❝ I'm runnin' outta time to hold you close
Runnin' outta time to be your man
I'm just lost in this moment ❞
- 4u by Blackbear.
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Chapter Twelve: "Helicopter Pads are so in season"

Theo took a step back and looked at the painting in front of him. He had finally finished it. He grabbed his palette and his brushes and made his way to the basin. He scrubbed them clean and placed them with the other palettes and brushes.

He could have done the painting at his house but for some reason, the school art room helped him work better.

Eriane

He walked back to his painting to find Grace looking at it in awe.

"She's beautiful," Grace commented as he stood beside her. "Your mom?"

Theo nodded as he dried his hands with a towel. "I assume you're here about the..."

"Deal." She finished for him. "I know the hundred and fifty seems really weir-"

"It's a deal." Theo cut her short.

"What?" Grace turned to look at him. "Are you serious?"

Theo nodded at her shocked face. She turned back to the painting. "Man, you must be richer than I thought."

Theo didn't reply. This would sound cliched,  but Theo hated being called rich. Sure, he was grateful that he was born into a family that could take care of him and his sister but he wasn't rich. His parents were. Not him. At least not till they passed it on to him.

But the way Dave had spoken about Grace needing the money, made his decision really easy.

Grace wasn't an open book. But if Theo could do anything to help her out, he knew he would.

"Anyway, I have to leave now. I'll come to your house in the evening." She said. Theo nodded his head slightly. She turned around and then turned back. "You seem a little tense. Something wrong?"

"I'm not...tense. I'm confused." Theo said slowly. "My dad called a while back and said that he was going to come live with us for a while. I have gone through every single possible reason he could have but none of them seem to stick. He doesn't do business over the phone and he doesn't have a company here. Our house doesn't even have a helicopter pad."

"Oh my God. Like seriously, who doesn't have a helicopter pad? It is so in season right now." Grace replied in a high pitch.

"I'm not trying to sound snobby. I just know how he is. He shows up like everything is fine and then he disappears again. Worst thing? He hurts Eriane to the core every single time." Theo said.

Grace placed her hand on his shoulder. "You're such a sweet brother. I'm sure she'll be fine as long as you're around."

"That's sweet..." Theo replied warily. "You seem a bit tensed now."

"Tense...no. I feel stupid. I should have charged you more."Grace stopped biting her lip. "You're going to be a lot of work."

It's short, I know. I tried making it longer but unfortunately, it has to end like this before the next chapter.
You'll understand why soon.

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