dedicated to my girl dirtytrbl

***

A week has passed since Taz first made me a canvas. Most of those following days had gone by without incident and the number of times he'd bother me decreased significantly. When I saw him in class or in the halls, our conversations were short and nothing to linger on. Nothing at all like how endearing and curious he's been before. It made me wonder if he actually was mad at me.

For the last two days, he hadn't even been in school. I wanted to ask Connie if she'd seen him, if he was just avoiding me, but she was just as answerless. I wasn't really worried and tried not to focus on his absence, but seeing his chair empty bothered me more than it should've.

At the end of the week, I was home. Any plans I'd had weren't major and fell through, so I decided to enjoy a night on the couch with my family. It was just a regular evening at home. I'd just finished eating dinner and was washing my dish when I heard a knock at the door. My mom was braiding my sister's hair in the living room so I got it before she could get up.

"I got it, Mom!" I wiped my hands on my jeans before reaching for the knob, and my eyes nearly jumped out of my face when I did.

His dark hair was parted and somewhat sticking to his forehead, usually fair cheeks now flushed and rosy. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on his high cheekbones, and I had to wonder what the heck he'd just been doing. Based on the hoodie and loose shorts, it looked like he just came from the gym. Despite all that, he was still just as handsome and easily knotted my stomach without even trying.

Taz grinned at my bewildered expression, that childish twinkle in his brown eyes present once again. Under my porch light, he may as well have just been glowing.

"Hey," he said casually, as if it were totally normal for him to just show up at my house at seven in the evening on a Friday. "You're not busy, are you?"

"No, but... Taz, what the heck are you doing here?" I stepped onto the porch and quietly shut the door behind me. Though I wasn't technically busy, all of my family was watching TV in the living room and the last thing I needed was for my mom to catch a glimpse at Taz and start chatting him up. "How do you even know where I live?"

"It's in the school directory. I was going for a jog and figured I'd stop by." He shrugged as if it were totally normal to just look up your acquaintance's address and then follow through with showing up out of the blue.

"That doesn't mean you just show up out of nowhere," I hissed, trying to keep my voice down. "Going for a jog... You live around here?"

"Yeah, I live on Cedar Lane," he answered with a smile.

"...That's like twelve blocks from here."

"My route is five miles long, this was on the way."

I still didn't get it. "But why are you here?"

"To see you, of course."

Damn my inability to keep from blushing around this guy. "You see me at school."

"So? Am I not allowed to see you outside of school?" He chuckled while crossing his arms. "Do you turn into a werewolf at sunset or something?"

I couldn't help but laugh as I shoved his shoulder. "Yeah, and I eat annoying teenagers who interrupt my prowling."

He gasped. "Who are you calling annoying?"

"You!"

He brought a hand to his chest, taking an appalled step backwards as he gasped louder. "How dare you! And here I was about to offer you ice cream!"

I quit my teasing, ears perking at the mention of the cold creamy delight. "Ice cream?"

Before he could answer, the door creaked open behind me and out came my mother's voice. "Dana, who are you out here tal—"

Taz grinned politely as I turned to give my mom an awkward half smile. She looked with wide eyes from me to Taz and then back again.

"Oh."

I sighed. "Mom, this is my friend, Taz." No point in lying since she'll probably - no, definitely - ask about him as soon as she gets the chance. And the delighted look on her face as she reached to shake his hand told me I wasn't wrong.

"Nice to meet you," she said sweetly, smile practically blinding.

He nodded curtly after letting go of her hand, signature grin still residing on his lips. "You as well, ma'am. Sorry for interrupting, I just came to see Dana for a second. Is that okay with you?"

My mom and I shared a look as we thought the same thing: He's so mannerly. There's no doubt in my mind that when I hear about this later, she's going to go on endlessly about how much she already likes him. In an appropriate, very non cougar way.

"Sure," she said, barely concealing her excitement enough for him not to notice. "Do you guys want to come inside and talk?"

