Jeanne was seventeen. She was almost done with school, almost done with childhood, and most importantly, almost done with The Art of Art.
The Art of Art was a summer camp at a community college that Jeanne had decided to go to at the end of junior year. At the camp she had made friends and went to many exciting art museums and plazas around the city. But now there was a problem.
Though they had started out as artists, every one of her friends were moving onto other things and interests. Her best friend decided that she would go to college to be a neurosurgeon. Another friend had gone into technology. Only Felix, Jeanne’s childhood friend and current crush, seemed to still want the artist's life badly.
Jeanne was at a crossroads. She had practiced so hard to be an artist, but she had a different love now. Writing! Most of the times when she was lonely at school, she would read. She would read and read and write her own stories until the day was over. She spent hours upon hours daydreaming in her head, thinking of new stories and new books to read.
Despite this, being an artist was what she had practiced to be. She spent at least an hour a day digitally painting to be ready for the artist's life ahead of her. Oh, what to do now? Camp was almost over.
****
“WHO WOULD EVER LOVE THIS!?” Jeanne yelled at Felix, water building in her eyes. “Who could ever love a girl like me, a girl who switches her passion on a dime!? A girl who claims to be an artist but spends more time writing than drawing-
“I would.” Felix said.
He continued. “Jeanne… you're great. Your pretty, your cool, you know how to dance, and you’re personality is so-”
“Crazy.” Jeanne tried to finished for him.
“Exotic.” Felix shook his head and grabbed the girl’s hands.
Jeanne looked up at her best friend. No one had ever used such a word to describe her. Jeanne looked at Felix, shiny tear trails lining her cheeks.
“Part of the reason I like you is because you're so unpredictable. Whatever you want to do with your life, art, writing, whatever. I’m here for it! …I really like you Jeanne. I always have. I just never manned up to tell you” said Felix.
Jeanne smiled and put a hand on Felix’s smooth cheek. “Well, you just did silly.”
And that’s when Felix leaned into Jeanne, locking them in a kiss. It was a light kiss, then Jeanne leaned into it as well, and it became an intimate kiss. Jeanne grabbed Felix’s hands again.
Soon, slowly, they pulled back and looked each other in the eyes. Jeanne loved Felix’s deep, forest wood brown eyes, and Felix adored Jeanne’s dark, chocolate brown eyes that seemed to be a void filled with warmth.
“How long have you been keeping your feelings a secret?” Jeanne asked, wanting to kiss him again, but not wanting to force it.
“Since we used to ride our trikes down the neighborhood street. I told you, ever since I met you, I’ve liked you, and my crush just grew bigger and bigger the more we hung out.”
“Aw,” Jeanne laughed. “Well, we know we like each other now, so…” she looked up and smiled at him.
“Wanna watch a movie?” Felix asked.
Jeanne blushed. “Sure. When?”
“Now. I’ll just grab my computer and pull something up,” Felix went over to his bed and opened his computer.
“Oh!” said Jeanne, surprised how quickly things had escalated. “Sure,”
“I’m gowin’ to the cafeteria to get us something to eat while we watch the movie. You got anything you really want?”
“Ooh! Yes please! I’ll have a sundae with-oh, just a sundae,” Jeanne laughed shyly. She didn’t want to be demanding.
Felix smiled and said “Okay,” then he left the room.
Jeanne looked around Felix’s dorm room. How much it had changed since the beginning of summer. His once clean blue walls had turned into a jungle of paper portraits and sketches, with bits of blue spots in between. His desk had gone from plane wood to an art printing studio. A wild, stained mini-fridge even inhabited the left corner of the room.
How many times had Jeanne and Felix spent talking late at night here, or studying for a big test? Sometimes, the two would lay side by side on Felix’s bed and play a mobile game, simply enjoying life.
Eventually Felix came back with a whole gang of snacks, all either his or Jeanne’s favorites. Oh, how did Felix know Jeanne so well?
****
Jeanne thought Felix had picked a very interesting thriller. Felix yelled out “Fake!”, whenever the characters did something stupid, which Jeanne found hilarious. At the end of the movie Felix could barely hold his eyelids up. He looked over to Jeanne, who was already asleep, her chest rising and falling.
He thought of waking her up, but decided not to. Instead he laid his head on Jeanne’s and after two blinks, fell asleep as well.
****
Jeanne woke up in the early hours of the morning, when Felix’s room was a dim grayish-blue.
She remembered everything clearly. She and Felix were officially a couple, and there he was, conked out right next to her. She was so close to him, she could actually feel the heat radiating from his body.
They had fallen asleep watching a movie, or at least she had. The computer was no longer on the bed. Where was it? Maybe Felix had put it up after Jeanne had fallen asleep. But then, why hadn’t he woken her up? Had he fallen asleep right after her? Had he wanted to sleep with her?
Jeanne shook Felix awake with some straining effort. He was heavier than he looked.
Felix’s eyes slide open. “Huh?”
“Hey boso, why didn’t you wake me up when I fell asleep last night!?”
“You… you looked so calm. I didn’t want to ruin your sleep.”
“Yeah, but still!”
“Sorry! Sorry!” Felix apologized and sat up.
He whipped his head back and forth. “Where’s my…? Oh.” he said as if he had been let down.
Felix was looking over the edge of his bed. Jeanne peered over the edge of the bed to see Felix’s computer lying on the carpet. Its screen was still open facing the ceiling, completely black.
“Oh gosh your computer! It must have fallen off the bed when we went to sleep!” Jeanne yelled.
She grabbed the computer and scrolled around to see if it still worked. After a moment it’s bright screen blinked on.
“Saved,” they both breathed a sigh of relief.
My next novel is being released in parts on Hive. Make sure to tune in August 1 for the debut of Shook. Read more about it in this post.
Hey there! I’m Shila! I’ve loved books since I could read, and decided I would write books I wanted to see written for others! Check my children’s book Imagination on Amazon!
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