Canvas Hearts

Canvas Hearts

By

Sandra Corton

Copyright © 2018 by Sandra Corton

ISBN: 978-0-6484418-3-0

All rights reserved.

Published by Sandra Corton

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any forms or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Marianne Nowicki

To

Novita Kwee,

Who has followed my writing for a long time

And enjoys my stories.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

About the author

Other published books by this author

Chapter 1

Holly, come on already! Gabe shouted out to me.

That boy was always trying to rush me, and it drove me crazy sometimes. He’s been my best friend since we were six. Like all friends, we fight and annoy each other, but I would never trade him.

Gabe was my life. He was everything that kept me sane, motivated, normal and on time. I was the arty girl, and he was the one with the gift of the gab.

I’m ready, are you? I made a snarky reply. It was the first day of senior high school, and he couldn’t wait to get there. It was too sad.

Don’t ask daft questions. I wouldn’t come to your house naked. He stated, and I snorted with laughter.

Now that would be a sight to see.

I tore my bedroom door open and faced him. He wasn’t drop dead gorgeous, not with that crooked nose of his, but there was something about him. I could never put my finger on what it was, but there was something.

His dark brown hair flopped over his left eye, and he swished it away with his usual hair flick. He’d grown it long to cover the scar on his forehead that went along with the crooked nose. Long story and a lot of it was my fault.

His pale green eyes with golden flecks in them always stunned me. Problem is they are always hiding behind his glasses. Sometimes it’s hard to see those gorgeous eyes of his.

He was tall and thin but had a surprising amount of muscle tone. All the girls wanted him even though he was the biggest dork. He had a way of talking to people that drew them in, and all the girls at our school chased him because of that.

I’ve seen him work his charm and for some reason it always made me laugh. I’m the one and only person who doesn’t see the sophisticated Gabriel.

He’s the one person who I’ve seen talk adults into doing dumb things. The girls all swoon over him like salivating dogs. He’s the guy who everyone wants as their friend.

The only person who he’s ever himself with, well, that would be me. No matter who he’s trying his charms on, I can see through it every time. We were once late for school, and he convinced our teacher that we had already been in class. Stifling my laugh that day took tremendous effort.

With me, he blurts and babbles out the stupidest stuff. He makes me laugh all the time. I’m always trying to get him out of his sophisticated Gabe mode, so I’m always teasing him.

Huh! You wish. He grunted as he stepped into my room.

To see you strut naked down the street? I guffawed at even the thought. Imagine what all your fans would think of that, I smirked, and he burst into laughter.

C’mon, you, I don’t want to be late on my first day.

Yes, all those desperate girls just dying to hear your voice again, sigh. I raised a hand to my forehead as if I was about to faint.

I’m going to pants you if you keep up with this nonsense. He grumbled, and I grinned.

For that, I would need to be wearing panties.

I made an innocent gesture down to my uniform, which happened to be a dress with a proper hem to almost my knees. Gabe gulped in a breath. I saw his eyes fall to follow my fingers. I continued to watch in utter amusement, as his jaw dropped open and he stared at me.

You’re, uh, Bear, are you seriously not wearing any panties? he stuttered.

This was what I meant. If any other girl had said that to him, he would’ve made some smooth remark. With me, he just blurted stuff out. It was as hilarious as it was flattering. I was the only one who could see through his charming demeanour.

Of course I’m wearing panties, I rolled my eyes at him. Weren’t you the one rushing me out the door a minute ago? I swished my hands at him.

Hey! The mention of a girl not wearing panties kinda changes the whole world to spin the other way.

A splutter of laughter escaped me at his words. I could never believe how easy it was to distract him and I tried to do it all the time. Tossing him off guard made my day.

Secretly, I loved teasing him. Nobody in our known world, especially school, needed to know the enormous crush I had on him. Knowing I was the only girl who could make him splutter and stammer thrilled me and he never suspected a thing.

Teenage boys, how typical. I clicked my tongue and shook my head.

Alright, we’re going to school now. He left my room and trotted to the front door.

I was the one encouraging you to do so. I insisted as I locked the door behind me.

We lived in the suburbs, and Gabe was four doors down from me, but he always drove here to pick me up. Both of our lots of parents left long before we did to catch the train to the city for work. His parents were great friends with my parents, which naturally led to us being friends.

I miss holidays. I grouched as I sat down in his car.

