Crave

06

3 days later

It was around midnight and I had the night off, as an attempt to get my mind off of the events of the past few days.. and one specific person. I decided to spend some time in my art room. I hadn't spent much time in here lately, so it was relaxing to be able to just listen to my music and lose myself in my art.
My record player was spinning in the corner of the room, I was a mess right now, paint covering my bare skin and various spots on my clothes. My hair up in a messy ponytail, small pieces that'd come loose, falling on my neck and infront of my face. I wouldn't be surprised if I had paint in my hair as well. I didn't care much about being neat or careful while painting, my mind was entirely elsewhere. In my paintings, envisioning the scene.
After a few minutes I put my paint brush down and get up, stretching slowly and walking over to one of my windows, opening it and sitting on the ledge, grabbing a joint from my desk, and a lighter, looking out the window as I light the joint and bring it to my lips, inhaling slowly and looking up to the stars littering the dark night sky as I exhale slowly.
Taking a few more hits before putting the joint out and leaving it on the small teacup placed on my desk. Leaving the window open as I continue to look out for a moment before making my way back to my spot on the floor, slowly sitting down and picking up my paint brush once again, refusing to let my mind slip to him. The dark ink coating intricate designs over his skin. The veins running up his hands and arms that catch my breath Everytime I see them. His soft, dark curls that I can't help but urge to run my fingers through. His intense onyx eyes. That I can never quite seem to get enough of. It was like staring into the most beautiful disaster. Knowing it would hurt me but unable to look away. That's what he was. And I couldn't help but be completely and utterly obsessed.
Fuck.
So much for not thinking of him.
I slowly dip my brush in the paint again and take a deep breath, exhaling and trying to push him from my mind with that. Slowly beginning small strokes on the canvas, doing the last few finishing touches.
I'd been working on this painting for a few weeks and I kept getting caught on this last part. But I finally got it.
After about 20 minutes I slowly put the end of my brush in my mouth, holding it there for a moment as I pick up the canvas carefully on the dry edges, slowly standing up and walking over to my drying easel. Setting it down and stepping back as I look over the painting. A slow smile spreading across my face as I take the brush from my lips and exhale lightly.

All the sudden I hear something and glance back to the door, seeing Roman standing in the doorway with a strange look on his face. I furrow my eyebrows lightly, slowly putting my paint brush down and walking over to my record player, lifting the needle for a moment as I look to him again, smiling a bit " can I help you with something wade?" I ask as his eyes pull from the painting on the easel, over to me. I watch his eyes drag over me before he speaks quietly " right uh- Atlas just had a bit much to drink so I was just dropping him home... heard the music and well.. I was curious." He pauses as he takes a small step into the room and I glance to the painting before looking back to him " you can come in" I smile lightly and he nods a bit, slowly closing the door behind himself which I assume is to make sure atlas doesn't wake up. As he carefully makes his way over to the painting I smile a bit, watching him closely.
" I just finished that one.. took me admittedly a bit long." I pause, letting out a slight laugh " I think I finally got it though." I say quietly as his eyes run over the painting slowly, ant-agonizingly. Before he slowly looks to me, speaking quietly " Val this is- holy shit" he chuckles lightly, shaking his head a bit " absolutely un fucking real. This is- this is I think your best work ever. I mean the- the emotion in this is just.. fuck." He murmurs and I feel my face grow increasingly hot. He'd complimented my paintings quite a bit, but this was something else entirely. The intensity in which he consumed it, the words he chose to describe it. Something else. So different.. so.. real.
After a moment of comfortable  silence, he slowly looks over to me. His eyes stopping briefly at my .. shorts, if you could call them that. They were just a pair of boy shorts, I didn't care for getting paint on. I wasn't expecting to see anyone.. especially not him. And it was hard to not feel just how bare my skin was, with the burning of his eyes on me. Taking in every inch. I convince myself he's only taking into account the various splotches of paint scattering my skin and clothes. That had to be it.
Right?
I finally realize I hadn't spoken, hadn't thanked him for his compliment. So I straighten my posture " thank you Roman. That means a lot." I smile lightly, my thanks no where near the compliments he'd just given me.
After a few more minutes of silence he slowly moves toward the door " I'll leave you alone now. Heads up I'm staying the night, goodnight little Nyx" he smiles and slowly walks out of the room.
I watch as the door closes and hesitates for a moment before slowly walking back over to my record player, turning it back on and walking over to my spot on the floor again, grabbing a new canvas and slowly sitting down as the image of my next painting runs through my mind.
I pick up a clean brush and glance at the blank canvas for a moment before beginning.

2 days later

I'd been mulling over my decision for the past day and finally convinced myself to just do it. Walking into my art room I pick up the now dry canvas and secure it into the frame I'd chosen. Looking at it for another moment before walking over to my table, picking up the wrapping paper and beginning to carefully wrap the painting.
Securing it with a bit of string before getting up, the painting in hand as I make my way out of the room and head downstairs.

I get to the wade household and knock on the door, looking up as juniper answers and smiling lightly as she invites me in, stepping inside and looking around for a moment before speaking " hey juni" I pause for a moment " I just have to drop this off for Roman.." I say quietly and she raises her eyebrows lightly before nodding a bit " he's out right now but you can leave it in his room." She replies and I smile, nodding lightly and slowly making my way up the stairs toward his bedroom.
As I open the door I look around for a moment before walking over to his bed and carefully placing the painting down. Taking a deep breath and hesitating before walking out, closing the door behind myself and making my way back downstairs.