The Guy Down the Hall- F1

who does he think he is?

Its disheartening yet tranquil to not be living when you're alive.

Days went by in between blurry lines. She occasionally would see Charles walking around when she was working, but she was too far away to go talk to him anyways.

If she didn't want to speak with him then Charles definitely either.

Lando never came back either, he was probably somewhere in the world having a nice vacation. And as for Max? He still kept being an ass.

He kept his distance though, but every morning they would meet at the elevator. Max going for a run while Ilaria is leaving to work. They don't speak to each other but every time Ilaria can feel his eyes on her, burning holes on her face.

One morning though, which she had free after taking so many shifts from Mark, she decided to spend it at the beach. Just enjoying the sun and the view, nothing more.

And It was weird, weird how she suddenly had the need to paint like she used. The view was too beautiful not to do so.

She quickly stood up from the sand and practically ran to the nearest art shop. Ellie felt like in heaven once she stood inside, all the colors, the painting brushes, the canvas, everywhere she looked at happiness built inside of her.

For how long she stayed there wasn't something she could answer, time seemed to fly by when she stared at all the different colors she could use as she took them from the shelves, her arms full of stuff.

"You like painting?"

The sudden voice almost made her drop everything. It seemed like whoever spoke to her brought her back to reality realizing it's been hours she has spend there.

"I do." Ilaria answers turning to look at a blond guy standing there with a soft smile. "I studied art, you?"

"I just enjoy it" his smile grew even larger, staring at her hazel eyes in wonder. "Dirk"

"Ilaria" she says trying to contain the laugh trying to come out at hearing his name. Dirk? Poor guy, why would his mother name him that.

"I've never seen you before, are you new around here?"

"Not really, no"

She doesn't intend to be rude, but right not she could care less about a guy trying to hit on her. Especially now considering her love for painting seemed to have come back.

"So you're from around here?"

"Born and raised" she answers, for the first time a strong accent French accent coming. It had been a few years since she lost it but after speaking so much with her grandmother and Charles in French it eventually did return.

"I've never seen you before" he tries again.

Ilaria hums as she keeps on looking at different watercolors. "Neither have I"

Dirk doesn't seem to notice her little attention because he kept on speaking as if nothing. Ilaria also doesn't want to be seen rude so she just listens while her eyes wander all around the pastel colors.

Dirk also doesn't seem to care she isn't really paying much attention to him, only occasionally agreeing, pretending to pay attention to what he's saying.