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Sometimes I curse myself.
One minute we were just hanging out in Alexander’s room and then the next he was rummaging through his desk restlessly. Pulling out dozens and dozens of nail polish vials. He was smiling brightly, so excited as he looked for the right colour. It made me smile too.
I had asked him earlier
“Alex, what is it like to paint your nails?”
And that was it. He decided then and there to do mine.
“I don’t know, Alex…I’m not sure if I want others to see”
“Who cares, Elias? It’s not about them. Anyone can do their nails if they want. I’ve done it for as long as I can remember, and I don’t give a damn”
“Yeah, but that’s you…I’m not you”
“You’re right. You’re you. But you’re with me. And I won’t let anyone say shit about it. They’re only nails. Besides, we can clean them off after if you really don’t want others to see. I think you should try it at least once. Come on…”
So here we are. Me, standing here in the middle of his room, awaiting what’s to come. I feel safe with Alexander, so honestly, I don’t mind this. But I really didn’t know how it would look on me. He finally turns around with a bottle, a fond glint in his eye. He lowers himself onto the floor.
“Here” Alexander patted the floor in front of him with a warm smile “Come, sit across from me”
Well, that does it. He’s too cute for his own good. I surrender.
I smiled down at him before doing as he said, sinking down cross legged. My stomach did a flip as he shuffled closer to me, his knees bumping mine. He looked at me through his beautiful locks of wavy brown hair, like he was studying me. I suddenly felt weirdly shy. Why? It’s only Alexander. But oh god, he’s so close again. It makes my heart flutter in a way only he can make happen. I’ll never tire of it.
“What?” I asked quietly, a small breathy laugh escaping from me. Heat rising to my cheeks. How the hell does he do that?
He was still staring at me. Those brown eyes looking at me in a way that was making me want to melt all over the floor. A small smile on his face, his features relaxed. The way the evening sun filtered through my curtains made his skin look like a painting.
I made a mental note; I should totally draw him later.
“Have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are, Elias?”
His words shot through my thoughts like a bullet. My heart skipped a beat.
“W-Wha…?” I blinked, sitting up slightly. Did I really just hear that?
“If I haven’t then I really should have told you sooner. They are seriously gorgeous” Alex continued casually. Like he hadn’t just undone me. Like saying these things were no big deal. He wasn’t even looking at me now. He was unscrewing the bottle of nail polish. Dude.
“I…uh…” I was stunned, trying to get my brain back to normal.
“Th-Thank you” I finished with a small stammer, playing with the hem of my shirt in a pathetic effort to ground myself.
“Yours are too”
The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could register it. He flashed his signature grin at me, the sun catching in his eyes turning them a beautiful amber.
Another mental note flashed up: I know the exact paint colour I have for his eyes right now. But my thoughts were about to get interrupted again.
Alexander reached a hand up, fingers gently slipping around the back of my neck. They played slightly with my hair. The warmth sent a shiver down my spine. He slowly brought my head down and pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to my forehead. My eyes fluttered shut, an exhale left my lips. Yep. Definitely melting now.
He pulled away and winked at me.
“I know” he laughed, light and sweet.
At that I shoved his shoulder playfully, both of our giggles filling the air. His forehead fell against mine briefly, the ripples of his laughter vibrating through me. It was strangely calming. How did he do that? Fluster me to hell and then bring me back to serenity all within a few seconds?
“Anyway, now you’ll know why I picked this colour for you” Alex raised the bottle of nail polish he had opened, twisting it between his fingers. “Matches your eyes”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face “Really?”
“Yeah, look” He carefully dipped the polish brush into the bottle and painted a smooth line across his left index fingernail. One of the few of his nails that weren’t black. It left behind a beautiful bright blue. A shade caught between the sky and the ocean. It made me grin even wider, if that were possible. Were my eyes really that beautiful to him?
He lifted his finger up and rested it on my cheek under my eye and nodded with confidence. “Yep, definitely” he tapped my dimple lightly and I pushed his hand away with a chuckle. He smiled warmly and sat back, picking up the nail polish.
“Ready?” he asked, looking into my eyes for approval. Giving me a chance to back out. I held his gaze for a moment. The way he made me feel safe without effort really sold this whole thing.
Because he was right earlier.
I guess, in the end, I don’t give a damn if people comment. If my boyfriend does this all the time and manages to not give a shit while still being the coolest person I know, then why can’t I? If girls can paint their nails, why can’t we?
I nodded, grinning a dimply smile, excited “Yeah”
Alexander chuckled taking my left hand in his, his thumb stroking gentle circles on top.
“Cool. Make sure to stay still while I’m doing this, okay? If you can resist moving in my presence, that is” he smirked, nudging my knee with his.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my laughter. “Just shut up and get on with it, Michelangelo”
He huffled out a breathy laugh, dipping the nail brush into the polish bottle between us.
“Pretty sure you are the Michelangelo out of the both of us, mon ceour” he replied, his voice dripping with fondness as he dipped his head down and pressed a slow, sweet kiss to the top of my hand.
How the hell was I still in one piece? I could only let out a giggle in response, giddy. Before I could think of anything else further to say I felt the feather light tip of the polish brush on my index finger.
I froze still.
For a split second my mind went blank. For once.
This was really happening.
I was getting my nails done for the first time. By my boyfriend.
My boyfriend. There was once a time when I would never believe anyone if they had told me I would have one. But here he was. Sat right in front of me.
The most handsome boy I’d ever met. Someone so effortlessly cool and confident that sometimes I wonder how he ever fell in love with a mess like me. Someone with so much patience even after I had said awful things to him. But here he was. Painting my nails like it was second nature. His hand holding mine like it was a delicate jewel that must be cherished always.
