Voice. LH Au

3.0

Arden's POV

I grimaced as I glanced at my clock on my bedside table displaying the number 7:30. Snuggling deeper into my duvet , the cold from the snow outside was radiating into the apartment biting at my exposed arms.

The first snowfall in New York is always so beautiful , In fact I generally got (and still do) more excited over snow than my younger siblings did when I lived at home.

My brother Tyler and sister Autumn , 3 year old twins. I don't see anything wrong with a 19 year old loving snow , however I'll admit I could live without Jess' comparisons of me looking like Bella Swan (the white of the snow amplifying my pale complexion even more).

I stifiled a small yawn before throwing my hair into a makeshift ponytail clambering out of bed. Changing swiftly into my black jeans and denim jacket , i stumbled into the kitchen throwing my pencils and sketch book into my backpack.

I'm called 'weird' quite often by Jess for my love of the mornings - as she herself is the cracken if awoken early. Much like Michael actually.

I find mornings rather therapeutic time for creativity as the world's not awake yet so it's the perfect time to capture what no one else can see. Not forgetting when I lived at home it was the only time when the twins weren't awake to disturb me.

Allowing myself to get lost in my thoughts , I grabbed an apple heading to the front door kicking aside the numerous letters with my name on. All of the letters being from a variety of art galleries or potential colleges wanting display my work or begging me to attend their school. No thank you.

Shaking my head I slammed the door behind me.

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The park was locked which was non surprising considering it was 7:45 on a Monday. I mean any normal person would never be awake this early but I unluckily have been blessed with insomnia.

Glancing over my shoulder to check for any people who could potentially get me into trouble for trespassing , I snuck into a small clearing of trees and pushed aside a loose bar of the metal fence leading into the park.

I may've done this more than once. I've figured out how to hack computers as well as unlock doors with bobby pins etc. You never know when you'll need to.

I breathed in the empty atmosphere and slowly made my way to my regular drawing spot. Slipping in my headphones I began to listen to Pvris' album on full blast as I began to draw.

Although I didn't really have anything particular in mind leaping out to me (thanks to my block) , I focused on the cherry blossoms infront of me attempting and failing to draw one of its intricate petals.

I didn't feel a connection to the petal which is most likely why it turned out so crap. Huffing in frustration , I tore out the page , crumpling it up and throwing it away aimlessly - knowing full well I'd pick it up later being the environmentally concious push over I am.

Glancing down upon my page once again I rubbed my face in frustration , Soon enough I jumped out of my skin when I felt a person next to me gently pull out my headphones , thinking it was the park security.

I gazed up with wide eyes, only to be frozen in my place as the familiar piercing blue eyes gazed back into my green ones.

The boy extended his hand out towards me, the crumpled up drawing now smoothed out.

"I think this is yours?" His rough voice caused goosebumps to appear on my arms. I blushed heavily my hand shaking as I reached out to take the drawing from his hand.

"Why'd you throw it away? Its beautiful kind of like you." He smirked cockily raising his eyebrow as he smoothly complimented me. I rolled my eyes at his childish behaviour, trying to mask the small blush that had appeared on the apples of my pale cheeks.

Say something Arden someone's actually trying to talk to you thats not your mum or your best friend for a change! I mentally scolded myself.

"T-thanks b-but i-im not b-beautiful and t-that d-drawing was a-awful" I stuttered quietly. The boy let out a deep chuckle at my shy persona. I know for a fact he was laughing at my stutter not my modesty. It's not even modesty either if you draw you'll understand the harshest critic is yourself.

"Trust me it's not." He smirked scooting closer, only for me to scoot away so a slightly bigger gap was between us (he could potentially be a murderer Arden, you don't know him).

"H-how d-did you g-get in h-here anyways the parks locked". I said shutting my sketchbook preparing to leave. The unknown boy let out a giggle. Wait he giggled ?

"I could ask you the same thing. I didn't peg you for the 'breaking and entering' type of girl ?" He diverted his answer putting air quotes around breaking and entering. His words caused me to visibly stiffen.

"W-well if you're l-like me whose a-always forgetting keys and c-crap you kind o-of learn." I smiled softly gesturing to the small clearing I had previously came through.

"Ah why didn't I think of that! I just pick the lock but they never seem to care". He shrugged his shoulders carelessly.

His answer didn't surprise me as he seemed like the type of person who'd dabbled in this kind of thing before judging by his appearance. But who am I to judge? Im an introvert that can unlock doors with anything and could hack into your phone with 2 clicks. Each to their own I guess.

"W-What do you want anyways?" I asked my voice raising slightly.

"Calm down princess. After all you kind of did hit me with your reject- anyways I'm just trying to be nice to a pretty girl who stopped me from freezing to death the other day". As soon as he recalled the memory from the previous day my cheeks burned considering I plainly stared at him for around 2 minutes.

"I-it was no t-trouble really. Kind of thought you m-might need it, o-otherwise you would've t-turned as blue as y-your eyes." I giggled softly as a baffled look crossed crossed the boys face, biting down on his lip ring he stared into my eyes as if he were searching for something blatantly obvious.

I shuffled underneath his gaze reaching to put my headphones back in my ear due to the eerie silence that had fell around us making me uncomfortable. Before I could delve back into the sweet realm of what was now, Green Day , the boy spoke once again:

"Do you mind if I listen? I work at the music shop down 7th and Im always really interested to see what people enjoy- I know it's kind of strange I'm sorry" He let his voice trail of slightly , but not before I cautiously handed him one of my earbuds.

Call me naive but I'm fairly sure if someone speaks so passionately about something, they're definitely not a murderer. Well that and how genuine he seemed to be acting.

We sat in silence for about 5 minutes until he took out his headphone seeming taken a back slightly.

"Wow you're a Greenday fan?" As if his grin couldn't get any bigger , I nodded my head at his obvious statement awkwardly and jumped as his hand was outstretched towards me (his other hand clutching the same black notebook I'd been so curious about before).

"Nice to meet you princess , My names Luke, and I'd really like to know you're name as its really throwing off my inner monologue by referring to you as 'pretty girl who brought me hot chocolate' " He smirked cockily and his comment caused me to scoff.

"Nice to m-meet you Luke. Im Arden and I'm the f-urthest thing f-from a p-princess". I smiled shaking his hand.