Tackling the Canvas

Chapter 13

Nora

November 24, 8:30 AM. The crisp morning air nipped at my skin as I made my way to the boys' dorm. My footsteps echoed lightly in the hallways as I approached Owen's door, excitement bubbling in my chest. I knocked softly, and it wasn't long before the door swung open, revealing him standing there with that familiar, warm smile that always made my heart race.

"Hello, Tesoro," he murmured, his voice deep and gentle, the sound sending a pleasant shiver through me. He cupped my cheek with one hand, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. Without another word, he leaned down and pressed his lips softly against mine. The warmth of his kiss melted away the chill of the morning. His lips, soft and comforting, lingered for a moment, leaving behind that sweet taste of familiarity.

As he pulled back, our eyes met, and there was a quiet calm between us. His gaze, full of affection, made me feel like I was exactly where I belonged. He closed the door behind me as I stepped inside, and the faint scent of coffee and the familiar coziness of his room wrapped around me.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his voice soft as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I nodded, leaning into his warm touch, feeling that familiar sense of comfort that came with being close to him.

"Is Butterhead still asleep?" I teased, raising my eyebrows and showing off the neatly wrapped gift I had gotten for Ethan. The shiny paper crinkled slightly in my hands, and I couldn't help but smile at the nickname, knowing Ethan would roll his eyes at it.

Owen chuckled, glancing over his shoulder toward the closed door that led to Ethan's room. "Yeah, probably. He's dead to the world until at least nine, you know how he is," he said, shaking his head in amusement.

I playfully rolled my eyes, already picturing Ethan's disheveled hair and half-awake grogginess. "Perfect, gives me time to sneak in and leave this on his bed." I wiggled the gift in front of Owen before tiptoeing toward Ethan's door.

Owen followed closely behind, watching with a grin as I quietly pushed open the door to Ethan's room. The air inside was stuffy, and sure enough, Ethan was sprawled out on his bed, fast asleep, with his mouth slightly open and his hair a total mess. I placed the gift carefully on the edge of his bed, trying not to laugh as he mumbled something in his sleep.

"Mission accomplished," I whispered as I tiptoed back to Owen's side. We both stifled our laughter, sneaking back into the main room where Owen pulled me into his arms.

"You're too good," Owen said with a smile, pressing a kiss to my temple. "He'll love it."

We reached Owen's room, and the door had barely clicked shut when he pulled me close, his lips crashing onto mine. It started off gentle, but quickly became heated as we stumbled toward his bed, his hands roaming up my back while mine tangled in his hair.

I could feel the softness of his bed as we collapsed onto it, Owen's weight pressing against me, making my heart race. His lips moved from mine to my jawline, sending shivers down my spine as he trailed soft kisses down my neck.

The world outside seemed to disappear as we got lost in the moment, the only sounds filling the room being the soft murmurs of each other's names and the quiet rustling of sheets as we moved closer together.

____

Later that evening, we all gathered to celebrate Ethan's birthday after classes. The small diner we picked had a cozy, laid-back vibe that fit our group perfectly. Ethan, Owen, Jasper, Oscar, Sofia, and I crowded around a booth, laughing and chatting like we'd known each other for years.

Over the past few weeks, Ethan and I had grown close—closer than I expected, really. His teasing nature felt like a brotherly bond, and it made our friendship easy and fun. Oscar and Sofia fit right in with the rest of us, and it felt like we were a solid group now, something I hadn't had in a long time.

We ordered way too much food, with Ethan insisting on getting burgers and milkshakes for everyone. Sofia and Oscar sat across from each other, their conversation flowing effortlessly, while Owen kept stealing fries from my plate with a mischievous grin.

"Here's to Ethan!" Jasper raised his milkshake, and we all joined in, clinking our glasses in a toast. Ethan flashed that big grin of his, looking genuinely happy as we celebrated together.

Ethan's teasing grin stretched wide across his face as he leaned back in the booth, directing his comment right at me. "By the way, Noodles, loved the gift. Though I would've liked it a bit more without those, uh, moaning sounds of you and Owen," he smirked mischievously.

Heat immediately rushed to my cheeks, and I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, Owen swiftly kicked him under the table. Ethan let out a small yelp, rubbing his shin, but the smirk never left his face.

"Shut up, Ethan," Owen said, rolling his eyes, though there was a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head. "You're such a pain," I groaned, though I couldn't hide my grin either.

Sofia and Oscar exchanged amused glances while Jasper simply shook his head, clearly used to Ethan's antics. The moment passed with more laughter as we continued chatting, the teasing slipping back into our usual playful banter. But now I knew for sure, with Ethan, there was never a dull moment.

The soft chime of the diner's bell signaled new arrivals, and I looked toward the entrance, spotting Jackson, Jessica, and what appeared to be their parents. They walked in together, with Jessica chatting animatedly while Jackson followed quietly. They sat down across from us, and before long, I noticed Jackson glancing in our direction.

His gaze flicked over the group, but it settled on me. I could feel his eyes on us, especially on Owen. Every few minutes, his attention returned, his expression difficult to read. It wasn't the first time I'd caught him staring.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, but I kept quiet. Owen was completely oblivious, more focused on the banter going on at our table. His hand found mine under the table, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles, probably assuming I was just cold.

Ethan, however, didn't miss a beat. He caught Jackson's lingering glances and leaned in toward me. "That guy just can't get enough, huh?" Ethan teased, smirking as he spoke in a low voice, though loud enough for Jasper to hear.

Jasper shot Jackson a suspicious glance before turning back to us. "I don't get it. Why does he keep looking over here like that?" he muttered, shaking his head. "Just let it go, Ethan. No need for drama."

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to keep a straight face. If only they knew. But Jackson's secret wasn't mine to tell, and the last thing I wanted was to make the situation more awkward than it already was.

___

Later in the afternoon, Owen, ever the opportunist, decided to take a nap in my bed, leaving me to my own devices. I sat at my desk, the soft hum of my computer filling the quiet room as I scrolled through my emails. It was mostly the usual—school updates, newsletters, some promotional spam—until one particular message caught my eye. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the subject line.

It was from the prestigious art program in Australia, the one I had applied to months ago with little hope of actually getting in. My hands trembled as I clicked it open, my eyes scanning over the words until they landed on the only sentence that mattered.

"We are pleased to offer you a place in our program."

They accepted me. They fucking accepted me.

I had to cover my mouth to keep from screaming in excitement, my eyes welling up with tears of disbelief. All the late nights sketching, the constant self-doubt, the endless hours of work—it had all paid off. I stared at the screen, my mind racing. Australia. It was settled, I needed to go back toAustralia.

A swirl of emotions hit me all at once. Excitement, fear, pride. I knew what this meant for my future, but I also knew it meant leaving everything behind for a while—including Owen.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my messages and began typing to my mom. I felt a knot in my stomach as I wrote, but there was no turning back now.

"Hey Mom, I made my decision. I'm flying back to Australia in May."

I hit send and stared at the screen, the reality of it all starting to sink in.