Sketching, Open

[Jason Kingsford]

Sitting with his back against the large trunk of one of the beautiful trees that surrounded the lake, Jason's hand maneuvered gracefully over the page of the sketchbook he held in his lap. The Mystic Lake was where he'd go to escape his peers and just draw. It was something he loved to do, though he would never admit it to anyone if given a choice. Most of his sketches looked more of the lead and cream variety, considering that charcoal pencils were much too messy - if he'd gotten it on his shirt or such it'd give him away in a second.

One thing that really came in handy when he had the urge to draw was his photographic memory. It was usually how he conducted his sketches, which was what he was doing at the moment. He was so far gone to his artistic state of mind that he was barely aware of his surroundings anymore.

But that may also be because he was drawing the lake before him. Most of his sketches consisted of people he'd found intriguing, his family, friends.... but he found it a little more challenging to draw scenery. So naturally, his concentration level was at its highest form as he began to finish up the sketch in his hands.

It looked good so far, Jason thought vaguely as his pencil paused long enough for him to survey it. Too bad he didn't realize there were footsteps approaching his little hideout.

[Ariane Labelle]

Dressed in a simple black and white polka-dotted skirt and a white button down shirt, Ariane walked silently up to the male form sitting against a tree. Her ever changing hair, was at the moment a deep auburn color that shone in the daylight and her eyes were a simple hazel color.

When she had started to walk out to the lake, she had not expected to find anyone already there, but as she had gotten closer to her destination she had seen the distinguishable figure of Jason Kingsford. Seeing him there, just gave Ariane another reason to go to the lake. At first, she had just wanted to go and relax, but now she was hoping for some conversation.

Seeing a pencil and sketchbook in Jason's hands, her curiosity got the best of her and she couldn't help but voice her thoughts. "I didn't know you drew." She blurted out, breaking the silent atmosphere.

[Jason Kingsford]

A voice entered Jason's thoughts. And it wasn't his. Feeling his eyes widening slightly, he turned his head quickly to meet the eyes of Ariane Labelle. He immediately captured his bottom lip between his teeth, turning his head back to look at the book in his lap. He was caught now, so there was really no use in denying it. She wouldn't believe it anyways if he did.

Reluctantly, he nodded. "You wouldn't." He replied, flipping the large book shut after a moment. "No one knows." He continued, gesturing for her to sit down next to him under the tree.

"Well, other then you now." Jason sighed and placed the pencil inside the large binding of the book before handing it to her. "You can look through it if you want." It wasn't something that he was entirely comfortable with doing, but he figured he could trust her.

[Ariane Labelle]

Taking the proffered seat next to Jason, Ariane carefully sat down, tucking her legs beneath her figure. "Why do you keep it a secret?" She questioned, turning her head to look at him.

Grasping the book in her hands, she opened it and delicately leafed through the pages, eyes wide with wonder and amazement. "Wow...." She stated, her mind not finding the correct words to belay her feelings right away. "These are beautiful."

She knew he had been slightly uncomfortable with her looking through his work, but it brought a smile to her face all the same, because he did, afterall let her.

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason couldn't help but let a small smile morph his lips as he watched Ariane's expression. The way she was looking at his work gave him that little extra push he needed to tell her what she wanted to know. He ran a hand through his dark hair and let out a sigh of defeat as he leaned back against the tree.

"The people who I hang out with... they wouldn't understand." He told her quietly, his gaze locked out on the lake before them. It was hard for him to talk about this without breaking out into a sarcastic remark and scare her off, but he was trying. "My reputation would be slaughtered." He shrugged, forcing back the urge he had to set his jaw. This was not a comfortable topic for him.

Glancing at her briefly, Jason grinned and pulled ever-so-gently on a piece of Ariane's auburn hair. "Why don't you look pretty today." He was trying to get the subject off of him, but he himself didn't even believe it would work - not to mention, that he really did think she was pretty. But thats a different story.

This post has been edited by Jason Kingsford on Jul 29 2008, 02:49 AM

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane gave him a quizzical expression. "No offense, but they don't sound like very great people to hang out with." Glancing down at her lap, she studied the picture of the lake he had just drawn. "It's never good to block someone's creativity or to keep them from expressing themselves."

A dark red crept its way across Ariane's face. "Uhm, thank you." She smiled gently at Jason. "You don't look so bad yourself." Picking up the sketchbook, she closed it and handed it back to its owner. "Really though, you shouldn't let what other people think about you rule your life. If you like to do something and are good at it, which believe me you are, then do it." She finished, looking him straight in the eye.

