Exposed

I stood frozen, unable to move or speak. My gaze remained fixed on his face, studying every detail—the dark strands of hair falling over his eyebrows, his tightly clenched square jaw, and his piercing stare.

The intensity of his gaze made me feel as though the world's attention was focused solely on me, and I couldn't help but feel like his stare would set my body ablaze.

My eyes flickered down to his hand and then back up to his gleaming, strangely addictive silver eyes.

As he took a step forward, I instinctively took a step back, torn between the urge to flee and the inexplicable pull that kept me rooted to the spot. When he attempted to touch me, I pulled away, and he grinned devilishly.

"You can see me," he said, his voice low and dripping with unexplained delight.

I was confused. Was I not supposed to be able to see him?

"What are you, some kind of a ghost?" I asked, trying to mask my unease with sarcasm. He ran a hand through his raven hair, and I felt a fire ignite within me.

"Kind of," he replied.

I tried to play it cool, telling him it was nice to meet him but that I had to go. His eyes remained locked on me, making it difficult for me to leave.

When he didn't say anything, I took the opportunity to walk past him and get away.

It wasn't until I had showered, dressed, and made myself dinner that I finally collapsed onto the dark green sofa in my living room.

I despised the color, but it was my sister's choice. I missed her terribly.

I checked my phone again, my eyes partially closed, and I noticed a new text. I must have not heard the phone buzz when I was in the shower.

It was Eric reminding me of tomorrow's 'special' class, or so he liked to call it. I turned over, now lying on my back, then typed a reply.

After what seemed like an eternity, I rose to my feet with a groan and made my way to my desk, where a handful of unfinished drawings lay abandoned.

Among them was a portrait of a captivating young girl with a dark complexion.

The intricate details I had etched with the lighter shades brought out the golden undertones in her tawny skin. She was truly breathtaking.

I grabbed a brush and began finishing whatever was left of the portrait.

It was not long before I leaned back in my chair and took a final look at the result.

I had to give myself a pat on the back. Satisfied with what I was seeing, I signed my name in the lower right corner.

Avalyn

July 27th

I eventually climbed into bed and checked my phone once more. To my delight, several people had liked my post - a small glimmer of recognition.

However, I noticed an unread text from Eric.

I could have sworn I had already replied, but perhaps I was too exhausted to complete the task.

It was not uncommon for me to compose responses in my mind and then forget to type them out, a habit that had caused me some trouble in the past.

I placed my phone on my chest and began to ponder the young man I had encountered.

It occurred to me that I had never seen him around town, and in a relatively small community, it was unusual not to know everyone.

Furthermore, his attire was peculiar, consisting of tight black jeans and a leather jacket that revealed... his bare chest?

He was trying so hard and It was an uncomfortable image that had etched itself into my mind.

I tried to shake it off and instead closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift into a deep slumber..

.

.

.

"I just think you should give it a try,"

the young man seated next to me insisted, breaking my gaze from the model before me. It was Eric, one of the first people I had befriended when I joined art school.

Although I liked him as a person and found him attractive, he couldn't seem to go a day without hitting on me in some way or another.

"I can hear you loud and clear," I responded, feeling a tinge of frustration.

"Then do it after class. Trust me, it'll be fine," he urged.

"I highly doubt that," I sighed, throwing my head back and groaning loudly.

Eric stared at me, seemingly incredulous.

"Are you kidding me? Look at her. She's clearly uninterested in that guy, and he's literally a god incarnate. She obviously doesn't like men."

I turned my gaze to the girl in question. She was, indeed, strikingly beautiful, with golden locks tied tightly in a high ponytail and adorned in a simple white t-shirt and lavender sweater.

A few gold necklaces sparkled around her neck, complementing her mesmerizing hazel eyes that were fixed on the canvas in front of her.

"Someone sounds envious." I teased.

"I kinda am." He chuckled before turning his attention back at the sketch, drawing some fine lines around the model's strong, muscular thighs.

The light penetrating through the big, stained windows behind him cast shadows at every dip and curve in his muscles.

Strangely, I found myself thinking of the person I had just met the night before, remembering how his exposed chest looked like, how it would feel pressed against mine.

I was shocked by my own thoughts and quickly shook the image out of my mind.

I returned my attention to the man at the centre of the hall.

To be completely honest, even I was a little jealous. I envied how comfortable and at ease he was. Embracing his naked body in all its glory.

"It's going to be fine, Lyn, and If it did not work out for some reason,"

"Like her not being into girls." I explained, "and to be honest, I don't think I'm that into girls either."

"Well, think about it. You would still have your gorgeous, talented best friend, your best wingman." He continued with a wide grin.

"Well, Lily's not here."

"You know damn well what I mean."

Eventually, Our professor, a middle aged man with a receding hairline, was now walking around us, judging our work.

I tried my hardest to suppress a laugh when it was Eric's turn.

Mr. Bradney's gaze seemed as if it was ready to set the paper ablaze.

"That's what you get for being a literal clown the whole class."

I said as I finished gathering my things. I had to thank the gods above, Mr Bradney had nothing negative to say about my sketch.

"Who hurt you today?" He frowned, his blonde browns knitted tightly together.

I chuckled and was about to come up with a witty come back when I noticed a dark figure looming in the big window right in front of me.

"Can you see that?'

"See what?" Eric looked at me as if I had just said the stupidest thing ever, but I was too preoccupied with trying to figure out how HE was there, staring right at me from behind the stained glass.

"Stay here, I have to do something."

I threw the bag over my shoulder and rushed outside.

"Well, I- Wait, Avalyn!" Was all I could hear.

Was he following me today?

How did he know I was here? Oh god, was a creep.

The worst kind of all creeps... a stalker. I had to slip through the crowd, one or two students actually cussed at me, but I was in too much of a hurry to pay them any attention.

Eventually, I reached the same place where I had seen him, the beautiful stranger, but he was nowhere to be found. I let my gaze travel around, panic began to build inside me.

I turned around only to bump into someone... for the second day in a row. I should really pay more attention to my surroundings.

I quickly backed away, letting out a small startled scream. I was half expecting it to be him, half hoping that it was actually him.

"You scared me."

Eric said, grabbing both of my arms to pin me to the ground before I somehow hurt myself.

"I'm fine."

It was him, the dark figure lurking in the window, it had to be him. Why was I so obsessed with him?

I did not know the answer to that. I just wanted to know who he was, why he was now following me, and how he was so unearthly beautiful.

The rest of the day went on smoothly and beforeI knew it, I was walking home. I stopped before my door, fumbling around in my bag to find the keys.

"Hi."

My heart skipped a beat.