"What's that you're drawing?" Lila asked looking over at Nathanaël. Nathanaël stopped drawing his pencil coming to a halt across his page, refusing to look up at her as a blush developed across his cheeks okay she's talking to you! just act cool don't be an idiot he thought encouragingly to himself. "Nathanaël?" Lila questioned.
He then realized he had ignored her question "Oh..um...it's just a comic" he dared to look up at her. His ocean blue eyes locking with her olive green eyes he blushed even harder. "About what exactly?" she asked curiosity shining in her eyes "I-it's about superheroes" he stated shyly looking downwards.
"Can I see?" She asked Shit! I can't give her my sketchbook she might see the drawings of her he glanced up at her. She was smiling gently at him waiting for his answer. Nathanaël gulped But how can I refuse her!? He sighed slowly pushing the sketchbook in her direction.
Lila gently took the sketchbook not wanting to risk crinkling one page and let out a small gasp Wow! he's so talented! She thought in awe. The comic wasn't fully completed but it still looked good.
"Oh! It's great Nathanaël! You're really talented" Lila said sending a smile in Nathanaël's direction. Nathanaël gulped as his blush darkened. "Hey Lila! You coming or what?" They both glanced in the direction of the voice and saw Hanako at the classroom door bouncing on her tip-toes impatiently. She could never stay still for long. "I'm coming, give me a second!" Lila shouted down to her as she grabbed her bag and stood up.
"See you tomorrow Nathanaël" she said happily. Nathanaël just nodded afraid to speak and make a fool of himself in front of her.
Lila walked down the classroom a small blush appearing on her cheeks he's so damn cute! She thought to herself a smile. Then she locked eyes with Hanako's Sky blue eyes which were sparkling mischievously. "Have a nice chat with lover boy did you?" She whispered "Shut up and keep walking" Lila hissed her cheeks flaming red. Hanako laughed and walked on out of the classroom Lila following.
Nathanaël groaned inwardly to himself as he put his face down on the table trying to hide his blush from the world. I must look like such an idiot to her! He thought pityingly to himself. He lifted his head from the table and glanced around the classroom they were less students now he felt a bit safer from their judgmental gazes now. He took back his sketchbook and flipped to a clean page and began to sketch Lila from memory.
It wasn't hard from all the times he had stared at her, unconsciously and sometimes consciously but who could blame him. She was so pretty with her green eyes that somehow always sparkled mischievously and her smile which always managed to brighten up a room. His cheeks turned crimson with his thoughts so he decided to concentrate on his drawing when a voice cut in.
"Hey Nathanaël what are you doing" Rose asked looking over his shoulder. Nathanaël blushed and tried to cover his drawing but wasn't fast enough. "Wow! You drew Lila and she looks so pretty"
Nathanaël's blush grew redder "ah! t-thanks...you don't think it's creepy?" Nathanaël asked shyly.
"Of course not" Then Rose smiled and clapped her hands together excitedly "You should totally show your drawing to Lila! She'll love it." "What do you think Juleka" she said to the girl who had came to stand beside her "I'm sure she will" Juleka said with a kind smile.
Nathanaël looked down at his drawings of Lila and quickly shook his head "No! There's no way I could show her these she'll probably hate them and then she'll hate me!" "What! Don't be silly Nathanaël. There's no way Lila would hate them or you!" Rose exclaimed in disbelief.
Then she looked at him curiously as a smile crept on her face. "Oh I think Nathanaël's got a crush" Rose giggled as she nudged Juleka. Nathanaël glared at Rose his face turning red "What! No I don't…" "Don't lie Nathanaël..." Rose cut in "You never were much good at it" Juleka smiled at him finishing Rose's sentence.
Nathanaël sighed glancing at the ground before looking up to meet their gentle gazes "ok maybe I do have a crush on Lila" He saw Rose's eyes twinkle excitedly "But before you rush off playing matchmaker, just don't bother… Lila would never like me like that" he looked away from them sadly before he continued "No I'm fine with just being her friend" he was lying to himself and he knew they knew it too.
He stood up gathering his stuff and began to walk off. "Nathanaël!" Rose cried following him before Juleka gently grabbed her arm "Juleka?" Rose asked in confusion "he needs some time by himself" Juleka stated blandly. Rose stared after him before giving in with a sigh "Okay maybe you're right...but I hate that he's always so down on himself" Juleka just nodded in agreement.
Nathanaël walked into school the next day knowing full well Rose was waiting to trap him with questions. He heard her before he saw her. She ran up behind "Nathanaël! Come on just speak to her!" Rose persuaded. She caught up and walked in step with "Look I'm sure she'll like you back!" "How?" Nathanaël glared at her. Rose took a step back in shock. Nathanaël sighed "Sorry Rose...I didn't mean to snap". Rose smiled "it's fine Nathanaël you need to stop worrying"
"I can't...what if I turn into the evillustrator again" Rose giggled "that'll never happen Nathanaël" "You sure?" He questioned
"Yeah! I believe in you Nathanaël! And Juleka does too" Rose glanced at the raven haired girl who had just joined their conversation. "Sure" Juleka nodded. Nathanaël laughed "you don't even know what we're talking about" "But she still believes in you!" Rose declared as the group began their walk to the classroom.
