"How is your wrist?"

My heart rate slightly goes up and I stand up, turning around to face him. I think he's at least eight inches taller than me, I'd never noticed. His hair is almost the same colour as his eyes.

Melted chocolate brown.

I lick my lips. Instead of answering and making a fool of myself by stuttering, I just show him my wrist. His gaze leaves my face and falls down on my wrist and his expression stays blank but I notice his jaw clenching. A bruise has formed and it is bluish black now.

He doesn't say anything and just stares at it, examining it without touching. I decide to break the silence. I put my wrist down.

"Th-thank you," I tell him, my voice comes out squeaky. I internally groan at the sound of it. His gaze returns back to my eyes and stays there. "For helping me," I add.

Why are his stares so intense? I break the eye contact and look at my feet.

"Before I mean," I add again.

Okay that was enough, he gets you.

I feel my cheek heat up.

He continues to look at me, as if he is trying to find something, as if he is searching for something. His eyes are intense from afar but from a closer proximity, it is exponentially more intense.

He doesn't answer, just gives the smallest nod to my thanks. The bell rings and not knowing what to say, I give him a tight smile before turning around and leaving. As awkwardly as possible.

Kill me now.

My cheeks are burning with embarrassment when I return back to the canteen. I see Ava with her group and walk towards them. Her eyes lighten up when they see me, a look of relief passes through her face.

"Do you feel better?"

I nod my head. She gives me a smile.

.

Painting nature sounded boring to everyone and they groaned the minute Mrs. Lee said we had to paint something related to nature. I didn't find painting nature to be boring. In fact, painting never bored me. Whether it was a basket of fruits or some human model or a leaf, I just loved painting. However, I always failed to convey my feelings into it.

I struggle to choose between an ocean and a forest. I look around me, there were plenty of greens so I decided to go with the ocean. I love bright paintings that bring happiness.

The world is difficult and depressing as it is, why make it more depressing? It was the same reason I didn't enjoy sad endings- movie or books, neither.

Once I was done painting my ocean, I look at it, taking a few steps back. It missed something. I don't understand, I gave my everything to it. It sure looked happy but it missed something, as always.

I felt eyes on the back of my head so I turned around. Looking around, I don't see anyone looking at me so I turn back, not before catching a look of Ace painting at the back of the class.

I suddenly wish I could see what he was painting.

Sighing, I decide to look at other paintings. There are forests, rivers, fields and all sorts of sceneries. Blake painted a forest too but he isn't really into it because he starts making eyes on the trees. I giggle and he gives me a lopsided grin.

The class is a bit messy. Mrs Lee is busy in her own world. She doesn't mind if we move around as long as we get out work done and aren't loud.

My mind goes back to Ace. I really want to see his art. But how? I try to come up with something. I turn back one more and find Jackson painting in front of him.

As much as I don't like the vibes coming from him, he is a lot easier to talk to than Ace. What do I ask him though? Brain, give me something, please.

An idea pops in my head.

I walk towards Jackson.

Right on cue, Ace lifts his head and his brown eyes meet mine. I feel something funny in my stomach.

Get a grip, Venus.

I remove my gaze from Ace and shift it to Jackson. He stops his painting when he realises I'm standing in front of him.

"Hey," he drawls out, looking at me up and down once before settling his gaze on my eyes. The vibes coming off him and the way he looks at me, I shudder.

"I was wondering if I could get Samantha's number," I tell him. I can feel the intense piercing gaze from those brown eyes on me and I surprisingly enjoy it.

Mustering the courage I never had, I look into his brown eyes. They look blank. Why is he so guarded? It's almost impossible to read him. While Jackson takes out his phone and scrolls through it, I try to sneak a look at Ace's painting.

Woah.

His painting was beautiful. Beautifully sad. Surprisingly, he'd painted an ocean too but while mine was completely peaceful, his had angry waves. I felt the anger and sadness- the emotions in that painting were so powerful, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

And the only colors he had used were shades of grey.

When did I even start liking depressing paintings?

I hear a throat clear and I smile tightly when I look back at Jackson. He gives me the number.

"Give me yours," Jackson says with a small smirk playing in his lips. Oh no.

"I'm sorry, I don't feel comfortable giving it to you," I tell him, mustering the courage.

"We're friends," Jackson complains, his eyes have a glint in them. I don't feel right.

"Maybe later," I say with finality. "Thank you," I add and leave, not before taking one last look at Ace. His expression is one of amusement while his focus is back at the canvas in front of him? It's gone as soon as I look at him.

.

The day was long and tiring. I keep my belongings in my locker. Ava is telling me about some party we are invited to tonight but I feel really tired with everything that has happened today.

"I think it will help you keep your mind off everything that has happened today," Ava says cautiously. I turn to look at her.

"Do you really think so?" I say with a small sigh.

"Of course. You can socialize, get to know other people, have fun with me and maybe even get yourself a date," Ava says with a wink.

But I don't want any of the things she mentioned.

"But it's okay if you don't want to," she says with a small smile.

"I-," I start before Ava stills, her eyes wide and her mouth open. I turn around and I'm sure I have the same expression as hers.

"I-I'll wait for you outside V-venus," Ava takes off leaving me with the one and only- Ace. So I'm not the only one, he makes everyone stutter. I close the locker and attempt to go past him but he blocks my way.

"Name," He says gruffly. His eyes are boring into mine as he stands tall in front of me. His posture is intimidating and a shiver runs down my spine. I feel tingly and excited.

"Huh?" I ask, despite knowing what he meant. I want to hear his voice.

"Your name," he forces out.

"Venus," my voice comes out as a soft whisper.

He doesn't say anything. Just nods his head with a hard expression on his face and turns around to leave.

"Wait," I stop him. He turns around, his face as guarded as it always is. I wish I could read him.

"We have an assignment together," I tell him, fiddling with my fingers. I can feel my cheeks heating up as his gaze is fixated on my face. Why am I embarrassed for no reason? I groan internally.

He just tilts his head slightly.

"You were asleep earlier. In the english class," I remind him.

"Do it on your own." His expression is hard and he gives me one last look before turning on his heels and leaving.

After a minute or two, I finally get a grip of myself. I walk outside and see Ava standing by the door. Her smile is mischievous when she looks at me, turning into a small playful smirk.

"I decided I'm going to the party," I tell her. I need a distraction. Desperately.

And suddenly, I'm excited about it.

She squeals.