Chapter 10

Aria POV

A Couple of Weeks Later…

The first week of school went by fast for Aria. She loved Rosewood high school; it reminded her of her old school back in Kansas City. She liked all her teachers except for one. She was taking four courses. They consisted of English III, Geometry and U.S. History, and Advanced Art.

She had to personally request Advanced Art. She had met one real friend, her name was Jessica Hensley. She wasn't an 11th grader like Aria, but a 12th grader. She had her own car, and she worked at the shopping mall on 5th avenue. She and Aria had a lot of things in common, mainly the love of art.

They had met in Advanced Art, hitting it off nicely. Jessica wanted go to an art institute in New York City after she graduated. Aria had looked into art schools in NYC also. Aria was rarely home anymore, spending all her time between Dustin and Jessica. She didn't see the point of being around Ezra when he didn't want her there.

Ezra never listened to her, looked at her, or even conversed with her. He went back to ignoring and avoiding her. She was sure he didn't miss her. She only saw him in the mornings, during school hours, and sometimes at night if she stayed home. She wished she still wasn't attracted to him, that she didn't want him.

She'd observed in school, watching him closely. He never associated with the other teachers, or hung out with them in the teacher's lounge. He only spoke to them in passing, not bothering to hold a conversation with them. She noticed he was also like that with his students, distant. She was glad to see she wasn't the only person Ezra was that way with.

He was socially awkward, not bothering to make friendships. She didn't know how he and her dad had become friends. Her father had been a social butterfly. Ezra was anything but that. His life was just depressing. He was so detached with the world, not ever taking risks.

She didn't want to be around him anymore. She was growing to hate him, especially his rules. He was a miserable person. He was an old man who would never change his ways. She felt sorry for him.

"What homework is causing you to frown?" Dustin asked as he looked at her over his shoulder. He was painting a portrait. It was dark and twisted. A buyer had requested it. "You want my help?"

Aria was glad for the interruption. She didn't want to think about Ezra anymore.

"I hadn't realized I was frowning. And Geometry," Aria huffed, trying to work out the formulas in her textbook. "I'll love your help".

Dustin raised one hand, showing her the paint on them as his other held the paintbrush tight in his grip.

"As you can see, my hands are covered in all colors of paint," He smirked, looking back to his artwork. Aria watched him quietly, loving his concentration. She had learned he was a perfectionist when it came to his work, she admired that about him. She was also a perfectionist. "And besides, I was never good with math".

She couldn't take her eyes off his work. It was disturbing, but beautiful, loving the dark colors he used as his skilled hand willed the paintbrush as it flowed across the canvas.

"I wish I could join you. I would like to get my hands deep in paint," Aria said wishfully, before taking her eyes of him to focus on her schoolwork. "That makes two of us. I would love to take no math at all".

"Come here then," Dustin said as he took his beautiful grey eyes from his work and plucked a spare paintbrush from its casing. He waved it, beckoning her over as he smirked again. "I'll love to have your collaboration".

She looked down distressingly at her homework and textbook, before looking up at Dustin and the beautiful crafted paintbrush.

"Please don't," Aria was tempted, but she knew she had to do her homework. It was just the beginning of school, and she wasn't trying to fail Geometry. "I'll just watch you".

He shrugged his shoulders, saying it was her loss.

"What subject do you have to do next?" he asked in a more somber tone, not looking away from his painting this time. "I've always loved English and History. What are your favorite subjects?"

"I'm doing English III next. We're reading, 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'," Aria told him as she wrote down the answers from the calculator into her notebook. "And I was always a sucker for English and History too".

"I've read that before. It's a classic," Dustin said as his hand stroked up and down with the paintbrush against the canvas, making it more intense. Even though the painting was dark, he was careful not to add too much darkness. She wanted to join him, to take part in his creation. She loved that they had much in common. "We just keep having things in common. I like it".

She smiled, shutting her textbook and putting her notebook away. She shuffled her other textbooks around on the handmade table, searching for her English book.

