chapter 2:(continued)
563 Words
The breeze tugged at Emilia’s hair as Liam sat beside her, close enough that she could smell the faint, clean scent of his cologne. She felt awkward, painfully aware of every flaw she imagined he could see—the frayed edge of her sleeve, the scuff on her shoe, the nervous way she tucked her hair behind her ear.
Liam glanced at her drawing again, genuinely impressed.
“You could sell this, you know. Or hang it in a gallery,” he said, his voice warm.
Emilia shook her head. “It’s just… something I do. To get away from things.”
“From what?”
She hesitated. Why was he asking? People like Liam didn’t ask questions like that.
“Everything.” The word came out softly, but Liam heard the weight behind it.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Around them, the campus life carried on—students laughing, music playing from an open window—but in that small space beneath the maple tree, it felt like they were in their own world.
“Do you mind if I see more?” Liam asked gently.
Emilia blinked at him, startled again. Slowly, she flipped the pages, revealing portraits, nature studies, and imaginary scenes that blended reality and dream.
Liam watched, amazed. “You’re incredible, Emilia.”
Her heart fluttered. No one had ever said that to her before.
---
Over the next few days, Liam kept seeking her out. At first, it was part of the dare. He’d sit with her at lunch, walk with her across the quad, ask about her art, her classes. But something about her quiet kindness, the way she listened, the soft laugh he managed to draw from her—it started to feel less like a game.
For Emilia, the change was terrifying and wonderful all at once. People stared when Liam sat with her. The whispers followed her everywhere.
“Why is he talking to her?”
“She must have something on him.”
“She’s just a charity case.”
But Liam ignored the gossip. And Emilia, despite her doubts, found herself looking forward to seeing him.
---
One afternoon, as they sat beneath the tree, Liam asked, “Why do you always draw buildings and trees? Why not people?”
Emilia hesitated. “People… are complicated. Buildings don’t judge. Trees don’t laugh at you.”
Liam’s chest tightened at her words. He hated how true they were.
“Then maybe you just haven’t found the right person to draw.”
Emilia glanced at him, and for a second, their eyes met in a way that made her breath catch.
“I wouldn’t know where to start,” she said.
“I could sit for you.”
She laughed, a real laugh, light and musical. “You’d get bored.”
“Try me.”
And for the first time, she sketched him—awkwardly at first, but then with more ease, as he sat cross-legged, grinning at her.
---
Later that evening, Liam lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The dare felt distant now. What had begun as a game was quickly becoming something else—something real.
But he also knew the truth: he’d hurt her the moment she found out why he’d approached her in the first place.
And that thought scared him more than anything.
- Writer
