here without you

45

My eyes move over Jade and her exposed body. I get this sudden urge and rush of inspiration which I haven't felt in a while. All I want to do is draw. And I know exactly what.

"I want to draw your body."

Jade blinks at me. "You want to draw my body?"

"I mean... I... That was a weird thing to say, wasn't it?" I let out a nervous laugh.

"No, it wasn't," she says. "In some strange way, I actually found it kinda hot and attractive."

She does that thing where she smiles while biting her lip. I think, I find that kinda hot and attractive.

"I'd love to let you draw my body," she says.

I'm beaming when I grab the pen on my bedside table and the book in its drawer. I start drawing her, my head still full of that excitement.

"Your body, Jade, is..." I pause. "I don't even know." I shake my head. "There's no explanation for it."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You should. You definitely should."

Her body shakes a little from laughter.

"Well, your body, Roze, is..." I look up from the paper. She's grinning. "It's all right."

It makes me laugh. I go back to drawing, saying, "I've never liked my body, to be honest. It's not as if I dislike it, but I've never liked it too much."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not." I shrug. "Isn't that kinda normal? People - especially girls - are usually not content with their body. At least that is what it feels like."

"I am content with my body," she says. "I like my body." I hear her smiling. "Especially when it is in contact with yours."

My mouth twitches. "I like your body too."

"You should also like your own. Honestly, I don't get you at all. What is there not to like about it?"

I shrug. "I don't have boobs or a butt."

"Actually, you do have boobs and also a butt. I've seen both, so I know."

"You know what I mean, Jade."

"Okay, your boobs are small and so is your butt. So what?" She gives me a cheeky grin. "I find both more than amazing."

"But," I say, smiling, "I am tall, and I am skinny."

"Like a model."

"More like a beanpole."

"Then I guess I like beanpoles."

We're quiet for a while; there is comfortable silence. Then Jade says, "I like your body just as it is." She does that lip bite smile. "I like you just as you are. And I'm talking about all of you. Not just your looks."

I'm sure I am beaming as brightly as Christmas lights right now. I bend down to Jade, touch her cheek, and place a light kiss on her lips. I draw back, and I say, "Since when are you this cheesy?"