Ch. 03: Rewriting Love
The weekend stretched before Ria like a blank canvas, both daunting and exhilarating. The memory of Kai's interrupted confession buzzed in her head like a persistent fly. What was he about to say? Did it have anything to do with the way he'd looked at her after practice, his gaze lingering a beat too long? The questions fueled a nervous energy that kept her from focusing on her art.
Instead, she found herself scrolling through social media, a pit forming in her stomach as she saw pictures of Chloe and her friends, all smiles and perfectly styled hair, at a popular hangout spot. A bitter comment about "freaks" that someone had left on one of Ria's older art posts sent a fresh wave of self-consciousness crashing over her.
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Sarah, a lifeline in a sea of doubt.
"Hey! Ready to unleash your inner Picasso on that art competition?"
Ria forced a smile. "Trying to," she typed back, her thumbs sluggish on the keyboard. "But the Chloe incident keeps replaying in my head."
A moment later, Sarah's reply popped up. "Ugh, don't let her steal your sunshine! Besides, you have a secret weapon."
"Secret weapon?" Ria typed back, intrigued.
"Your art, silly! It speaks louder than Chloe's insecurities ever could. Meet me at the park in an hour? We can brainstorm captions for your submission."
An hour later, Ria found herself sitting beneath a sprawling oak tree with Sarah, a picnic blanket spread out before them. Sunlight dappled through the leaves, casting playful shadows on their faces. As they tossed around ideas, Ria found herself relaxing, the gentle breeze and Sarah's infectious enthusiasm chipping away at the negativity.
Suddenly, Sarah's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, then a mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Speaking of sunshine," she said, nudging Ria conspiratorially.
Ria followed her gaze and saw Kai walking towards them, a basketball bouncing rhythmically in his hand. His face broke into a relieved grin when he saw them.
"Hey," he said, his voice slightly breathless. "Sorry I'm late. Practice ran over."
"No worries," Sarah said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "We were just about to dissect the finer points of existential angst in interpretive dance."
Kai chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Sounds riveting. Mind if I crash your existential party?"
Before Sarah could respond, Ria blurted out, "Actually, we were talking about the art competition."
Kai's eyebrows shot up. "The art competition? You're entering?"
Ria felt a blush creep up her neck. "Maybe," she mumbled, suddenly self-conscious about admitting it in front of him.
"That's awesome, Ria!" Kai exclaimed, his enthusiasm genuine. "I can't wait to see what you submit."
His words sent a warm flutter through her chest. Maybe Sarah was right. Maybe her art, and not Chloe's cruel whispers, would be the voice that truly mattered.
The afternoon unfolded in a flurry of laughter and conversation. Sarah, ever the instigator, encouraged Kai to share his favorite artists (classic rock legends, much to Ria's surprise) and even convinced him to pose for a quick sketch (a hilariously lopsided rendition that sent them all into fits of giggles).
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, a comfortable silence settled between them. Ria felt a pang of longing as Kai announced he had to head home for dinner.
YOU ARE READING
The Unlikely Cupid
Teen Fiction[Season One of Aurora National High Series] Ria's heart hammered against her ribs as Kai complimented her art. Was this really happening? Could the star basketball player be interested in her, the perpetually frizzy-haired artist? Everything changed...