"Okay Nathanaël you can do this" Rose said encouragingly "Rose really, I'm not sure about this." He said "You can't back out now it's a one in a lifetime chance!" She stared up at him eyes burning with excitement beside her Juleka laughed placing a hand on her shoulder "Calm down Rose, you'll freak him out"
Rose looked back at Juleka with a sheepish smile "Sorry It's just this is about love and you know I just Love love" she clasped her hands happily. "I think that was obvious by now" Nathanaël stated bluntly
"There's Lila" Juleka pointed out "Ah! Go Nathanaël quick!" Rose pushed him after her. He glared back at them but Rose shooed him on. He shook his head but followed Lila.
"Lila!" He called out. Her and Hanako stopped going down the steps and turned around. "Oh Nathanaël is everything ok?" Lila asked. "Um...Yeah it's just I wanted to speak to you" he said shyly to her before casting a look at Hanako.
Hanako looked at Lila in confusion until she saw Lila's glare she glanced at Nathanaël whose face was nearly as red as his hair. Then it dawned on her "Oh right!" She commented out loud. She giggled "Have fun" she sent a wink in Lila's direction. Lila glared back at her. She ran on down the steps trying to hold in her laughter Lila was going to kill her later on!
"Ignore her! She thinks she's funny" Lila said "It's ok we have to deal with her in class" Nathanaël commented. Lila giggled "Yeah! I think Miss Bustier is ready to kick her out of the classroom" Nathanaël laughed. "Oh right! You wanted to ask me something?" Lila inquired
"Oh right" the nerves hit Nathanaël but he couldn't back out now "well you see I was w-wondering...o-only if you want to...well would you maybe want to go out with me tomorrow" he cringed to himself looking down at the ground he was looking like an idiot now he knew it. "I'd love to!" He looked up in surprise "You would?" "Yeah" Lila nodded her cheeks blushing. "Oh...great! I'll meet you at the park" Nathanaël said "sounds great!" Lila commented before turning around and walking away.
She couldn't believe it he had actually asked her out! She smiled maybe her crush wasn't as one-sided as she had originally thought. Hanako's going to have a field day may as well get ready for all the squealing and teasing she thought with a chuckle.
Nathanaël couldn't believe he had asked her out and she had agreed! He heard Rose come up beside him. Juleka following after her. "So how did it go?" She asked gently. He turned to them smiling "she said she'd love to!" Rose squealed "I TOLD YOU!" as she hugged him "Rose calm down!" Juleka laughed. "Oh sorry" Rose giggled as she let him go. Nathanaël just smiled as Rose chatted away about how she'd help him make it the most perfect first date!
"Hey Nathanaël" Lila waved as she ran her way over to him. "Hey Lila" he greeted. "So what are we doing today?" She asked "well it's a surprise" he smiled at her "Well I do like Surprises" Lila smirked.
"Well that's good" Nathanaël laughed.
"But now I'm going to need you to close your eyes" Nathanaël instructed her. Lila raised her eyebrow looking at Nathanaël warily "Nathanaël?..." She started "Just do it!" He laughed. "trust me!" He took her hand a light blush covering his cheeks. Lila smiled as she held his hand her cheeks turning a pretty dusty pink. "Ok" she said as she closed her eyes allowing Nathanaël to lead her gently along.
"Okay you can open them now" She opened her eyes to be greeted
With a picturesque scene. Nathanaël had created a perfect picnic. It was positioned underneath a tree so they were shaded from the sun yet it still let little rays of sunlight filter through. "Nathanaël! Its Perfect!" She turned to him her eyes shining happily.
Nathanaël blushed "I can't take all the credit, Rose did help set it up"
Lila smiled "Well I still love it!" "No one's ever went to this much trouble for me before" she said shyly her cheeks turning pink.
she's too cute! He thought affectionately with a smile. "Well come on then!" Lila said. Rushing up to the picnic and sitting down.
Nathanaël followed after with a smile and sat down beside her. He hoped his plan would work out. "Hey Lila, let's draw each other" "What?" Lila asked pausing from picking up a cupcake. Nathanaël took out two sketchbooks from his satchel and handed one to her.
"Uh...Nath I'm not that good at Art" she laughed anxiously. "I'm sure you're fine" he commented "No way! I like looking at art but I'd rather leave the actual art to people with talent, like you!" Nathanaël eyes widened and his face reddened "Uh well I'm not that good...but thanks"
Lila giggled "well compared to me you're a master of art". She took the sketchbook "got a pencil?" "Sure!" Nathanaël handed her a pencil. Lila took it and leaned against the tree trunk beginning to sketch.
Now it's time to put the plan in action he thought nervously. He took his sketchbook and wrote his question in big font adding doodles around it. He glanced up at Lila and smiled to himself when he saw her lost in concentration, her tongue sticking out a little.
Nathanaël took a deep breath there's no point in being nervous now "Lila you want to see mine" Lila looked up in shock "Already?"
Nathanaël chuckled "yeah check it" he handed it over his cheeks a deep crimson. Lila took the sketchbook and looked at the page. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion until she finished reading it. She looked up a smile spreading across her face "seriously…?" She whispered. Nathanaël blushed rubbing the back of his neck anxiously "Yeah…"
Lila laughed "Of course I'll be your girlfriend! You dork!" Then Lila grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him into a kiss. Nathanael gasped in surprise, but he quickly melted into the kiss as he ran a hand through her long hair. He had imagined this moment many times but he had never imagined it would be this sweet and heartfelt.
Lila pulled away first and smiled at him "I'm glad you finally asked me Nathy" Nathanaël chuckled "So am I"