(A/N: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to @ohabigail for the beautiful banner below. I can't thank my sister enough so shout out to her. She makes amazing covers and writes fantastic stories so you should check those out. Alright, enjoy!)

Pastel |pa'stel| noun; a crayon made of powdered pigments bound with gum or resin.

*a work of art created using pastels: a pastel entitled "Girl Braided Her Hair." –New Oxford American Dictionary.

Chapter twelve; pastel

Tuesday passed as duly as expected when you have exactly one – no two friends to count.

         The first was forced to go with her parents on some business but not business meeting with a bunch of other rich parents and their pompous children. It's business because they all pretend to be friends having a friendly pool party with drinks and conversations all while they're trying to get each other to "get on the train" and "be smart. This is a great business venture." And it's not business because they're all in swimsuits and sunhats instead of blazers and uncomfortably tight skirts and pants.

         The second friend only hangs out with me when they need help with something they're getting a grade on.

         So imagine my relief when on Wednesday afternoon, Lila texts and demands that we hang out and claiming that she's going through best friend withdrawals .

            She hasn't enlightened me on any of the details of progress she's having with Ray but I guess that's fair.

            "Okay so there's something I need to tell you." The first words Lila speaks as she marches through my door with a large banana pepper and pepperoni pizza, along with a large bottle of soda, and two strawberry milkshakes. So, in other words, I love my best friend.

            "Oh? And what's that?" I ask, taking a milkshake from her and take a sip before helping her to the living room. We set the pizza onto the coffee table and she sags down onto one of the couches with a relaxed sigh.

            "Well, you know how yesterday my parents made me go to that horribly boring escapade them and their snobby friends call a pool party?" She begins before opening the box and picking out a slice. The smell wafts over to me causing my stomach to growl. With a lick of my lips I reach into the box for my own piece of heaven.

            "What happened? Was that Gerald Hinkey guy wearing a speedo again?" I ask with a small laugh, thinking about to when Lila was practically hysteric over the fact that a seventy year old man thought it would be a good idea to scar a sixteen year old girl for life.

            She shivers in disgust and shakes her head violently. "No nothing like that thank the Lord. It's actually something good."

            "Oh really? A guy that isn't gag worthy finally made it?" I tease.

            She doesn't say anything and my eyes widen. "Wait, there actually was a guy? What's his name?"

            She blushes and takes a bite of her pizza. "Jonathan."

            "What does he look like?" I ask nonchalantly.

            She practically giggles the pizza out of her mouth. "Ever heard the term 'tall dark and handsome'?"

            I raise my eyebrows and nod appreciatively. "Awesome. Is he nice? Don't tell me he's a pompous jerk. I thought you'd never fall for someone just because they've got a pretty face."

            "Yes he does have a pretty face but he also seemed really sweet, you know?"

            "Sure. Is that why you wanted to hang out? To tell me you've finally set your sights on someone?" I tease with a knowing smirk.

            She smiles a jubilant smile, smile lines appearing in the corners of her tawny eyes. "Maybe. Now let's get this girls' day started shall we?"

            I watch as she searches Netflix for the perfect chick flick, absentmindedly playing with my watch strapped my wrist. We both look at each other knowingly and burst into hysterics as the movie Sleepover begins playing.

            This is just what I needed.

                                                *           *          *          *          *          

            Life passes by uneventfully during the next few days. Summer has always been a restful rather than a party hardy season for me.

            As a matter of fact, so far this summer has been turning out to be the most exciting and eventful in several years. It's not every summer that I make a friend and stand around for hours on end while he shows me his endless talents. I'm starting to think that the only point to all of this is to inflate his ego.

            I smile to myself at the thought. Partly because I find it funny to think of Arthur as the type to conceitedly brag on himself and partly because the image of his slightly scrawny, but somehow intriguingly solid and firm, figure standing over a piece he's worked on for hours, blue or some other color from the many varieties smudged across his jawline as he admires his work, completely oblivious to the pesky smudge.

            I bite down on my smile as I recall the memory like an old movie projecting on the white walls of my mind. Just as he turns to look at me with his big brown doe eyes I catch myself, shaking my head to clear my thoughts.

