7 Chapter 6

"Hey!" I greeted as I peeked in the slightly ajar door.

Lester and I had just gotten home from the amazing parade and I couldn't wait to see Lena. I knew she was in this wing somewhere. And hearing her voice when I passed this area just proved me right.

She didn't hear me though. Lena was facing the wall, her back to me. She was wearing jeans today, and another gray shirt, both stained with paint. Again, she was barefoot, her shoes are probably somewhere in this room under all the newspapers covering the floor. She was bobbing her head and softly singing along to something, I couldn't make out the words, I don't think it's even English.

She moved her head slightly and that's when I noticed the earphones attached to her ear. My earphones.

I couldn't help the smile that shaped in my lips, the warmth that grew in my chest, the weird sensation, joy, of seeing her using something of mine, of course technically it's hers since I gave it to her, but still. There was tingling. Good tingling.

I cleared my throat and tried again. This time louder. "Hey! uhh.. Lena."

She stopped and turned to face me.

There is no storm this time. Her eyes were so calm for a minute it could have fooled me that it was silver, even white. 2 orbs of clouds peacefully floating in the sky during a good day.

"Asher." It was cool, calm, collected.

It didn't have the excitement that I have when I see her. But I'd take that over her shouting any time. Actually, I'd take anything from her.

I idled for a minute.

"Uhh. I just came from the parade. Did you watch?"

She took off my – her earphones before answering. Placing it on one of the empty paint trays on the floor. "No."

"Oh. It was pretty awesome."

She turned her back to me and continued painting.

Is she done talking to me?

"Yeah, I heard. But I have a deadline."

I blew a breathe of relief. She's still talking.

"Oh. That's too bad. I have pictures if you want to see?"

I didn't know why I offered. I knew she would say no, but I still couldn't help myself from hoping. Maybe because it was such a great experience for me, I wanted to share it with her.

She shrugged. I knew it.

"Sure."

"Huh?" I must have heard wrong.

"I wanna see the pictures." She turned to face me then sat on the floor right below her painting.

"Uh.. o-okay."

"Are you sure you wanna show me? I mean, it's okay if you don't." Her right eyebrow was slightly raised, her head tilted.

"No. I mean, yeah. I mean, I wanna show you." I moved to seat beside her and handed her my camera, showing where to press.

I watched her as she watched the pictures. Later, a small curve formed at the corner of her lips, until it broke out into a real smile.

"You're good." She commented, still looking through the pictures.

"uhh. Thanks." It feels kind of weird how she's being nice instead of screaming and storming out on me. But I'm not complaining.

"Where'd you study?"

"Oh. I didn't." I answered honestly. For some reason, I didn't feel embarrassed about that fact. I didn't feel like I had to lie, to make up a story to impress her.

"I didn't go to college. Well, I did, for a year. Then I stopped. So… yeah."

"Oh. I didn't even finish Highschool." She answered nonchalantly, like it wasn't a big deal.

And really, it wasn't.

"Oh." I answered, hoping she'd continue.

"Yeah." I guess that's it.

"I started too, but I didn't finish." She continued.

"So I guess that's something we have in common."

She shrugged.

I watched her again as I spoke. There's a scar in her neck I didn't notice before. Maybe because this was the first time I actually got to look at her closely.

"Anyway, I wanna finish, it's not like I wanted to stop. But I had to be practical you know. And I got to save up first. Especially… if…" I stopped mid sentence when she showed me a picture in my camera.

It was a picture of her. The one I took when I saw her on her balcony that one night.

"Uhh.. that.. well.." I could feel my ears getting hot. How do I explain that I'm not really some weird guy spying on her at night, taking pictures?

"It's a good shot." She smiled and handed me back my camera. In my mind I thanked her for not looking at my other shots, she must have sensed my shame.

She stood up and washed her paint brush on a bucket.

"Well, I have a beautiful model." I got up and smiled at her before leaving the room.

I noticed a small smile form before she turned her attention back to her painting.

===

The next morning I found her in the room directly in front of ours. She was wearing my earphones again. She took them off as soon as she saw me peep through the door and gave me a warm smile.

My heart never fails to jump whenever I see that smile. It's like being struck by lightning, only in a good way. I hope I never stop get that feeling.

"Hey." I greeted.

"Hi." She took off one of the earphones, letting it dangle on her shoulder.

"I'm about to go meet someone from a local paper, they said they're interested in some of the pictures I took." I don't know why I told her. I guess I just wanted to start a conversation. And maybe try to impress her a little bit.

"Wow. That's good. Congratulations." She was painting, but turned her head slightly to face me.

"Thanks. I'm a little nervous though. They might not like my pictures." I said honestly, looking at the floor.

"They're going to love it. I'm sure." There was so much sincerity and confidence in her voice that I had to look up at her. But she wasn't looking at me.

"I hope so."

"Just trust me." I do. "Now go, you don't wanna be late." She urged.

"Oh. Right." I waved at her and she smiled.

===

"Dude. Relax."

I was practically jumping as the elevator took its time in getting us to our floor.

"I am relaxed."

"Relaxed." He scoffed. "You're bouncing."

"Am not." I answered, trying to control myself, as the elevator stopped 2 floors below ours to let in an elderly couple.

"Yeah. Sure. I'm kind of hurt, you're more excited to tell her than you were when you told me." He placed his hands in his chest trying to look hurt.

I laughed and shoved him lightly.

When we finally got to our floor I practically run out to find her. She was still in the same room, finishing up. I stopped when I got to the door.

It was amazing. She painted the parade, the floats. Different flowers put together to form something just as beautiful. Colors blended flawlessly, the shapes were detailed and fit perfectly with each other. It was like she actually saw the parade herself. It was breathtaking. Like watching the parade all over again.

"I hope you don't mind. I kind of based it on your pictures." She was standing by the window, cleaning up some paint brushes.

"No, I don't. This is beautiful." I was still in awe. I felt a little proud that my work could inspire such art.

She was drying her brushes now, lightly patting them with cloth then placing them side by side on a towel on the table. It's soothing to watch her be this gentle.

"Thanks. By the way, how did your meeting go?" I almost forgot why I wanted to get here so bad.

"They loved it!" my excitement is starting again.

"I told you." She smiled a big smile at me and I couldn't help myself. It took me four big steps to get to her and hug her tightly.

"They loved it." I repeated.

I felt her stiffen a little when I hugged her and I wondered if I crossed a line, I was about to let her go when I felt her hand raised slowly to pat my back. Not exactly a hug, but still, it was something.

We both let go when we heard a camera click.

We looked at the door to see Lester leaning so casually, twirling a camera in his hands.