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason smirked and lent down to kiss her cheek, wanting to see her reaction to such a thing. Of course, she was completely and utterly right - but he wasn't ready to put himself out on the line like that. Not yet, at least. The people he usually hung out with were only there as props. People he could use and get to do what he wanted. In reality, he only had a few good friends.

Of course, he would never admit that to anyone.

"I don't let it stop me from doing it." Jason replied, sitting up straighter as he fingered the ends of her hair absentmindedly. He didn't even realize he was doing it - it was just something natural.

"I just do it in the privacy of the lake, usually." He admitted, taking the book back and laying it next to him once she handed it back to him.

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane's eyes widened with Jason's actions. Her face turned a few shades redder, if that was possible, and her eyes changed to blazing emerald green. She was completely and utterly speechless.

She must have been dreaming.

No, that was impossible, she could still see him sitting beside her. And now he had his hands in her hair. When he spoke once again she came back down to reality. "You sure are something else." She stated, a smile playing on her lips. "If I had that talent, I wouldn't be hiding it, that's for sure." Finally removing her eyes from their fixed position on him, she looked out at the lake and the calming water.

[Jason Kingsford]

Watching Ariane's eyes turn from hazel to emerald green, Jason grinned. It was nice to see that his actions were appreciated at times, even though he knew he could be a bit insensitive. He shook his head and continued on with her hair, just letting it fall into the palm of his hand lazily - he wasn't sure why, but it fascinated him.

"Of course I'm something else." He exclaimed in a mock self-appraising way. "Its me after all." He grinned to show he was joking before shrugging casually.

"It may be a talent, but its one that will ruin my rep if found out."

[Ariane Labelle]

Noticing the attention he was currently giving her hair, Ariane concentrated and turned it to an orange tint with blonde bangs.

Listening to his comments on himself she snorted. "Oh yes Jace, you are the greatest guy to ever walk this earth. You make the very stars jealous." She joked, laughing lightly.

"Why do you care so much about your 'rep' if I may ask?" Ariane questioned. This boy beside her, was an enigma, a puzzle she couldn't solve. What was it that caused him to care so much about what others thought?

[Jason Kingsford]

Now that stumped him. Jason opened his mouth, then closed it again a moment later. He figured he probably looked like a giant fish out of water doing that, but pushed the thought away almost immediately. He turned his gaze thoughtfully down to the lock of hair he held in his hand, now a bright orange instead of the auburn it had originally been.

"Maybe I'm not ready for them to see who I really am." He admitted finally, letting her hair drop before he turned to look out at the lake. It was such a cliche thing to say, but it was how he felt.

[Ariane Labelle]

"Do you think you will ever be ready?" Ariane asked, leaning her head back against the trunk of the tree. Her eyes closed as she took a deep breath of the fresh air surrounding them.

Nature was always one of her favorite things. And the lake had been a spot she had frequented since her first year here at Nallie. "I'm sorry I'm asking so many questions. You don't need to answer them if you don't want to, you know." She said to Jason, her head still resting on the tree trunk.

[Jason Kingsford]

Wow this girl had a lot of questions. Of course, he wasn't so uncomfortable with the situation that he wouldn't answer them for her. He was just curious as to why she was so curious. He decided that he'd let it go, for at least a while.

"I don't know. I guess I might, but right now? No, thanks." He responded, tapping his foot along to a random beat playing out inside his head. Music usually helped him think, though he really didn't know why. It was just like how singing calmed him down - but of course, that was something he could never do in front of others.

But why not?

Jason shook his head. He was starting to sound crazy. "I know I don't have to. But who said that I didn't want to?" He asked cheekily, turning his head to look at her with amused eyes.

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane nodded her head in understanding to Jason's answer. "I see where you're coming from I guess." And she truly thought she did, finally. Maybe he was afraid of what people would think of him. Wasn't he supposed to be some tough guy that didn't care about much anyway?

Yeah, Ariane knew why he was doing what he was doing now.

Shrugging her shoulders she bit her lip slightly. "No one did but, I just figured it may be making you a bit uncomfortable, since you didn't even want anyone to know about your drawing."

"Oh yeah...I'm sorry I just walked up here without giving you any warning. I should've said something when I first noticed you were here." She apologized, a slight blush marring her face.

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason watched her speak curiously, turning his body slightly to see her face. Why was she apologizing? She did nothing wrong. With his eyebrows raised, he shot her an amused expression. He shrugged and ran a hand through his dark hair in contemplation. Technically, she was right, but he didn't mind if it was only her - its not like she couldn't be trusted.

"I am a bit uncomfortable talking about this, but I don't mind if its you." He grinned and nudged her lightly with his elbow. "You don't need to be sorry, really." He laughed and leaned back against the tree with a small yawn.

