I like to spend my mornings at the Art Museum, which is just down the block from Cane Street. There is one painting in particular that I adore because it holds so deep importance for me. One that made me reflect about my life. It was of a crying woman, with her shadow trailing behind her. It kind of reminds me of myself.

Before I can open my pomegranate seed container, I notice a person settling near me. When I turn left, I see Ares staring at the same image as me.

He has not noticed me yet, which is remarkable given the art museum's emptiness. I continue to munch my pomegranate seeds while pulling my skirt down my legs. What is he doing here? Only a few people know about this hidden painting.

"You, again." His raspy voice was as homecoming tyres upon a gravel driveway.

"Are you talking to me?" I look behind me, no one. It was only the two of us in this room, mostly because no one knows it exists. It was the far one in the corner, I come here and watch the same painting when I am upset.

"Why do you do that?" He still has not looked at me.

"Do what?" I question.

"Why do you always think I'm talking to someone else?" Now, he turns and gives me his full attention. Ares drags me back into the room, his emotions telling him he needs more of a connection, or that I do, though I suppose it is both of us.

In these moments, his eyes are softer than I ever imagined they could be.

Or maybe I read too much rom com? I think that is the answer.

"I'm not used to people speaking to me...especially boys like you." I admit, no harm in telling the truth. Ares wore a black leather jacket, a tight black shirt underneath with black jeans. I could tell black is his favourite colour.

I look down at my outfit, a yellow sundress that covered my entire body except for my arms. I did not own clothes that are revealing. My mother never lets me buy my own clothes, she decides what is suitable for me or not. She makes me wanting to be catholic ten times harder.

"Boys like me. Explain." It felt like a demand, and the way he held himself. He was no boy; this guy is a man. I could tell by his body even, broad shoulders, tall and hunch. My hand begins shaking, as I cover my pomegranate seed with the container lid.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude."

"You draw?"

"Yeah, I am an art major." I smile.

"Can I see your work?" No one has ever offered to go through my work, he asks. I asked Cathy several times, but she claims she does not need to because she already knows it's incredible.

I nod enthusiastically and pull my sketch book from my backpack; I present it to him, and his large hands accept it. I drew away hurriedly when I felt his fingertips skim mine. My skin is buzzing with an electric charge.

He opens the book, nodding as he flips through the pages until he comes to a halt on one. "You have some obsession with Diávolos...?" My eyes widen as he asks. Oh, no! I completely forgot! I embarrass myself by snatching the book from his grasp and stuffing it inside my bag. I stuff the fruit into my bag and sling it over my shoulders.

"I have to go." I rush out of the museum; he is going to think I'm a stalker. I rush my fingers through my hair.

"Ali!" My head shoots up and I see Ares jogging towards me, telling me to keep moving. I push past people who are rushing down the streets for work. Ignore him and keep in mind that he is a bad guy. And he is awkward. And five years older than you. And a guy! I gazed at the ground until an arm slipped around my waist and drew me back.

My eyes widen as a car speed by, blasting its horn at me. I was almost hit. My belongings are strewn on the floor, and I turn around to see Ares staring down at me. My heart is currently racing at the fact that he is physically touching me, "you could have got hit."

He points out the obvious, butterflies swarm my stomach as my hands rest on his stomach due to his height. I let go, and he releases me. I gather my things from the ground and Ares picks up my sketch book, handing it over to me.

"Thank you." I mumble, pushing my hair back.

"Watch where you're crossing." I nod my head, pushing his arm away from my waist.

"I have to go; I have a portfolio to complete...goodbye Ares."

"You need inspiration?" He chips in, I pause in my hurried steps.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I could tell you're struggling; you haven't drawn since your friend Rachel or whatever came to get a tattoo." What shocked me the most is that he does not remember her name, he remembered mine. But not Cathy's and that is what surprised me, everyone always forgets my name. Not that i know many people, but people Cathy know. Ares waited for an answer.

"How do you know i need inspiration?"

"Because people forget a certain thing when it comes to inspiration." My parents are at Auntie Coraline's house, they dont know what I do. I might as well experience a little something that Cathy might find interesting to speak about.

But do i trust Ares? I barely know him. What if he is a kidnapper in disguise? Then I would be dead by him and my parents for breaking a rule.

Hanging out with a boy without a chaperone. Yes, they still have that mindset. "Okay, where?" He tilts his head, signalling me to follow after him. He walks ahead of me, and I catch up to walk besides him.

I think he is forgetting his height. And his long legs. We reach a brick wall, and Ares easily jumps over. This wall is three inches taller than me, "Ares?" I whisper, throwing my things over the wall.

Come on, experience.

I grab the top of the wall, trying to lift myself over it. I throw a leg but fail and fall back down, no I can do this. Then I see Ares leaning against the wall, "how tall are you?"

