• When I woke up the lights were still off and I could hear the Thin Screen on a couple aisle down. Ryder must still be up. I stood to my feet rubbing my eyes of sleepy dirt and crept to look around the corner. I could faintly see his bed from here and I saw a mess of black hair on a white pillow. It looked like he was still asleep. I wanted to paint but I didn’t want to turn on the lights and wake Ryder up. I slipped on my jeans and kept on my white tank. I decided I was going to go get one of those Sound Lights.

    I walked out of my aisle and went to where Ryder was. He was sleeping still. The light from the TV illuminated his face as slept with his body molted into the warm sheets. He looked like a young boy. I recognized him then. When we were kids. I sighed and walked past to the lights and lamps. I quickly grabbed one of the sound lights and walked silently back to my aisle. I ripped the cardboard from around it then pressed my fingers on the button behind the light.

    These were called spot lights until they made them voice active. Then they re-named them. “Light please,” I said. It turned on with a groan and started out dim them got brighter. I sat up my paper on a board and got a chair then set down in front and started to paint.

    I didn’t realize what I was painting but that it was smooth and gently and full of peace. I felt myself drift into it. It was in the evening, with a gently cool blue pond with a big willow on the other side. Birds flew over head with small black streaks. Wispy clouds dotted the blue sky. The evening sun glowed across the water with orange sparkles. It was beautiful. It felt so real to me. I could feel the spring breeze with just a hint of the last cold weather but promises of a warm summer. The smell, mm, it smelled of cut grass and bark. I was so lost I didn’t feel the eyes of him on me. I pulled my paint brush back and smiled at the painting. It was wonderful.

    “It’s amazing,” I jumped and flew off my chair scared out of my mind. Ryder stopped leaning against the aisle and looked at me.

    “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that. I was just watching you,” He said seeming ashamed.

    I bit my lip. “Its fine, I was just finishing up. How long were you watching me?” I asked.

    He looked ashamed again putting his head down. “A while.” I smiled and walked over to him.

    “Seriously, its okay. I’m just not used to people watching or even wanting to watch me paint,” I said thinking of my father. He looked out at me under his long black eyelashes and smiled wistfully.

    “It looks beautiful,” he said but he stilled looked in my eyes. I blushed a little.

    “Thanks.” I leaned forward and was surprised when his lips met mine halfway. His lips were warm and sweet like honey. I savored his kisses. I pulled back and smiled.

    “Sorry, it’s just, I better clean out my paints and change my shirt,” I said looking down at myself. My white tank had splatters of different colors on it. Ryder chuckled.

    “I think so. When you paint again, can I watch you?” I thought of my father and how he would steal my paint brushes when he found them and how he despised even seeing me do any kind of thing unless it was homework. It made me feel warm inside that someone would be interested in watching me.

    “Um, yeah, sure.”

    He smiled.

    “Great.”

    I went to the girls clothes and grabbed a long sleeved shirt then went to the bathroom and changed quickly. I brushed my teeth and sprayed perfume on me. I had felt like I should since…ya know, Ryder. I blushed thinking about how stupid I was. But I wanted him to think I smelled good. I’m so weird.

    I left the bathroom and headed back over to my aisle. Ryder was there sitting in my seat looking at the painting. I smiled softly. He looked really handsome sitting there. His shoulders hunched his hair spiked and silky. His shirt stretched over his muscled back. I bit my lip and looked down at myself. I was dressed like a normal girl. Not some 30 year old mother with a business job. I was myself. I guess. Who was myself? I shook my head clearing my thoughts and walked over and put my chin on Ryder’s shoulder. He flinched just slightly before putting his check on mine while still looking at the painting.

    “The clouds are so cool. They look like you could just reach out and touch them,” He murmured. And he did just that. The paint was already dry so it didn’t smudge. His long finger ran over the clouds then down by the sun. “I feel like I should squint,” he muttered with a chuckle. I smiled.

    “You really like it that much?” I asked surprised. He turned almost hitting our noses together.

    “Yeah! Who wouldn’t? You have a talent for this Trinity. Seriously,” his purple eyes locked with mine. I felt warm from my toes up.

    I never got a compliment like that before. I mean sure, from my art teacher but I always took it as a whatever, she has to say that kind of stuff. But this, Ryder saying it, really made me happy for some reason.

    This time no words could describe. I leaned forward and pressed my lips against him. Its explained how I was feeling. He seemed surprised by it. He put his firm hand on my jaw and I felt a jolt of electric. His hand was cold on my warm face but I welcomed it. I pulled back and sighed then looked into his eyes.

    “Go get another chair,” I said.

    He frowned. “Why?”

    I smiled. “Because I want to paint you.”

    *********************************************************************************

    “Would you hold still?” I snapped.

    Ryder grimaced. “My nose was itchy.”

    I looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “Really?” He shrugged.

    “Excuse me Miss Priss. It’s called a personal problem.” He said without breaking a smile. I laughed then he smiled.

    “Okay, I’m holding still now. Go ahead.”

    “Tilt your jaw up a little.”

    “Like this?”

    “Yes.”

    I worked on the painting with light color paints but made his hair and eyes stand out more. He was easy to paint him. Sharp firm lines with dark shadows under his eyes. Broad shoulders. Slightly big ears. Hooked nose. So lips. He was everything a painter looked for. A smile worked at the curve of my lips as I proceed to make it.

    “You know you’re kind of cute when you get into like that,” Ryder commented. I looked up with wide eyes. He was smirking. I didn’t say anything. I got back to work but couldn’t help the blush that spread to my ears.

    *********************************************************************************


    “Wow, it doesn’t look anything like me.” Ryder said as he looked at the painting. I gasped. He laughed and looked down at me. “I’m kidding. It’s great. I don’t know how you do it,” he muttered looking closer. I grinned.

    “It’s just in me I guess,” I said thinking about college. “Dad won’t let me go to school to be an artist.”

    Ryder looked over at me with those purple gray eyes that made me shiver. “You can do whatever you want. You don’t have to listen to him.”

    I shrugged. Ryder put his hands on my shoulders and rubbed them a little. My shoulder and back were stiff. I flinched.

    “Ow,” I muttered. Ryder quickly took his hands off me.

    “What? What’d I do?” I rubbed where he did, frowning.

    “Oh it’s not you. It’s my stupid bed.” We both looked to the side where my ‘bed’ was. Ryder grimaced. “It’s the floor Trinity.” I nodded.

    “Yeah, I know. But I can deal,” I smiled at him. I knew he would never share his bed with me. Even if it was really, really, comfortable. He just wasn’t that kind of guy I guess. He looked off for a second.

    “Actually, there’s a couch in the back room.” My eyes wide, I swung out my hand toward him.