I'm not in love with you... Right?

Paint a Picture

Daphne

His minty scent filled my lungs as he pulled me into a hug. I felt blood rush to my face as I stiffened and my heart stopped for a second or two before continuing at double its usual speed, the insides of my tummy were spinning like a washing machine, but I didn't feel quite sick, I felt... Happy.
What was this feeling? And why did it only seem to happen when he was around?
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his hands softly brushing my cheeks as he stared deeply into my eyes. His hand rested on my cheek and he said

" You're gorgeous, Daph, and you're not even trying. God damn me when you do " My eyes widen at his words and I tried to leave, but he simply pulled me back and I fell onto his rock-hard chest.

" I've got to go, " I said, blushing like a tomato

" Where? " He asked, amused

" ...Class? " I lied pathetically

" It's break, silly, " he said pinching my nose.

" Can I at least eat my food? "

" Please " he scoffed, rolling his eyes, " Like you were ever going to finish it "

" Hey! I might've... "

" Right " He chuckled sarcastically

We lay there on the grass, tucked against each other, everything feeling... Right. I- I...

★★★

We got to my house and he didn't even bother going home, he just headed for my bed and grabbed some CocoPops.

" Seriously? "

" This is the only reason I come here, " he said his mouth full of cereal and I burst out in laughter.

" Well, now you're in debt, you gotta study to make up for it " he gagged at the word study which increased my laughter.

" H-How about?... We paint! " He struggled to come up with a lie to avoid studying

" Nice try, we're studying "

" I bet you can't paint yourself "

" How dare you?! " He'd got me, my only weakness. A challenge. He smirked in reply

" Well, can you? "

" Of course, I've been painting since I was 6 " he looked shocked for a moment or two, but then covered it up and said

" Prove it " I changed into my overalls and set up my easel, Canvas, and Pallet in front of a mirror.

★★★

" Matt! I think it's dry now " He rushes to the balcony and looks down at the painting. It looked just like me.

" Woah, " He said his eyes a bit wide and his cheeks tainted rose " It's beautiful "

" It's me " I scoffed and rolled my eyes

" Yeah... " he held both my shoulders gently and looked into my eyes " You're beautiful " My face became instantly heated, why did he have this effect on me?

" Uhh... " I wanted to speak, but my mouth couldn't form words anymore. He smirked and picked up the painting while I was still in a daze then slid down the tree outside my room's balcony. It was then I finally snapped out of it.

" Hey! Where're you going with that? " But he simply winked and said

" See ya " in return. I couldn't slide down trees so I ran down the stairs and out the gate and burst onto the street. My eyes searched frantically before spotting his muscular back and running after it.

Minutes of chasing led me to a standard duplex. I opened the door gently and ran up the stairs, to find Matteo in his room, hanging it on his wall and I blushed a little bit.

" Get it down! Why would you even want me up there " I try to take it down, but I'm too short and can't reach, he chuckled at my failed attempt and then said

" Cuz you're stunning. I always want to look at you, or would you rather me staring all the time "

" Like you don't already " I muttered, but I doubt he heard me, my rose tainted cheeks became a full-blown blush. He ruffled my hair when patting it and replied

“ Short child ”

" Uhh... " I said, dumbfounded, my face completely red and my heart pounding from how close he was to me.

“ Are you blushing? ”

“ Uhh... N-no ”

“ For me? ” he said with a small smirk

“ Of course not ” I said, snapping back to my senses. Me? And the school's player? Yeah, right, it was a funny idea, which made it fun to fantasize. So why did my head say no, but my heart otherwise? I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't. That was the feeling. I was... Fall...ing...