I came up to a hopscotch area on the sidewalk. I quickly jumped through it, a grin on my face, suddenly realizing she was there with me.

"Um, it's not really a guy thing, but I haven't done one of these things in a long time. " I must have been in kindergarten when I'd last hopped a hopscotch. I continued walking, turning around to face her, though making sure nothing was behind me that I might've tripped on. I'd slipped up enough today.

"So... you like to draw. Do you like to look at paintings?" I couldn't help asking. Because I was about to show her something I'd shown no one else in my life. Well, when we got to my house anyway.

Paradise giggled quietly at his thinking of 'it not really being a guy thing'. She walked through the hopscotch, not jumping over it like he did. To afraid of her being the one to fall infront of him this time.

"Sure do. I used to always look at my uncles paintings, when he would show me how to draw." She said, smirking. 

I nodded, turning back around. It was silent for a moment. We happened to be walking past a large feild of gr*censored*, few sunflowers strewn across it.

"I paint a lot. I pianted this scenery actually. You'll probably get to see it today." I smiled. Actually I'd based my first "good" painting on this field. I slipped my hands into my pockets. thin king of something to do, something to say. My mind, however, was suddenly bl;ank, and I could think  of nothing to say.

I slowed my pace, smiling at her instead. Something aqbout her... I couldn't help smiling around her.

   I nodded, walking forward. I checked my watch, seeing about five minutes or so had p*censored*ed. The walk was quite a ways, but the scenery on the way was astonishing. I sighed, stopping to smell a flower. I'm sure anyone has heard that saying. I grabbed my pockeknife, cutting a sunflower off. I knew beauty was meant to be appreciated, but I'd seen the gesture many a time. I handed it to Paradise, hoping she wouldn't hate me for destroying it, like some girls were known to do.

  "Um, you do like sunflowers, right?" I raised a brow.

I smiled, happy that she took it. We approached an apartment looking house and I led her to a door. I slipped my key out of my pocket unclokcing the door, as I stepped inside. WHere the apartment was, it was solitary, positioned near these usnflower feilds. I led her up a staricase to my room. Opening the door, I made sure she was following me before slipping inside.

"Yeah, this is my house, It's a bit cluttered, but my room is cleaner than anything I've ever kept organized, or attempted to, before." I peered around my room, making sure there was nothing embarra.ssing here or there. I walked over to my window, opening the shades so that a large field of flowers was visible. I grinned, feeling excited that so many flowers were in bloom.

It surprised Paradise by how comfortable she felt. Usually, if she ever went to a guys house, she'd wouldn't feel like so 'okay with it'. Especially in his room. But for some reason she trusted him so easily. She guessed it was because of his personality.

She looked around, and then followed Lake to the window. Not really knowing what else to do. She smirked at his grin, and looked out the window. Then back at him.

I turned to her, slightly backing up, a nervous laugh. "Em, the paintings, right!" I remembered, walking over to the closet. I removed the ceiling panel, hopping up into the attic. I smiled down at Paradise. "Wait down there a sec, okay?"

I hid the painting I'd done of her, knowing it probably wasn't time for her to see it yet. I ran back to the small area, looking down at her. "Okay." I popped the ladder to the attic out so she'd be able to clim up.

Paradise climbed up the ladder, and stood next to him. He had so many paintings up there, she was quite impressed. "wow.." She said to herself. While looking around. They haven't even known eachother for a full week yet, and she was already amazed by him.

I noted that she looked, or seemed to be quite impressed. I'd never forget the look she had on her face. I walked around, pointing out the one of the field outside my window I'd told her about earlier. I brusheda hand through my hair.

"I'm not really that good. Francis has never seen this before. Nor James, or Tim, just you." a shy smile creeped up my face.

"I think only special people can see these--" I quickly corrected myself to cover my embarra.ssing words up. "Uh, you know, poeple who share my talents. THat kind of special. I was really amazed by your work, so I thought you had to see it. I guess." I hoped she just accepted that. I'd only just met her, that was true, but I did see her as someone close to me. I liked that we had something in common, well sort of, but I liked her for who she was as well. She was mysterious and I wanted to know more about her. In time, I hoped I would.  

I shifted on my feet. "You think so? It's not all that great. I'm better at portraits." Most of my paintings were portraits in the first place. It made me happy to to know that she thought I was actually good though.

"Like I said, you're pretty great too." I began to walk towards the exit, when there was a crash near the back. I hesitated, and turned around, picking up "The" portrait. I set it up, checking underneath the cloth covering it to make sure there was no damage. I let out a sigh of relief, settung it back up gently.

I raised a hand, trying to think of some excuse. "Um... because... Because you'd be shocked to see it?" Talk about lame excuse. I wasn't the best at covering things up with lies and excuses. I was an honest person, but I was worried about how she'd react if she saw the painting at all. I came up with a conclusion, sighing.

"You can look at it if you like," I smiled, "Just don't go all freaked out on me, kay?" I removed the cloth, releaving the identical picture to her. I wondered if she'd notice who the painting was based on. It resembeled them greatly.

   I sighed in relief, but not too loud. By the way she loked at the moment, I could tell that she was surprised, but I was contented and glad she didn't get all psyched.

  "I guess it's kind of strange to be painted by a random guy, but I just... I don't know why I painted you. Sorry if it's kind of strange." I laughed, rubbing my neck. If someone had painted or drawn me, I might've been freaked out, but I supposed she was different, which I liked about her. She was different, like me. Not in a weird way, it was good. And it seemed it was the differences and uniqueness that made people interesting.

I began to walk to the ladder. "Well, now you've just seen my most amazing work. Francis should be here in about five minutes or so. I bet you're hungry. Thirsty?" I was always concerned about how other people felt. It somewhat annoyed James and Tim. I laughed softly thinking about that.

Sure. Paradise thought it was kind of weird that this 'random guy' painted a picture of her. But at the same time, she liked it. It made her feel the way, Lake has been making her feel ever since they met. Special. For once she felt special.

She walked down the ladder with him, and planned on not talking about the painting any more. She could tell it made him sort of, embarressed maybe? Or uncomfortable. Either way, she won't bring it up no matter how much it made her smile that he did it.

After she thought about it, she realized. She was quite hungry, but she could live until Francis got there. "I'm fine, for now. Thanks." She smiled at him.

I slipped the ladder back up into the attic, hopping onto my bed. I figured if she wanted to sit somewhere, she might have fel more comfortable across the room at my desk on the spinny chair. I loved spinny chairs.

I pulled my legs up to my chest, not bothering to keep my high tops off of the bed. I stared at Paradise, not sure of my next move or what to say. She'd seen the painting. It wasn't bad or anything. I was happy she saw it, and that she hadn't run out of my house screaming about my weirdness.

"So... do you consider me to be a friend?" I couldn't help asking. I hoped she did and honestly supposed she did, being I sat with her in most cl*censored*es and at lunch, she talked freely with me, and for the fact that she let me help her with her code, then entered my house. Maybe I was being a bother? I shrugged.