7

“What!” Alice cried, staring at the art display in the main corridor, her heart sinking as if someone had tied it to an anchor.

“That dirtbag didn’t use any of your pieces,” Joseph huffed, arms crossed in indignation.

“He hates me,” Alice sighed, the weight of Alek Jeffries’ disdain pressing heavily on her chest.

“He’s a major bitch,” Joseph added dramatically, his voice laced with mock-offense. “And that’s saying something, coming from me.”

Alice couldn’t help but let out a weak chuckle. Alek, the TA in her art class, had taken an inexplicable dislike to her from the very beginning. Every critique was laced with venom, every compliment conspicuously absent. It wasn’t just infuriating—it was baffling. Why her? She racked her brain for anything she might have done to provoke his disdain, but nothing came to mind.

Now, for the second time that term, her artwork had been snubbed from the school’s main display—a showcase of talent and creativity. And despite the head art teacher praising her work as “brilliantly evocative,” Alek had once again left her out.

“I’ll give him withering stares,” Joseph offered, narrowing his eyes in what he thought was a menacing glare. It looked more like he had something in his eye.

“Oh! We could start a rumour about him!” Ed chimed in suddenly, lifting his gaze from his phone where he’d likely been swiping through profiles on Grindr. “Something juicy. Like… I don’t know, maybe he secretly collects porcelain dolls?”

Alice raised a brow. “Porcelain dolls? That’s your go-to?”

Ed shrugged. “Hey, don’t knock it. Nothing screams ‘unhinged’ like someone obsessing over creepy little dollies.”

“Na, we ain’t that bitch,” Alice said firmly. The idea of stooping to Alek’s level felt distasteful. She had her pride, after all. “Besides, I’m not about to start a war with the guy who controls my coursework grades.”

Joseph sighed dramatically. “Fine. I’ll just have to stick with being fabulously intimidating.”

In art class, Alek’s hostility was palpable. He made no effort to hide it as he walked in, his eyes cutting toward Alice like shards of glass.

‘What did I do to you?’ Alice wondered, keeping her head down and focusing on the canvas in front of her. She’d decided on a large oil painting inspired by Jenny Saville’s work. Saville’s bold use of color and anatomy fascinated Alice, and she was determined to replicate that same raw emotion.

Alek waltzed over as she mixed paints on her palette, the smell of turpentine sharp in the air. He leaned on the edge of her desk, his disapproving gaze scanning her half-finished work.

“These were too big for the board,” he said suddenly, tossing a stack of her completed pieces onto the desk as though they were old newspapers. “You’ll have to take them home. No space to store them.”

“Okay,” Alice replied through gritted teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. She could feel her classmates’ eyes on her, watching the interaction unfold like a scene from a soap opera.

After the lesson, Joseph insisted on helping Alice retrieve her artwork. When they returned to the classroom, they found her pieces piled carelessly by the sink, some smeared with streaks of paint that didn’t belong.

“For fuck’s sake,” Alice muttered, holding up one of her favorite pieces, now marred by a green splotch in the corner.

“Don’t worry, we’ll fix it,” Joseph said, giving her a reassuring smile. Ever the loyal friend, he carried the bulk of her work to his tiny Corsa. Alice could only shake her head at his persistence—he wasn’t letting her feel sorry for herself, not for long anyway.

At home, she was surprised to find Jamie already in the kitchen. His cheeks were flushed from the heat of the stove, and the rich aroma of chocolate filled the air.

“Oh my, who is that?” Joseph whispered, clutching Alice’s arm. “That cannot be your brother.”

Alice frowned. “Uh, yeah, that’s Jamie. You’ve met him?”

“That isn’t the same person. Look at him!” Joseph insisted, his eyes wide as he shamelessly ogled Jamie. “The glow-up is real.”

Jamie looked up, giving Joseph a friendly smile. “Hi.”

Joseph’s grin widened. “Hi,” he replied, his tone practically dripping with flirtation.

Alice rolled her eyes. “Hands off. He’s too innocent for the likes of you.”

“What’s that smell?” Joseph asked, peering over Jamie’s shoulder.

“Chocolate fudge sauce,” Jamie replied, stirring a thick, glossy mixture in a bowl. He turned back to Alice, his expression softening as he saw her paintings. “Wow, these are amazing. I can’t believe I have such a talented sister.”

Alice’s heart warmed despite herself. “Alek doesn’t think so.”

“Fuck Alek,” Jamie said casually. It still caught her off guard when he swore—it was a new development since he’d started hanging out with Zoe and her friends.

Joseph leaned in closer. “Can I try some of that sauce? Just a little taste?”

Jamie raised a spoon and let Joseph take a bite. The groan Joseph let out was borderline indecent.

“Oh my God. That’s the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth,” he said, licking his lips. “And I’m not just saying that to—”

“Don’t,” Alice interrupted quickly. “Don’t finish that sentence.”

Later, after dinner, Alice and Joseph retreated to her room. They sprawled out on the bed, recounting stories of disastrous first dates and ridiculous school drama. It was the kind of easy banter Alice cherished—Joseph always had a way of making her forget her worries.

Just as Joseph was reenacting a particularly embarrassing moment with one of his exes, Alice’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, expecting a text from her mum or a notification from her art group chat.

What she found made her stomach drop.

“Oh my God!” she gasped, nearly dropping the phone.

“What? What is it?” Joseph leaned over, catching a glimpse of the screen before Alice could lock it. His eyes widened. “Holy shit, you’ve been naughty.”

The photo on her screen was one she hadn’t even realized existed—a picture of her bent over in the maid outfit. The caption beneath it sent a chill down her spine:

“I thought it was only polite to let you know I just wanked over this.”

“Who the hell is that?” Joseph demanded. “And why does he have a picture of you looking like that?”

Alice stared at the screen, her heart pounding. “I don’t… I don’t know how this happened.”