This Is Where We Start

~•Lily•~

Yes! It worked!
After the reveal in English, less boys are turning their heads. More girls are giggling excitedly, probably because there are more boys on the market, and a couple of them have come over to guiltily thank me. What they don't know is that the one they still want more than anything is still trailing me.
They're playing tougher than I thought.
Well, anyway that's the end of my excitement because I'm still upset about my partner. It's like he wants to punish me in some twisted little way of his, but I'm going to have to prove to myself that I can get through this. Even though I seriously doubt I'll even be alive by the deadline.
Now, I need to wait for them to make their move. It's really only fair, so I'll have to see what they've got up their sleeves, but I've got patience and I can wait. After that, well, I'll have to come up with another attack, even if it means I have to completely ignore them.
I said I would play, but I didn't say I'd play fair.
So, as the day slowly drags on, I mentally check off all the boys that are out of the running. Matthew? Done. Chris? Check. Louis? Adios.
If my mental math's correct, then that means that there're only about six or seven guys left, including movie star Jacob Noland.
As the final bell draws near to end the day, I can see a couple of the boys group together, ones that would never be seen together. Most are jocks, but there's one nerd and a prep. They're the ones who are still in the game. The only one not there is Jacob.
He's sitting alone, surprisingly, doing something in his notebook. He looks to be drawing or sketching, but I'm not completely sure.
Go to him, I think. What's the worst that can happen?
Are you crazy? says my conserved side. He'll think that we're chasing after him.
My devil and angel go back and forth, giving me a tremendous pain in my head. I debate for what feels like forever, until my curiosity wins and I slowly approach him. He doesn't look up, even when I'm two feet in front of him.
"Hi," I say and he nearly drops his book in surprise. He looks up at me quizzically.
"What're you drawing?" In response, he holds it even closer to himself. I roll my eyes. "I'm not going to burn it. I was just curious, so I asked." I turn on my heel and start to walk away.
"Wait," he says. "You really want to see it?" I nod. "Okay, but don't judge me, please." He hands me the notebook. Gasping, I gently run my fingers over it.
Filling the page is the most beautiful piece of art I've ever seen. Abstract shapes and swirls are shaded so well that I can tell what color they are without the color being there. They're arranged to create simple, but carefully planned, flowers. All of them surround a girl in a flower petal gown with a small tiara. The girl looks suspiciously like...
"Is this me?" I whisper. Ashamed, he nods his head. Instead of lashing out in anger, I say, "It's beautiful."
"You really like it?"
"Yes, but why did you draw me when any other girl would have been happy to be your model?"
Jacob smiles slightly. "Because I wanted to use someone who was different than the others; someone unique. I hope you don't mind."
"For the first time in a long time," I relent, "I really don't."