Chapter 2

When I made it to Art 101 with time to spare I found my regular seat in the second row by the windows and took out my sketch journal with two mechanical pencils and my eraser. The bell rang and I felt the chair beside me screech with the signal of someone sitting down next to me. I looked up from my doodling of Princess Leia with grey eyes and met the same pair of eyes on a different girl.

"Hi" she said taking a bite out of the same apple from earlier.

"H-hi," I stuttered. Idiot, I scolded myself.

"You like art?"

"Um, y-yeah" Really? Not much improvement their buddy.

"Cool" she said turning back to the front as the teacher started the lesson. She looked back to me and smiled as she said "Princess Leia doesn't have grey eyes." I paled and looked down at my sketch, embarrassed of my obvious growing crush on this girl. I was so screwed.

"Alright class, today we are going to do self-portraits with a little twist," Ms. Dare announced, "We are going to pair off into partners and you are going to sketch each other," she called out excitedly. I gulped, worried that I didn't have a single friend in this class. "I will allow you to choses your partners as long as it's not any of your friends," the whole class groaned in unison, "This is a group project and I want you to be as creative as possible. It is due in two weeks, so with that being said, get started!"

I looked around worriedly, looking for an eligible soul who wouldn't leave me to fend for myself. I sneaked a look at the girl next to me and noticed she was doodling something. The class grew louder as students stood to look for their partners and I stayed paralyzed in my seat.

"So, when do we get started?" Anabeth spoke looking up from her doodling and meeting my gaze.

"Um, I…uhh… you're asking me?" I questioned.

"Obviously," she made an eye roll.

"Oh, um, ok. Now?" I asked timidly.

"Ok, sure," she got up and dragged her desk to face mine. I stared amazed with the way she carried herself. I smelled coconut and jasmine as she seated herself. "Let me see you," she said nonchalantly.

My face flushed at her forwardness and I watched as she assessed me from cheek to cheek to chin to nose and who knows where else. She watched me as I watched her, tilting her head from side to side, biting her lip and squinting from time to time. Her staring only made me redder and I started to squirm a little.

Suddenly she reached up quickly and touched my jaw with her soft cool hand, I squeaked at the unexpected contact. "Hold still. An artist needs to observe her inspiration, and that means using all five senses," she stated, running her hands through my jaw and up my cheek. She reached up and smoothly rung her hands through the tousle of hair on my head. My breathing increased and there was a sudden uncomfortable feeling in my pants that I needed to get rid of as soon as possible.

"You would be fun to draw," she said dropping her hand and sitting back in her seat, smirk on her face.

"Ugh uhm, thank you" I coughed, shaking myself out of her intoxicating touch. We sat their staring at each other, I was at a loss on how to handle this situation without embarrassing myself any further.

"So, isn't it your turn," she inquired, tilting her head to the side.

"Oh, um is it ok?" I stuttered nervously, looking at anywhere but her.

"Of course," she replied. Just then the teacher called us to attention, ordering us to align the seats and pick up our mess. I deflated in disappointment as well as enjoyed the time to gather my senses.

"Let's meet after school to come up with a schedule on finishing our project. Sound good?" Anabeth asked, standing up.

"Um, yeah ok."

"Cool. Meet me at my locker." She said, throwing her bag over her shoulder, "Bye, Percy." And with that, she strutted out the classroom.

"Holy Christ," I gasped out. I am way over my head.

Hey, just wanted to see if anyone decided to give my story a shot! Let me know what you think. : )