[Ariane Labelle]

With a bright smile on her face she asked him the question that burned in her mind. "Why am I so special? I mean, if it was anyone else, wouldn't you be a bit more secretive and such?"

Lifting her head from where it had been resting she turned her body to face his and then rested her elbows on her legs and placed her face on her hands. A myriad of thoughts were running through Ariane's head at the moment, but one stood foremost in her mind. Why did Jason take the time to actually answer all of her nosey questions?

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason grinned at her and raised his eyebrows to show that the answer to the question she was asking him was completely obvious - even though it really wasn't. In reality, he was just messing with her a bit. Turning his body to see her, he placed his hands on the ground behind him so that he could lean back.

"What doesn't make you special?" He grinned, shrugging as he let her words sink in. Of course he would be more secretive if it were anyone else, but he wasn't going to tell her that. So maybe he was beating around the bush a bit. He sighed, bringing his forearm down over his face for a moment before looking up at Ariane with a resigned expression.

"Alright. So maybe I know that you won't go and tell anyone." Jason replied, looking at her squarely with a small smile. "And maybe I like you more than you think."

[Ariane Labelle]

A bright smile and an equally bright blush made their way onto Ariane's normally pale face. "I could name quite a few things that would lower me on your special persons' ladder."

Letting her emerald eyes stare into his hazel ones she tried to see into their inner depths. "You're right about that, I may blab all of my own secrets, but I would never betray someone else's privacy."

Ariane sat dumbfounded after Jason's last statement. Wait, what did he say? Suddenly the air around her seemed hard to breathe in and she couldn't look him in the face anymore. Not knowing what to say she stared down at her lap, finding her skirt to be very entertaining at the moment.

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason grinned and leaned forward slightly so that he could see her better, placing his hands on his knees instead of where they originally were behind him in the grass. She seemed uncomfortable, nervous now that he had spoken and he felt as if he knew why. But hey, whats done is done - he couldn't take it back even if he wanted to.

And who said he wanted to anyways?

"Oh yeah? Tell me something then." He grinned, hoping to lighten the mood slightly. He listened to her speak about secrets and nodded in agreement, watching her face carefully.

Sighing, he reached a hand underneath her chin and tilted her face up to look at him with his index finger. "Whats wrong?" Jason asked seriously, cocking his head to the side in an innocent and curious fashion. "Did I scare you?"

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane bit her lip in thought. "Well, let's see. I'm loud, definitely. I'm kind of strange if you haven't noticed. And I can't keep my opinions or quesions to myself." She answered him.

Looking into his face, Ariane shrugged her shoulders slightly. "You could say that I guess. I wasn't expecting for you to say that." She didn't want to tell him that she wasn't sure if he was telling the truth. She couldn't tell him that this had happened before to her, where the outcome wasn't too great.

But he wasn't like other guys, she could feel it. She could trust him, she had too.

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason shook his head in amusement, running a hand through his hair in a somewhat nervous and exasperated gesture. He wasn't sure how to go about doing this now that he realized she was scared, and it was making him become agitated at himself for whatever reason.

"I don't see any problem with that." He responded sincerely, grinning as he ran his hand down the side of her face before taking it back to pull absentmindedly at a chain around his neck.

And then he realized it. He laughed and pulled the chain over his head, looking at it for a moment before handing it to Ariane. "Well, since you told me something, I should tell you something to even the score."

He shrugged, pointing to the large silver ring attached to the chain in her hand. "When Shane got hers, I got one too." It was his purity ring. Of course, no one else knew he had this but he figured that she needed to know he was different if she was ever going to be interested in him at all. "And what I said before? Yeah, I wasn't kidding."

This post has been edited by Jason Kingsford on Jul 31 2008, 12:40 AM

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane let a small smile grace her lips as Jason gently touched her face. "Well then, I guess I should thank you for not hating me for hearing that."

A look of confusion crossed her face and caused her brows to furrow. Holding the silver ring and chain in her hand she glanced at his face for an answer.

Hearing his explaination, she studied the ring further. Her gut had been right, he was different. "I never knew you had one of these. I mean, I knew Shane did, but I would've never expected you to have made the same choice as her."

Ariane gave him a smile, her eyes glazed over with happiness. "Then, I guess I should let you in on one more secret." Taking a deep breath she looked into his eyes and blurted out her next statement, "I think I kind of, sort of like you."

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason nodded as he listened to her speak, wondering vaguely why he would hate her for being herself before shaking the thought away. His eyes flickered aimlessly from his ring to Ariane's face for a reaction, and a smile graced his face once he realized that she approved.

