Drawn to you

The first time Clara saw him, she was pretty sure he was about to fall into the penguin exhibit. It was a miserably cold day in late October, the kind where the wind seemed to find its way through every possible layer of clothing, and the Akron Zoo was nearly deserted. Clara had come seeking solace among the penguins, her favorite creatures, hoping their cheerful waddling might lift her spirits. Instead, she found herself watching a tall, lanky boy teetering precariously close to the icy enclosure, his attention completely absorbed by something in his hands. He had messy, dark hair that the wind whipped across his face, and he kept pushing it back with a gloved hand. Clara noticed he was wearing a band t-shirt – some obscure group she couldn't quite make out – and ripped jeans despite the freezing temperature. There was something endearing about his obliviousness, a kind of charming awkwardness that made her want to intervene before he took an unexpected swim with the penguins. "Hey! You might want to watch out," she called out, her voice barely audible above the wind. He startled, nearly dropping whatever he was holding, and turned to face her with wide, surprised eyes. They were a startling shade of green, bright and vivid even in the gloomy light. "Oh! Sorry," he mumbled, his cheeks flushing red. "I didn't realize I was so close." He took a step back, finally offering Clara a glimpse of what had captured his attention so completely: a small, worn sketchbook filled with detailed drawings of the penguins. "I, uh, I come here to draw sometimes," he explained, his voice a little less shaky now. "They're good models, you know? Always doing something interesting."