So the rest of the household can interrogate us? Like hell.

"W-we're fine out here, Mom," I answered quickly, making her turn to look at me. I glanced meaningly at the door. "I'll let you know if we need anything."

I knew she got the message. Her frown was minute and fleeting, but still there. "Alright. It was nice to meet you, Taz. Don't be a stranger."

He nodded, chuckling, "Yes, ma'am. Enjoy your evening."

With one last bright smile, my mother slid back inside and shut the door. I waited until I heard her walk away to resume the conversation, but he beat me to it.

"I think she likes me."

"What gave it away?"

We both laughed at that and I moved to sit in one of the cushioned wicker chairs on the left side of the porch. As I sat down, Taz lingered by the closer of the twin pillars framing the porch steps and slouched against it. The sound of crickets and cars passing in the near distance filled the silence between us, and it was bordering on plain awkward until he spoke up.

"I missed you." I looked up to find him already gazing at me, chestnut irises honest and calm beneath his lashes.

I let out a short laugh. "You barely know me. You can't miss someone you don't know."

"You'd lose that bet."

"Couldn't have missed me too much."

"What makes you say that?" He pushed off the pillar and strode over, happily taking the seat to my right.

I shrugged. "You've been kinda distant this week. When I did see you, we didn't talk much and it's not like I have your number..."

He nodded. "I see your point. Sorry about that."

I waved it off. "It's okay. I just thought you were still mad at me."

Taz threw his head back and groaned loudly. "You're really still on that? Didn't I tell you I wasn't mad that same day?" He may have been fussing, but he couldn't do it without laughing some.

"You could've been lying," I defended. "People do that, you know."

He pursed his lips, elbows on his knees and a thoughtful look clouding his face. "Fair enough."

Another moment of silence passed and I wondered, if I hadn't left my phone inside, would be on it right now trying to seem busy? I chanced a glance at the boy beside me. He looked to be submerged in thought, but I was more than sure that once he opened his mouth, I'd be anything but bored.

"I'm sorry I was such a ghost this week," he says. "I just had a lot on my mind."

"Is that why you've been absent?" He nodded. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." He nodded again, but it was more convincing this time. Then the usual bounce in his character returned and he said brightly, "I really appreciate you asking, but I came to make sure you're alright."

My brows jumped. "Me?"

"Yeah, it's time we sat down and had a talk," he said decisively.

"A-a talk about what?"

"Us," he chirped.

"Us?"

"You and me," he laughed. "C'mon, we've barely spoken about anything outside of painting."

'You and me'? What was he on about?

I gave him a curious look. "And what exactly are we supposed to talk about?"

Propping his elbow on the arm of the chair, he dropped his chin in his palm and smirked, eyes lidded yet actively flickering over me as he leaned in my direction. "Anything. Everything. Nothing..." he shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me."

I laughed mirthlessly. "And what if we come to another topic you don't like? Will we be doing this all over again next week?"

He wasn't phased by my question at all; rather, he seemed to have been expecting it and already had the answer just on the tip of his tongue, waiting for the right moment. "I'm not afraid of an argument, Dana. I just like talking with you."

Unexpectedly, it wasn't my face that began to heat this time. Warmth pooled in my chest and all of a sudden, I felt relaxed. All the tension in my body left, the electricity keeping my nerves alert dulled, and I was left to exhale a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. My smile was small and without pearls, but it was still genuine.

I slapped his shoulder, eliciting a yelp of protest. "That's why you should've given me your number."

***

Lol I love Dana's mom.

I'm thinking Nam Joo Hyuk is going to be Taz. If you've seen him in Weightlifting Fairy, you'd understand lol. (Btw I highly recommend that show for anyone who wants a feel good rom-com centered around a strong female character. It's called Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. ) But yeah, this is him.

Like damn son.

And as an extra I'm sorry, I made some mood boards/ aesthetics. Personally, the first one is my favorite ☺️ what's yours?

Don't forget to click the star at the bottom and vote if you liked it!