Tackling the Canvas

Chapter 14

Owen

Over the past few weeks, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Nora. She'd been more distant, her usual warmth replaced by a quietness that worried me. Conversations that used to flow so easily now felt strained; she seemed lost in thought even when we were together, her attention slipping away like it was somewhere else entirely.

I tried to brush it off at first—figured it was just a phase or maybe she was stressed with school. But it kept lingering. She'd cancel plans last minute, and when she was around, her smiles seemed forced, lacking that spark that always drew me in. I caught her staring off sometimes, her expression unreadable, and I didn't want to pry, but every instinct told me something was weighing on her.

I wasn't sure if it was me or something else, but whatever it was, I couldn't ignore it anymore. The uncertainty gnawed at me, and as much as I tried to play it cool, all I could think was—I needed to figure out what was going on.

"What's up with you?" I asked, leaning casually against the locker next to hers, trying to keep my tone light but feeling the tension build.

She looked up, her expression puzzled. "Sorry?" she replied, sounding genuinely confused.

I shifted, feeling more awkward than I wanted to let on. "You've been... distant. Like, really distant," I said, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Are you mad at me? Did I do something to piss you off?"

Her face softened a bit, but there was something unreadable in her eyes. She closed her locker, avoiding my gaze. "No, it's not that. It's... complicated."

"Complicated how?" I pressed, trying to understand, feeling like every bit of distance had created this invisible wall between us. "If something's wrong, I'd rather you just tell me. It feels like you're shutting me out."

Nora hesitated, looking down for a second as if weighing her words. When she finally met my gaze, her expression was a mix of worry and something I couldn't quite place. "I promise it's nothing you did," she said softly, her tone almost apologetic. "It's just... I've got a lot on my mind."

I nodded slowly, realizing she wasn't ready to open up just yet.

Still leaning against the locker I hummed thoughtfully for a second, my mind turning over an idea. "What are you doing for Winter break?" I asked, trying to shift the conversation.

She paused for a moment, as if she hadn't thought much about it. "Nothing, really. I was planning to stay here," she replied, her voice casual. "Why?"

A grin tugged at the corner of my lips as an idea formed. "How about coming to Italy with me?" I suggested, my eyes lighting up at the thought of it. "I mean, you know my family's going, and it would be great to have you there. We could visit my grandparents, explore Rome together, maybe even sneak off to Venice for a weekend."

Her eyes widened slightly, and for the first time in a while, I saw a spark of excitement in her expression. "Italy? For Winter break?" she asked, as if the idea was too good to be true.

"Yeah," I nodded, smiling. "We'll eat all the pasta you could dream of, see the Christmas markets, go skating in Milan—everything. You've been stressed, and I think you'd love it."

Nora bit her lip, clearly mulling it over. "I don't know... That sounds amazing, but are you sure your family wouldn't mind?"

"They'd love you," I said with a soft laugh, reaching for her hand. "And honestly, I want you to be there with me."

Her smile was hesitant but real. "Let me think about it."

"Take your time, but I hope you say yes," I murmured, squeezing her hand lightly.