Recap:
"Zoe..."he spoke in a husky whisper
"Yeah?"I replied
"Did you see me in the studio?"he suddenly put his brush down
I instantly snapped my head towards him and my mouth fell open.
"I...uhhhh"I froze and choked on my words
Chapter 12:Secrets & Mandatory Employment
"Look,I know you did"he sighed
"I did.."I admitted "What's wrong with you,Zane?"I asked hanging my head low
"Well,when I was a kid I was fat.Obese.I was ugly and teased all of the time"he kicked the sand with his feet
"Nobody wanted me,not even my own dad.He was an athlete and ashamed to call me his son.My parents fought over it,and they divorced"he bit his lip nervously and continued
"They divorced over me.Can you imagine how I felt?"he looked up at me
"Kids at school teased the living hell out of me because I could never run the miles on time.This went on through my freshman and sophomore year in high school.I was called a fat ass.I was beat up...badly"his eyes wandered on the canvas
"I decided to do something about it.I stopped eating.All together.I starved myself and hit the gym.It was my addiction."he looked ashamed
"I took weight loss pills.I dropped all of the weight and gained muscles,but that wasn't enough to make my dad love me.I grew up so insecure.I was drawn to painting.It was my only escape.I told my mom and we moved here.Just my mom and I.She tried to help me out.I think she was more scared of me than anything...."he paused
I looked up at him and he looked pissed.He started painting again but this time he worked fast.He dipped his brush in the paint and stroked furiously.
"All of a sudden I was 'hot' and 'sexy'.It wasn't enough"he flashed a painful smile
"My stomach would literally growl so loud it hurt.I couldn't eat anything.My body couldn't hold down any food.No matter how hard I tried.."he switched brushes
"You saw me.You saw me throw up.I didn't mean to do it.I couldn't hold it down."he looked down at himself in disgust
"Now everybody looks at me and expects me to be my best.I work extra hard just to build more muscle.To look good for once...."he stopped and dropped his brushes down
"Zane,you need help"I stood up and grabbed my shoes
"Your the one that helps me"his eyes met mine
"What?"I raised my eyebrows "I've been nothing but a complete asshole to you" I confessed honestly
"You keep my mind off of it.You helped me take interest in painting again"he flipped the canvas over and he showed me
It was brilliant.Perfect.The painting was amazing.It looked spot on like me.It was so perfect, it didn't even look like a painting.
"B-But..."I stuttered
"You don't need to do anything,but don't tell anyone.Just keep being you,Zoe"he smiled
"Okay..thanks"I grinned and spun the ring around my finger
Caleb.I'm going to prom with Caleb.
"Prom..."I muttered
"Don't worry about it.I'm going with someone else"he sighed
"Okay"I stepped on the rocks and slipped busting my knee open
YOU ARE READING
The Boy Next Door
Teen FictionSixteen year old Zoey's life was perfect and peaceful. That is until bad news popped up in the neighborhood. He also happens to live right next door to her. Turns out Zane, the new boy, is hot as hell and also her age. He sends Zoey Jewel's heart ra...
