Julie's POV

"I was thinking.. maybe I should add both of them into it?" I asked professor Antonio

"It looks good as it is, but since it has a meaning to you then yeah go on add them both" he said examining my drawing intensely

"I'll do just that" I said beginning to draw out the other half

"You're making me really proud" he said taking me by surprise

"R-really" I said feeling the need to cry suddenly

"Yeah! tI can see a bright future for you! keep at it! I know you've got more tricks up your sleeve" he said patting me on the back and walking out, I smiled to myself. First time anyone had ever said they were proud of me. My phone went off signaling I had a text

Jake: I propose dinner tomorrow night 😁😃?

Me: Is this your way of asking me out on a date? Gotta do better than that! 😝😒

There was a knock on my lab door so I opened it to reveal Jake hidden behind an enormous bouquet of red roses. He slowly lowered them revealing a cheeky grin

"Have dinner with me tomorrow night?" He asked shyly

"Well I'm going to see if I can because I-" he took me by surprise taking me in his arms and shutting me up with a kiss

"Dinner with me tomorrow" he mumbled against my lips and I nodded a loss for words suddenly. I kissed him this time loving the feel of his lips against mine. We broke apart and he handed me the flowers

"Thank you" I said sniffing them

"Pick you up tomorrow?" he asked

"Mhmm" he gave me a kiss on the cheek and left me smiling like a Cheshire Cat. I placed the roses onto a stool and went back to my work

**

Julie's POV

I finally finished my art piece! I'm happy with the way it turned out

"Professor" I said popping my head out the lab door calling him to come over. He came with a full smile on display

"I already know it's going to be good before I even take a look" he said walking through

"Thought I'd do a reveal for you" I said shyly as I removed the cotton sheet from the artwork. He just stared at it, no emotion, nothing just looked at it. I called out his name several times but he didn't reply he just looked at the art work his his jaw opened

"D-do you not like it?" I asked afraid of his reaction

"I just-um-" he was a loss for words

"That bad huh" I said getting a little upset

"You know you should be a little more confident" he said and I felt a pang in my chest

"I-I am" I said feeling the tears coming

"No you're not" he said seriously and the tear fell down my cheek and I instantly wiped it away with the back of my hand

"You know you don't have to insult me" I said covering the art piece

"I wasn't insulting you. That was the most beautiful piece I have ever seen. And trust me I have seen a lot! it's so raw and story telling. I have faith in you! I believe in you" he said

"Y-you do?" I asked sniffing

"I do and it's about time you start to believe in yourself as well" he said giving me a quick hug

"Thank you" I said smiling

"No thank you" he said

"Whys that?" I asked

"For allowing me to know there is still talent out there" he said smiling and walking out of the room

**

Julie's POV

I walked out of the school with the roses in hand smiling like an idiot waiting for Cheryl to arrive

"Hey you're Julie right?" a girl approached me. She had long blonde hair, tanned skin, and beautiful green eyes. She was about the same height as me 5'4 and looked friendly

"Yeah that's me" I said smiling

"I'm Carly" she said pulling her hand out for a handshake

"Nice to meet you, how do you know my name?" I asked curiously

"I'm in your art class" she said shyly

"Sorry I barely stay in art I'm always in the private lab" I said

"You're submitting your art work for the art fair right?" she asked and I nodded

"Cool I'll see you there" she said smiling and walking away. did I just make a friend? Cheryl pulled up and beeped several times trying to embarrass me and it worked because everyone turned to look at me

"Will you stop it!" I hissed as she continued to beep

"Awwww roses!! Can I date Jake please!?" She said as I hoped into the car and placed the roses in the back seat along with my backpack

"No you can not! one because it's illegal and second you're with someone if you haven't forgot!" I said

"Aw I'm sure Kimba wouldn't mind!" she said making me laugh.

"You're crazy do you know that" I said

"Got me so crazy in love" she sang out making me cover my face out of embarrassment

"Saw you made a new friend" she said

"Is that what it was?" I asked

"Sure looked like it" she said poking me on the side making me squirm

"Don't start that" I said seriously

"What ever. You hungry?" she asked

"Starving" I said dramatically

"Good because we are having friends over tonight for a barbecue" she said

"Great" I said rolling my eyes

"Don't look like that they're nice people. Me best friends, well Kimbas and mine" she said

"What are we having then?" I asked

"Everythinggggg, Kimba and I setup everything.. well Kimba did, but I still helped so I deserve some credit"

"Don't you always" I said making her laugh and she ruffled my hair

"Stop it!" I said fixing it

"Love you" she said smacking her lips against my cheek making an obnoxious smacking noise

"Love you too" I said for the first time taking her by surprise

"Really?" she said with tears in her eyes

"Really." I said kissing her on the cheek and she had the biggest smile spread across her face