𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮, 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮... 𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙍𝙏!

(Chigiris sister has no confirmed name so I shall name her "akane" since its pretty common)

My paintbrush secure in my hand, my canvas being supported by an easel while I give it colour.

The large attic with rows and rows of hidden paintings. I stood up from my stool, my paint covered cargo jeans that had been rolled up previously fell to my ankles.

I stood back to see my work. It was good, just not the best it could be since I had to go off of pictures.

A meadow. I had painted a meadow of sunflowers I had found on a nature walk. Of course I had no way of transporting my easel to the meadow without my mother noticing, so the pictures I took were all I had.

I heard footsteps and quickly covered it with a sheet and took off my jeans and shirt. I grabbed my dress and slid it over my head. I wiped off all the paint on my face, arms and hands in a hurry.

I quickly left the attic to my room since that's where the attic is. I sat on my bed and opened a book, trying to make it seem like that's all I was doing.

"You're really stupid if you expect me to believe you were there reading." My stepbrother, Kent, had opened the door to my room and was now standing at the doorframe.

"I wa-!" He cut me off with a sigh.

"You were in the attic. You're lucky dad has a soft spot for you or you'd have to had stopped working on your projects ages ago." He face palmed, disappointed that I was so stubborn despite the fact he has openly said he knows about my artistic passion.

"But this time I was so careful!"
"You gave paint on your ear."

"What?!" I rushed over to my vanity where, as he had said, some yellow paint remained. I used my handkerchief to wipe it off before turning to him with a slightly guilty look.

"You know your mother hates it when you paint."
"I know..."

"You know that if she found out she'd tear everyone of your paintings apart." He sighed and sat on my bed.

"I know but... I dont wanna stop. How come you get to play football but I can't paint. At least my hobby has a result." I pouted and turned away from him after sitting back on my bed.

"Rude, considering you come to everyone of my games." He rolled his eyes before he stared back at me and smirked. "You gonna show me or what?"

Of course, I jumped up from my seat on the bed with stars practically glistening in my eyes. I used the stepladder in the corner of my room to get up to the string on the sealing. I pulled it and the hatch was open. I pulled myself into the attic and he followed.

Once up I took the sheet off of the large painting in the middle of the room. "Ta-da! What do you think? Good or bad?"

He walked closer as if inspecting the art. He then patted me on the head. "Good job kid, I think this one's my favourite."

I pushed his hand off of my head, there being an obvious high different since he's a giant at 6'3. I was more than a foot shorter at 5'2. "You say that about all of them!"

"That's because you keep improving. It's not my fault my little sister is the most talented person ever." He was so bipolar, one minute he was cold and indifferent towards me and the next he was spinning me around in the air like a child.

"Put me down, I'm getting dizzy..."

"Okay, okay but seriously, you're the most talented person ever." He laughed, putting me back on the ground and fixing my hair.

"Not really, if I was wouldn't mother like my works...?" I looked down as the ground in sorrow.

His face softened from its grin. "You know she wants you to be a lawyer..."

"I know, but I am good at this and I enjoy it. I don't wanna be like her."

"I know, and you won't. You'll be a famous painter; one day youll opening up your own art gallery." He waved his hand around like a dumbass, clearly trying to paint a picture(haha I'm so funny).

I just stared up at him as he seemed so happy while saying what I will accomplish. My dreams. "Kent, I love you."

"Huh? Wow, such a pretty girl saying she loves me? How honored am I?" He joked but I could tell how elated he was since we don't share these loving words often.

Before I could respond I heard yelling from my stepfather. Oh dinnertime.

"Well pretty, let us go have a meal." He bowed and reached his hand out.

I laughed a bit and took it. "Of course, who would say no to such a handsome gentleman."

He helped me out the attic and after tidying up he interlocked his arm with mine, marching towards the dining room.

Once there I saw my mother and step father chatting about who knows what. Kent pulled out my chair so I thanked him.

He took a seat himself and started talking to them aswell. I just stared down at my lap. This was a usual occurrence. I was unloved by my mother for some odd reason but she was "the family head", her words.

I guess I'd rather be ignored than yelled at but it doesn't make it hurt less. Once the food was served everyone became quiet.

"Iris." My head perked up at my mother's monotone voice.

"Yes mother?" I responded, cutting into my steak with half lidded eyes.

"Stop eating." I looked back up at her with a raised eyebrow. "You've gained... weight." Her eyes slimmed down in disgust. I was already underweight but now she wanted me to lose more?

"Yes mother, ill cut back on the food."

"You also haven't been coming home early enough, it's not proper that you come home at seven..." her voice was getting more and more daring, daring me to argue with her.

"Sorry mother, I had some student council jobs for the summer festival."
She always expected me to do well, wanting me to be the successor of her fortune, estate and business.

