Sketch

Chapter 4

I got down on my knees at the foot of Devon's bed and clapped my hands together, as if I was praying. He snorted but I stood my ground and leaned on his knees.

"Please Devon!" I begged.

"No way," He smirked.

"I've shown you my drawings! No you have to sing for me!" I huffed.

"I never saw that in our friendship contract," He said.

"Well I don't remember signing said friendship contract," I countered.

"Oh you signed it alright. The moment you said 'Go away' to me, it was official," He laughed.

"Well thanks for telling me! I would have said 'Have lunch with me' instead," I pouted.

"Ah ah ah, that was my line, remember?" He smirked.

"Oh, whatever," I sighed, resting my arms across Devon's knees and laying my had down on them, looking up at him.

"Don't you 'whatever' me woman," He scoffed playfully.

"You totally begging me to smack you, " I smiled sweetly.

"Indeed I am," He smiled back.

"All you had to do was ask. I can arrange that," I snorted.

"You wouldn't smack me," He snorted, "You love me too much."

"Ha!" I laughed. "Me? Love you? Like that'll ever happen."

"A boy can dream I guess," He chuckled quietly under his breath and I pretended not to hear him.

"You're a very annoying person, you know that?" I groaned.

"You wounldn't hang out with me if that were true," He pointed.

"I beg to differ! I only hang out with you because you buy me food," I glared.

"Is that so?" He smirked.

"It is," I said firmly.

"Suuuure," He smiled. I rolled my eyes at him and hopped up from the ground, grabbed my sketchpad and layed down on his bed, all in one swift, fluid motion. I put the pencil to the paper and let my idea's flow. I could sit and draw for hours without even getting up. Drawing was my escape from the world and the good Lord knows I need to escape every once in a while. My life had a little more to hold than just having a drunk mom.

"Hey Natalia?" Devon said quietly as he sat back beside me.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"Do you really not like me?" He asked softly. I looked at him, a frown tugging its way onto my face. I wanted to push him away, yes. But hurt him? No, he didn't deserve that.

"Of course not," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Then why don't you let me in?" He inquired.

"I do let you in. My front door is always unlocked remember? Drunk mom?" I said, trying to change the subject.

"You know that's not what I meant," Devon frowned.

"I know," I sighed.

"You push me away and you change the subject a lot," He said. He paused for a moment and look down at his hands, whispering, "And you lie to me."

"I don't lie to you Devon," i said firmly.

"You just did," He snorted.

"Devon...," I sighed.

"Natalia, you don't need to hide anything from me," He said, putting his hand on mine, which was gripping a pencil tightly.

"Yes I do," I whispered, more to myself than him.

"Why?" He asked. I closed my eyes and jerked my hand away from his and hopped of the bed, clutching my sketchpad against my chest. I dashed towards the door but Devon beat me there. He backed me up against the wall and put his hand against the wall beside me.

"You're safe with me Natalia! I swear," He promised.

"And what makes you so sure that you're safe with me? Huh?" I growled. I dropped my sketchpad to the floor and pushed Devon back. I wasn't very strong but he didn't expect me to push him so he staggered back. I yanked the door open and ran out, ignoring Devon's pleading from behind me. I bolted out the front door whirled on Devon, who was right on my heals. He skidded to a halt in front of me, a sad expression on his face.

"Please Natalia," He pleaded. "Please don't leave."

I shook my head and bite the inside of my cheek to keep myself from saying what I really wanted to. I'm not going anywhere.

"I'm sorry Devon," I whispered. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"What are you talking about?" He begged and reached out to grab my arm but I was already gone. I dashed down the street and cast a quick look over my shoulder just as Devon's fist connected with the wall by the front door. I screeched to a stop and stared in horror at him as he shook his bloody hand, swearing. I desperately wanted to run to him, to make sure he was okay, but I knew I would only make it worse. I always do.

I curled up in my bed, cocooning myself in my sheets. Images of Devon's face and his injured hand flashed across my eyes every time I closed my eyes so I had given up on sleep a while ago. It normally didn't hurt this bad. People had tried to get close to me before but I usually pushed them away before any real connection was made. And it never hurt to see them go. But maybe it was different this time because I was the one who left.

I heard the front door slam shut and something glass break and I sighed. Mom's home. I pulled myself out of my bed and made my way to the kitchen where my mother was leaning against the wall.

"Well, Hello there you little rascal," My mother slurred, a stupid grin on her face. She smelled strongly of smoke and alcohol.

"Hey mom," I said quietly.

"Stop screaming!" She yelled. "You're making my headache worse!"

"Sorry mom," I sighed.

"And what's with the attitude, huh?" She sneered.

"I'm just tired," I lied.

"Then go to bed," She laughed.

"Yes ma'am," I nodded but rolled my eyes internally.

"Good little girl," My mother hiccuped.

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Sorry I haven't been updating often! I've been getting a ton of homework but luckily I finished ahead of schedule today. I also wanted to say thank you to wolf_at_heart07 for being the first to comment on this story! She left some really nice feedback! Go follow her!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to comment and vote!