Tackling the Canvas

Chapter 2

Owen

I had been sitting in the library for about 10 minutes since she left, and my mind was racing. Where did she go? Who did she go with? Why did I even care? Maybe it was because she was gorgeous—the way her straight, raven-black hair fell just past her shoulders, framing her delicate features. Her pale, porcelain skin contrasted beautifully with that sleek dark hair, creating a striking image.

But it was her deep blue eyes that captivated me the most; they looked warm yet fresh, inviting enough that I felt I could swim in them for hours. And let's not talk about her Australian accent, because god, it was breathtaking.

It seemed like she hated me, but every time those eyes rolled in exasperation, I couldn't help but grin. The way she flushed a deep red whenever I caught her gaze made my chest tighten in a way I couldn't quite explain.

Just the fact that she was able to make me understand those complicated Laws in an hour—while teachers had struggled for months—left me utterly wordless. I found myself wanting to know more, to see.

__

As the cold water ran down my back, I closed my eyes, trying to wash away the fatigue from hockey practice. I searched the stands for Nora, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but she wasn't there. I couldn't shake the feeling that either she was avoiding me, or today just wasn't one of those days where her free period aligned with practice.

"Owen, c'mon, you've been in there for over 10 minutes. It's my turn!" Ethan, my best friend, yelled from outside the shower. Letting out a frustrated groan, I turned off the water and stepped out, the chill in the air sending a shiver down my spine.

"Well, hello there, mate. I know you're handsome, but you don't have to flash me like that," Ethan laughed as he tossed me a towel. Wrapping it around my waist, I playfully slapped the back of his neck, earning a husky wince from him. "There was no need for that," he rolled his eyes, stepping into the shower.

After changing, I sank down onto the nearby bench, tying my sneakers with a bit more force than necessary. "You were distracted all practice," Ethan yelled from behind the curtain of running water.

"No, I wasn't," I shot back, trying to sound convincing.

"Yes, you were. I tackled you four times today! Normally, it's me on the ground," he chuckled, the sound light and teasing.

I scoffed, trying to deflect. "I was just looking for someone," I murmured, my irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

"All practice?" he probed, clearly intrigued.

"Yes. All practice," I replied, a little more sharply than I intended, feeling the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. I couldn't shake the image of her from my mind, and it was starting to get under my skin.

___

Walking down the corridors, I caught a flash of black hair out of the corner of my eye. I straightened up, hoping it was her, but it turned out to be just a random girl walking in our direction. "You're obsessed," Ethan murmured beside me, a teasing smirk on his face.

"Hey, I didn't say anything to you when you were all head over heels for that redhead, Jessica," I shot back, trying to deflect.

He shrugged, still grinning. "Maybe, but you're never obsessed with anyone. It's weird."

As we approached a left turn, my heart raced when I finally spotted her. Nora was at her locker, pulling out books with a focused look on her face. "Nora," I called out, making my way toward her. Ethan glanced at me, a mix of confusion and curiosity, but I ignored him completely, zeroing in on her.

Her deep blue eyes met mine, and I felt a flutter in my chest. "Owen?" she asked, and I couldn't help but notice how that accent rolled off her tongue. Gosh, that accent would be the death of me. I mean, Ethan was also Australian, but hers had a unique melody that set my heart racing.

I leaned against the locker beside hers, trying to play it cool. "Something wrong?" she asked after I hesitated, sensing my momentary silence.

"I just came to ask when our next tutoring session will be..." I said, keeping my voice steady.

"Oh, um, maybe this Friday?" she replied, her voice trailing off as she focused on her locker door, which I assumed had her schedule neatly tucked away.

"Yes, of course. Can it be at 4:00, though? I have practice at 6:00," I said, running a hand through my hair.

"Sure," she said, smiling softly. The sight of her small dimple appearing in the corner of her mouth.

"Great," I smirked, trying to maintain my composure. "See ya." I turned on my heels, making my way back to where Ethan stood, smirking from ear to ear with a teasing grin plastered on his face.

"So she's who Mr. De Luca's been thinking about all day, huh?" he remarked playfully, his tone light but his words hit harder than I expected.

I rolled my eyes in frustration, feeling heat rise in my cheeks. "Shut your fucking mouth, Young," I mumbled, my tone husky and a bit more serious than normally.

Ethan raised his hands in mock surrender, still chuckling. "I was just saying," he said, but I could tell he was enjoying this a little too much. I shook my head, but a grin tugged at my lips despite myself. It was hard to deny that Nora had completely captivated my thoughts.

Author's Note:

chapter 2 ready for you...

lets see what happens next ;)