"Are you staying in late?"

Monika looked up from her painting to see her brother, standing at the door with his back pack hung over his shoulder, "Yes," she answered, looking back at the painting, "I have to finish this. I'm not bring it home, either. Grandfather might see it."

Gilbert let out a laugh as he skipped over and hugged his little sister. Monika just sighed, "Be careful when you get back, kay? There are some freaks out there."

"The only freak here is you, Gilbert." she shrugged him off.

Gilbert kept his smile, "Love you too, little sister." he blew a kiss and walked out of sight.

He always did that. Told her to be careful. Monika can take care of herself, and she's proved that multiple times. But, being the big brother he is, he still treats her like glass. Oh well, it was kind of nice sometimes.

Sometimes.

Monika started to paint again. She pushed up her glasses as her other hand moved carefully across the fabric board. Art was never a thing she would call herself talented in. But she needed the class to graduate. Monika removed her paintbrush, placing it in the color pink to start filling in the white. What she was drawing was a pink bunny.

Yeah yeah, girly. But the project was to paint someone precious. And pink bunnies were, for some reason, her special thing. She loved them. Her reason to love them, though, is not found in her memory. She can't seem to remember a darn thing, in fact. Whatever. It makes her happy. That's enough.

The door opened, making Monika jump a little and turn her head towards the door again. Did Gilbert forget something? "Teacher lady-" the voice stopped and she locked eyes with a girl with dark brown hair and really pretty green eyes, "Where's Elizaveta?"

This girl looked familiar, "She already left." Monika answered.

The girl groaned and crossed her eyes, "Great. Just fantastic." she grumbled and leaned against the door hinge, her foot keeping the door from hitting her, "What are you doing here if she's gone, then?"

Monika glanced at her painting... was it not obvious? "I'm working on the project."

The other walked over and looked at the picture. Immediately, her face scrunched up, "Gross! What is that? A deformed hamster?!"

What in the world? "No. It's a rabbit."

"It looks like when my stupid brother leaves his laundry in the washer for too long!" she complained, "Don't quit your day job, art isn't your thing."

Was this girl really making fun of her? "Gee. Thanks." she said, going back to the painting, "Well, Elizaveta isn't here. If that's all you want, you can leave. I'd rather work alone."

"Good, cause that's all you're going to be." The rudest girl Monika has ever met stomped over to the door, "Now I have to find my brother, thanks to you. Don't distract me next time with your ugliness," she finally made it to the door and glared at Monika, "and I don't mean your painting." Then she left.

Monika couldn't believe what just happened. Who was that? She must have something going on to make her so rude and obnoxious to a total stranger. She looked at the painting... it wasn't that bad, was it? Sure, it's not the best piece in the world, but it's still not the worse... right? She grumbled as she tried to make a few more adjustments, forgetting about the color for now.

The door opened again. You have to be kidding. Is it the girl again? If she came in here to insult her more-

"Ve- Um, sorry, is Elizaveta here?"

Ah, that weird kid. Feliciano, right? "You're the second to come in here and ask." Monika looked away and back at her painting, going back to work, "No, she isn't. She left."

Feliciano made a soft 'ah' noise, which Monika chose to ignore. So far, this boy has annoyed her and she had no plans to interact with him at all. Sure, he's cute and friendly, but he is also flirtatious and too... love. He doesn't really behave and he hangs out with Gilbert, which always means his a trouble maker.

Footsteps were heard and suddenly Feliciano was close, "What'cha drawing, Monika?"

She blinked and narrowed her eyes. Why do people feel the need to be noisy today? "I'm painting the art project."

Silence was coated over, Monika guessed Feliciano was just being weird again. But, he spoke, "It is a bunny?" Monika just nodded. She could feel him smile, "it's cute. But it looks a little awkward. Mind if I help?"

Without her saying anything, Feliciano reached over and put his hand on hers, guiding the paint brush in near strokes to help reform the animal. Monika, surprising herself even, didn't do anything but stare at his hand with concern, like something was going to crawl out of his skin. His hand was warm, and larger than she thought. It wrapped around hers, not fully but enough to know her hand is just a little smaller. His fingernails were short and clean, unlike most of the guys who had a boat living under them. His fingers were long and slender, like he could easily play an instrument. Monika had the sudden thought of asking if he did.

Then the weird thought popped in her head. He was close enough for her to smell him. Normally, she didn't like being within two feet of people. But Feliciano smelled pretty darn good. Not like cologne, but like a fresh detergent with a mixture of... baby power? Whatever it was, Monika felt the need to have more of it.

Before she could think of what else, Feliciano leaned back and removed his hand. The suddenly cold air attacked her, causing her to mentally shiver and want him back where he was so she won't freeze to death, "Like that," he said, sounding like he has been talking all this time. Has he? Monika didn't know, she wasn't really listening, "see? It looks great."

She looked back at him. He was giving her a smile. She scanned her eyes over every inch of his face, watching for any thought he might be having about making fun of her. Which is what Francis did. Get close, then poked fun. No sign of a joke on Feliciano's face, though. Just a smile with sparkles in his eyes... Whoa, wait. Are those his real eyes? They don't look real. But they were gorgeous. Matching perfectly with his toothy smile. White teeth and lips-

"Thanks." she said, facing away before she could think another thing. She tried to steady her hand and started to paint, doing what Feliciano was doing.

She heard a laugh, "That's it," he leaned on the stool beside her, watching her paint, "nice and easy. Don't want to rush it. See? It looks better already."

Monika rolled her eyes. She stole a glance at him, seeing fascination on his face. What is wrong with this guy?