[GL] Black Gold

Chapter 65

Camie didn't like drawing. She realized it as soon as she held the crayon in her hand. She hated that the lines weren't doing what she wanted them to and she hated how long it took. In her mind she could see the lines perfectly well but reality being different from her imagination was frustrating her. That was the reason why she preferred photography. It may have sometimes been different from what she was seeing, it was fast.

She got reminded of all the times she drew as a child and all the times she realized that it wasn't her world and she promised herself never to try again. But for some reason it was different with Théa. She hated every line she traced but couldn't stop working. Every time she drew something she looked up at Théa, waiting for her reaction. She liked seeing her smile and liked seeing her all excited. That was enough to keep her going.

Théa didn't touch Camie and gave her space, showing and explaining to her the techniques over and over again. Nothing promising happened even after a whole hour but Théa still looked impressed for some reason. Every time she looked at her face, Camie didn't understand how they could be looking at the same drawing:

"It's ugly.

-It isn't!

-It is. I really am bad at drawing.

-Please don't say that, Camie. You have only started. No one is good at the beginning."

But Théa was good. She knew it. She always had talent, since the moment she grabbed her first paint brush as a child. She didn't paint realistic figures but even back then she had a sense for color theory and painted the most captivating flowers. Not taking anything from her hard work. Théa might have been talented, she wouldn't have gotten anywhere without giving it her all. But even as a toddler and even without any work she was better than Camie! Of course, wanting to say that made all the air in her lungs disappear.

"Camie? Are you okay? You look pale."

Camie quickly shook her head:

"I'm fine. I just got lost in thought."

Théa didn't seem convinced:

"I am so sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you. You need to rest."

Camie couldn't argue and was escorted back to her bed slowly. Seeing how worried Théa was, Camie had to comfort her:

"Don't worry, Théa. I really am fine. Thank you for teaching me. I had a good time.

-Really?

-Yes."

Wanting to divert Théa's attention, Camie grabbed her drawing:

"It's actually cute now that I look at it again. I never could have drawn a bat without your help. And it was way easier than I thought.

-It isn't easy. You are simply a perfect student."

Camie didn't think so but she just smiled. She knew that Théa was stubborn.

"I think you are a good teacher."

Théa smiled:

"Would you like to spend hours listening to me?

-Yes."

Théa was taken aback by the sudden answer. She looked away, trying to find something to say. Correction. She had a lot of things to say but couldn't say any of them. She suddenly came up with something, however:

"Would you like me to take a picture of you with your drawing?"

Camie blinked a few times:

"Like men with the fish they killed?"

Théa got taken aback but this time it was with laughter. It came out so suddenly that she didn't even have time to hide her mouth and Camie could see her perfect teeth. She didn't think she would ever be so fascinated by someone's teeth before. Was she born like that? How were they so white and straight? She must have had braces.

"Exactly like that. But you didn't kill that bat. You gave birth to it."

Camie tilted her head which made Théa slightly blush.

"Sorry, too cheesy?"

Camie shrugged. She liked anything Théa did.

"A bit but I liked it."

Camie looked down at the drawing, wondering how to hold it. No matter what she did she felt awkward. What did she usually do when her father or her friends took pictures of her? She did a peace sign with her fingers and smiled brightly but she felt weird letting go of the picture. Why was she doing a peace sign? She never did peace signs. Usually she only smiled or waved at the camera. She she was little she would pretend she was screaming for some reason. None of these sounded good so Camie forced herself to stop thinking and smiled awkwardly.

"Adorable."

Camie wondered how good she looked if Black Gold herself complimented her and looked at the screen. She did look cute but she looked way too awkward to be called adorable. She didn't dare contradict Théa however and smiled:

"Thank you."

Théa took way longer to look away from the picture, smiling ear to ear. Camie felt like she was intruding and didn't know if she should talk or not. She felt like a third wheel for some reason and she wasn't used to it. She ended up clearing her throat which made Théa jump:

"I'm sorry. Would it be too much if I posted this?

-Where?

-On my story. If you're not okay with it I won't."

Camie shrugged:

"Sure.

-Really?"

Théa looked so happy that Camie wasn't sure she understood the question correctly. But she didn't really care what Théa asked if it meant seeing her smile like that. Camie quickly shook her head, trying to come back to her senses. She had to stop staring at Théa. She had to stop being weird. She couldn't make Théa uncomfortable.

"I'll post it too."

Théa beamed even more and Camie had to look away not to be blinded. She looked at her phone and tried to figure out how to post something on her story. It was then that Camie realized how little she really used her phone and she had to ask Théa for a bit of help. Ten seconds after the picture got posted, Camie received a text on her friend's group:

Emma: Camie? Are you okay?

Topiary: Camie posted a story?????

Nylora: Who took that picture? Your father doesn't take such good pictures.

Nylora: No offense but it's true.

Topiary: Amaltheia posted the same picture. Are you two together perhaps?

Emma: Can you meet people already?

Camie got taken aback by the speed at which her phone was lighting up and seeing her face, Théa frowned:

"Are you okay?

-Yes."

Théa waited for Camie to say more:

"Would you mind if the girls came over tomorrow? They saw the picture and really wanted to see me."

Théa did her best not to sound disappointed:

"Of course I wouldn't mind. You don't have to ask me such things. Your friends must have been very worried about you. They have been asking me about you non stop.

-Really?"

Théa flinched.

"Yes. I'm sorry. Maybe I should have told them that I came to see you.

-Why didn't you?"

Seeing the way Théa's eyes shined made Camie bit her lips.

"You know what? That's not important. Aren't you tired? I am really tired. Let's go to bed. Good night."

She turned away and closed her eyes but what she heard next was a whisper:

"Because I wanted to be alone with you."