Between the lines

Chapter 9

Madison wandered into town the next afternoon, a strange buzz of excitement coursing through her. Last night's painting had ignited something in her—she couldn't stop thinking about it. For the first time in ages, she felt like she wasn't bottling everything up.

The streets of Llyndarren were livelier than usual. It wasn't just the typical bustle of market day; there was a palpable energy in the air. A small group had gathered near the town square, phones raised, murmuring excitedly.

Curious, Madison edged closer, her pulse quickening as she realised what they were looking at.

It was a mural—new, bold, unmistakably by the mystery artist. A giant sunflower, its petals glowing golden, burst through a cracked and crumbling wall. The bright, hopeful image stood out against the dull greys of the building, demanding attention.

Madison couldn't help but smile. They've done it again.

She overheard snippets of conversation as she stood among the crowd.

"It's gotta mean something, right? Like... breaking through hardships or something?"
"Whoever they are, they're talented. I wonder if the council's seen it yet."
"Bet they'll try to paint over it. Shame, really."

Madison stayed a moment longer, then slipped away, her thoughts racing. The mysterious artist wasn't just creating art—they were sending a message. She wanted to be a part of that.

Later, Madison met Ryan in the park, where he was kicking a football around with Ollie. His green eyes lit up when he saw her, and he jogged over, leaving Ollie to complain about being abandoned mid-game.

"You're late," Ryan teased, wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his hoodie.

"You're sweaty," Madison shot back, wrinkling her nose but smiling anyway.

They found a shady spot under a large oak tree, where Ryan collapsed dramatically onto the grass. Madison sat beside him, pulling her knees to her chest.

"Did you see the new mural in town?" she asked casually.

Ryan nodded, his expression carefully neutral. "Yeah. It's... impressive."

"More than impressive," Madison said. "It's inspiring. Makes me wish I could do something like that."

Ryan glanced at her, his face unreadable. "You're already an artist. You could, if you wanted to."

The comment hung between them for a moment, heavier than Madison had expected. Did he suspect something? No—he couldn't.

Changing the subject, she asked, "Do you think the council's going to get rid of it?"

"Probably," Ryan said, stretching out on the grass. "But it won't stop them. The artist, I mean. They'll just keep painting."

Madison smiled. "Good."

That evening, Madison found herself staring at the wall behind the shop where she'd painted the breaking heart. No one had covered it up yet, but no one seemed to have noticed it either. It was small, unassuming—nothing like the sunflower in the square.

But it was hers.

She felt the familiar itch in her fingers, the same one that made her scribble in the margins of her notebooks during class or cover napkins in sketches when she was out.

Before she could overthink it, she pulled her red hoodie tighter around her and unzipped her bag.

This time, she had a new idea.

Ryan sat on the edge of his bed, his schoolbag open on the floor in front of him. He reached inside and pulled out a set of spray cans wrapped in a cloth bundle, carefully adding a few new colours.

He glanced at his phone, rereading the latest texts from Madison. She'd been talking about the murals nonstop lately, her excitement infectious.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he closed the bag and placed it back by his desk.

Part of him wondered what she'd think if she ever figured it out. Would she hate him for keeping it a secret? Or would she understand?

He sighed, running a hand through his curls. For now, he'd keep playing along, enjoying the way her eyes lit up every time they talked about the art taking over Llyndarren.

It was selfish, maybe, but he didn't care.