Crooked Neighbor, Crooked Heart

Eight

<Zayn>

I look at Ava the entire way back to the campus. Her eyes are waxed over and they have a far off look in them.

What is going on in that head of hers? She looks sad and thoughtful, beautiful really.

I have so many questions after today's little incident but I know she won't answer them, not yet at least.

The train comes to a stop and she snaps back into reality. Harry and Jenna are the first to jump off while I hang back with Ava. To my surprise she looks at me and opens her mouth to say something but stops. Instead she shakes her head and keeps walking.

"Hey Ava," Jenna calls, "Harry and I are thinking of getting some ice cream at that little shop a few blocks over, wanna come?"

"No thanks I'm not feeling it, i'll just see you back at the dorm."

The way that Jenna looks at her is as if she knows something isn't right, but, instead of arguing she nods and smiles. "Ok I will see you later then. take care of her Zayn." The look in her eyes tells me that I better do as told.

"Don't worry I will."

As soon as they are out of earshot I expect Ava to protest my company but instead she begins walking and calls, "This way Z."

I follow.

Their dorm is exactly how I thought it would be (not that I imagine what Ava's room looks like in my spare time). I assume Jenna's side to be the one with color and band posters and random stuff littering the wall.

Ava's is much more understated. A light comforter and a shelf full of books. I wonder if she's read them all? Sketches and doodles cover every available spot on her wall. They're amazing.

"Home sweet home," she sighs and flops onto her bed.

I grab a desk chair and scoot it over to examine the drawings more closely.

Many of them are human forms (male and female) and yes, they are nude. However nothing is really ... on display; she picked angles and poses that keep personal areas unseen or covered.

They are really quite breathtaking.

As I take them in I notice that she never gives them a face; it is always covered by an arm or hair or the back if the head.

Huh.

I finally turn back towards Ava and she is watching me intently, observing my reactions. However, once I make eye contact her eyes flick away and a slight blush forms on her cheekbones.

It must be the lighting or something, Ava Robins does not blush.

She is the first to break the silence.

"So what do you think of them? be brutally honest."

She chews her lip nervously.

Why is she nervous about my opinion?

"Honestly I think they're fantastic."

Her eyes light up and her smile begins to grow. "Seriously?"

"Yeah I mean they are literally perfect and they are only sketches. I'd love to see some of your finished work sometime."

That does it. Her small smile spreads into one that would make the Cheshire Cat envious. I have never seen it before and it's quite stunning.

I'm pretty proud that I was the cause of it.

"All in good time."

"I do have a question though," I say.

"Shoot."

"Well," I begin slowly, "why don't any of them have faces? I mean why did you keep them all hidden?"

She waits a moment, carefully thinking over her response.

"It's too ... personal."

I must look extremely confused because she goes on.

"Well as humans we can't make up faces. Every face we see in our dreams or imaginations is one that we have seen at one point or another, whether we realize it or not. It could be someone you bumped into on the street or sat next to on the subway.

"I don't want to take anyone's face away from them and screw it up. Plus I can never get the eyes right. I'm never able to correctly capture that emotion and essence of the person, so I just leave them out."

I nod my head still a bit confused but it doesn't really matter if I don't get it, it just needs to make sense to her.

I'm still contemplating her response when she pulls out her sketch pad.

"Alright Z this isn't going to be a nude sketch so don't get all excited. Just hold still."

I obey and keep absolutely still, I don't want to ruin the moment.

I watch her eyes as she works. Her green eyes flick quickly from me to the paper and I'm captivated.

<Ava>

Ok fine I'll admit it, he is pretty good looking. Like model good looking.

Drawing him gives me an excuse to check him out. Don't judge me.

I finish his body which is leaning over the back of the chair and begin to work on his head.

Damn that jawline.

I resist the urge to just keep staring and tear my eyes away.

"Alright finished."

I actually finished about five minutes ago.

"Am I allowed to see it?"

I hold out the paper to him. His eyes widen and he looks up at me. I find myself chewing my lip in anticipation of his response.

What the fuck Ava? Since when have you give a shit about anyone's opinion?

He smiles.

Smiles.

With his perfect white teeth. My breath hitches in my throat.

Oh shit.

__________________________

HI IT'S FINALLY DONE SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT!

SCHOOL STARTED SO UPDATES ARE GOING TO BE EVEN LATER NOW. SORRRYYYY :(((

But yeah feel free to comment and vote love you all!

Xx