[Ethan's POV]

You should never make someone, who you feel nothing for, feel everything for you. To see them almost everyday and see the emotions they have for you, in their eyes. . . Wasn't right.

I was young, and had a crush on Jeremiah for what felt like my entire childhood. We lived, maybe a block away from each other so we ended up going to the same elementary, middle, and high school together. So when I say my entire childhood, I mean it. When he approached me that day and then at the game, I was nothing but a happy closeted gay kid, jumping through the roof that my crush wanted to hang out with me.

So that weekend, we planned it. Movies and a bite to eat. Well, we grabbed a bite to eat first and the conversation was surprisingly not awkward. He knew how to keep a conversation going. To the point where I didn't even realize we were done with our dishes and the waiter had left the tab on the table.

We both went to grab the bill.

"I got it, don't worry." I said politely.

"No, I invited you out. This is my treat." He said with a charming smile that blindly made me let the receipt slip my fingers. He was paying. Almost like if we were on a — ugh.

>> Present Time <<

"Ethan, I know I've said it before but. . . you're an amazing artist."

All my life, I've heard people compliment my work. It wasn't as good as people made it out to be but hearing Tobias say it, felt different. Felt good. It felt better than hearing a stranger say it.

I leaned my head on his shoulder as he flipped through all my old sketchbooks. I hadn't flipped through my old sketchbooks in what felt like years so when he asked to see them, I decided why not.

Then, he flipped to a sketch of Jeremiah that I had completely forgot I'd even drew.

"ooo, who's this?"

"n-no one." I stuttered before ripping the page out and crumbling it up. It shouldn't be in my book with works of art. He wasn't a work of art to me anymore. He was the devil.

Tobias, just looked confused like if he'd done something wrong. "Look, I get if he was a like, boyfriend of yours. . . but you don't have to destroy the drawing cause of me."

"It's not because of you, I swear."

"So then what is it?"

Was I ready to tell him? Was I ready to open up about that part of my life? Tell Tobias the whole truth behind me moving down here.

Be completely vulnerable with him and speak my truth.

>> Flashback <<

"Oh come on, paint me like one of your french girls, Ethan. Make me look pretty." Jeremiah shouted as he stuffed his face with curly fries.

We were having a picnic in the field. Don't ask why, he just texted me and told me to meet him here with my stetchbook. I thought the picnic was just for a background but we ended up actually eating the food.

"You already are pretty." I said in laughter because of his terrible posing.

"Oh, so you find me pretty?" he said dramatically. He brushed the crumbs off his lip and moved closer to me, "what an honor." he spoke in a loose tone. Almost like if he was accepting a reward. Being pretty is such a reward.

"Oh shut up. I'll do one sketch and that's it. So hurry up and stand still."

"Hurry up and stand still?" he asked , pretending to be confused. I stoved his shoulder and stole one of his fries.

"You know what I meant." We both laughed and then got started with the drawing. I made him stand still for a good 20 mins just to get the perfect outline of his face, collarbone, neck, ears, lips. . . everything portrait wise. I can tell he was getting antsy to move, "yknow. I can just take a picture and draw it from there?"

"No. I'm summoning my inner Rose. I just didn't think I'd be in it so long."

"Yeah, you'd never survive back in the day when they made people stand still for hours at a time."

"That, and also because I have black in me. I'd be dead before I'd even get to enjoy life."

"Ooo, too real but so true."

Suddenly I felt two hands on each side of my shoulder, and a face lay on the side of me.

"How's it looking? Do I look like one of your french girls?"

". . . you look like a piece of art." I said mainly to myself as I lifted the drawing up for him to see. Silence filled the air and suddenly a kiss was planted on my shoulder. I turned to look at him, shocked that he'd do that, "I'm guessing you like it?"

"Not just the drawing."

I looked into his eyes. He couldn't be saying what I think he's going to say.

"What else?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Probably, but I'm really slow when it comes to these things."

He laughed then grabbed the sketchbook out my hands. Put it to the side and sat in front of me. It's like he was devouring me with his eyes, something no one has even done to me before.

"I like you."

Til this day, I don't even know if he really meant it. . . or if it was just apart of his game all along.

____
A/N
hey, i'm back.
i know i'm terrible at updating this book but if i'm being honest, it's cause i had no idea how i wanted it to end. i didn't want to have a cliche "we live happily ever after" cause my whole point of even becoming a writer on wattpad was to make endings different... but i finally decided on a ending so more parts leading up to it, will be coming out sooon.

thank you for all the love and support even after i've taken so long to update. i really do appreciate and love you all for it.