If you touch the focus area you can drag it around, if your subject isn't dead center this may work. Autofocus mechanisms need a bit of contrast to lock on, if you can put it by any sharp color transitions you may have better luck.
oh i didn't know that. that could help. i was trying to take a picture of my black and brown dog on my black couch. and i thought to myself it isn't like i'm up her nose, i'm 3 feet away why can't you focus.