Garret and Anna -the love story no one asked for

I remember the first time I saw her perfectly. I was still new to Top Llama High and had just rushed into the art room. I was late. Insanely late. I had been lost, wondering the halls, for 15 minutes before I broke down and asked a freshman for directions. I walked into the arm room, flushed and out of breath from running there, receiving a harsh look from Mr. Sanders for my tardiness. 

“Oh, you’ve finally joined us Mr. Hargrove? Wonderful. Now take a seat. There should be one open in the back.”

I kept my head down as I rushed to the easel in the back. I set to work on that days assignment, paint a landscape in the medium of your choice…only I was missing a pencil to sketch. I looked to my right to ask my neighbor for a pencil, but it was Gunther and he’s always stingy with his art supplies. So I looked to the left…and there she was, wearing the paint-stained overalls she loves so much. The sun hit her crimson hair just so, and just like that my world seemed to turn, not upside down but rather, right-side up.

She caught me staring at her. I made a complete fool of myself, but luckily she laughed. 

That was months ago and I don’t know what my life would have been without her. Not to be stupidly sappy, but it was like she painted a beautiful mural across what was a blank, empty wall–the life I lived before her was meaningless.