He was relieved to say the least, for he knew that had it been any body else they wouldn't have understood. "I'm good at hiding the details, aren't I?" He shrugged and caught her gaze, watching her face as she confessed the last secret of hers.

Did she really say that?

Well, he was obviously not dreaming so she must have. Biting down on his lower lip, he leaned in so that his face was right next to where her ear would be. "I think I might kiss you." Jason admitted, subconsciously holding his breath as he waited for her response.

[Ariane Labelle]

"Much better at it than anyone else I've ever met." Ariane spoke, her voice light and airy, almost musical sounding.

After brushing her fingers across the ring one last time she held it out to Jason. "Thank you for showing me this. It really means a lot that you trusted me enough to guard your secret."

Smiling as his breath tickled her ear Ariane's body flushed with heat at his words. "I think I might like that." She whispered, lost in a world that held just the two of them.

[Jason Kingsford]

Taking his ring from her as she offered it back to him, Jason clasped it back on so that it hung innocently just under the collar of his shirt. His gaze flitted back up to assess her expression for a moment before he gently took her face in his right hand. Stroking his thumb down the length of her cheek, it took him a moment to make any movement. He was collecting his thoughts, testing himself - reassuring himself.

And then he lowered his lips to hers gently.

After a moment, he pulled back to watch her expression with a grin dawning his lips. It took him a moment to be able to breathe regularly, but he laughed and gently pushed a piece of orange hair back behind her ear. "I don't think I mind."

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane waited with bated breath for his reaction, her heart pounding in her ears. And then he kissed her. It was simple, gentle, and yet it was probably the best kiss she had ever experienced.

A warm smile found its way onto her face. "So, what does this mean exactly. Where do we stand now?" She questioned, her eyes staring into his with a look of pure happiness.

As soon as that question left her lips, new worries entered her mind. What if she wasn't something his friends would accept. Would he hide her away like he did his talents?

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason shrugged and leaned back against the tree with a grin, thoughts going through his head at amazing speeds. She was different and yet he was certain that no other bottle blond girl on the planet could attract him like she could. But of course there was always the issue of his 'friends' not liking her, and the fact that she was his sister's friend - always a little awkward there.

And then he realized that he didn't care what anyone thought.

Or, at least when it came to Ariane. She was her own person and maybe she could make him a better one in a way. He shook his head to release himself of his mind and looked at Ariane in all seriousness.

"That would depend on whether or not you would do me the honor of being my girlfriend." He stated, pulling at the chain around his neck nervously. What if she said no? Being rejected in person was not something he really wanted to go through at the moment.

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane realized after he asked her to be his girlfriend that she didn't mind if he decided to hide her away. As long as she was his and he was hers, nothing would matter.

"Of course I will be your girlfriend." Her day, which had started out so dreadfully dull had turned into one of the best she could have hoped for. In just a short time she learned more about the boy she had a crush on than the past six years of her schooling. And now they were together.

Just then a blonde haired girl popped into her head. Hopefully she wouldn't get mad at her for dating her brother, that would not be good.

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason grinned and leaned his head back on the trunk of the tree behind him, happiness coursing through his very veins. This was not something he was used to. Yeah, sure he'd had his fare share of girlfriends - but they were props. People he used to simply make a point to his friends. And its not like they ever got anything from the relationship anyways.

But this was different. Jason held his arms out to Ariane with a sparkle in his eyes. This was different because he actually liked her.

A shocking revelation coming from Jason Kingsford.

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane leaned into Jason's body, her head resting on his shoulder. A smile full of contentment rested on her lips, as she looked out towards the lake. This spot was officially her favorite out of the whole school.

"So, do you have any other secret talents that you're hiding?" She asked, green eyes sparkling in joy and interest. Though she had found out much about him today, she knew there was so much more she still had to learn. Hopefully he would keep her around and let her in on his secrets.

[Jason Kingsford]

Jason chuckled and twirled a piece of her hair around his finger, letting it go after a moment to watch it spiral downwards. He grinned and looked up, wondering just what she really wanted to hear from him.

"Besides quidditch and art? Er," He paused, digging through his mind for something even remotely interesting to say. "I can sing. Sort of." He shrugged, laughing off the awkwardness of the situation.

[Ariane Labelle]

Ariane's eyes lit up at Jason's statement. "Really? That's amazing!" She said excitedly. "I guess I can call you a man of many talents then." She finished with a laugh. And he really did seem to be one. She was truly a lucky, lucky girl to have found him.

"Do you have any questions for me?" She questioned. "I mean, I have been asking you all sorts of things, so you can get me back if you'd like." She said, smiling up at him.