6
" I don’t know who I am.”
“You’re Skylar Stone. You’re charming, kind, clever, helpful, beautiful inside and out. You don’t give up. You bring people together, not because you want to use them but because you truly want to help people be better, to build good things. You help people find themselves. Sometimes you lose your way, but at the end of the day, you have a pure heart and the best of intentions. You’re curious, you have drive…” He ran fingers down the slope of Skylar’s neck. “You’re sexy. In ways I didn’t know sexy could be. You’re romantic. You’re attentive, caring, sweet—”
Skylar stopped his words with a kiss.
It was a simple press of lips. A soft, gentle pressure, the same as it had been the time he’d kissed Xander in the hall. But this time Skylar had so many emotions pent up behind the kiss "
― Heidi Cullinan , Antisocial
7
" Skylar laughed a lot in these scenes. He was happy. He was always helping people too—a whole section depicted him playing hero to the art majors as they gazed at him adoringly, and Xander glowered jealously on the sidelines. That made Skylar laugh in real life. There were so many scenes of him helping people. He was Mr. Friendly, according to Xander.
This was such a better painting.
This was how Xander saw him?
This was beautiful.
This is who I want to be instead.
“I love this,” Skylar said as Xander cleaned his brush.
“Oh, I’m not done.”
Xander got out a small round brush and reached for the pink.
He began to paint delicate, beautiful cherry blossoms all over Skylar’s body.
There was writing too—Xander explained each kanji to him, that they meant he was magnificent, sensitive, sensual, artistic, charming, loyal, steadfast—he lost track of the words
because while they were wonderful and the script breathtaking, it was the blossoms that did him in. He sees me as a cherry tree. A blooming, beautiful cherry tree.
Skylar sobbed.
“I love you,” Skylar cried, trying not to spill tears because Xander was painting cherry blossoms across his face.
“I love you too, my sakura. "
― Heidi Cullinan , Antisocial
14
" You’re shy,” Skylar whispered, nuzzling his ear. Reading his mind.
Xander swallowed. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” Skylar laced their fingers together, drew Xander in close enough that there would be no hiding the evidence of Xander’s arousal. And Skylar’s lack thereof. “I find your shyness very attractive.”
“Oh,” Xander said, because he didn’t know what else to say.
“I want to date you, Xander. I want to help you with your project, and sit for your paintings, and write a manga with you, and I want to date you "
― Heidi Cullinan , Antisocial
16
" There’s nothing wrong with Xander. He doesn’t need fixing. In any way.”
“Exactly. Don’t fuck with who he is, if he isn’t broken. He’s cranky, but he’s a good person, and he makes great art. You’re a good person too, and you’re more than functional. Don’t fuck with who you are. You have low sexual desire. Almost none, from the sounds of things. You’ve discovered a slightly different kink that aligns with Xander, and that’s great. Chase that happiness. This world is a nightmare full of pain. You found someone you can make beauty with. Don’t question how it happens or worry you aren’t doing it the right way. Call yourself demi or an ace or gray, or refuse to take a name. It’s all up to you. Call yourself the man who loves Xander Fairchild, the grumpiest, most antisocial asshole who ever lived. The one who made Xander love someone back "
― Heidi Cullinan , Antisocial
