𝒉𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 ( 𝑬𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒐)

𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

Willow stays home from work.

Explaining in a quick text message to Maeve that she can't come in for a couple of days, the blonde feels bad for leaving her friend to find someone else to run the blue Mocha.

She knows that she is acting on a whim, choosing to spend the last days they have left with Ethan instead of going to work.

Promising herself to make it up to Maeve she had started a new painting, a present for her friend that would act as an apology. 

Using one of her paintbrushes to hold up her blonde hair in a messy bun, she sticks out her tongue in concentration while mixing several different shades of green together to create the perfect one that matches the colour of the sea on a stormy day.

Ethan stands in the doorway to the living room, silently watching the way she skillfully turns the blank canvas into a stunning painting.

"You can come closer, I won't bite", Willow bites the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing at Ethans shocked expression. 

He didn't realise that she wasn't as lost in her own world as he thought she was.

Now kneeling down next to her, it is easier for him to see the small details she painted.
Tiny seagulls that fly over the crowded pier, illuminated with Christmas lights and decorated with colourful huts.

"Maeve loves Christmas", Willow explains her painting and then goes on about how her friend made them all dress up with santa hats for the whole month of December, how they had to greet their guests at the door yelling "ho ho ho".

Ethan laughs out loud, imagining Willow in that situation. 

"You should come and see", she chuckles and turns back around to mix some more seafoam green.
By doing that she misses how Ethans smile falters and his eyebrows furrow.

He knows that he won't be able to come back, not this soon.
As much as his friends love him, they would never let him disappear like that again.
There is limited time left here for him and no certainty he'll ever be able to come back.

Thoughts like that have been crossing his mind more and more whenever he sees the numbers on his digital alarm clock change.
With every minute that passes he gets closer to leaving again.

Being sat in a cross-legged position, head deep in thoughts he looks like a statue.
That's what Willow thinks and she quickly discards her painting she is currently working on and grabs her sketchbook, starting to sketch Ethan without him noticing. 

Her eyes move over his body, the way his long, dark hair is unbound today and freely hanging over his shoulders.
Wearing a light grey shirt and some sweatpants she can't help but wonder how he looks on stage, there is no way he'd be wearing casual attire like this.

When she looks back up after finishing his left hand, Ethan catches her eye and suddenly Willow feels a flush of heat rise to her cheeks.

You should have asked before you just randomly started to sketch him!

"I am sorry, you just looked so concentrated sitting there and I-", Willow begins to rambles but Ethan shuts her up by scooting closer to her and taking the sketchbook from her hands.

"It's beautiful Willow", he breathes in awe and can't tear his gaze away from the rough sketch.

He traces his own features on the paper with his fingers.
She captured something about him that he failed to see whenever he looked into a mirror, for the first time he feels like he can see himself properly, through the eyes of the girl that opened her home to him.