The day after the one in the library, Cole and I had fixed a time and place in order to accomplish the task I was given. We were supposed to meet up at noon in class .I had to bring my painting stuff and set my table, hence I arrived a little earlier than him. I've always favored being early because it gave me time to do things my own pace, I hated to rush at the last minute. So I unpacked my paint and tools and by the time Cole pushed the classroom door open , I was already all set and ready to begin

"Sorry; I'm late ?" He bluntly asked . It seemed to me more of a question than it is of an apology

"Sorry; I'm early!" I replied nervously smiling, at the ironically opposite phrases.

"So tell me what do I do ?" He said , a hesitating smile on his lips. A smile that made me tense

"Err..you just sit there as naturally as possible and avoid moving "

As simple as that might seem, it sounded a tough assignment for him already.

Sit there as naturally as possible ?! It appears that my brain does not function correctly anywhere near this guy.

***

It was kind of awkward. Him sitting there, few steps away from me. Trying his best not to move ; just for me to draw him. Cole was assigned by the jury to be my model for the painting contest . Actually Brad had a hand in it . Earlier today I overheard him telling Cole that it was important for me, then they cut their conversation short when I arrived. I swear Brad was behind this . I don't know when he plotted this or how he could convince the jury but I'm dead sure he had something to do with this . It just can't be a mere coincidence.

I was hoping on never meeting this guy for like ; never again; especially since what happened last time, the two of us met, slash ; touched. I knew it was a bad idea for us to be together alone .

Though it felt as if we had known each other forever, I was nervous around him because it seemed that he inevitably affected me. I focused on my portrait and that took my mind off him for a while.

Until what happened next...

A fly set on his nose and his deep blue eyes widened when he looked at it , sitting still. I admit that was hilarious. I didn't notice when my laugh took over me until my stomach started to hurt.

"What did I do ?" He asked between his teeth trying not to move.

"Oh God " I breathed out before my laugh took over. I could barely contain myself

"What ?" He breathed between his teeth again. Trying not to move as a ventriloquist

"It's okay you can move !" I giggled, suggesting he could move freely from that moment on.

"Okay !" Was his immediate relieved response . That's when we looked at each other and burst laughing again.

"It's just the way you looked at the damn fly !" I could say at last after gradually catching my breath.

" You must think I'm foolish, I know " He absently remarked , half a smile on his lips.

"No you're not !" I instantly retorted rather amused.

"I am " He said somewhat serious this time. His eyed darkened a bit and I could feel he wasn't laughing anymore as silence reigned over again.

"You're not !" I argued softly against his last words.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if he meant something else the second time he said that. But was he really referring to something else ?

" I men... must not distract you from your work " He said on a radically different tone this time . Somehow his voice seemed waning.

Silence reigned over the room again ; We both looked at each other .

" You're right!" I managed to say crisply , severing eye contact with him. Being in that empty class with him was nerve-wracking .

"I must not take more from your time ." I added brusquely, covering the painting with the cloth in my hand .

"But you've.." He protested

"I finished !" I cut his words short faking a smile

" Thank you so much for the support I appreciate it " I have no clue whatsoever what I was doing , my defense mechanism was turned on and all I wanted was to leave.

Consequently I started packing things with the same nervous smile hoping he would not notice how close he got to affecting me.

I was conscious though; he stood up and closed the space between us instead. Next thing he did was uncovering my unfinished painting and must have looked back at me with fire in his eyes which clearly said

You haven't finish yet so why lie to my face ?!

He must have because I managed to intentionally avoid his gaze this time. He was making me nervous and feeling uneasy. Damn it ! I did not plan on this to happen .

"Why did you stop ?" He interrogated candidly rather surprised than upset

"I'll finish it later " I answered him coldly.

"Was it because of something I said ?" He asked me but clearly astonished himself by the sound of it. I looked at him inexorably .

"No ! It's Okay ! You can go .. I’ll finish the rest later… Besides you can’t stay here all day without moving !" I babbled nervously covering it up with the widest smile I could fake . I sincerely had no idea what I was saying or doing and he stood fixing me , no doubt he did not understand a word I said , I was almost making a fool of myself.

"It's okay I promise, now go !"

" Are you sure ? because from what I'm seeing it still has a lot of work to do "

" I’ll be fine." I assured him calmly after he imprisoned me with his ocean blue eyes; his proximity was affecting me differently this time around . It didn't have the same effect as the first time I met those eyes.

" Why are you doing this Ivy ?" The dreadful sound of his question echoed in the back of my mind. So I diverted my eyes away in a failed attempt to escape. He grabbed my arm to force me into looking at him. Although his grip was as soft as a caress , it was enough to make me weak in the knees; sending electric shivers all over my body.

When I looked up at him again I came to see that he placed himself so close to me. I had nowhere to break away from his ocean blue eyes . His imposing presence compelled me none the less to stay put. As if I was under some sort of a spell and I could not be helped . His broad shoulders shadowed me and his hand on mine started heating up . Or so I felt my skin burning; soon I was inhaling his intoxicating scent , all my inhibitions demolished.

Shortly after, I grew conscious that my heart began to dance under my breasts .

Why am I afraid ?

No, I knew deep down that he was not going to hurt me but a strange feeling aroused inside of me and my heart flinched .

I wasn't afraid of him ! I couldn't possibly be afraid. Besides we were in class so if he wanted to hurt me, here and now was neither a good place nor a good time.

Fine that was my paranoid side scrutinizing the situation whenever someone approached me. I'd turn on my defensive shield and I'd be okay but;

what was wrong with me why can't I just shut him off and be at peace ?