Bobcat

Artists

Chapter Songs:
Secrets - Jack and Eliza
I'll Be Seeing You -Billie Holliday

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Cole's POV:

All she had said was I don't know. What was she scared of? The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. I had to show her that she actually meant something to me. I had been busy with working on my photography. They had offered me my own exhibit at one of the smaller art galleries, but making Delia happy for the last few months or so had been the biggest goal for me. I would do anything to hear her tell me how stupid I was.

I was sitting at my desk in my room with my head in my hands. It was late, and I was finishing up the last edits of the picture of Delia in front of the window. The light came in through the room, making dense shadows against the wall off my furniture and messed up sheets. The pink light was splayed against half her face as she held the sheet against her. It was almost as beautiful as she was. It was going to be my main piece. It was going to be the largest printed at the exhibit and sit front and center. That's when I had it. My idea.

I could make the entire exhibit about her. Every picture could be her. I don't know if it'd make a difference, but I really wanted to show her that I was all in. It had been over a month of hanging out and going places and weird lunch dates in the quad and late night study for the two classes we had together when we barely studied anyway and sitting next to each other in those classes and sporadic picture taking and multiple colors on her arms from her acrylic paintings. It had to work. I wanted nothing more than for her to understand what she meant to me. I wasn't a one time thing, and if TMZ wanted to start a rumor that we were dating, I would fill that rumor with truth so quickly that they might jizz themselves. I was going to do it. I pulled up every photo I had ever taken of her and started my editing.

It was now almost three in the morning, and I decided to take a break. I looked at my phone. The exhibit people had called me earlier. I didn't answer, so now I was left staring at the voicemail notification. I guess it was time to actually listen to it.

Voicemail: "Mister Sprouse. This is Anne Londale at the New York Art Institute. I was wondering if you could come by at some point tomorrow at your convenience. I have some news for you that I think you will enjoy. "

I sighed before clicking my phone shut. I'd stop by tomorrow morning and see what was going on. There was only another month before my exhibit release date. I'd get them all done. Procrastination at its finest even though I enjoyed any picture with her in it.

It hadn't taken me long to get to the building the next morning. I pulled the glass door open, walking through what was the opening exhibit now. I didn't bother to look around, as my fingers slid in my pockets. I walked up the back stairs to the main exhibit. Walking through it, I couldn't help but glance around. There were small paintings and large portraits. Delia should really paint a large portrait. It'd be beautiful. She had such an eye for detail. I pushed through the doors at the end of the first room, walking towards the office. I knocked on Anne's open door, peering in. She sat behind her desk, typing away in her dark red suit jacket. She waved me in, and I sat in one of the black leather chairs opposite her across the desk.

"You wanted to see me?" I asked quizzically. She leaned back in her chair with a smile, shaking her head lightly.

"Well hello to you, too, Cole." I laughed lightly. I guess I had just jumped into it. I waved slightly before she continued. "We'll give you time to think on it, but we don't have an opening exhibit for you. We were wondering if you would weigh in wit-"

"Delia. Delia Marin." I didn't hesitate. I didn't even let her finish, and I knew who I wanted it to be. Anne looked at me with a raised eye brow. I seemed so sure of it.

"We'll need a portfolio from them. Can you get it to me in the next week?" I nodded quickly as my hands gripped the arm rests of my chair. I leaned forward in anticipation. I just had to get her portfolio from her somehow. "Then I don't see a problem. I'm sure they're wonderful enough to open for you. Actually, we'll pretend I've already seen the portfolio. You seem absolutely sure of this Delia. Your whole body is giving off this justified vibe. Just let them know that they already have the spot. We need their work two weeks from today." I could feel my heartbeat in every part of my body. I could feel it in the back of my throat as I stood up, holding my hand out to Anne.

"Always a pleasure doing business with you, Cole. Tell them congratulations." I gave her a warm thank you. This is exactly what I needed, an entire exhibit on her gracefulness and beauty with her opening gallery so close to mine. Everyone could see her beauty inside and out in one building. It was absolutely perfect. Now the only thing to do was to tell her about what was happening. I had to come up with some nice way of doing it. I wasn't sure if it was her first exhibit or not, but an exhibit is an exhibit.

I walked into her apartment not even thirty minutes later. All you had to do was jiggle the handle enough, which was awful. I wish she had a better place to stay. My roommate, my own brother, had practically already moved in with Nova. His room was open. It made me uncomfortable that someone could just break in like that. Granted I did it all the time, but that wasn't the point. I shut the door behind me as I called out.

"Hey, Delia? Let's go do something." I made my way to her room, knocking on her door, giving it a few minutes before pushing it open. She was passed out with paperwork on her stomach and a book in her hand. Her cheek was pressed against the corner of the hardback book. She worked so hard. Maybe she really did need a nap every day of her life. She deserved one now more than ever anyway. I quietly walked to her bed, pulling the papers carefully from her. I set them on her desk next to her drawing of me, smiling softly at the perfectionist markings against my drawn features. She had framed it now. There were only four notes from class on the paper, but the rest was an etched and shaded side view of me. It sat against her desk in view from every angle of her room. It was very safe to say that even though it had only been almost three months, the sleeping girl was my best friend. My fingers grazed against hers as I gently took the book from her hand, marking the page and closing it, sliding it on top of the papers.

She looked so peaceful. Not a single part of me wanted to wake her. I gently brushed the hair away from her face before my finger grazed over her hooped nose piercing to her lips. I smiled as her eyes fluttered open slowly, her lips gently kissing my finger before she smiled up at me sleepily. She scooted over in bed lazily, leaving enough room for me before reaching forward and gently pulling me by my shirt. I chuckled as I kicked my shoes off and crawled in bed next to her. Her bed was slightly smaller than mine, but I saw no problem with it. I slid my arm behind her head, letting her rest her cheek against my bicep as I pulled her into my chest. Perfection. It was right in front of me, and I was going to do anything I could to keep it that way.

I gently pressed my lips to her forehead, sliding my hand against her back. She let out a soft sigh, and I knew she felt it too. She felt the same perfection. She had to. That sigh was an all knowing sigh, and I had to of been doing something right. Her hand slid over my side and up my chest, resting against my neck. I turned my head slowly, gently kissing along the inside of her wrist. She snuggled into me even more, her hand moving up to my chin. She tugged it gently, as her lips met my jaw.

"Best friend goals," she mumbled. "You came over just to nap." She smiled softly, but there it was for me. The friend zone all over again. It had been months of this. Months of her being pressed up against me until I couldn't breathe of pure ecstasy only for her to emotionally push me away. "Cole, we should go out tomorrow and do something." It was the perfect time for me to show her the surprise. I smiled as I nodded slightly in agreement. I already had an idea of where to take her.

"Like that date you wanted."

My heartbeat was in the back of my throat again as I slowly looked down at her. Her lips were against my jaw and were moving to my chin. My hand moved from her waist to cup the side of her face as her lips found mine. There she was. Right in front of me. Everything I could have asked for, what I had been working so hard for. Her lips were slowly moving against mine as I ran my fingers through her hair in a sleepy fashion. We were both asleep within the next few minutes. I fell asleep holding her for the first time since that night.