Moving on

20. Meeting Lily

"Hey, you're Lily, right?" I ask, tapping on the honey blonde's shoulder. She was indulged in her painting of a tiger with glasses on. It was funny, but cute too. The short girl snapped her neck back to me so quickly, I was afraid she hurt herself, but she just put her guard up, seeming to analyze me.

"Uh, yeah. Can I help you?" She asks with furrowed eyebrows. She didn't sound rude, just confused.

"Hey! I'm Skylar." I greet, holding out my hand. She cocks her head to the side, but moves to shake my hand, instantly blushing when she remembered she had the paintbrush in her hand and my hand turned orange and black as a result.

"S-sorry." She says softly, embarrassed.

"Hey, don't worry about it. At least now I can get my artistic vision going." I joke, pointing to my blank canvas. I really needed to start on this project considering it's a major grade, but I had zero inspiration at the moment.

"Well paint something silly and something you care about. That's what I'm doing."  She explains, gesturing to the title of her painting. It was called 'Tiger Woods.

"I don't get it." I admit sheepishly. To my surprise, she blushes and clears her throat. 

"Erm, that's okay. It's a little embarrassing anyways." She whispers, going back to her painting. Strange. 

"So a little birdy told me you were really good at Physics. Do you think you could maybe tutor me sometime? I'd pay you." I offer. Hey, Freddie said to find out info, but he never said I couldn't try to improve my grades in the process.

"But you don't even know me." She points out.

"Well then we can grab a drink first? Get to know each other. Friend date?" I propose. She giggles and it's pretty contagious because I'm laughing along as well.

"Girls, focus on your work as you converse." Our teacher says. Lily mumbles a "Yes ma'am" shyly as I put my head down in slight embarrassment.

"So how about it?" I whisper, mixing up some red and blue to make a grape-y purple.

"Sure. If I like you enough, I'll consider tutoring you." She says with a slightly cheeky voice. Dang, little Lily has sass.

"Great. It's a date. See you after school this Friday then." I confirm, smiling. This was going to be easy. Lily was super nice and I think we'd actually make good friends.

-

"Hey Skylar, want to go bowling this Friday?" Melanie asks in the hallway.

"Can't. Sorry Mel, I have plans. Maybe next week?" I offer.

"Oh, sure. Darrin can't go either, so I guess it'll just be me and Kenny." She says, darting her gaze to the ceiling. This was the perfect time for me to ask!

"Hey, do you have a thing for him?"

"Wh-what?!" She spurts, caught off guard.

"You heard me." I say, smiling.

"I-I, uh, Kenny doesn't really do the whole 'girlfriend' thing anyway. He's a flirt." She says sadly.

"That wasn't the answer to my question." I tell her. She looks a little flustered, but doesn't deny anything.

"Mel, tell him!" I encourage.

"Why should I? He likes you. Not me." She says, frowning.

"Not anymore Melanie. Put on your best outfit, impress the boy with your mad bowling skills, and seduce your man." I insist.

"Mad bowling skills? Skylar please. I always come in last place and I can't seduce him. I'm not even pretty." She says, sounding so insecure.