Solace In The Silence ✓✓

chapter 16

EVERY MUSCLE IN my body constricted when I entered the art studio the next morning. My gaze immediately aligned with Jake's, and I was disappointed to find a schooled lack of expression on his striking face.

Pulse pounding, I sucked in a soft breath and tried to calm down.
He was slouched casually behind the closest workbench to the door, sitting opposite Lynn and Gery, and even though he only had on a navy sweater over jeans, he still managed to look like he was modeling for an ad in GQ.

I knew that the next time I saw him was going to be hard, but this was hitting me way more than I'd expected. Seeing him now, it was so much easier to remember the way it had felt to be in his arms, the soft texture of his hair beneath my fingers.

My lips tingled as I thought about that life-changing kiss for the umpteenth time. And when I noticed Jake was clean-shaven, I couldn't help but mourn the loss of his stubble, recalling how good it had felt grazing my—

I winced internally.
Nope . Not going to go there.
Jake's gaze strayed over to me, and his smoky, blue-gray eyes drilled into mine. There was an unmistakable flicker of hope in them when he saw me take note of the empty seat beside him.

Despite the fact that I felt paralyzed under his intense stare, I forced myself to walk past his bench, offering him a small nod of acknowledgment because I wasn't a total bitch.

Realizing that all the other chairs were taken, aside from one at the very front of the room next to a girl with short, black hair, left me on edge.
Wishing I'd stayed home again today, or that I could all of a sudden develop the superpower to turn invisible, I stopped at the front workbench and wedged my tote bag in between the table leg and the drafting chair.

"Hi, I'm Bess ." I smiled down at the dark-haired girl who was busily flicking through the textbook. "I hope you don't mind if I sit here."
"Oh, hey." She tipped her head back to look up at me, and her almond-shaped eyes were the most interesting color I'd ever seen. They were amber with darker flecks of gold near her pupils.

"Of course not! I enrolled late in this course, so you're actually saving me from looking pathetic and alone right now."
I laughed as I slipped into the spot beside her, tugging out my books and a pen. I was so ready for this class to be over, but the professor was still setting up, his briefcase and lecture notes sprawled out in a disorganized heap.

"My name's Eva, by the way," she told me, booting up her computer. Then she spun on me suddenly. "Okay, I'm going to do something totally embarrassing now, so promise me you won't judge. I've read that sharing things about yourself is a good way to break the ice. I mean, that sounds legit, right? I thought maybe you'd like to know three very intriguing facts about Eva."

Okay, I officially liked this girl.
Anyone that spoke about themselves in the third person was automatically considered a friend. Besides, her straightforwardness was refreshing, and I felt oddly comfortable in her presence already.

Without hesitation, I smirked and said, "Where were you when we had our orientation session? You would've loved all the awkward 'turn to your partner and get to know them' activities."

"Oooh." Eva's eyebrows shot up. "That's like dirty talk to me."
Grinning involuntarily, I prompted her, "So, tell me, what are these very intriguing facts about Eva? I'm dying to know."

"Well, obviously, I'm also a freshman," she started rambling. "I have an unhealthy addiction to painting my nails, like each day you'll notice they're a different color. Don't ask me why. Oh, and definitely don't be startled by the life-size pillow of Ryan Gosling in my dorm room if you ever come hang out. You can't say I haven't warned you."