Chapter 6: School was never like this

School - Wednesday morning

“Hey, Niki ... I asked Ms. Dougal if we could have a life drawing class, with a real model, and she agreed, isn’t that great?” he asked the short black-haired girl, making conversation as they walked. It wasn’t until they were entering the class that he added, “I told her that you had always wanted to model...”

Moving into the classroom, Niki glanced at Roach, startled. “Wha? I mean, you can’t be serious. Can you?” Heading back to the large work table she shared with Mike and two other students, her mind was awhirl with trepidation and curiosity.

“I told you, we have her under control. Besides, they’ve done it in the past, in the evenings, with permission slips and stuff. We are just convincing her to do it during regular class, isn’t that great??”

Niki’s mind was caught between the thrill she imagined she would feel being partially undressed while people stared at her, drawing or painting, and the embarrassment she would feel so casually exposed in front of her peers. It was one thing at home, no one could hardly see. Even in the car, glimpses were rather fleeting. This would just be her, sitting or posing for long stretches. Boys and girls, looking at her while she held still, unable to move.

Settling into her chair, she worked to keep her skirt covering her, even though Roach smirked as she did so. “Remember, he said, looking was ok, so stop hiding!” He mock-glared at her, ready to intensify his words if need be.

Niki looked around the classroom, noticing that more than a couple of the students were subtly watching her, or Roach, as if they knew something was up. After her exposure in the park two days ago, the whispers and comments had not ceased, and she could feel some of their appraising looks as she sat next to the bully, as if she were his to control.

Raising his hand, Mike smirked at her as she sat there, picking up her charcoal pencil and trying to fix the drawing she had started the day before. “Ms. Dougal?”

“A moment, Mr. Rochard,” the teacher told him, moving to stand amidst the benches, her informal class not ever all facing the same direction. “Class, pick up a permission slip on your way out. Fridays and possibly Tuesdays from now on will be life drawing classes; permission required, no exceptions. Those w/o a slip will be sent to the self-study room down the hall”.

Ms. Dougal looked around the class, turning in a slow circle, her eyes resting for a moment on Niki, pressing her lips together thoughtfully. Ms. Dougal was still not sure that this was the wisest course of action, but when pressed, she had agreed to ask the principal. It was not like she had much of a choice, unless she really wanted her private drug habit to be exposed -- she would lose her job. She was still surprised that Mr. Proussad had so readily agreed when she had mentioned it, and that one of the students had long wanted to be a model. He had seemed ready to deny the whole thing until she had mentioned the poor girl, Niki. At that, he paused and, after a moment’s consideration, agreed they could try it on a weekly basis at first, but every student would need parental approval.

Niki heard the announcement, turning to look at Roach with a new respect for his power, and she saw the teacher pause her gaze when she looked at Niki. “She knows. Oh my gawd!” She thought, realizing that he had been quite serious and had told Ms. Dougal.

“Ms. Constantini, step up to my desk, please. The rest of you, work on your fall projects. I will be around to discuss them shortly.” Ms. Dougal turned and went to her small, cramped desk, festooned with papers and bits of pottery and a mishmash of art supplies. As she rifled through her papers, she put a small stack on the edge of her desk, muttering under her breath, before finding what she was looking for. Paper in hand, she turned and held it out to Niki. “You will need to get this signed, if you truly want to do as Mr. Rochard said - I know he can be a bit forceful. Are you under any duress, dear?” she asked kindly, her long tanned arm returning to her side as Niki took the paper.

Unsure of what to say, caught between what Max was having her do and the school’s relative normalcy, she used the paper as an excuse to delay answering. As she scanned it, she thought it was a more detailed permission slip than what the rest of the class needed to get signed.

“No, ma’am, um, not duress,” she said, not very coherently, unsure how much the teacher had heard, or how much Roach had told her.

The paper read:

Your daughter, Niki, has requested permission to begin acting as an artist’s model for the school art department. While this is quite unusual, it is not totally unheard of, at least in some parts of the world. Further, we at the school are aware of the challenges Niki is facing as she adjusts to her new home life, and we are encouraging her to embrace this opportunity if she truly wishes to. Not only will she earn some valuable spending money, but a well-trained model can also work for the local college and various independent art groups, making quite a living.

We have been further informed that, due to her naturist background, she is less body-shy than the average student, which can help her adjust to life at the school. We strongly encourage you to grant your permission.

Signed

Ms. Dougal, Art Instructor

Mr. Proussad, Principal. Lincoln Heights High School

Reading it over, Niki balked at the comment that she came from a naturist background. Assuming that this was somehow more of Max’s work, she did not say anything or attempt to correct the information. Besides, she knew she’d be talking to him tonight before having him sign this ... if he wasn’t on board, she was sure he could correct things not only with Roach but with the school.

“I will get this signed tonight, ma’am,” Niki said, turning and making her way back to the workbench, Roach’s satisfied smirk obvious from across the room. She felt a bit flushed, pretty sure Ms. Dougal had been staring at her chest. Glancing down, she could see her hard nipples making their presence known beneath the thin fabric of her top.

“I told you! We have this place wired, and your brother was quite clear that looking was just fine. So why don’t you sit down and undo a couple of buttons while you are at it? Roach was confident, his voice steady, his eyes never leaving hers, not even to get his buddy’s approval - this was all about her and him.

Nik’s fingers were on the first button before she realized it. It was almost as if he was able to see inside her, and to speak in such a way that she had to accede to his wishes. Her mind fluttered like a little bird, wondering what it was about men like Max, and now, it appears, Roach, that could make her so willingly comply? She paused, her fingers still toying with the top button, nestled between her bare breasts, just above her bust line. At his insistent nod, her eyes widened, and she slowly released the button, letting her shirt open up a bit more, her neckline growing a couple of inches deeper down her chest.

Smiling, Roach picked up his sketchpad, opening to a new page. “He can draw?” was Niki’s surprised thought, as she sat there, trying to concentrate on what she was doing, but her mind was consumed with what he had told her to do. She was just waiting.