And the best part was that I didn’t feel weird. Or even…girly. I felt like, this was meant to be. Like this is something everyone should try out at least once. Because...
This was fun.
I was having fun.
Every stroke of this polish brush was making me feel so alive somehow.
I lifted my gaze from my hand to Alex.
His eyes were fixed firmly on my nails. Strong and confident. He made slow, calculated stokes of blue from the brush. The corners of his mouth tipped upwards ever so slightly. His brows only lightly furrowed. I’d seen this look before. It was the same as when he played piano for me. Something he loved doing. Something he loved working on. He looked so calm right now. He reminded me of…
Me.
It was like when I would paint for hours on end. I may end up with sore shoulders or hand cramp, but it would never stop me doing what I love. And the result was always worth it, well mostly.
If this was his peace, then I felt so special being a part of it.
My body reacted before I could think. I leaned down and kissed the hair on the top of his head. He smelled of pinecones and lemon grass.
He let out a light-hearted huff.
“You’re gonna make me slip-…”
“I love you”
I felt Alex stop. The polish brush freeze. My face was still buried in his hair. I didn’t want to move.
He was so soft. So safe.
So mine.
But he lifted his head to meet my eyes. Amber and Ocean. Our foreheads slipped together, connected. I felt his hot breath near my lips. My stomach did somersaults. My heart fluttered free. My unused hand stroked his knee, drawing slow circles into his skin. He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to really. Sometimes we never needed to speak a word. His eyes said it all. But still,
“I love you” I whispered again “So much”
Alex let out a quiet shaky breath. His lips twitching up. His pupils dilating.
I leaned in and kissed him, slow, deep, unhurried. I had all the time in the world. My hand lifted to meet his cheek, holding him there. My thumb traced the sharper edges of his cheekbone. He made a low, groan into my mouth, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. My hand made its way into his luscious brown curls at the back of his head, pulling him in closer. I heard a light clink noise.
There goes the polish brush.
His hands go up to cup my face tilting my head so he could press hot feather light kisses over my cheeks, my jaw, the top of my neck. I gasped. My head was starting to spin.
Shit. This boy is going to be the death of me.
But then-
Knock Knock Knock.
Three knocks jolt us apart. We look at each other in surprise, our breath hot and heavy. We both slowly turn to Alex’s closed bedroom door.
A strong deep voice calls out from the other side, Alex’s father. “Dinner is ready in 10, boys”
Alex runs a hand over his hair, slicking it back, like he was trying to compose himself, eyes darting to me then the door. “Okay dad, thanks, we’ll be down in a second”
We hear creaking footsteps and then silence.
Alex turns back to me. His hair a mess, his shirt slipping slightly off his shoulder, exposing the curve of his collarbone. His face has a ghost of shock on it. He looks so handsome. And funny.
A laugh started to tumble out of me. The kind that had no sound until I sucked in a breath, and it turned into a borderline cackle.
Alex’s face creased up then his laughter erupting from him, he fell back onto the floor and rubbed his hands over his face.
“Elias, you suck”
“What?! Why are you blaming me?”
“I was doing so well and then you had to pull something like that!”
“I couldn’t help it, Alex!”
“I was right, you really couldn’t keep still around me”
“H-Hey!”
He looked up from the floor at me then. “Am I wrong?” he smirked, an eyebrow raised
I gasped out a splutter “W-Well you-“
That’s when I noticed the polish brush on the floor. A bit of blue paint had smeared onto the floorboard.
I felt a sudden rush of panic.
“Shit!! The brush! There’s paint on the floor! Damn, Alex I’m sor-
Alex waved a hand nonchalantly in the air not even looking at the brush, just at me, with amusement “Eh, don’t worry about it, it’ll clean up fine. Besides, I dropped it, not you.”
“But-
He quickly raised a finger to my lips “Shh…”
Of course he doesn’t care. That’s Alexander for you. I went to ruffle his hair, but I stopped.
I see Alexander’s work on my nails. The thumb wasn’t done but the rest were beautifully painted. The coating even and stunningly blue. Barely any paint on my skin. I felt pride well up in my chest. Alex caught me looking, sat up and smirked.
“Not bad, huh?”
I didn’t answer at first. I lifted my hand up higher in the air so the light could catch it.
My breath hitched.
The sun made the paint look like it sparkled. Like I was wearing ocean waves on my fingers. Art.
“Beautiful” I breathed. “Thank you”
Alex nodded, a gentle smile on his face. I lowered my hand, curling my fingers in to study them more. I blew on them gently to help them dry. Neither of us spoke for a bit. Alex was lying on the floor, arms crossed behind his head, his eyes closed. His face content.
I smiled fondly at him, then let out a dramatic sigh, falling to the floor next to him. I stared up at the ceiling, feeling his warm, calming presence next to me.
“Why are you so good at everything? Piano, sports, and now nails-”
“Because I’m God’s gift to this earth”
“Urgh, stop”
“Hmm, no”
“Alexander-
“I love you too”
I turn to look at him eyes slightly wide, a blush rising to my cheeks, my lips parted. He was looking at me with such sincerity I thought he could see my soul. He turned onto his side, one arm still cushioning his head, his other hand intertwining with mine.
Black and blue nails. I don’t think I’d ever seen anything that perfect. For us.
……………………..
A week passes and I show Alexander my latest piece of artwork.
Two hands intertwined. One with blue nails and the other with black nails. A background of flourishing green leaves and our sparkling lake made of acrylic smears.
The bottom is signed in simple gold writing.
For my Michelangelo
End <3