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"Iknow that,"Kell said. "It's just... I don't know why he gets to me somuch."

She pouted her lips. "Hmmmm. Mystery."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It'sokay to admit you find him attractive," she said, smiling. "Just admit it. It'll make your lifeeasier."

Kell felthis face go hot. "I mean... He's..." He sighed. He could fight against it as much as he wanted, but it was true. Parker was still a gigantic douche, that hadn't changed, but... "Yeah," he said. "I guess I can admit he’s good looking."Dangerously sexy, howabout?

Jessie tittereda laugh and patted Kell's shoulder. "There ya go. That wasn't so hard. It's not like you're gonna fall in love with him if you think he's hot. Just loosen up,okay?"

"Yeah,"hesaid.

"Let me know how it goeeeesss,"she said, dragging it out in a sing-songway.

He grabbedhis bag and left the classroom for the art studio. He stopped outside the door, and found himself pacing back and forth, unable to goinside.

"What the heckis wrong with me?" he said to himself. Yeah, he found Parker attractive. Hot. Sexy. Whatever. That was clear. But why the hell did he feel so damnnervousabout meeting with him? His stomach was filled with butterflies. "Come on, Kell," he said, and opened thedoor.

The studio was a large,brightly lit classroom, with easels and art horses in place of desks. There was a raised platform in the middle of the room where models stood for figure drawing sections. The smell of oil paint and turpentine lingered in the air, and the floor was spattered and streaked with fallen paint and charcoal. Drawings and paintings done by students lined the walls. In a corner was a stack of wood for stretching canvas. Rolls of blue jumbo paper towels were scattered across the countertops next to paint-marked sinks that once were spotless stainless steel. Kell gently closed the door behind him. The room was empty except for Parker, who straddled one of the art horses, his back facing him. He was drawing in his sketchbook, and the room was so quiet that Kell could hear the scratches of his pencil against thepaper.

Parker closedhis sketchbook and turned around on the art horse as Kell walked over to him. Kell could practically hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.Come on, Kell. Get ittogether.

"Hey,"Parkersaid.

Kellthrust his hands into his pockets, stopping a couple feet away. Parker didn't stand to meethim.

"Look,"Kell said. "If we're going to get through this I need to know what your dealis."

"You're still goingon about that? Let itgo."

"Ijust wantto know why you're always so harsh to me. Did I do something to offendyou?"

"No."

"Then why?"

Parker sighed,and then stood up. Parker was about a head taller than he was, and he craned his neck slightly to look into hiseyes.

"You shouldn't care so muchabout what people think about you," Parker said. "It doesn't do anything to serve you or your work." He took a step forward, and Kell stepped back. "Artists need to be bulletproof if they're going to survive out there in the real world." Parker took another step forward, and Kell retreated further back. His heart raced even harder. What the hell was Parkerdoing?

"Iknow how you are,"Parker went on, still advancing. "You're afraid. Afraid of what people say. Of what theythink."

"W-what..."Kell stammered, as he kept retreating from Parker'sadvances.

"And that'swhat's keeping you from getting to the next level," Parker said, his voice like a low growl. "That's what's keeping you from being better thanme."

Kell backedinto one of the art horses and tripped over it. He shouted, grabbing frantically at the air as he fell backwards. Suddenly, he felt Parker's hand snag his wrist, and he was yanked forward onto his feet. He stumbled with the momentum of the pull and slammed cheek-first into Parker's chest, his left arm held up awkwardly in the air in Parker's fist. He took in a breath of Parker's scent, the smell of his shirt and the warm aroma that lay beneath the fabric. He tugged his wrist free and pushedaway.

"Watch out,"Parkersaid.

Kell's face was hot.He hated how easily he blushed. "You're fucking full of yourself," hesaid.

"I'm just being real.You know I'm telling the truth. But if you really can't see that, then I guess I was wrong about you, and you aren't as good as Ithought."

He looked away."Screw you. Just because you're right doesn't mean you're also not adouche."

Parker shrugged."I admit it. I am. That's just how I am. But you and I working together, I think we have a shot at creating something really great. I'm excited to see what we can make together. But you need to be lessafraid."