"Well at least you're not painting anymore. What a waste of time haha." My mother laughed, laughed at my dream, laughed at my joy.

"Yeah, I guess, I'm not all that hungry so I'm going to bed early." I stood up, Kents eyes softened, not wanting to disappoint his step mother, but he still stood up and trailed after.

He entered my room to see nothing, no-one. He made his way to the attic finding me covered in black paint and smearing that very same paint over the canvas.

"Bitch, bitch, bitch, bitch..."
I slapped my hand against the flat surface. My mind clogging up full of my mother puting down this "stupid dream" of mine.

He took my hand off of the board, making me look over at him. "You need to relax, why not go to a friends place tomorrow to cool off."

I nodded and he helped me wash off the paint on my hands.

THE NEXT DAY, AFTER SCHOOL

"Are you completely sure that this is better than mine?" I asked my friend, Akane, while she spread the mud mask over my face. Of course I did skincare, of course my mother caused me so many wrinkles.

"I'm sure darling. I've tried so many and this one is the best. I promise you." She chirped, almost like a beautiful blue birds song. That's a good idea for a painting...

"Anyways Iris, why did you come over anyways?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Well... I dont see you that often since you don't live here anymore so I wanted to see you." Well, that was partially true since I don't see her for long.

"Aw, you're so sweet. Anyways how's home like? Is your mom still a 'hag' in your words." She used quotation marks around hag because she didn't really like calling people names. Most. Likely because she's a nice person.

"Yes, although I've gotten better at painting. Hehe, I would ask you to model for me but you don't have the time for that do you?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"No I don't but there's alot of pretty people! You'll find one who'll do it for you." She was so positive, it made me in awe at how bright being around her just made me feel.

"Maybe, I might have to use my beauty for that." I can acknowledge I have a pretty face if I try hard enough on skin care.

"You won't need that! You're already so amazing without your looks." Her smile was so bright, I feel so joyful around her.

"Heh, I missed you." I laughed a bit, using my hand over my mouth to muffle my little giggles.

"Ahhh, I missed you too. I missed your how obliviously funny you are." She pinched my cheeks while my face got blochy.

"I'm not oblivious..." I stared down at my lap in embarrassment, of course she just smirked.

"Yes you are dear. You had a friend of yours be inlove with you for 2 years and when he confessed you got confused as if he didn't bring you flowers everyday." She laughed remembering that.

"Well you used to give me flowers even though you knew I didn't like girls. You also don't feel anything for me... right?" I tilted my head to the side in confusion. How are those things different?

"I made you a flower crown and that's different." He waved her finger like she knew better. She probably did but still.

"How so?"

"You're just so cute." She awed but my eye twitched.

"I'm not cute." My teeth grinded.

"Yes you are!!"
"I'm not!"
"Yes you are! Stop lying!"

The door opened and I believe I just saw the most beautiful person ever.

He had a slightly annoyed look. "Stop yelling, I'm just trying to study." He ran a hand through his hair.

I couldn't speak, I swear he was an angle. I wanted to get on my knees and worship him.

"I'm sorry Hyoma, but don't.you agree my friend here is a cutie." Akane pulled me back to her, my face squished against her chest but I couldn't look away.

I want to paint him.

"She's Is cute, why?" He seemed confused but his cheeks heated up a little at the question.

I probably looked like a tomato, I looked down in embarrassment.

"SEE, I told you!" She crossed her arms, very happy that I wouldn't argue with her anymore.

"Yeah... okay..."

"Iris, you there?" The guy left and I finally turned back to her.

"Yeah? Who else would be? Anyways who's that guy?" I pointed towards the door and she seemed to realise and she started laughing

"Whyre you laughing?" I pouted as she couldn't contain her little giggles.

"Oh my god you're so funny."
"I already told you im not... but you didn't ask my question."

She rolled her eyes at the refusal before actually answering my question. "My brother, I told you about him before."

"You never told me he was pretty." I deadpanned at her in an annoyed way.

"Well you never asked. Knowing you you're going to follow him around until he agrees to let you paint him." She laughed again.

"Not until you leave, I do wanna spend time with you."

"See, cute. Now, let me do your hair please." She begged, I had refused before but I nodded since she does actually do a good job.

"Do you think he'll agree to being my model?"
"Not at all."
"How can I trick him into it?"

She split my hair up to do some braids. "You're cooking up something very devious aren't you? Anyways he likes football-"

She swear she saw sparkles surround me at that. "He does? Lucky for me my brothers a football coach."

"God, this may end up badly..." She whispered to herself.

Note: it might be confusing for some people but there's no romantic relationship between Iris and Kent

They were obviously joking around
I'm weird but not like that
My friend pointed out it may cause some confusion so thank you pookie

Anyways do you like its like 2027 words long minus all the other things like at the start and here ️❤️