Me too, Gabe said, and I laughed.

You live for school and all the attention.

It might look that way. He shrugged but said nothing more.

The moment we parked and stepped from the car, Gabe’s girls, as I liked to call them, were already vying for his attention. He let that beaming smile out, and every female in the vicinity gushed.

It’s a great smile. I have to agree there. The thing is, it’s nothing like Gabe’s proper smile that he gives me every day. The way he smiles at me is utterly breathtaking. All these girls know that he’ll never smile at them the way he smiles at me. Yes, I do have a smug grin on my face, and I lap up their jealousy. Bitchy, sure, but in my mind, Gabe’s always going to be mine.

At lunchtime, as I searched for Gabe and saw him with his usual humongous group of followers, something occurred to me. I was popular by association. Everyone knew I was at the top of Gabe’s list of ‘his’ people. Nobody really knew why. They also didn’t question Gabe’s choices. High school really was a weird place.

The seat next to Gabe remained empty, and I knew why, he always saved a place for me. I’m pretty sure this is one of the top reasons he could never keep a girlfriend, and my boyfriends of past had hated him. Gabe and I were our own little world, and we didn’t need anyone else but us.

Holly, were you dawdling again? Gabe chided me as I took my seat.

No, but I had this great idea. Did you want to see it? I grinned at him, and he nodded.

I grabbed my sketchbook from my bag that never left my sight. Let me explain about my sketchbook, it wasn’t one of those ones you buy. Gabe had made it for me in woodwork a few years ago. There was a clipboard that held whatever I sketched, but it was also a case that held my other drawings and whatever securely with a lock. There’s a rack for markers, pencils and other knickknacks too. I loved it and always kept it close by me.

Sure, show me. Gabe smiled at me.

I think I might do my final art project on fantasy creatures.

Cool.

I opened the case and showed him what I’d been doodling on during the holidays, and most of this morning. My first sketch was a dragon, the next was the cutest fairy, and the third page was a mermaid. I knew I had all of Gabe’s attention when the girl on the other side of him started to complain.

They’re awesome, Hols, but I reckon you need to make the dragon a bit fiercer. Gabe grinned at me.

Should I go all out fire-breathing?

In case you didn’t realise yet, Gabe’s opinion meant a lot to me. I’ve always shown him my artwork before anyone else, including my parents and my teacher.

Yes. I would’ve said bigger boobs on the mermaid, but I thought you’d thump me, Gabe smirked until I thumped him in the arm. Ouch, Holly!

Her boobs are perfectly fine. Not all of us need to have double D’s you know. My eyes skated to the girl on the other side of Gabe with said double D’s.

That was meant to be a joke, Bear, Gabe leaned down to whisper in my ear. Your boobs are perfect.

I blinked, leaned closer to him and wondered if those words were all in my imagination. His genuine smile, the one nobody else received, appeared. I realised he meant what he said and that left me a little gobsmacked.

They’d want to be. I don’t pack them into a bra every day for no reason. Needing to distract from my own shock, I made a joke.

Lucky bra, Gabe muttered.

The girl next to him giggled and garnered his attention for a moment. That gave me time to recover from his words. If Gabe offered a compliment, he meant every word. My boobs had never been a topic of conversation before, so his thoughts startled me.

As dorky as Gabe was, I was his equivalent in the arty sense. He was the gift of the gab, and I was his paint splattered, glitter glue enhanced opposite. That’s the way we’d always been, and I didn’t want anything to change.

Do you really think the rest are okay? Minus boob enhancements on the mermaid. I asked Gabe, and I knew he heard me.

Gabe could be up on a pedestal making important announcements, and I knew he’d still hear me. The focus he gave me was always there even when he entertained a crowd. I only had to open my mouth to get his attention.

Do you mind? We’re having a conversation here. The girl next to Gabe, who I could never remember the name of spoke but I ignored her.

Give me a minute, Teaghan, Gabe raised a finger to the girl who must have the name of Teaghan. I told you I think they’re cool.

But it’s such a weird thing to do for my finals, and I haven’t got up the gumption to show Mrs P yet. I put my fears to him.

Holly, you’re a bloody weirdo, and this suits you just fine. He blurted the words. Teaghan made a shocked noise at his bluntness, but to me, this was Gabe being Gabe.

