Page 57 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls

“You’re my best friend, too.” Her smile is shy as she tries yet again to tuck that curl behind her ear. It pops back out again.

“Can I try?” I reach forward and gently take hold of the curl. Her eyes stare into mine as I slowly push it behind her ear.

“Thanks,” she says with another shy smile. Then she cringes when the curl pops out again. “Sometimes I hate my curls.”

“No,” I say as I twirl it around my finger. “Your curls are beautiful.”

Her face reddens a little. “Thanks. In eighth grade, I used to straighten my hair. It took so long because I have so much hair. Eventually I quit because I couldn’t take it anymore. My mom always tells me to love my curls.”

I nod. “She’s right. You wouldn’t be the amazing Lexi without them.”

She smiles as she looks into my eyes.

“Please focus on your artwork,” Mrs. Jackson says as she passes us.

Lexi’s gaze breaks from mine and she shifts in her seat. “So…I guess you should start.”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Pick a theme…a theme…” I sigh heavily. “Screw it, I’m just going to paint you and however it’ll come out, it will come out.”

She laughs. “Okay. I’m sure you’ll do great.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

She bows her head.

After grabbing my painting supplies, I poise my paintbrush over the canvas. Clenching my jaw, not from anger but concentration, I make a stroke, but I mess the whole thing up. “Dang it. It’s supposed to be your head, but it looks like a circle.”

“Just paint from your heart,” she tells me.

I study her for a bit to get a feel of how to do this. She’s sitting straight on her chair, hands on her lap, a sweet Lexi smile on her face. And her eyes…they say so much, even though I’m not entirely sure what they’re saying. But I think I get the gist of it—I can do this and I should have fun. She’s right. We’re not graded in this class. I have the creative freedom to paint however I want. Sure, I want her to come out good, but maybe I shouldn’t put so much pressure on myself.

I have no idea how to draw her eyes, so I do the best I can. I find myself staring into hers again, getting lost in them as my heart pounds all over my body. They’re such a pretty shade of green. I remember being twelve and how much I loved to fall into the green pools. That was right before I started having strong feelings for her and pushing her away to hang out with Andy.

I take my time with the eyes because I want to get them right. Lexi doesn’t twitch or complain. She’s being the perfect model.

“Sorry this is taking me long,” I say.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

Mrs. Jackson told us to take our time, but I don’t want Lexi to be uncomfortable. Feeling a little insecure, I glance at the team next to us, where a girl is painting her friend. Hmm. She doesn’t seem to be doing well, either, which makes me feel a little better. I really should let loose and let myself have fun.

“How’s it going?” Lexi asks after I’ve been quiet for a few minutes.

“Terrible.”

She laughs softly. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. Can I see?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Okay. But I know you’re just being humble.”

I sigh as I put my paintbrush down. “Fine, I’ll prove to you just how much it sucks.” I turn it around to face her, hanging my head in shame.

She’s quiet for a while, so I’m forced to glance up at her. Her eyes are narrowed as she examines it. Gosh. This is so embarrassing.

“This is adorable,” she gushes.

I only have her head, eyes, nose, and half of her mouth. “Adorable?”