Shattered Desires

Chapter Three

*Flashback*

Priyanka's POV

Ved, Maya and I finally finished my portfolio and cleaned off the paint. Ved changed into one of my dad's shirts and sweatpants which was a couple sizes too big for him. Maya always had a set of spare clothes here and she just wore her leggings with a top and cardigan. Jia aunty cooked us a nice dinner and Maya finally left for home along with Ved.

The next day, I took my portfolio and submitted it to my teacher. She said the portfolio was done exceptionally and professionally. I was happy that I was able to fix the damage. I had first lunch and Maya had second lunch so I decided to stay back in the art room and paint by myself. As I was painting a landscape, I heard footsteps behind me. Without turning around, I could sense Vikram's towering presence behind me.

"Ms. Short said I might find you here." he said. I said nothing and continued to paint. He watched me paint for some time before he broke the silence.

"Pri, I am sorry for yesterday." he said in remorse. I still didn't respond and continued to swirl the colors on my paint palette, ignoring him. He stood there, his feet tapping impatiently.

"Say something dammit!" he said, after a minute of my unresponsive behavior.

 I stood up to paint a spot on top of the canvas and Vikram pulled me to his chest, my back facing his chest.

"Vikram, leave me." I said, holding my breath.

"No. Never." he said, burying his head in my hair. I exhaled heavily, my warm breath on his arm.

"Vikram, let me go. You behaved so horribly with me yesterday and now you are behaving so nicely? What are you even doing?" I asked, my eyes now open. I was not going to give in to him easily.

"I am hugging you." he said simply. Then he spun me around, the brush still in my hand.

"I don't want to be friends anymore." he said.

"Then?" I asked him, gazing at his brown eyes with flecks of hazel and gold in them.

"I want you to be mine." he said. "Will you?"

I dropped the brush in my hand, the turquoise color paint splattering on my new jeans. It clattered to the floor, rolling down the floor to finally rest next to my easel. I looked at him deeply, searching for my answer.

I couldn't say anything but my eyes said more than any amount of words could ever confess how I felt for him. He pulled me to his chest and I wrapped my arms around his muscular frame. He held me like a delicate flower as I inhaled his minty fresh scent. His every body part was leaving a trail of fire across my pale skin and I relaxed under his scorching touch. My body hummed along with his and everything around us swirled around in a whirlpool of color and became a world that existed of only the two of us. My heartbeat matched his and his hold around my frame fit like a snug glove, pre-made to perfection.

I finally whispered it after I could overcome the rush of suddenly awakened feelings I thought I would never feel, the feelings that were dormant until now.

"I love you." I whispered slowly enough to relish the moment, just for the two of us to hear. He wordlessly kissed my forehead and said it back to me in his husky voice. The moment was perfect except for the warning bell that resonated loudly in the art studio. Vikram gently let go of me and looked at me with a new attraction behind his eyes.

"We should go." I said, tucking a stray piece of hair that fell out of my ponytail. I turned to leave but Vikram took my hand. I looked at him in question but he walked with me out of the Art Studio, our hands interlocked for the world to see that he was mine and that I was his.