I've decided to leave this line for comments on the motivational pictures <3
"come on Anna, just this once" Chris pleads with his best attempt at being cute. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me.
"let me think about it" I tease them a bit, well except Jacob. I think he was done with the topic since the whole Cassandra thing. The rest stare excitedly enough to convince people I was giving out expensive gifts, even Jaden looks eager to tell people he convinced me.
"still a no" I whisper
They groan, except for Brayden who seems indifferent. Was he excited to see Cassandra alone tonight?
"here I thought you were changing because of my brother" Jaden states before going back to his table defeated. His words didn't bother me, if I were to change for anyone it would be myself and I already tried but failed - terribly.
Therefore, my no stays a no.
The bell rings signaling that lunch is over.
"Are you going to the roof?" Brayden asks quietly as everyone gets up
I nod already heading there.
A few minutes later he's beside me with a cloth. He must have read my confused expression because he answers my unasked question.
"We always stand so I thought, why not sit or lay down but we don't have to" he adds the last part quickly. The pink tips of his ear have me coughing to hide my giggle. Weird things keep happening with him, first the heart racing and now giggling. Maybe, just maybe I am changing.
I hum turning back to the sky. I missed the rush of walking on the ledge, but with Brayden, I would never get the opportunity.
Once he lays the cloth on the floor, I use my bag as a pillow and lay next to him.
It's quiet for a while except for our breathing and the noise of the students on the field who were probably skipping class. The last class was always social studies class which we didn't get tested on or sports. The school had agreed students' interests were gone after lunch so the classes should be easy ones.
"Are you going to the party?" a voice asks and even though I know It's mine, I refuse to believe I broke the silence and of all things, I asked that.
"Yup," he says with some stupid excitement
Some part of me had expected him to say no and I don't know why. But instead of stating how I feel, I close my eyes and see myself in a never-ending black tunnel until he interrupts my thoughts.
"why don't you want to come?" he asks but before I reply he goes on "you don't have to tell me if you don't want to" I smile at his concern. Of course, this catches his attention and before I can wipe it away he's sitting up with a larger smile than mine making his dimples really obvious.
"crowded areas aren't my thing" I whisper my lie when he lays back
We stare at each other and I didn't realize we were so close till I feel his warm breath on my face causing me to look back up.
He hums accepting my answer, not bothering to push me further we lay together in silence.
"so, what are you going to do tonight?" he asks after a while
"I don't know, but it won't be Cassandra's party" I state making him laugh.
As shitty as this is going to sound, his laugh made me want to smile. It woke up an emotion I felt when I first got my own room; excitement. Before I could stop myself, I found myself selfishly hoping only I got to hear his laugh. The rest of the class time was spent in silence, once the bell rang I remembered Aaron's words this morning.
"I have to go" I stand up picking my bag
"I know you'll say no but let me drop you off" he gets up as well
"Aaron's taking me"
He stops folding the cloth to ask"So if Aaron wasn't you would let me?" Whenever he wanted to see how I truly felt about something, I noticed he didn't pay attention to my words instead everything my expressions and tone were willing to reveal.
"I guess we'll have to wait till then," I say while picking up my bag
"you should smile often, it makes you look prettier, but I'm ok if the smiles are just for our roof time" he states opening the door for me
I scoff at his words
"see you tomorrow love" he bids farewell as I walk away
I don't bother responding and his laughter told me he found the situation funny. Sending him the middle finger I walk faster to Aaron's car. The ride is short and the fastest we've had this week, probably because he's eager to play football again. Every part of me is yelling to ask if he's ok, however, the only thing that comes out is a tiny thank you as I get out of the car. Surprisingly, my mum isn't anywhere in sight, so I conclude she's at the restaurant.
The majority of my time is spent just staring at the ceiling, it wasn't like there were some trippy artworks on it. Nope, it's as plain as a newly delivered whiteboard. Eventually, staring becomes less interesting and I start to replay today's event in my head. My overthinking self analyzing everything over and over again; educating me on what I should have and shouldn't have said or done. Soon enough, my mind goes back to Brayden. And that's when I have my eureka moment. Except, my discovery isn't worth yelling down the streets but important enough to get me up.
Unwrapping the stored away box didn't take long and once the butterfly wrapping paper was gone I am left staring at a set of watercolor paint. I frown wondering how Brayden figured I did art, then I remembered he brought my homework for a week.
A small smile settles on my face but it wipes away when my thoughts attack me wondering why I felt this way. While changing into a faded t-shirt and shorts, I try to find out what this feeling is, instead I end up staring at the mirror trying to frown but my lips had plans of their own. If mirrors could talk, mine would probably ask what was going on, even I was used to practicing smiles and never frowns.
Grabbing the set of watercolor paint, I hed to the little room I had claimed as mine for painting because I suddenly feel like actually doing something.
I had a thing where I painted blindfolded. Even though a lot of times it may come out rubbish, one out of five were masterpieces I had managed to auction. It was a skill I forced myself to develop since I was ten. I remember seeing a documentary on how blind people have their other senses heightened, especially the part of a blind boy painting a butterfly professionally.
Without much thought, I draw whatever comes to my mind, till I feel a presence in the room.
"I haven't seen you here in a while" my mum's voice gives me a little scare but I quickly take off my blindfolds and hum in agreement
In comfortable silence we both stare at my artwork, it wasn't much and suddenly I found myself wondering how I let myself spend so many hours on something I didn't even know was...
"beautiful, there's .....something about the color blending" she compliments
"you say that because you're my mother"
She sighs in defeat and before I can stop her, she's out of the room shutting the door gently.
Burying my thoughts of apologizing to her I stare back at the painting and they stare back at me, with so much life and it makes me realize how much that wasn't always in his eyes. I never paid attention to it.
Lighting a cigarette, I stare back at the perfect set of green eyes I had used to stain my white sketch pad sheets.
A pair I didn't hate as much as I had thought.
Yes, family. Annalise is getting feelings😭
How many chapters do you think it'll take for them to end up together?
Did I forget to say thank you for 2.8K 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

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Painting Annalise
Romantik(Complete) A high school student struggling with grief, drugs, depression, and love as she comes of age in this rollercoaster yet hopeful story. *****I started writing this during a sad time In my life so please don't steal my work, it means a lot t...