Nielsen Mendez. They had both been neighbours for a long time and he would even come over when they were much younger. Niel was a bubbly person. The other neighbours often attributed him for his nice and selfless personality because of how often he helped them.
Lenny would often see him across the street, mowing a lawn or helping the old lady across the street do some grocery shopping. She even saw him taking Mrs Jefferson's German Shepherd for a walk. He was popular around the neighbourhood and the neighbours loved him.
Lenny grabbed her now empty glass cup and walked to the kitchen, completely ignoring Niel, like he wasn't seated there.
"You don't to stay here and keep me company like my mom said." Lenny said as she placed the cup on the kitchen counter.
Niel cocked his eyebrow at her in a strange manner.
"Do you think I'm still here because your mom told me to?"
Lenny glanced at him and walked back into the living room.
"I honestly don't care." Lenny replied as she looked at him.
She looked at him a second and sighed.
"Grey." She muttered.
Lenny walked out of the living room and walked up the stairs. There was somewhere else she needed to do, and having a leisure chat with Neil was no on her schedule. She swung the door to her studio open and relished the cold air that slipped out of it.
She walked into the room swiftly. Lenny considered this studio her safe place, a place she could relax and be herself. She smiled to herself and settled in her favourite sit, the stool that sat in front of the canvas.
The blank canvas sat on the easel, without life. Lenny still had no idea what she could paint. She decided to try and paint something at least. It'll be better than mulling over what to paint. Maybe inspiration would come as she did.
Picking up her pallette and a small paint brush, Lenny dipped the brush into the blue colouring and stared at the canvas for a while.
"Looks like you still love painting."
Lenny turned to the door and Niel was standing there, his arms folded, making his biceps bulge from his wine coloured t-shirt. Lenny frowned at him, displeased that he had entered her comfort zone uninvited. Although she had left the door opened so she couldn't really complain.
"Why are you here? Did you think you can just freely walk around like it's your house?". Lenny asked as she went back to dabbing her brush in paint.
Niel sighed and walked into the room. He approached a few canvas resting on the wall, each covered with a white cloth.
"Youre acting like I haven't been here countless of times."
"That was years ago, we were children." She retorted.
"But we're still the same, I didn't change and I can see that you didn't either, well not entirely."
Lenny ignored him and began to move her brush along the surface of the canvas. Niel pushed away the white cloth and viewed the paintings underneath.
"Ah, these paintings, I still remember them clearly." Niel said as he smiled warmly, memories of his childhood flooding back into his mind.
He looked up at the paintings on the wall and chuckled.
"And you still draw the strangest and most obscure things."
"Stop going through my stuff and leave, you're bothering me."
Niel looked at Lenny, a hint of wistful sadness in his eyes. He walked over to her and sat down on the floor.
"You know, I've always wondered why we fell apart. We were so close back when we were younger. But now, you ignore me and treat me like a complete stranger. It made me wonder if I did something wrong."
Niel paused for a bit, hoping to get a reaction from Lenny. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Did I do something wrong Len?"
Lenny paused and gritted her teeth. He called her by nickname, the one he always called her when they were much younger. It made her feel slightly enraged and irritated.
"You're grey, colourless." She muttered under her breath and went back to painting.
Niel wasn't really expecting an answer from her. He just stayed silent and watched her paint, a feeling of nostalgia running through him.
"You know," He said breaking the silence. "I used to love watching you paint and draw when we were much younger. You were making art, but you yourself are a work of art." He said.
He watched her as her hands moved along the canvas, creating dancing shadows. The way her face was still and focused on the canvas Intently, the way her long straight dark hair swayed softly as her body moved along with the motion of her arms, yeah she was definitely a work of art.
Lenny could feel the weight of his stare on her. It made painting uncomfortable. She turned to him with her eyebrows furrowed.
"You watching me paint is making me uncomfortable, please leave."
Niel just stared at her blankly, a dreamy look in his eyes.
"Say Lenny, isn't it possible for us to go back to the way we were."
Lenny rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"No, now leave. I'm tired of talking to you."
Niel remained seated on the floor. He looked like he wasn't ready to leave any time soon. Lenny was fed up already. She placed her pallette and paint brush down on the table beside the easel and got up from the stool.
"Ill leave the room instead, since you're hell bent on staying here."
Lenny walked up to the door and was about to leave when she felt Niel grab her wrist.
"No, don't go. I just want to talk to you. Why are you making this hard for me?"
"Well, I'm not interested in having a meaningless conversation with you. What are we even going to talk about? The latest show? Boys? Games? Movies?" Lenny scoffed and shook her head.
"They're all meaningless and pointless."
Niel shook his head pulled her closer to him. Lenny was shocked at her easily he pulled her. Had he always been this strong?
"I don't care what we talk about, as long as you talk to me. I hate it that you're trying to avoid me so much."
Lenny pushed him away from her.
"And why does it bother you so much?"
"Because I'm in love with you."