            I clear my throat, not bothering to question or even acknowledge the fact that for some odd reason, Arthur's paint covered face gives me goosebumps and a dry mouth. Nope....definitely not acknowledging it.

            I practically jump five feet in the air, hand clenched to my beating heart and an involuntary squeak escapes me. The ring of my cellphone has a way of giving me a heart attack.

            "Um...hello?" I ask unsurely, slightly hesitant at the strange coincidence.

            "Hey I was just sitting here...at home that is. Home being my house and uh, I just had a thought that you know maybe um – " His voice cracks and I try not to laugh at the awkwardness as I wait for him to finish, "Would you maybe possibly want to...I don't know, hang out or...something?"

            I pause to process his words, my eyes scanning my living room and for some random reason, the fact that Ray is standing in the kitchen with a turkey sandwich in his hand, his presence in this conversation haunts me like a cold chill on my shoulder. I don't know why, it's not like he's listening in or anything. He's deeply invested in his cellphone at the moment.

            "What do you have in mind? Another assignment? Perhaps...paper folding? Or...whatever it's called?" I mentally punch myself in the face for the lame comment.

            "No assignment...just uh, you and me...hangin' out. What do you say?" His awkwardness hasn't disappeared but has rather tried to hide...and frankly isn't doing a very good job. Arthur hasn't been one to be uneasy or ungrounded in a conversation so I find this side of him rather amusing. Too bad I'm too lame and retarded at the moment to enjoy it.

            "I say great. Sounds like fun and I needed an excuse to get out of the house so...it looks like you're my knight in shining armor." I say. About two seconds later there is still no response. This causes me to cringe at my words and before I know what I'm doing, my hand flies up and smacks itself onto my forehead. Even though I deserve it, it was a stupid thing to do.

            "What was that?"

            "What was what?"

            "That slapping noise...did you hit something?"

            I hang up before he can answer, letting out a sigh to calm my nerves.

            "What is wrong with me?" I mutter to myself,

            "Yeah sure. Come pick me up and we can do something." I suggest. I know that I sound pretty pushy and normally I'd drive myself but it's just one of those days where being behind a wheel doesn't sound too terrific.

            "Uh...yeah of course. Lovely?" Arthur asks.

            I pause, watching Ray glance at me as if I have two heads before rolling his eyes dramatically in an extremely aggravating way and jogging up the stairs clad in a pair of Nike skinny sweatpants and a charcoal V-neck. My brother would be extremely attractive if he wasn't such a drag all the time.

            "Hold on a sec." I reply, placing my hand over the phone speaker.

            With a sigh I stop him in his tracks, "Ray."

            He lulls his head to look at me as if I'm nothing but a pauper and he just happens to be a prince. "What?"

            I'm going to regret this. "Would you possibly want to hang with Arthur and me today? We're going to go out and do something...I'm not sure what yet but I'm sure it'll be fun?" I suggest, watching as hesitation flickers in his blue eyes before hardening again.

            "I don't like being third wheel or a charity case. No thanks." He's up the stairs and shut away from the world before I can blink.

            "Okay I'm back. Sorry about the whispering...anyway, I just invited my sort of delinquent brother to come along. I hope that's okay...I didn't really think you'd mind." I explain the reason I put him on hold.

            There's a pause on the other line. "I mean yeah that's fine with me it's just –"

            "No he said no. Hence him being a sort of delinquent. Anyway, I just wanted to explain the reason I put you on sort of hold." I let out a small laugh.

            He chuckles along with me and the vibrato sound has me relaxing, no longer cringing from awkward tension. "I'll be over in an hour. Does that work for you?"

            I can't shrug to myself. "Sure that sounds good."

            My hand is ready to pull the phone away from my ear before he sharply stops me. "Wait. Bring a swimsuit."

            My eyebrows furrow, unsure that I want to be in a swimsuit in front of him...I'd feel kind of exposed to be honest. And also curious as the where we could be going. It's hard to pinpoint any of the hunches I come up with considering it could be anything involving water. Including a backyard hose. And, to be perfectly honest, even that sounds fun at the moment.

