Under The Painted Sky (O/O CLOSED)

Eden’s eyes fell on his hand, biting her lip before she slipped her hand in his, feeling his warmth spread through her. She stepped a little closer to him, his cinnamon scent filling her nostrils. He… was just so comforting.

“Lead the way, Ainsley,” she murmured, eyes on their hands. She tried not to think of the way his hand completely engulfed hers. She tried not to think of how comforting it felt, or how strong it was. She thought that anyway.

“There is one. It’s a ten minute walk,” Eden answered quietly, her skin burning from where he had kissed her hand. “It’s near the elementary school.”

“Mhm, that’s fine for me,” Eden nodded as they walked out the door. She locked it behind her, hand still in his hold.

Eden smiled back at him softly, squeezing his hand back. When he asked her out… did he mean it as a date? She willed her cheeks to not turn red. It isn’t a date, she told herself. He’s only doing this to make me feel better.

But the way they were holding hands… it looked like they were on a date. It looked like they were dating. Eden didn’t know how to process that information.

Eden’s heart burst in her chest at his comment. He liked her smile? Her cheeks flushed, more so when he reached over to brush a lock behind her ear. When his fingers lightly touched her skin, they left a burning in their wake.

“You—you mentioned it. Once. You told me I should do it more often,” Eden responded quietly. “We go straight from here and take a right turn. The park is sort of at the back.”

At his comment, Eden dipped her head, looking at the ground. This situation was so different from the one she’d been in before. She didn’t know how to feel about that. It was so foreign to her—the gentleness, the careful words and touches. She’d only had them forced on her. She hated her own smile because of what it reminded her of. She swallowed thickly, exhaling, a slight shudder escaping her.

”Where’s that smile I’m looking for? We don’t want people thinking I’m not treating you right, do we?”

“I… have never been told that,” Eden ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know how to take that.”

Eden sighed, bringing the apple to her mouth and taking a small bite. She chewed softly and slowly, trying to fight back the nausea creeping up at her.

“I’m still confused as to why you’re here with me when there are other, far more easier girls out there,” Eden finally spoke, voicing her thoughts aloud.

Eden turned away, his gaze far too intense for her to hold. She gripped her apple tightly in her hand, and unconsciously, Sterling's hand as well.

"I'm far more complicated than all of them combined," Eden's voice wavered slightly. "I'm messed up, both literally and figuratively. And you, Sterling… you could do better than that."

Eden bit down on her lip at his words, and the rest made her feel warm. Together. She’d been so alone all those years, and that word… she didn’t know how to think about it.

“If you find about mine, you’ll never look at me the same,” Eden said to him softly. “That, I can guarantee. Anyway, let’s hurry up.”

Eden led the way to the park, not speaking up again. He said that as if they were dating. At this point, actually, Eden didn't even know what they were. They said they were friends, but they acted like a couple. Eden was so confused. Did she want him as more than a friend? Did he want her as more than a friend?

Finally, when they reached the park, Eden slipped her hand out of Sterling's hold, made her way over to the swings and took a seat on one of them. She returned her eyes to Sterling.

Eden jumped slightly, straightening her back when she heard his voice. She whipped her head back before she caught sight of him. She rolled her eyes.

“I’m afraid I’m waiting for a friend,” she said. “He’s tall, a little dorky looking, and he has a narcissistic aura surrounding him. Have you seem him?”

Eden rolled her eyes. “Attractive and strong? I don’t know about that, but he does look like someone who could cuddle nicely.”

“I can do it myself,” Eden replied, shaking her head, trying to hide her amusement. “You sit, too.”

Eden snorted. “You really are a child, aren’t you, Sterling? But all right. I’ll play your game.”

Before Eden knew it, she was higher in the air, a peaceful smile on her features. Halfway through their game, Eden had stopped trying. She simply enjoyed the wind on her face and the way her heart dropped when her swing neared the ground.

At one point, she stopped swinging, simply letting the ride go on on it’s own.