"I'm five 'seven. Can you help me?" I mumble, and he nods and extends his hands for me to take. Accept it. Ali, take his hand. Allow him to touch you. It is not against the law. I slide my hands into his and use them to scale the wall; now that I have some type of balance, I can jump over it effortlessly.

My hands become lost in his.

To secure my landing, his hands reach down to my waist. "I appreciate it." I make my way back, taking my luggage from the ground. He moves ahead and into a tunnel.

This is starting to get strange. We can't both be awkward because this man does not at all make small talk. He is really cold, and it is not due to physical contact. I'm referring to himself.

He is very quiet. But it made me want to find out more about him. I want to know who Ares is. If that's even his real name. What if he's lying to me? Then he stops walking; we reach a dead end. "Right here." What? This place is rubbish, there is nothing but graffiti art and then a blank wall.

He finds this inspirational.

I give him a lopsided face, shaking my head to show him my confusion.

"What? This is not inspirational?" Ares smirks. And i think that is the first time i have seen him smile. He picks up a black bag behind the trash, taking out spray paint.

Then looks at me, he turns around and begins spraying. What on earth is he doing? He looks back at me and turns to the blank wall, continuing his painting. I stood the awkwardly, and secretly liking his eyes on me. I liked the way he evaluated my face.

It felt like Diávolos. And how he stared at me. Watched me.

Hang on.

He's drawing me. And he did it so effortlessly. "You said you wanted inspiration," he spoke whilst painting. "Here you go." He throws the spray paint into the bag, and I stare at myself. It really looks like me. My nose, my lips and my eyes. He drew my bangs.

"Me?"

"Exactly." He speaks.

"How can I be my own inspiration?" He walks closer to me and takes the bag from my hands. Leaving it to the side of the area, he hands me a spray can and pushes me towards the wall.

"You tell me. Fix it." He leans against a wall, his foot holding himself for balance and his arms folded over his chest.

"Fix what?" I ask.

"Fix my art with your inspiration." Looking down at the can in my hands, I smile. What was it about this that piqued my interest? Why did I enjoy doing stuff like this? I put on my headphones and start spray painting to repair his job.

I tuck my hair behind my ears and grab another colour; it took me a few minutes, but I relished every minute of it. Making mistakes while learning how to spray paint. And all he did was stare at me. It was as if my hand had a mind of its own, I suddenly began drawing butterflies. Butterflies? What on earth?

If Cathy was here, she'd leave because she finds these sorts of things boring. But he did not leave me, he stayed. Why? I step back, tightening my grip around the can as i blow my hair.

He pushes himself of the wall, "so?" He did it. I have my inspiration for my portfolio. And now, I knew my inspiration was myself. I look up at him, and he glances down at me.

"I think I have my inspiration." I whisper. Ares nods, and suddenly siren from police blast out. My eyes widen, Ares chuckles.

"Drop the can and grab your bag, get ready to run." He begins to walk away effortlessly, I stood there frozen. What?

"Run? Why? Are we getting arrested?"

"I mean, we painted illegally." My eyes popped out of my head, and I dropped the can and grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder diagonally. He then runs, and my heart beats faster as I chase after him.

As we push past the crowds in New York, he grabs my hands in his. It's rush hour, and I hear the cops yelling after us. My parents will absolutely disown me if I get arrested. But I felt a thrill in my body. I enjoyed the rush. Ares did not let go off my hands, he held it the entire run for me to catch up with him.

"HEY! STOP!"

Ares pushes us inside a tight alley way, my body pressing against his. My breathing was loud, so he pushed his hand against my face to keep me silent. I have never been so close to a boy, he smelt nice. Really nice. The scent of his shirt clung onto my nose, which he tries to cover. He looks down at me, and me up at him.

"Where did they fucking go!"

"I bet you it was the same kid." The other police officer says.

"Can't believe i fucking ran for this bullshit. Come on, let's get some dunkin." I scoffed out a laugh, Ares' eyes widen as he nudged me to keep silent.

The officers depart, and we stay for a few minutes before he piques out his head to check the surroundings. Ares glances back down at me, his hands remove themselves from my mouth.

"I should get going home." I whisper, not wanting to leave. I wanted to stay; this was the first thing i have ever experienced. And I loved it. I loved every second of it. I wanted to keep doing these things. But then, Cathy's words come back to me.

'He's dangerous'

He doesn't seem dangerous or bad news.

We come out of the alley way, "where do you live?"

"Oh, just down the road from Canes street." He nods his head.

"I'll take you home." I scoff, shaking my head.

"Oh, no... I don't want to trouble you. Really, I'll take a taxi back. Thank you, Ares, for to today...it was amazing." I wave down a taxi, Ares watches me slip inside. I give him a soft smile, before telling the Taxi my address and he drives off.

Ares continues watching me.