car. Heading back up to grab the canvases I no longer needed, I saw my brother staring into the boxes I had set out for him.
"What the fuck is this, Avery? I thought you weren't moving into the dorms but commuting from home. When were you going to tell us you were leaving?"
"Huh? Oh, no, that's not it. These are just supplies I am going to donate to Amy."
"Donate? But this looks like almost all of your art supplies."
"Oh… Um, yeah. I decided to take a break from art for a bit, and I put in a request for delayed admission at the university. I just don't know what I want to do. Just because I am good at something and people like my work, doesn't mean I should consign myself to it, right? Anyway, I do not want to talk about it right now. Can you just help me get them to the car please?"
I don't know if Emette was mad, sad, upset, confused, disappointed, or all the above – but he didn't say anything else to me as he moved the boxes to the trunk. Walking into my room I grabbed the canvases I no longer had use for, grabbed my backpack, and made my way to the car.
It's 3pm on a Thursday, so I should get to Amy's while she is still setting up for the after-school art program. Pulling into the parking lot I saw her car. Good, she is here already. Leaving the supplies in the trunk for now, I made my way into her studio-turned-classroom.
"Amy? Hey Amy! Are you here?"
"AVERY!" She shouted and ran out to give me a hug. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at orientation?"
"I don't want to get into the details, I have been bombarded with a lot of questions for today. I decided to take a gap year from school, and try taking a break from making art."
"Well… Okay then. So, what brings you here?"
If there is one thing I love about Amy, it's that when someone sets a boundary she won't pry, no matter how curious she is. She is seven years older than me, and at twenty-six-years-old she runs a community art program after school for kids who are interested. During high school I would come here and volunteer to help with her elementary school classes. It started because I needed volunteer hours to graduate, but it turned out that I loved introducing kids to the world of art and kept going even when I fulfilled my needed hours.
"Um, I was wondering if you could use any of the supplies I brought? I know you don't require kids to bring their own art supplies, and that you use your own money or donations for the community program."
"Let's go take a look and see what you brought, then."
After she and I carried everything into the studio I showed her all the supplies I brought. We went through all the oil paint, acrylic paint, charcoal, distilled turpentine, brushes, pencils, and sketchbooks.
"I mean, I could use all of it if you are donating it. But this is at least $7,000 worth of supplies, not including the easels and canvases. This is just an after-school art program, and kids as young as six will be here. Do you really think it's appropriate for them to use these supplies?"
"I get what you're saying, but you run a high-school age class too, don't you? Fridays after-school and every other Saturday? I figured with this you can consolidate the other supplies for the younger kids, and the older classes who are genuinely interested in art can use the more expensive materials."
"But still…"
"Amy, I have no intention of saving these materials. Even if I get back into art, I will want to buy fresh supplies. I don't want these to be sitting around unused. I will be donating these supplies somewhere else if you don't want them, but you were my first stop."
"Haaaa, if you put it like then… I guess I will take them off your hands. Help me put the supplies away and re-organize a bit since you're here. I've been wanting to reach out and ask you for a favor anyway, so this is the perfect opportunity to talk."
I thought she wanted to talk, but we ended up putting everything away in silence. Knowing her, she is probably unsure of how to ask me whatever she had in mind. It's probably related to art, and since I told her I was taking a break she doesn't want to overstep.
"Hey Avery, why don't you have a seat somewhere. I am going to make us some tea."
Oh boy… Here we go. It's never good if she feels the need to show a modicum of hospitality. After taking a seat I pulled my phone out to check on a message I received while putting things away. Wait… More than one message? As I stared at my phone screen in my hand, I saw the initial message that triggered it all, and the absurd wave of messages that came flooding in after. Opening my messages, I first looked at the family group chat. The first message from mom read,
Hey everyone, just to let you know our little Avery decided to take a break from school and find his own career path. He will be staying at home, but won't be going to college, so please give him some space. We talked it out and there is nothing to worry about!
Great, just what I needed. All the messages that came in after were a mix of shock and disbelief. Messages from my dad and older brothers Everette, Emette, Micah, and Emory all asking what happened, if I am okay, to please tell them if something is going on, etc. came in nonstop, and when I didn't respond to the group chat private messages came individually. My dad was worried why I didn't talk to him about it, my brothers asking if I am okay, that I can talk to them if I don't want to talk to the other, etc. Sigh I knew this was going to happen.
"Everything okay Avery? You look a little pale." Amy asked as she handed me my tea.
"Yeah, my family is just freaking out. They're trying to find out why I decided to take a step back from art, and with four older brothers and my dad trying to figure it out it's just a lot. Thanks for the tea. Anyway, what was it that you wanted to ask me about?"
Amy took a sip of tea and cleared her throat before talking.
"Well, the thing is… I'm pregnant!"
"Woah!! That's amazing Amy! I know you and Elijah have been trying for a couple years now. I am so happy for you!"
"I am excited too! I am a little nervous though. With me being a recessive omega, we really weren't sure if we would be able to get pregnant at all. You're the first person outside of our family that I've told, I am about ten weeks along. I was actually going to wait to say anything until we hit the second trimester, but some stuff has come up… And I wanted to ask you for a favor."
"You sound pretty serious… What's up? Is everything okay?"
"My pregnancy is unstable right now. I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and they recommended that I not work so much here at the center. Elijah even took some time off work. My doctor recommends that I stay home as much as possible until I am sixteen weeks along and try to be exposed to Elijah's pheromones as much as possible to help me stabilize."
"Amy… That sounds serious. Will you be okay? What are you planning on doing with the art classes?"
"I still plan on teaching the high school classes, because I can do that from my chair, and they are able to bring me their artwork themselves if they have any questions. However, I can't keep teaching the elementary classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. I was hoping that you would be willing to take my place for the next month and a half?"
"Oh… Um, I'm not sure I am the best choice here Amy. The reason I stepped back from art… I just don't think I can."
"Look, today is Thursday. Why don't you just stay and help me out with this one class, and then let me know your final decision? After that, I won't bother you anymore with this. You used to help all the time until your second semester of Senior year anyway, so you already know the ropes."
"Hmmmm… Okay, fine. This one class."
"Yay! It's almost 5pm so the kids will be here soon. Help me lay out the acrylic paint, watercolors, aprons, water, brushes and paper please. I will get the crayons, markers, colored pencils, coloring books and sketchbooks."