Bet ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 24: Artist's Corner

The following weeks were suffocating. The atmosphere on campus was heavy with tension. Fraternity and sorority parties had come to a standstill, the dorms were full by nightfall, and very few people still ventured out on weekends. If any girls ever left campus for any reason, a male counterpart accompanied them. And it was all because that girl had been attacked.

Her name hadn't been released to the public due to her family wanting privacy to deal with what was going on with her. Along with that, details about her condition were becoming scarce. The last I heard about her was that she was in a coma and was declining. It was a morbid circumstance and I could only imagine what her family was going through. I was certain it was utter hell for them. But, that was just how everything was at the moment.

The campus was no longer a safe and vibrant place filled with life as it had been. The situation with the perpetrator had left a dense fog draped over the school, sucking the life out of students and faculty alike. It was all so dismal and depressing, but there wasn't much that could be helped. Sure, a pump up in security did give the illusion of a safer environment, but it was just that -an illusion...a figment of our naïve imaginations. In the end, that thin net of guards couldn't save anyone once we left the campus.

To put it bluntly, we were screwed.

I inhaled sharply through my nose and breathed, averting my eyes down to my new sketchbook, working my best to distance myself from such bleak thoughts. My eyes collided with the blank page, the tip of my pencil tapping at the surface as if doing so would magically cause some great phenomena to occur. To be honest, I was somewhat sulking. After losing my sketchbook to Jean after the incident, I decided to purchase a new one. Sure, I could've come clean and told him I was the one who had been upstairs that day but that their secret was safe with me. I had nothing to gain by spilling what they were doing. All I wanted was my book, but I knew it wouldn't be that easy.

Ugh. Forget about all that. I snapped at myself. I can redraw Nala. No big. I pressed the lead of my pencil to the paper and glided it down, creating the first line to what would slowly form into the deer known as Nala. I remained in my concentration, my focus trained on the task at hand, my thoughts growing less and less notable. Before long, I lost all care about the man that attacked the girl. I zoned out worries about my mother - who had still not contacted me about visiting nor gave YF/N any more details. None of that no longer concerned me. All I was thinking about was recreating Nala.

I had been working silently in my little bubble of seclusion for quite some time when I was startled by someone speaking.

"That's a nice drawing," the person complimented, yanking my attention from my work.

I glanced up, my gaze colliding with those familiar fiery tawny orbs that I had begun to recognize all too well. Jean stood over me, his backpack flung over his shoulder as his eyes trained on my sketchbook. To be honest, at first, I was taken aback by the fact he was there, in the SU building. I mean, during all my weeks previously I hadn't seen him during any of my breaks. But, surprise quickly morphed into dread.

I quickly jumped forward, covering my incomplete drawing of Nala and stammered, "O-oh, t-this? This is nothing. Nothing at all."

He lifted a brow and pointed at the book with his free index finger and asked, "Oh? May I still see it?"

I hesitated for a moment but passed it to him. "Uh. Sure."

He gingerly took the book from me and gazed down at the picture. I watched from my seat, observing how his eyes traced each line with excellent precision, his fingers being careful as not to smudge the art. He remained standing for a few more moments before he moseyed to the seat next to me and claimed it, his stare never leaving the paper.

"Damn," he breathed, setting the sketchbook down, his eyes still tracing it. "This really is amazing." He brought his gaze to mine. "You're an artist?"

I shrugged, "I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that. It's just a hobby of mine, really."

"You're pretty fucking good at this for it just being a hobby," he stated, once more glimpsing over my piece. "Even though it's just an outline so far it's still amazing."

"Well, thank you," I swallowed, balling my hands into fists.

I was somewhat nervous to have him that close to me in public. I mean, we weren't anywhere near touching, but the thought of his secret girlfriend, Alexandra stumbling across us chatting was a fear of mine. I didn't want her to get the wrong idea and think something was going on between us when in actuality there wasn't. We were just two strangers who knew nothing but each other's names. That was it.

"Very impressive," he said, returning the sketchbook to me. "Who taught you how to draw like that?"

I brought my property back to where I was and answered, "Actually, no one. I kinda just picked it up through practice books and TV programs."

He cocked a brow. "That's how you learned to make that?" He pointed at my drawing, his tone filled with disbelief. "No way."

I nodded, giggling, "Yes way. I spent a lot of time at my mom's church events, so I had to entertain myself someway."

He peered at me, those eyes of his searching me. I felt a slight tint of heat wash over my features, prompting me to avert my gaze. I couldn't handle the tension that weighed between us. It was a weight I wasn't accustomed to. It threw itself down on my chest, almost hitching my breath.

"So, you're not an artist but you can draw something like that," he chuckled. "I can't even draw a straight line."

I brought my gape back to his, our eyes meeting. He was still trained on me, his features hinting at something...something I didn't understand. Jean Kirstein. I knew nothing about him and yet...and yet he made me feel like that. As our eyes linked, goosebumps rose across my arms, lifting the tiny hairs. Chills darted the length of my spine all because that stare of his was locked on mine.

He quickly dropped his gaze to the table and continued, "And, you seem to always be alone." He once more glanced at me out the corner of his eyes. "Every time I've come across ya, you never have any friends with ya." He shifted in his seat, turning to face me directly, "Not that this is any of my business, but why is that?"

I felt my throat go numb as I swallowed, "T-that's not t-true."

He lifted a brow. "Really? Then how come I've never really noticed you with anyone else?"

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but you're right. This isn't any of your business."

I threw daggers at him with my eyes, praying he couldn't see how terrified I was of the conversation. Jean himself wasn't what scared me, but his observations were hitting too close to an undesired territory. I only knew his name and there he was trying to dig into uncharted lands. Lands even I didn't dare to explore.

He gazed at me, the corners of his lips slightly curled up as he breathed, "No worries. Sorry I crossed the boundary." He readjusted his backpack and stood up, adding, "I won't take up any more time. I guess I'll see ya around campus, Y/N."

And at that, he left leaving me once more in my bubble. All the while, I sat in wonder. What...what was that about?

**Ello my lovelies! Hope y'all are having a swell day and that ya enjoyed this chapter! I know it's at a standstill right now, but just hang in there! As always, thank you soooo super, duper much for any and all support! Y'all rock!! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross