Tackling the Canvas

Chapter 9

Owen

I was jolted awake by the comforting scents of cinnamon and lavender wafting through the air. I instinctively wrapped my arm tighter around her waist, pulling her closer against me. "Morning, Tesoro," I mumbled sleepily against her neck, savoring the moment.

A soft groan escaped her lips. "What hour is it?"

I turned my head to check my phone and my heart sank—8:55 AM. The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.

Panic surged through me as I jumped out of bed, scrambling to gather my clothes from the floor in a frenzied rush. "What happened?" Nora's concerned voice broke through my urgency, and I glanced up while tying my shoes.

"I have to be at the rink at nine," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising panic. I quickly approached her and planted a quick peck on her lips, my heart racing. "I'll see you after classes, alright?" With that, I slipped out of the room, adrenaline coursing through me as I made my way to the door.

As I sprinted through the bustling corridors, the urgency of the moment fueled my pace. I glanced down at my phone—8:58 AM. My heart raced as I pushed through the exit doors, narrowly avoiding a motorcycle that zoomed past me. "Watch it, asshole!" I shouted, frustration bubbling over as I continued my mad dash.

Finally, I burst through the rink doors right at nine o'clock, the sound of skates gliding on ice greeting me. My teammates were already gathered, their chatter filling the air. I took a moment to catch my breath, leaning against the doorframe, relieved I had made it just in time. Now all I had to do was focus and shake off the morning's chaos.

Nora

I pressed my lips into a thin line as I watched Owen burst out the door, breathless and disheveled. He looked like he was about to run a marathon, and I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. There was something endearing about his chaotic energy, the way he seemed to take on the world headfirst.

I laid back down in bed and closed my eyes, the warmth of the blankets wrapping around me. With my first class not starting until twelve, I had a few more hours of peace and quiet. It was rare to have these extra moments to myself, and I planned to savor them. The room was still, and the comforting rhythm of my own breathing began to lull me back into a light doze.

Just a few more minutes, I thought, letting the calm wash over me as I drifted between sleep and wakefulness.

___

Principal Torres had asked me to show a new student around, and all I knew was that it was a girl. Honestly, I was relieved. For some reason, it just felt easier to get along with new girls than guys. I sat waiting in the Principal's office, glancing around at the neatly organized desk and sterile, too-clean atmosphere. The faint tick of a clock was the only sound in the room.

Today, I had gone for a blue jumper and some casual beige cargos—nothing too fancy, but practical. It was freezing outside, and I wasn't in the mood to sacrifice warmth for style. I tugged at the sleeves of my jumper, pulling them over my cold hands as I glanced toward the door, wondering when she'd arrive.

After a few minutes, the door opened, and I immediately stood up to greet her. The moment our eyes met, my mind scrambled to place her familiar face. Dark brown wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, and those hazel eyes—were they changing to a slight green in the sunlight? She was tall, sweet-looking, and there was something about her that I just knew. She even looked like–

"Miss De Luca, she's Nora Anderson. She'll show you around campus," Principal Torres said, breaking my train of thought.

Of course. It clicked. She was Owen's twin sister. Well, that explained it.

I greeted her with a smile as we stepped out of the office, and I began explaining where each class was and pointing out landmarks on campus. She was full of energy, her soft voice lighting up as she took everything in.

"This place is gorgeous. And the snow! God, I love it!" she exclaimed, her excitement contagious. The way she spoke, her Italian accent, it all reminded me so much of Owen that I couldn't help but smile.

"De Luca, huh?" I asked casually, raising an eyebrow.

She let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, I'm from Italy. I have a brother here, his name is—" she suddenly cut herself off, eyes lighting up as she spotted someone behind me. Before I could react, she bolted forward, wrapping her arms around Owen in a tight hug.

"Owen, oh my god!" Sofia squealed, looking up at him with pure joy. Owen smiled down at her before his gaze flickered over to me.

Sofia pulled away slightly, glancing between the two of us. "Oh, Nora, this is my brother," she introduced, still beaming. I stepped closer, laughing lightly at the situation.

Owen scratched the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish. "Uh, Sof, she is..." he trailed off, his eyes meeting mine with a small, nervous grin.

Sofia's gaze darted between the two of us for a second before it clicked. Her mouth dropped open in realization. "Now I get it. You're the girlfriend!" she gasped, her face breaking into a teasing smile.

I couldn't help but laugh, blushing slightly as Owen groaned softly in embarrassment. "Yeah," I said, smiling at her. "That's me."

The three of us spent a while chatting as we continued showing Sofia around the campus. She seemed so happy to finally be spending time with her brother, and it warmed my heart. I couldn't help but smile at how close they were.

"So, Nora," Sofia began, glancing over at me with a curious grin, "as you know, Owen and I are freshmen, but you don't look like a freshman at all—no offense, by the way. So what year are you?"

I let out a small giggle. "I'm a senior. I'm 22," I replied, feeling a bit shy but smiling through it.

Sofia's eyes widened in playful shock. "Damn, Owen! You went for the most experienced, didn't you?"

Owen, mid-drink, choked on his water, sputtering as he tried to recover. Sofia and I immediately burst into laughter, her teasing tone making the situation even funnier. Owen, with a hint of red on his cheeks, gave us a sheepish look, which only made us laugh harder.

"I—okay, no comment," he muttered, wiping his mouth and shaking his head, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Sofia shot him a smug grin. "Guess we know who the real smooth talker is in the family."

____

I left Owen and Sofia to catch up and decided to explore the rink for a bit. Some of the guys were skating, practicing drills on the ice. I made my way to the stands and sat down, watching them glide around effortlessly.

A few minutes passed when I noticed one of the players skating over toward me, tapping on the glass with his stick. "Noodles!" I blinked in surprise, arching an eyebrow as I pointed at myself. The guy nodded, so I stood up and walked over, curious about who had just called me that. Before he even took off his helmet, I recognized those unmistakable green eyes.

"Did you really just call me Noodles?" I asked, crossing my arms, trying to suppress a smile.

Ethan grinned, pulling off his helmet and letting his messy hair fall loose. "Yeah, your name reminds me of noodles. Thought it was fitting."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "How cute. Well, if you're calling me Noodles, it's only fair I call you Butterhead," I said with a smirk, eyeing his slightly tousled blonde hair. "It kinda looks like butter."

Ethan didn't miss a beat. "Good for me," he said with a shrug, like it was no big deal. Then, with a glint of curiosity in his eyes, he leaned against the barrier. "So, where's your boyfriend, by the way?"

I shrugged, smirking slightly. "Probably still catching up with his sister. They have a lot to talk about."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Ah, right. Thought you'd both be glued together by now. You two are, like, joined at the hip these days."

I chuckled. "Not always. Gotta let him have some family time."

"Fair enough, Noodles." He winked, then skated backward with a grin, heading back to join the other guys.