The following day, Ashton found himself eagerly waiting in the art room during lunch break. Leann had agreed to meet him there to begin their art lessons. He couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness, unsure of what to expect. The room seemed to buzz with anticipation as he meticulously set up their art supplies, his mind racing with thoughts of the possibilities ahead.
As the minutes ticked by, Ashton’s heart skipped a beat when the door swung open, revealing Leann’s radiant smile. With a sketchbook tucked under her arm and her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, she walked in. Her straight jet-black bangs were tied up in a bun, accentuating her beautiful features. Ash couldn’t help but notice how her presence seemed to light up the room, casting away any remaining doubts or worries.
“Hey, Ash! Ready to get started?” Leann greeted him, her voice filled with genuine excitement.
“I’m ready as I’ll ever be!” Ash responded with a cheery tone. She chuckled lightly in response. They settled on a table and set up their art supplies.
Ash’s help and motivation proved invaluable for his new friend and trainee, who had much talent of her own, but not enough to get past the second level of the art contest.
As the lesson progressed, they couldn’t help but admire each other’s talent and passion for art. They found themselves learning not just about new and different drawing techniques, but also about the beauty of expressing oneself through art. Ashton’s patience and encouragement created a safe space for Leann to explore her own artistic abilities, free from any judgment or pressure.
As they worked side by side, Ashton and Leann discovered a shared love for creativity and self-expression. They exchanged stories, sharing their inspirations and favorite artists. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, as if they had known each other for years.
Ash peeked into her sketchbook and gasped. “Wow, this is incredible! How did you draw this?”
Leann blushed, and smiled lightly, brushing her long, black bangs off her face. “Thanks,” she said, “I’m glad you think that.”
“You’ve got to show me how you get those highlights in the hair.”
Leann opened her pencil pouch, and pulled out a small, teddy-bear shaped object out. She put it in Ash’s hand. “I use an ordinary kneaded eraser,” she shrugged.
“You’re good at sculpting too. I’ve tried this so many times with mine, but it never worked out.”
“I can show you how if you’d like,” she said shyly, and glanced at the time on her watch. It was 12:55, nearly 1:00. Lunch break seemed to have flown by so fast for the two that they forgot to have their food. Leann noticed her stomach rumble. So did Ashton. “Oops…” she muttered, and hid her face away from him.
Ash giggled. “It’s okay, you don’t have to feel shy about that. Wow, time really flies when you’re doing what you love, especially if it’s with your friend.”
Leann’s heart skipped a beat. “F-friend?” she stuttered. She felt flattered to be called his friend, but it all seemed too sudden. And to add to the problem, he was a boy. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be his friend, it was just that, she wasn’t used to speaking with the opposite gender.
Ash grinned and said, “We’re friends, aren’t we?” He stopped and bit his lip, then asked in a softer voice, “Or do you not want to be?”
She felt a wave of courage wash over her and met his gaze. She saw something in his eyes that made her feel hopeful and excited. “Yeah,” she said, sounding more confident than she ever had before. “We are.” She smiled back at him, feeling a warm glow in her chest.
“Wanna hang out tomorrow after school?” he asked, clenching his fists nervously.
“Sure,” she shrugged. “I’d love to.”
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