Back to You

The Heat of the Night

"Don't move too much." I commanded kindly to Ryder, cozied up together on the couch.

After dinner, we had decided to have a movie night binge to help declutter the many tapes he had to return soon to the nearest Blockbuster, but disclosed to me he didn't want to watch them alone anymore.

So as 'A Walk to Remember' was playing away, we had been relaxing comfortably while he played a few games of solitaire and I chose to sketch a picture of him per his request.

It wasn't a beautiful secret garden or flower bowel like I usually painted, but I didn't mind it. To me, it was much better with every part of his appearance being near perfect.

"But what if I have to sneeze?" He inquired.

"Do it quietly."

"What if I wanna cough?" I giggled and shook my head.

"Change your mind. You're my muse. Be lucky I'm letting you breathe right now."

"Well maybe if I know what that word even means, I'd probably feel more inclined to be silent and still."

"It's someone or something that inspires me to create new and creative works. Ya know, like something I truly care and am passionate about." I explained smiling.

"So does that mean you feel passionate toward a wildly sexy young guy like me?" He asked cockily.

"Pump your brakes, buddy. I didn't say that..." I teased. Not aloud at least. He was completely right nonetheless, but I wasn't willing to give him the satisfaction of boosting his ego clearly more than it already was.

"Oh really? Well then, let me just do a few things first..." He moved erratically every which way I wasn't trying to draw him as intentionally.

"Could you'd just-" I began to ask. "Ryder Jackson McKenna!" I playfully shouted.

He looked at me surprised and smiled. "Woah there, we're bringing out the middle names here, huh? How do you even know that now?"

Clearing my throat and shyly fidgeting and breaking apart tiny fragments of my neon eraser cap, I shrugged. "Well um...uh...your middle school graduation certificate over there on that wall. Class of 2000." I let out, gesturing to the one in front of us.

Turning to face it, he accepted before going back to his game not thinking much of it. Here I was thinking I was getting better at this.

"Fine. But I think I need to head to the kitchen now too. Might take the rest the night." He began going back and forth now out his way to annoy the crap out of me more. Glaring to him, I threw my pencil down and notebook on the coffee table as he laughed teasingly, before I joined in shortly after. "Okay, you win!" It's about time. "Let me see what this thing looks like first." I handed him the sketchpad.

Taking the paper and facing his head down observing close and carefully, I soon noticed an honest and genuine grin from ear to ear come across his face, looking back up toward me.

"Oh my god, Faith...this is just-" He started to say shaking his head.

"It's bad, isn't it? I can take constructive criticism! I can just redo the whole thing from scratch if ya want. No worries-" I interjected a bit worried myself. He snickered once more.

"Actually...it's my favorite thing I've ever seen." Staring at him longingly, I shyly smiled back elated and honored. "You might consider taking this as a profession yourself. I've seen your work Faith on the walls in art class. They're incredible."