Painting

Chapter 28

I listen carefully to the sound of our footsteps in the snow. Yesterday, after Victor and I got back in the house. It began to snow like crazy. The ground is covered.

I bend over to take some snow in my hand. Give it a shape and trow it at Tyler. He receives it on his coat. He turns around and look at me. He bends over too and takes some snow. He trows it, but I hide behind Victor, who receives it on his shoulder and his face.

He looks at me, then Tyler. He takes some snow in his hand and trows it at me.

It goes in my hair.

-Why me?

-Because you started it.

He smirks at me.

-What are you going to do about it?

-I'll act like a grown up.

-Really?

I feel something really cold down my back, melting. I turn around. Tyler is laughing. I tackle him into the snow. He laughs even more.

-You look cute when you're mad.

-What's that suppose to mean?

-It means that you look cute, when you're mad. Why are people always searching for a hidden meaning?

Victor lays down beside us.

-It means you're cute, even when you're mad.

I get back on the ground. I smile, but it disappears.

-I'm not cute.

They sigh at the same time. Tyler looks at Victor.

-You want me to say it or?

-Go on.

-June?

-Yes?

-Why do you think you're not cute?

-Because, I'm not, that's just it. I don't think anyone would want a girl like me.

-Why?

-I'm not cute, I'm weird.

-Victor take it from here, you're better than me with that kind of thing.

Tyler gets up and walk toward the cabin.

I look up at the sky. It looks just like the one in the painting. I begin to smile.

-Why do you think you're weird?

-Because I like things that people usually don't like.

-Like what?

-Paintings.

-What do you mean?

-I can spend one hour looking at a painting and still want to spend one more, because I didn't find all the details.

-And you think that makes you weird?

-Well, yes.

-We don't have the same definition, then. Having interests does not make you weird.

-I'm sorry, that's what my friends used to tell me.

- The key to become a true artist is to accept that not everyone can or will understand you.

-Who said that?

-The author.

-Who?

-Never mind.

-I like ASMR.

-Ok, now you're definitely weird...

He begins to laugh. I sigh.

-Don't worry, I like it too. So that makes two of us.

-You do?

-Yeah, I love the community and the fact that it makes me relax. Also, I can't...

-Sleep if I don't watch some every night.

He looks at me and a smile comes to bright up his face.

-But still, you wouldn't want to be with a girl like me.

I look up at the sky again.

-I would like to know what's going on in your mind right now.

-Strange things.

-Like what?

-Do we have to talk about that?

-Yes, we do, I am going to make you, if I have to.

-I feel so small, that's all and I think about what I'm suppose to do with my life. It's so short but so long at the same time. I want to do things that I'm afraid of doing, but I don't think I'm going to have the guts to do it.

He nods his head.

-Well, that makes two of us.

-And that's why I don't think anyone would want me to be a part of their lives.

I look at the cabin then the sky which is turning orange. I don't see Victor coming on top of me.

-Don't tell me what I should want and not want.

He kisses me and I feel his hands making their way under my coat. I put my hands in his hair. He gets back up and leaves me like that. He walks toward the cabin. I look up at the sky once more. It's on fire, just like my tummy. The butterflies, they are flying so fast, they could supply an entire city with electricity. Their wings collide, producing sparks, which further fuels the fire. I'm melting despite the low temperature in late fall and early winter. I'm... I don't know how to describe it. Surprised. I get up after a couple of minutes. When, my feet allow me to do it. My cheeks are on fire. The surface of my lips craving for more attention. The butterflies in my stomach won't stop. I need to find a solution.

I run toward the house. I trow my coat and my shoes in the entrance. I see Tyler and Victor talking. They look at me incredulously and I look at them greedily. I walk toward Tyler and I nail him in the counter. I take his head between my hands and kiss him harshly. I stop and he bites his lower lip. Victor lifts me off the ground and makes me sit on the counter. He continues what he started outside, but this time I can feel his tongue making its way between my lips.

He stops.

-Thank you. The butterflies didn't want to stop.