She giggles at that, and making her laugh is starting to become one of my favorite things to do.
“Can I see what you’re working on?” I ask, nodding toward the painting.
“Um…” She looks away, considering it.“I guess, but don’t judge. It’s not finished.”
“Hey, I’m lucky if my stick person comes out straight. I ain’t judging the art teacher.”
Her cheeks are pink as she walks over to her painting. She’s clearly uncomfortable, showing me her art, but I don’t know why.
Her painting, unfinished or not, is freakin’amazing.
A detailed waterfall flows down the entire canvas, and colorful flowers surrounding it stand out against the natural background. It’s pretty and realistic at the same time.
So Iris.
“What do you think?” She asks, her eyes not meeting mine.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell her. “Almost as beautiful as its artist.”
She shakes her head like she’s trying to brush the words away. “You’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not.” I take another step closer to the canvas. “You’re real talented, Iris.”
I turn back to look at her, “I mean it.”
She looks away, crossing her arms over her chest, and this isn’t the first time she’s done that. It breaks my heart to think that someone so beautiful and talented could feel uncomfortable getting praise.
Makes me want to shower her in it even more.
“Can I tell you something?” I start, waiting until she looks up to continue.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.” Her breathcatches, but she doesn’t tell me to stop.
“After the dance, hell, the football game. You looked at me like… like you wanted me. But before, when I asked you to go out with me, you turned me down. And I’ve been trying to understand why.”
“I ain’t mad, but—” I pause, searching for the right words that might convince her to give me a chance.
“I like you, Iris. I’m not trying to play games or make this complicated. If you tell me no again, I’ll back off, but I don’t want to pretend I ain’t feeling something here and—”
“I know you like me, too. I don’t know what’s holding you back, but I’m telling you, Iris, I want this. I want you. So please, give me a chance to show you.” I’m practically begging by the end of it, but I’m way past caring.
Until I notice that her eyes are glistening, and she presses her lips together like she’s trying not to cry before turning away.
Fuck.
Maybe this was a bad idea. She already said no, for god’s sake.
“You don’t know everything about me,” she says finally, her voice coming out weak.
“Iris, look at me,” I say, more firm than I’d usually talk to her, but I need her to listen. She turns around and looks up at me, slowly, her lip tucked between her teeth again.
“Darlin’, ya gotta stop doing that,” I say, and taking a chance, I reach forward, slow enough to let her stop me and run my thumb over her lip, making her release it.
“S-sorry…”
“It’s alright,” I allow with a chuckle. “But ya gotta stop teasing me if I’m never gonna get to kiss you.”
“I um…” She mumbles, her cheeks turning more red than they already were.
