Drawn To You (GirlxGirl)

Part 20

Jessie's P.O.V

I checked my reflection in one of the mirrors in the studio for what felt like the hundredth time. My stomach was doing somersaults at the anticipation of Allie walking through those doors any minute now. This wasn't like me. I was supposed be calm, collected, always in control. But ever since that almost-kiss with Allie, everything felt like it was spinning out of my hands.

Liam watched me from across the room, leaning against the door frame with a smirk. "What's got you so jumpy Madden?" he teased, "I thought you and Allie broke the ice on the camping trip?"

I sighed and turned to face him, giving up on my appearance in the mirror.

"We did.. kind of" I told him and I watched as his expression changed to confusion.

"Kind of?" he questioned, his eyebrows low.

I sighed again and ran a hand through my hair, approaching Liam so I didn't have to say the words too loudly.

"We did break the ice, and things were fine" I started, the weekend memories flooding back. "But then on the paddle board.."

"Oh my god you fucked?!" Liam clasped his hands over his mouth in shock.

"Fucking on a paddle board? I'm not entirely sure that's possible" I paused, trying to visualise the logistics of that before shaking my head. "Anyway, shut up. We did not fuck, but we did almost kiss".

Liam's eyes widened, and a low whistle escaped his lips. "Almost kissed?" He shook his head, an amused grin spreading across his face. "You really know how to complicate things, don't you?"

I couldn't help but laugh, a strained, uneasy sound. "It just happened. I don't even know who leaned in first. It was like... like there was this pull between us, and I couldn't fight it."

Before Liam could reply, the studio door creaked open. Allie walked in, her presence like a gust of wind that sucked all the air out of the room. My breath hitched. She was wearing a white summer dress that fell just above her knees, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked beautiful, but there was a storm behind her eyes, something dark and brewing.

Liam straightened, his teasing demeanor vanishing as he glanced between us.

"Morning, Allie," he said, trying to sound as casual as possible which apparently meant his voice completely changing. "How's it going?"

Allie tried to give a polite smile as Liam walked by her to the reception desk, but I could see the tension in her jaw, the way her fingers clutched her bag a little too tightly. I felt a knot form in my stomach. Was she angry at our almost-kiss? I had to find out.

I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. "Are you okay?" I asked softly.

Allie nodded but her demeanor didn't change. "Fine. Thanks. I.. I don't want to talk about it". She said, her voice polite but firm.

I nodded, respecting her space. "Okay," I replied, fighting the urge to ask more, to press her on what was going on. "Let's get started then."

Allie moved to her usual spot in front of the canvas, taking her position with a stiff grace that made my chest tighten. I needed her relaxed for this next painting; I needed to see the softness, the vulnerability she had shown before. But right now, she was as stiff and as cold as a statue.

I circled her like I had done with the first painting, deciding how she should be positioned. Allie's eyes flickered over the surroundings, looking at anything but me.

"Do you mind if I.." I asked, hovering my hands next to her arms, asking for permission to manoeuvre her.

Allie didn't talk, but nodded slowly.