The Math of Love

Chapter 13 - Paintings

Maya 

We each take a seat on the table and get a blank canvas as well as a lemonade.

 Clarissa stares at me and finally she asks: "Are you finally going to admit that you like Gregory, Maya?"

Jennice follows, and as if they had it all planned, the new girls now chime in as well.

"Wait, you like somebody?" Asks Kristal.

"I don't! Gregory and I are just friends, but my best friends here seem to think that we are more than that, even through I have explained a million times that we barely even know each other," I quickly," reply. 

"So what if you barely know each other? You are in college and are pretty. You should enjoy life more. Is he hot at least?" Kristal continues to question me. 

*Yes. Yes, he is, I think to myself.*

"I am not going to answer that simply because I refuse to feed into the delusions of my best friends and now you guys'." 

Everyone laughs at this and I join them.

We all decide on a theme for the paintings and we settle on 'longing.' Without even thinking it, I start to draw a G which then turns into a broken heart with a light blue background. I don't know if it is the little drops of alcohol that they have been adding to my lemonade, or if it is the time I have spent with Gregory, but Clarissa and Jennice's delusions are now  turning into mine and I can't help but think about what could happen if Gregory and I became something more.

As if calling him with my mind, and as if he is following me, Gregory appears with his friends in from to the door and they all look our way. 

Surprisingly, they decide to stay with us painting, instead of going into the bar area, since they are already 21,  they can actually go in. Gregory walks towards me, and Kristal's friend eyes him as if she is trying to eat him alive, which makes me a little upset for some reason.

"So this is the famous Gregory," Kristal announces out loud.

My face turns red, and Jennice and Clarissa simply look at me, I can see from their expressions that they are feeling a little guilty since they know they placed me in this embarrassing situation.

Gregory looks at me with a questioning expression on his face, wondering what the hell they are are talking about or why these random strangers would know his name or of him for that matter.

I simply smile at him and try to distract him by sharing some of my paint.

Gregory decides to take some of the magazines available and some of the old textbooks and instead of painting, he focuses on making a collage, which turns out amazing. He creates a grayish background that I cannot describe as anything other than 'nostalgia' or as the theme implies: 'longing.' 

He then creates a quote that reads: 'what we could be if only we weren't so scared of breaking what already is.'

It is such a simple quote and yet for some reason it resonates so much with me. It can mean a world of things, and I can't help but think about our situation, and what I am starting to wish happened between him and I.

The alcohol in the lemonade starts to take effect and Jennice and Clarissa already seem to be having fun with the dudes that have been serving the drinks.

'So much for a girls' night out,' I think to myself.

****

Gregory and I focus on finishing our projects and we both do what none of the others did, sign off our pieces.

Gregory decides to leave a little blue dot on top of my painting which he claims symbolizes 'imperfection,' which I should learn to be okay with. 

I then do the same to his drawing and put a pink dot on top of his quote. He looks hurt at the contrast of the bright pink and the really sad colors he added to his piece, but I defend myself by saying 'he started it.'

We all say bye to each other. Clarissa and Jennice decide to stay back for a little longer, leaving me, once again, by myself with Gregory. He offers to walk with me back to the hotel since his buddies bailed on him too. I accept since that is a much better plan than walking by myself.

We stare off into the night and though New York is the city where no one sleeps, this part of the city sure does seem peaceful.

Gregory and I start talking about upcoming assignments and it surprises me to see he is kind of a nerd. He says he simply gets things done and that he can procrastinate a lot too. I offer him to become study buddies, to which he accepts. 

We walk in silence and you would think it would be uncomfortable, but instead it feels warm and nice.

After a little while, Gregory starts to say something but then, as if regretting it, he decides to stay quiet instead. We continue walking in silence and we finally exchange phone numbers. We say good night and as an un-climatic ending, our night ends that way.

Note from author:

Hi Hi Hi! Please make sure to encourage me to keep writing by letting me know if you are liking the story so far. I know this is a very slow burner and that some people are used to more action, but know that I appreciate those who have stuck by me and those who are starting, please know you are welcomed!

See you next time <3