Cold Water

SIX

                      ♥︎ATHALIA♥︎

   I couldn't help but feel a small rush of excitement as the final bell rang, signalling the end of the school day. Brandon had actually agreed to go to the park with me! It wasn't a big deal, I mean, it was just the park, but something about him saying yes felt... nice.

  Like I'd cracked open a little window into his world. As we walked out of the school, the air was warm, and the sun was shining.

  I glanced over at him a few times, catching his expression-calm, maybe a little nervous, but not the usual blank stare he gave everyone else. There was something about him today that felt different. He seemed more... open. Or maybe I was just imagining things.

"So, do you come to the park often?" I asked, trying to keep things light.

He shrugged, hands in his pockets. "Not really. It's quiet, though. Peaceful."I smiled at that.

  "Yeah, I love it. It's a nice break from everything. Plus, I always find good photo spots." I patted the camera hanging around my neck, already thinking about the light and how it'd play through the trees.

  When we got to the park, we found a spot under a large oak tree, its branches stretching out like a natural canopy.

  I sat down, kicking off my shoes and feeling the cool grass beneath my feet. Brandon sat next to me, quieter than usual, but still... there. That felt like progress.

  I leaned back, soaking in the peacefulness of it all. "You brought your sketchbook, right?"He nodded and pulled it out of his bag, flipping to a clean page.

  I tried not to stare, but I was genuinely curious about his art. There was something about the way he drew, so raw and real. I could tell it meant a lot to him, even if he didn't say much about it.

  As he started sketching, I took out my camera and began snapping photos of the trees, the sky, the little bursts of colour in the flowers nearby.

  But, truth be told, I kept sneaking glances at him, too. There was something about watching Brandon draw, like I was witnessing something special, a side of him no one else got to see.

  After a few minutes, I lowered my camera and broke the silence. "I'm still thinking about that sunset yesterday. It was stunning, right?"

  He didn't look up but gave a small nod, his pencil moving smoothly across the page.

  "Yeah."I smiled, remembering how he'd shown me the picture he'd taken.

  I hadn't expected that, but it made me happy to know he'd thought about it, noticed the beauty I'd been talking about.

  "You know," I continued, "I think it's cool that you even noticed. I wasn't sure if anyone else did, but it's like there's this hidden beauty in everything. Even the things we overlook."

  Brandon glanced up from his sketchbook for a moment, his dark eyes meeting mine. There was a flicker of something there-maybe understanding or connection, I wasn't sure.

  But it felt like progress.We fell into a comfortable silence again, with me snapping photos and him lost in his art. The quiet between us wasn't awkward.

  As the afternoon stretched on, the sunlight started to soften, casting golden streaks through the trees.

  I was lying on my back now, watching the leaves sway in the gentle breeze, my camera resting in the grass beside me.

  Brandon hadn't spoken much, but that was okay. I liked being around him, even when he was quiet.

  After a while, I sat up and glanced over at his sketchbook. "Can I see what you've been working on?"

  He hesitated for a moment, his dark eyes flicking to the page, then back at me. Finally, with a small nod, he turned the sketchbook toward me.

  I leaned in, my eyes widening at the sight. It was beautiful-a mix of soft lines and intricate details.

  The scene he'd drawn was simple yet full of meaning: a girl sitting on the edge of a riverbank, surrounded by tall grass and flowers, her face tilted up toward the sun, as if soaking in the light.

  There was a calmness to it, a sense of quiet joy. It almost felt like... me.

"Wow, Brandon..." I breathed, feeling a strange warmth bloom in my chest. "This is incredible. Is this-"

He shrugged, cutting me off before I could finish the question. "I just drew what came to mind."

   But I knew. I could feel it. There was something about the way he captured that feeling of lightness, of seeing the beauty in something small, that made me think he'd been paying attention more than he let on.

  It wasn't just any scene-it was his interpretation of what I'd been talking about all this time.

  I smiled softly, still looking at the drawing. "I love it. Really. It's like you captured something... personal."

  He didn't respond, but the slightest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips before he turned the page, as if to brush off the moment.

  We spent the rest of the afternoon in the park, sitting under that big oak tree, letting the hours pass in comfortable silence.

  The sound of distant laughter from kids playing filled the air, along with the soft rustle of leaves.

  By the time the sun started to dip toward the horizon, casting everything in a warm golden glow, I felt a sense of calm. I hadn't realized I'd been missing.

  "I should probably head home soon," I said, standing up and stretching. "But this was fun. I'm glad you came."

  Brandon stood too, tucking his sketchbook into his bag. "Yeah. It was nice."

  I smiled at him, feeling a little lighter. "Well, maybe we can do it again sometime. And don't forget—art show on Saturday."

  He nodded, and with that, we started walking back in the direction of our homes.

  There was still a quietness about him, but it wasn't the same kind of quiet I'd first noticed. It felt more like... comfort. Like he was letting me in, just a little bit more.

  And that was enough for now. It was peaceful, like we were sharing something unspoken. And for a little while, that was enough.

♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