"I've only read the first chapter, but I love it so far," Aria said as she swept the long curly hair off her shoulders and flipped the pages of her textbook, her fingers twirling around the plush locks. She looked for the short story that had to read as the requirement for homework. "I bet you do".

He laughed, not disproving her point.

"What do you want for dinner tonight?" he asked as he wiped his hands off on a rag, before cleaning his paintbrushes. "And please don't say pizza again".

She was tired of pizza as well.

"What about Mexican?" Aria asked as looked up from her textbook and caught his eye. "And what's wrong with pizza?"

"You know that's my favorite," Dustin said as his mouth curved upward. "Nothing's wrong with Pizza, but I think we've had enough".

She laughed as he shuddered. He was such a clown.

"Mexican it is then," Aria closed her English book, having read the story. "And I agree".

"And what's for dessert?" he asked as he gave her a heated look, his grey eyes causing her to swallow deeply. She couldn't think when he looked at her like that. "I'm willing to take anything you're offering".

Aria shivered under his hot stare, wanting him too.

"You can have me, all of me," Aria said in a sultry voice as she licked her pink lips, before sucking on her lower lip. His grey eyes darkened as he tracked the movement of her tongue. "But first you have to get cleaned up".

"I'll do that while you order the food," Dustin said huskily, unable to take his eyes form her. "I think I'm going to enjoy this dessert".

She ordered the food when he left for his bedroom. When the food arrived, Dustin was back and joined her at the table. They had streak burritos with cheese and onions, fried beans, and crispy nachos with salsa. She could eat only one burrito, but that didn't stop Dustin from pigging out. She watched as he made them both Mexican drinks.

"I like having you here," Dustin said as sipped his drink through a short straw. "Do you want to stay the night, or do you have to be home?"

She savored her non-alcohol fruity drink before answering him.

"I love being here," she pushed her drink aside, not wanting anymore. "And yes, I want to stay the night. I actually brought a set of clothes".

"Good. My roommate isn't here," he wiggled his eyebrow suggestively. She pushed his hands away when he reached for her playfully. "I noticed the overnight bag you brought here".

She leaned over to touch his mouth with hers and laughed as he held her face in his hands, deepening the kiss between them as his fingers entangled themselves in her hair.

"When do you leave?" Aria asked against his beautiful mouth as she broke away from him. "And how long are you staying away?"

"I leave tomorrow," His voice was harsh and full of need as grabbed her around the middle, pulling her towards him. "And I'll be gone about a week, but no longer than that".

"You're going to New York City, right?" Aria said as she sucked on his neck, swirling her tongue around his tattoo as he groaned. "How are the art galleries there?"

He let his professional fingers drift down her back, stroking ever so lightly.

"Yes," Dustin said lustily, breathing harder as his fingers dug into her. "I don't know, mostly I'm just looking around to see if I can sell a couple of my paintings".

"I never thought about selling any of my paintings," Aria said with much regret as she allowed her lips to graze up the side of his neck, before enclosing over his left earlobe. "I wish I could go, but I can't".

"I've seen your work, and you can definitely sell them," Dustin said as he supported her aspiration. "I can always plan another trip to NYC".

She lifted her head up to gazed into his eyes, loving that he was willing to do that for her.

"Thanks for the support," she kissed him hard on the mouth and shoved her tongue between his lips to merge her tongue with his. "I think we better make this night count".

"No problem, I always support my fellow artists," he said into her mouth, kissing her deeper before drawing back. "Let's do it".

They got up from the kitchen table, fumbling with one another's clothes as they rushed to his bedroom. She couldn't wait to feel him, to have him thrusting into her. He growled as he lifted her up from the floor and carried her the rest of the way, his hands tugging down her jeans as she tore off his shirt. She moaned aloud as they collapsed on top his bed, fighting the other for top position. She won out and straddled him as she pulled her shirt over her head, her dark tresses cascading down in waves over her shoulders and back.

I really love this story and I hope you guys feel the same way. Please review and let me know what you guys are thinking! This story doesn't receive much support, but I'm not going to stop writing for it. I'm going to keep writing for the ones who are enjoying it. I'm in the process of writing Chapter 19.