            "You got it." I smile before hanging up and heaving off of the couch with a grunt and shuffling upstairs to get ready. I have an hour so I take my sweet time with each step.

             I sit at my desk, hands up and bent at an odd and rather uncomfortable angle as I French braid my chestnut locks not really feeling throwing my hair into a bun. I'd like to put some effort into my appearance today. Not for any particular reason of course.

            As I stretch the braid and pull out a few short strands in the front I contemplate colors and styles of swimsuits.

            First I decide to wear a one piece. That would definitely be more wholesome and make a statement of sophistication. But then I remember that the only one piece I have tends to ride up in the back if you know what I mean. And the tan lines back there aren't what I would call sophisticated.

            So then I settle on a mid-kini. Practical and cute. Not too prudish yet not too tempting either. I smile at the thought of my white inch wide strapped mid-kini top and baby blue bottoms. 

            I finish stretching the braid with one final tug, whipping out my concealer and waterproof mascara before applying both as needed. I watch my features come to life and can't help but thank God for makeup. Though I'm sure he prefers me without.

            Grabbing my bag from that first day in the park I shove everything I might need into its holdings. Being me and knowing I always over pack and never use any of the crap I bring, I decide to just toss in my concealer, mascara and a small hand mirror. Along with my house keys, a beach towel, a larger baby blue sweatshirt to match my bottoms, my handy dandy Bath and Body Works lotion, and of course I can't forget my contact case and glasses.

            My head spins at the long list and I consider putting some of it back since it's more than I was planning on towing around but I rule that out after thinking of a scenario for each item in which I need it and am extremely upset that I forgot it. So...alas, I leave everything in the bag.

            I decide to toss my swimsuit in there as well, not wanting to wear it under my clothes. That type of thing is more for bikinis in my opinion.

            I dress comfortably in a thin yellow halter crop top and a pair of comfortable high wasted khaki shorts with lace designs aligning the pockets in an artsy way I think Arthur will appreciate. I smile at the memory of my mom coming home with a thrift store shopping bag with these in tow.

            I throw the straps of my bag over one shoulder before making sure my phone is fully charged. Just as I confirm the battery percentage, a text blinks onto the screen with a happy alert.

            Art:

            Hope you're ready. Be there in about...now.

            A honk from outside has me rolling my eyes but I follow its orders nonetheless. But not before I stiffen, remembering one last thing. I rush to my desk and grab a pair of sunglasses. I pop the gold frames with rose-gold mirrored lenses onto my head over my braid, not really feeling like wearing them on my face at the moment. With a slight hesitation, I pull off my watch and place it on my desk, feeling a gentle bittersweet smile come to my face at the memories it digs up in my mind.

            I make sure to text my mom, making a respectable point as to where and with whom I'm going. Thankfully she agrees that I need out of the house and asks no further questions.

            As I settle into the black Wrangler's passenger seat with a click of the seatbelt, I hear nothing but silence. This perks my interest, my head turning in attention to the boy next to me.

            His eyes are trained on me, the brown orbs unnerving for some odd reason, but a soon as my eyes lock on his he looks away with a blink.

            Not wanting to let it go I confront him. "What? Why were you looking at me like that?" I laugh lightly with a smile, tucking my baby hairs in the front behind my ear.

            He shrugs and seemingly forces his body to comply with his demands, his eyes meeting mine in a kind and gentlemanly manner. The act catches me off guard but I make a point not to make our friendship awkward, keeping my gaze on his like a steel trap.

            "Nothing it's just...you're wearing yellow." The words come out slow like we're in a slow motion movie scene. I almost scoff at the thought.

            The steel trap collapses under the weight of his words and my line of vision slips off of him like it's been slicked with butter, my blood pounding in my ears.

            We sit at least a foot apart yet somehow I feel like we're closer. I scoot further into the window before finally working up the courage to look back into his face, focusing on a freckle between his eyes. But I can't help but notice that his eyes are still trained on me like they never left. And maybe they didn't.

            "I didn't realize." I think back to the moment he picked out my church dress.

            He gives me a friendly smile and finally we're on our way.

5C%t)H