elusive love || s. mendes

one

"it's beautiful isn't it? look at the brush strokes—and the detailing."

i admire the painting that was in front of me and him. i intertwined my hand in his, his soft, muscular hands respond back. i've always loved art. i visited art museums often with shawn, he didn't like art as much as i did. but he never wanted me alone and besides, he loved it when he saw me passionate about something i loved.

he's been brought down by others words before. and i found it hard to believe that someone would wanna hurt a sweetheart like him.

"yeah, it truly is breath taking."

i tear my gaze from the painting and onto shawn. i see that he's been staring intently at me. i rest my head against his shoulder, even though he's 6'3, which made it hard for me to reach. it didn't matter. i enjoyed spending time with shawn in these art museums, he loved it too.

"and i'm not talking about the painting."

my eyes widen, well that caught me off guard. i blush a deep scarlet, shawn chuckles, tilting my head upwards. he caresses my cheek gently, admiring me. we were best friends, but had feelings for each other i guess. the situation i was in with shawn was complicated.

i shake my head from the thought, instead i drag shawn to, this time, a sculpture. i gaze at it, a woman sitting down on a rock with her elbow on her thigh, and her palm on her chin. she looked as if she'd been in deep thought. she looked beautiful. i read the caption engraved in the marble.

"greek goddess of love, beauty, and eternal youth. aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty and according to hesoid's theogony, she was born from the foam in the waters of paphos, on the island of cyprus."

i admire the sculpture once again, taking in every detail on this marble beauty. shawn did as well. i sighed.

"i wish i was as beautiful as a goddess. i mean i have rolls on my stomach. pimple scars on my face. and a terrible sense of humor."

i confess. shawn's image changed to a more sad state, he looked serious, but softened his gaze at me. he gently held my hand, squeezing it.

"paulina you are beautiful just the way you are. take another look at the sculpture,"

i look at it again, seeing no flaws whatsoever.

"what about it?"

i become curious.

"look, aphrodite has rolls on her stomach as well. no one is perfect. not even aphrodite. honestly, you're just as much of a goddess as she is if you think about it."

i feel my heart beat quicken. why is he so attractive? we're best friends since we we were born.. a brother and sister bond. i look to the sculpture, seeing rolls on her stomach. i never took notice to it until now. i feel my eyes tear up, i wrap my arms around shawn's torso. i hear his heartbeat quicken, i smile softly.

"thank you."

i whisper against his chest. he smells divine.

"i'm just speaking the truth paulina. you are beautiful, believe me when i say so."

i shake my head, releasing myself from his grip. shawn pouts, opening his arms for me to enter.

"love meeee."

i sigh, rolling my eyes.

"i'll love you if you stop telling me these lies. i am not a goddess nor am i close to being one. and how would you know if i had rolls?"

he raises his eyebrows with the "are you kidding" me look. but his mood soon changes to a smirk plastered on his handsome features.

"well first off, those are your words, not mine. second off, i actually don't know if you have rolls or not. why don't you take your shirt off for me so i can find out for myself?"