NovelEnglishPAINT
LAURA
| couldn't get out of school fast enough. My feet moved on autopilot, my mind racing a mile a minute. | barely
noticed the curious stares as | stormed past classmates in the hallway. Before anyone could stopor ask what
was wrong, | bolted for the parking lot. Sliding into the BMW's driver's seat, | let out a shaky breath. The glossy
black paint gleamed in the sun, drawing the attention of a few kids walking by. To them, this car screamed
privilege-a shiny gift from my mom to her only daughter. But the truth? It wasn't mine.
Mom had stopped driving since... well, since everything fell apart. She claimed it made things simpler, but |
understood the true reason. She didn't trust herself to take the wheel.
Luckily, Dad had left us enough money to make life comfortable, at least on the surface. But it still felt like a
house of cards, ready to topple at any moment.
| gripped the steering wheel and took a deep breath before turning the key. The engine roared to life, and | sped
out of the lot, leaving school-and Josh-behind. The art supply store sat just outside of town, tucked away in a
quiet plaza. It was my favorite escape, a place where the world. seemed to slow down. 12:24
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As | parked, | felt sof the tension melt away. The small coffee shop inside was buzzing with the comforting
hum of espresso machines and the soft chatter of customers. | ordered my usual latte and wandered toward the
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtpaint section, cradling the warm cup in my hands. There was something soothing about being surrounded by
rows of vibrant colors. My fingers skimmed over the tubes of paint, imagining the feel of the brushes and the
smell of fresh canvas.
A voice nearby broke my reverie.
"Excuse me, do you have this in, uh, cobalt blue? Or something close to it?"
| turned to see a guy talking to one of the employees-a young
kid who looked like he was barely out of high school.
The guy asking for help was tall, with sun-kissed skin and messy brown hair that fell just above his eyebrows. He
had a relaxed, easygoing vibe, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and jeans splattered with dried paint.
The employee looked flustered and pointed him toward an aisle. "Uh, | think it's over there? Maybe?"
The guy thanked him, but | could tell from his expression that he wasn't confident in the direction.
| hesitated. Should | help?
Before | could overthink it, | grabbed the cobalt blue paint from the correct shelf and walked over "Here you go,"
| said, holding it out with a smile.
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He blinked, surprised, before breaking into a grin. "Oh, thanks! You saved me. | was about to wander around
aimlessly for twenty minutes."
"It's a popular shade," | replied, feeling unexpectedly at ease.
He took the tube from my hand, his fingers brushing mine briefly. "Thanks again," he said, but as I turned to
leave, he called after me.
"Wait. Sorry-thanks, really. I, uh, haven't seen you here before?"
| paused, sipping my coffee. "Oh, I'm one town over, but | love this shop. They have the best paints."
He nodded, holding the tube of cobalt blue like it was a prized possession. "Yeah, | can see why."
Something about him felt easy. Comfortable. Not like Josh, whose presence leftnervous and confused and...
something else | didn't want to think about. "Good luck with the paint," | said, turning to walk away again.
"Wait."
This time, he touched my elbow lightly, stoppingin my tracks.
"Would it be, like, very forward if | bought you another coffee? Maybe?"
| blinked, stunned. Was he serious? Was he askingout?
My jaw slackened slightly, but my
head moved on its qu@nadding Up
apd doi Betbre | could think. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmthe latest chapter there!
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"Tim," he said, sticking out a paint-streaked hand.
| took it, feeling a small jolt at the
warmth of his grip Saad faplied,
spilingespie myself The content
is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
"Well, Laura," he said, his grin
widening, "letby yoy toa elip of
[
opffee. He Sbitent is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
DATE NIGHT
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