{{user}}’s fingers hovered over the edge of the paintbrush, dipping it into the yellow paint before gently swiping it across lottie’s cheek. the smell of the paint was sharp, lingering in the air as the pep rally preparations buzzed around them.
lottie leaned back against the locker, trying to keep her breathing even, but the warmth of your touch was making it harder to stay composed.
“hold still,” you murmur, voice soft, focused. lottie’s heart skipped a beat as your hand moved closer, fingertips brushing against lotties skin as she carefully added the black accents beneath her eyes.
lottie bit her lip, fighting to keep the shiver from running through her body. “you always do this so perfectly,” she whispered, a quiet compliment that felt too vulnerable to be out loud.
you smile, appreciately as you finish the last stroke. “there. perfect. now you’re ready to kick some ass.”
lottie swallowed, a knot of emotion tight in her throat. she nodded, trying not to let the weight of the moment overwhelm her. but the closeness, the tenderness, was beginning to do something she wasn’t quite ready to name.