Between the lines

Chapter 8

Madison slipped through the darkened streets of Llyndarren, her backpack heavy with spray cans she'd pilfered from her art supplies. Her heart hammered in her chest—not from the fear of getting caught, but from the thrill of doing something that finally felt right.

She stopped in a secluded alley behind an abandoned shop, the dim orange glow of a nearby streetlamp casting faint light on the cracked brick wall. The air was still, except for the occasional hum of a passing car in the distance.

Her fingers hovered over the first can, hesitant. She thought about the mystery artist, their boldness, their confidence. Could she really do this? What if it looked rubbish? What if someone saw her?

She shook her head, brushing the doubts aside. This wasn't about being perfect; it was about expressing herself, just like she'd seen in the mystery artist's work.

Madison grabbed a red can, took a deep breath, and pressed the nozzle.

The faint hiss of paint filled the air as she started with the outline of a simple heart. It was small, unassuming—but as the shape grew, she let her emotions guide her. A jagged crack split the heart down the middle, and black paint poured from its edges, pooling into an uneven puddle beneath it.

It was a beginning, just a tiny part of herself spilling out into the world. When she stepped back, the small, broken heart stared back at her like an old wound.

She smiled.

The next day, Madison met Ryan at their usual spot by the cliffs. The sun was just starting to set, casting the sky in streaks of orange and pink. He was perched on a low rock, skipping stones into the churning waves below.

Madison slid down beside him, her legs dangling over the edge. "You've got the whole brooding artist vibe nailed, you know that?"

Ryan smirked. "And you've got the annoying sidekick vibe nailed."

She shoved him playfully, and he laughed.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the water crash against the rocks. Madison toyed with the idea of telling him about her first painting but decided against it. She wasn't ready for that yet.

"So," Ryan said, breaking the quiet. "What's going on with us?"

Madison blinked. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "I mean... we've been hanging out a lot. And it's been great. I just—" He sighed, running a hand through his curls. "I like you, Madison. I don't know how else to say it."

Her stomach did a little flip. She'd been waiting for him to say it, but hearing it out loud made her feel warm and giddy.

"I like you too," she admitted, her voice soft.

Ryan met her gaze, his green eyes searching hers. Then, slowly, he leaned in. Madison's breath hitched as his lips brushed hers, tentative and warm. The world seemed to tilt for a moment, leaving only the two of them.

When they pulled away, she smiled. "Well, that was nice."

Ryan laughed, a genuine, carefree sound that made her chest ache in the best way. "Yeah, it was."

That evening, Madison couldn't stop replaying the kiss in her mind. She sat on her bed, sketchbook open in front of her, doodling aimlessly as the memory warmed her from the inside out.

Her pencil scratched across the page, tracing the faint outline of a heart—whole this time, unbroken. She paused, her mind wandering back to the tiny mural she'd left behind the shop.

She wondered if anyone had seen it yet.

Would Ryan recognise it for what it was? Would he ever figure out that she was the one adding her own marks to the streets of Llyndarren?

With a sigh, Madison flipped the page, burying the drawing under a blank sheet. She wasn't ready to think about that just yet.