"When you said you wanted to paint me. I thought I would be the model, not the canvas." Jules said quietly. His mouth barely opening because Venus's paintbrush was dangerously close to slipping inside.She laughed and since she was so close - literally straddling him, he shivered or maybe spasmed. He couldn't decide, which was the equivalent to the feeling of thunderclouds battling on top his skin."I could have done that, but—""...then you wouldn't be Venus." He finished for her. Wild, beautiful and unorthodox.She smiled like she could read his mind.He opened his mouth to say something but swallowed his words when Venus leaned forward; her face - lips - inches from his collarbone. Her hand moved, paintbrush tracing the arch of his neck, up his Adam's apple - which bobbed and then his jawline.Jules couldn't breathe. When had things changed? When had his Sunday's changed? From watching anime, playing online games and compos

After suffering through three straight periods of AP Chem. Jules slinked off to the indoor gym to study for the surprise test Petunia was going to spring on them. Venus had given him the hint before leaving school. Apparently, she had a class by three at a community college outside town that she wanted to attend. So Adam was taking her.He was half tempted not to study, it was supposed to be a surprise after all. That thought only lasted for a second, as if he could give up this glorious tip. He intended on getting full marks to compensate for the F's he had been getting.Obviously, destiny had other plans for him.He didn't know how long he had been mulling over a probability question when the double doors of the gym opened. Maybe he should have been calculating what was the probability of nine boys all deciding to skip lunch and come here for a quick game, instead.He spotted Omar the same time his eyes found Jules'."Yo, Carson! What are you doi

 Jules didn't knock at Venus's door he just waltzed right in. Carrie greeted him at the kitchen, looking unimaginably tall and happy. She gave him her customary peck on the cheek that reminded him of his mom. "Oh Jules, your smile is as gorgeous as ever."That made him smile wider and she moved forward to hold him, hug him. It was funny because he just saw her yesterday. It was funny because she did the same thing then too, and every other time. She was hyper-aware of his motherless state so much so that it was almost overbearing. Almost. This was something Carrie and Venus shared, their incapability of watching someone suffer. She pulled away, looking at the laptop in his hands and raised an eyebrow. "Movie night?""Nope, anime night."She laughed then frowned. "Right. I hope V is actually helping you get some work done. It isn't all play no work?""She doesn't even give me the time of day if I get below a B." He st

Jules had never felt so minuscule and dark, standing next to his dad.Jonathan (Jace) Carson was very white, very tall and very put-together— at least, that's what he used to be like. The man next to him looked nothing like that; the suit he wore while expensive was worn, wrinkled and fraying. It looked a little grey, just like him actually.When he first noticed him, he kinda tittered. Then tried counting on his hand how long it had been - too long, his brain supplied. Too damn, long.Did he walk, run, or fly? He couldn't remember, but he was moving. Finally when he was a few meters away Venus appeared in front of him, trying to stop him.But Jules almost plowed over her. Then her hand grasped his neck pulling his face towards her. The other hand clasped his fist effectively stopping him.Jesus, he thought desperately. When had his hand curled into a

 Venus left the party an hour early with Bella and David. They had a thing. So Omar dropped Jules off at his doorstep. He stumbled into his house slightly buzzed and disoriented. He knew his dad was home (his car was parked outside) so he wondered why all the lights were switched off. Jules took his time walking afraid of falling over. He poured a glass of water for himself in the kitchen and touched the cool glass to his forehead. He was feeling clammy for some reason. His stomach was wrangled with knots and his shoulders were tense. Everything was fine - and yet he felt uneasy. He wanted to blame it on the alcohol but he barely had two drinks. He looked around distractedly. Where was his dad?Jules shook his head and, hopefully, also his uneasiness. He drained the glass and climbed the stairs. He was at