Thanks, Gabe. I grinned, and he hooked an arm around my chair.

Anytime, Holly Bear. He leaned in to whisper those words to me.

I went back to work on my sketches, pleased that he liked them. Gabe went back to conversing with his adoring crowd. His fingers ran along my spine, and I love that he kept connected with me even when he talked to others.

Holly! I heard my name, and I blinked, but I didn’t take my eyes off the sketch in front of me. Holly Bear, snap out of it! The bell rang already. Gabe’s voice finally penetrated through to me.

Huh? I glanced up at him.

Class. He flicked my forehead.

Ouch! Okay, yeah. Geez, what class do I have next? I muttered.

Follow me.

Gabe reached a hand out to me as I tucked my drawings away and snapped my sketchbook shut. We then ran for class. This means that Gabe ran in a fluid, graceful motion and I bumbled along behind him. The great thing, he didn’t let go of my hand.

Don’t laugh, Gabe warned me before he opened the classroom door.

I’ll try not to.

Glad you could join us, Miss Halliday and Mr Colton. Mr Matthews stared us down as we walked into the room.

Sir… Gabe tried, but our teacher wouldn’t listen.

Sit down. Be late for my class again, and you’re both going to detention.

A snort of laughter escaped me. I couldn’t help it when I saw the teacher’s moustache twitch in aggravation. Gabe sighed from next to me, and I knew I’d blown it.

I’ll see you after class, Miss Halliday. The teacher's words made me wince.

We sat down, and I realised that every eye watched us. I didn’t care about being a spectacle. Everyone already knew how weird I was, so I embraced it as usual. I did feel bad that Gabe didn’t get to use his word magic.

What was that? Gabe looked like he had total focus on the teacher even as he scribbled those words in his notebook.

His ‘stache wiggled like a worm. I wrote.

A soft grunt of laughter escaped Gabe but only those around us noticed. Once again, I could sense eagle eyes on me, but I ignored them. I was used to Gabe’s group and their curiosity about us.

You’ll put us both in detention soon enough. Gabe wrote.

Nah.

I didn’t get to write anymore as our teacher decided to teach as hard and fast as he could. My brain turned to mush by the time the class finished.

The bell rang, and that’s when dread grew inside of me. Mr Matthews pointed me to the front of the room and waved Gabe on his way. I was never good without Gabe by my side.

Sir. I approached his desk, and he didn’t look impressed.

Holly, you have to realise that Gabriel isn’t always going to be there to save you in every situation. He tented his fingers while I tried to puzzle through his response.

Sorry?

You have to start taking responsibility for your own actions. Next time you’re late for my class, I expect you to answer why. Do we understand each other? Mr Matthews stern face left me kind of confused.

Uh, yeah?

Okay, I know it sounded like a question, but he waved me on my way without any other sage advice. I rushed out the door and ran straight into Gabe.

What did he want? Gabe gestured to the classroom.

For me to take responsibility for my own actions. He reckons you won’t always be around to bail me out. I explained.

Gabe stopped moving from where he had started veering off to his own classroom. He frowned at me, grasped me by the shoulders, and leaned in close to me.

I’ll always be there for you, Holly Bear. No matter what anyone says, I’ll always be there. Gabe promised, and my heart melted at his sincerity.

Thanks, Gabe. I hugged him close for a moment before scurrying off to my class.

That was what I loved about Gabe. He meant every word he said, and he would always stand by me. I swear everything that guy did managed to make me fall in love with him more.

Chapter 2

Holly, do you really think this is showing off your best talent? Mrs P had a disconcerting frown on her face that I never liked seeing.

Somebody else in the class snickered, and I turned a glaring eye on them. Let me explain, because I was Gabe’s number one, go to person, it has its setbacks. Also being one of Mrs P’s favourites doesn’t help the situation. There are a lot of people jealous of me in our school. I know it, and they know that I know it. When they see me taken down a peg or two, they relish every second.

I wasn’t going to let them upset me, I’d dealt with this stuff for long enough that I knew ignorance did work best. At the end of the day, I had Gabe, and they didn’t. My artwork turned out awesome and sometimes theirs didn’t. I took the good parts of everything around me and paid no attention to the rest.

What’s wrong with it? I shrugged a shoulder but dared to ask.

Please see me after class so we can discuss things. She sighed as if I was an extreme disappointment and my heart sank.

Of all my