Painting Clovers 4 Chapter 3

She was standing on the bedside table facing the wall, painting. And then it hit me, I realized it had been her who've done all the beautiful paintings around the hotel.

She was wearing a denim shorts and a simple grey shirt. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun on top of her head. She was barefoot standing on the table, but I saw a pair of black chucks on the floor beside the table. Like the night before, her arms were covered with paint, now even her legs had smudges of color all over.

Old newspaper were scattered on the floor covering the carpet. Buckets of paints were everywhere. A ladder was standing on the other side of the room and briefly I wondered why didn't she just use it instead of the bedside table.

Her face was so close to the wall if she moved forward just a little bit she would probably be kissing it. Lucky wall. I wonder what it feels like to be that close to her? To be so close you could almost feel her warmth, smell her scent.

I wonder what it would be like to kiss her. What does her lips taste like.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Why am I thinking about that?

Her face was scrunched up in concentration, somehow it reminds me of how a child would look concentrating. There is peace in her face though, a glow about her, a light that called to me. She didn't even notice me standing by the door watching her. I doubt she even heard me come in, the music was blasting so loud I could feel every beat. It rivaled the loud beating of my heart.

Later she moved away and looked at her work.

I reluctantly removed my eyes from her and looked at the wall. I sucked in a breath when I saw what she did.

She painted a bird. Splashes of color that was made to look like a bird. It was blue with details of yellow, purple and green. It was beautiful, amazing.

The song changed into something I didn't recognize, it was soft and smooth. She started singing along, more like screaming along actually.

She had a cool voice, pretty no doubt about it. But not really the voice that's meant for singing. She couldn't hit any note, any pitch right if her life depended on it. Yet she didn't seem to care. She just sang – screamed – along while painting. There was the slightest trace of joy in her movements.

I couldn't help the laugh that came out of my mouth. She was a sight to watch.

As soon as the sound escaped me her head snapped up and slowly turned to look at me.

Grey? Her eyes were grey. Am I seeing this correctly? She doesn't seem to be wearing contacts. I've seen enough people wearing them to be able to identify one.

They're beautiful, but then again everything about her is beautiful. They were like the sky before a storm brews, they are clouds as they cover the sky warning us of the coming rain.

First there was confusion in her face then it turned to annoyance.

"What are you doing here?" She asked coldly, irritated.

"What?" I was slightly taken aback by her tone, still caught in her eyes. I couldn't think straight.

"I said what are you doing here?" she asked slowly, like she was talking to a child, or a crazy person maybe.

I shook my head slightly.

"Uhh.. my room." I pointed behind my back. In the general direction of our room.

"What?" It was her turn to ask.

Her brows were furrowed, she was scowling. Why does she seem so annoyed to see me? She seemed okay the first time, or maybe she doesn't recognize me?

"My room is over there. I heard the music so.. I was just curious." I answered slowly, mimicking the way she answered a while ago.

"You're checked-in in this hotel? In this wing?" she asked again jumping off the table.

I nodded as I watched her put on her shoes and marched towards the door, past me.

I froze when she passed me and I smelled her scent.

Vanilla, paint, and the faintest trace of cigarettes. And something else. I just can't figure out what it is.

It invaded me, my senses, my being, it was intoxicating, addicting. Making me lean in slightly, trying to catch everything.

It lingered in me even after she was gone. And I knew, I was hooked.

I heard the elevator door opened and I ran to catch up to her. It was already closing and I had only enough time to slide right in.

She huffed in annoyance once the door completely closed and I was once again assaulted by her scent as we both went down to the ground floor.

She was looking at the door, scowling. I didn't know why.

Even with her sour expression she was beautiful.

"Uhh.. I'm Noah by the way. Noah Asher Cortez." I extended my hand towards her, hoping she would take it. I wanted to touch her, to feel how soft her hands are.

But she didn't. She looked at me and rolled her eyes before completely ignoring me.

Once the door opened she rushed out and stormed to the front desk. I didn't know why I was following her, but I did. Somehow, from the moment she smiled at me the other night I knew I would always follow her.

There were two women in the front desk, their eyes widen when they saw her coming towards them. Like deer caught in head lights, like prey cornered by the predator, knowing they had nowhere to run but fearing what's to come still.

"Good Afternoon ma'am." One of them greeted, her voice shaking.

What's happening?

"Who's on duty?" She asked, she was calmer now. Probably trying to be nice to the girl obviously frightened in front of her.

"Uhhmm. Ma'am D-Diane." The girl stuttered.

"I need to talk to her."

"Yes, Lena?" We both turned to see the woman who checked us in before walking towards us. Lena?

Is that her name?

Hmmm.. it fit her perfectly.

Lena, my angel.

"I saw you storming towards the front desk. What is it?" She was looking at Lena.

"Him!" Lena hissed and pointed at me. I looked at her and she was staring at the woman.

"Oh yes. There had been a little… predicament and we had nowhere to put them." The woman answered calmly moving closer to Lena.

"Them?" She asked, her voice getting louder. I knew she was trying to control it but she was about to lose it.

"Yes. There were two of them. Don't worry dear, they only have 1 room." She smiled.

"But I asked for a week!" Her voice was rising every time she spoke.

"There were no other rooms available and you were already done with that room. Now you know there was nothing else I could have done. They had their reservations, and the last thing I would do is disappoint a guest." The woman answered. She was calm but I could hear the authority in her voice.

"I want to talk to Suzanne." The girl said through gritted teeth.

"She's not here today, dear. And I already informed her about this."

With that Lena left the woman. She looked at me and her eyes were dark, angry. The storm brewing, and I know it's going to be strong. And I think I might be caught right in the middle of it. I didn't understand, why is she suddenly so mad at me?

Chapter end