58 New Friend (1/2)

Without waiting any longer, Greyson walked over to the painting exam station. He continued looking around wondering what the level was like. To his surprise, the paintings were much more high level than he previously assumed. The amount of talent in the painting association was surprisingly high.

”Hey~Grey, looks like you also paint?” A young girl's voice spoke out.

Feeling a chill down his spine, Greyson recognized the owner of the voice right away. Slightly scowling, he forced himself to smile politely before turning around.

”Ah, Natalia, what a surprise...” He feigned happiness as much as he could.

”Hmmm... well that's no fun, I was hoping you would be a bit more surprised.” Natalia's mouth formed a cute pout which caught the attention of the surrounding boys. Uncomfortable with the attention, Greyson tried to speak a few words politely before walking away. Only, to his chagrin, she continued to follow.

”Yes, do you need something from me?” He finally asked while turning to face her again.

”What can't a walk with you? I want to be friends, that's what. Am I not allowed? Do you hate me?” With glittering tears in her eyes, Natalia gave him her killer puppy dog look. The crowd suddenly looked at Greyson with envy and hate. However, unbeknownst to the crowd, Greyson could clearly see the evil mischievous look in her eyes behind the feigned sadness. How many times had he also taken advantage of his looks and given this ”pity me” expression. He wasn't falling for it. She was obviously trying to purposefully give him a hard time, but he was not going to let her get away with it that easily.

”Yes, I don't like you nor do I want to be friends with you. Why, can't I feel that way? Are you forcing me to become your friend? You've been following me around all day, could it be that you have developed some sort of obsession with me?” Shooting back sharp rhetorical questions, Greyson looked back at her with a knowing look. Stunned, Natalia forgot to keep the pitiful expression and the tears quickly dried while her cute expression cracked slightly.

”Urk... No, how could that be? I just thought we would get along, but if that's how you feel then it's fine. Hohohoho, well I will see you around I guess.” She continued smiling gracefully, but if one looked closely they could see her gritting her teeth in hate. Forcing a laugh out, she waved goodbye and walked out of sight.

That brat! That brat! THAT STUPID JERK! Once she was away from the crowd, Natalia started stomping her feet angrily after suffering such a loss. She would for sure get him back...

...

Slightly sensing her irritation, Greyson was inwardly cracking up. Hmph! Serves her right, that entitled princess! How could he not know that she has been continually giving him a hard time? She obviously knows all about her fans that would envy him to death for having caught her attention. At the same time, though, the only reason he came off so aggressively was because he could also see that she wasn't actually that bad of a person. Otherwise, she would have tried using her background to intimidate him like all the other annoying noble children.

”Uhm... You... you shouldn't have spoken to her like that... You're going to get in trouble with those other noble children who like her.” A timid voice suddenly spoke up behind him. The kid's volume was barely enough for Greyson to hear him, so the rest didn't notice him. Turning around, Greyson locked eyes with a jumpy looking child. Looking closely, the child was around ten probably. He was dressed in rather simple clothes compared to the gaudy nobles that matched his slightly introverted posture. The atmosphere around him was anything but threatening or arrogant like normal geniuses.

”It's probably fine. She is not as bad as the others when it comes to retaliating her grievances. If anything it has become a little game between us to get one over on the other.” Smiling happily, Greyson explained a little. Normally he wouldn't bother, but he had a good first impression of this boy. He had said something just in case Greyson was not aware of the situation and looked worried, most people would just watch while laughing at other's misfortune.

”O-okay, well, if you say so...” Hearing Greyson's words, the young boy just nodded while still looking uneasy.

”What's your name?” Curious towards this younger talented child, Greyson couldn't help but keep the conversation going.

”N-name? Ronan Whitefield. And you?” Ronan stuttered nervously.

”Greyson. Just Greyson, no last name. Nice to meet you.”

”Uh ye-yes, nice to meet you too!” Finally smiling a bit, Ronan's face lit up. He was a rather good-looking boy with black hair and grey eyes, but he was pale and scrawny like someone who had not gone out of the house a lot.

”Are you a painter, as well?” Greyson asked.

”Yes, I am. I assume you are a painter, too then?”

”Yes! How long have you been learning?”

”Well my parents are both famous painters, so they have been teaching me to paint since I was born. How about you?”

”Me? Well honestly, I started learning three years ago.”

”Oh, I see, three years... Wait, what?! Three years? Are you sure you want to take this exam, then? Oh, I don't mean to insult you, it's just that this exam is really hard to pass without years of experience. Most of these kids have been learning since birth until now.” After slightly freaking out, Ronan quickly backtracked after realizing how rude his words sounded. Greyson, however, had taken no offense. He knew that Ronan hadn't meant to disparage him. Three years truly was not a lot of time to claim to have learned something. This was another reason that Greyson felt slightly worried about taking the painting and music exams. But, he rarely sincerely challenges himself so he wanted to put himself in a less certain situation to get a handle of his skill level compared to the other talented people of his generation. Maybe he won't get first, but he was still fairly confident he would at least pass.

”Three years? What an embarrassment. A mutt like you should just keep your head down and quietly pass the exam without trying to overreach yourself. What could you possible understand about painting in that short of a time. You should just spare yourself the shame and get lost.” One of the kids near Ronan and Greyson overheard their conversation and spoke out with clear disdain on his face.

”You! You shouldn't say things like that!” Turning slightly red, Ronan still put effort into raising his voice to sound tough. However, he still came off very weak. The effort, though, was very appreciated as Greyson felt comforted to see someone defending him. He quietly smiled before his face turned completely cold as he glared at the boy who had spoken up earlier.

”What are you looking at?” The boy sneered.

”At the idiot who is talking to himself like some mental case.” Greyson slowly spoke.

”What do you mean, I'm obviously speaking to you!”

”Oh? If I remember correctly, no one was speaking to you. Isn't that right, Ronan?”

”Huh? Oh, yes!”