[Hidden with a Smile.]

❹

His warmth is what stayed in my mind all day.

During the rest of the day, all I could think about was how warm his chest was, and how he held me softly even though he seemed stronger. Even after school, as I walked home from the cafè that me, Desiree, and sometimes the whole gang hang out at after school, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It seemed like it went by in a flash, so how could I remember it as if I had time to soak it all in?

I don't know, maybe I'm just a weird person who memorizes another person's body temperature....wow, I'm not surprised I have so many problems if that's true.

Now it's the next day and I'm still thinking about him.

"Hey, Azalea, what's wrong?" Dean asked me worriedly as we walked into the school's doors.

"Ah, what do you mean?" I questioned back.

"It's just, you have this thoughtful expression as if you're worried about something. What happened? Did flounder get caught by fishermen?"

I snickered a bit and lightly punched him in the arm. "No, for the fiftieth time, I don't live in the ocean."

"Then what's up?"

"I'm just...trying to think of what I should write for my creative writing class" I answered, thinking up an excuse.

"Oh, well I know you'll think of something with that imaginative mermaid mind of yours!" Dean said, as he did a little twist.

I laughed at his move, then got interrupted.

Grayson, the guy who caught me yesterday, the one that I thought of all night, the one who's known for being anti-social, the one I watch draw fantastic sketches everyday in the park, was walking in a long hall that stood in front of the one I was strolling down.

"Ah, I never said thank you to him..." I thought, watching him carefully.

"...Hey Dean, can you take my bag to first period? I need to go do something!" I asked, already handing him my bag.

"Ah sure, but there's only 15 minutes until the bell!"

"Don't worry, I'll make it!"

I booked it down the hall I was in, trying to catch up to him. Some kids stopped me a few times with "Hey"'s and a couple "RUN, FORREST, RUN!"'s, but fortunately, my long legs were fast too. Right as I turned a corner, I caught him walking into a room.

As I got to the door of the room, I peeked into it. "An Art room? Well, it would make sense, since he's such a great sketcher."

I slowly opened the door to the art classroom, peering into it cautiously.

"What the heck am I doing? I feel like I'm spying on someone."

"Who's there?" A masculine voice asked, as I hear foot steps coming towards me. I walk the rest of the way into the room and look in the direction the voice came from. It was Grayson, his hands were already filled with paint, and he wore a stained artist apron.

"Oh," Grayson starts, as he puts down some paints onto an easel, "it's that clumsy girl".

"What?! How do you even know if I'm clumsy? I only fell once, and you just happened to be there to see that. That doesn't pr--" I quickly stopped before I got out of hand. I sighed, my hand unknowingly sliding through my hair.

"Sorry, it's a force of habit to say my opinion like that. Um,....I wanted to say thank you for yesterday, you really saved my bones. If there's anything I can do for you, I wouldn't mind" I said, smiling and rubbing the back of my head.

Grayson just stood there, staring at me as if he was inspecting me. Let's just say I began to feel VERY nervous.

"Well.....I'M GONNA GO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I WILL SEE YOU IN CLASS!" I announced, swiftly turning and walking towards the door.

"...Wait," Grayson said right before I exited the door, "there is something you may be able to help me with".

"Oh, then what is it?" I asked, stepping back inside the room.

"Will you be my model for a new painting I want to do?"

I looked at him, a bit surprised. "W-what?"

"Well, I've been trying to look for something, or someone, to paint, and I believe you'll make an interesting subject."

I sit down on a stool near one of the tables, thinking for a while. "This seems like a very awkward question, but....there's not gonna be anything that has to do with me nude, right?"

At this, Grayson let out a light chuckle, which I have to admit, is very cute. "No, of course not, unless I suppose internally exposing yourself counts."

"Ah, then....okay, I'm fine with that, I think."

"Great, then meet me here after school on Friday, that'll be our first meeting."

"Oh, before I leave, one thing..."

"Yes, what is it?"

"My name's Azalea Pierce, if you didn't know, so next time you greet me, no more "clumsy girl"" I told him, before turning around and walking out of the door.

Before I exited the room fully, I heard Grayson laugh softly then turn back to his work.

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Author's Note:

============

Hello hello! Sorry I haven't updated this for a while, it's just been really hard to due to school and my other stories, hopefully I'll try to put in more effort to this one! It's not that great right now, but it's just the beginning, I'll try to make it more interesting soon! Thank you for reading, please comment what you think of it so far, AISHITERU~!

ARRIVEDERCI~

~Olives