Chapter 1

Katie had always prided herself on being able to read people. It was a talent she'd honed over years of navigating the shark-infested waters of high school. But when she walked into her first class of the semester and saw the guy sitting next to her, she was thrown for a loop.

He was tall and lean, with shaggy brown hair that fell across his forehead. He wore a faded band t-shirt and had a sketchbook open in front of him. Katie couldn't help but stare, and when he looked up and caught her eye, she felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her.

"Hey," he said with a crooked grin. "I'm Max."

Katie felt her cheeks flush as she introduced herself, and for the rest of the class, she found herself distracted by Max's presence. She tried to focus on the lecture, but her mind kept wandering back to him. She wondered if he was a musician, or an artist, or both. She wondered what his favorite movie was, or if he had any siblings. She wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

The bell rang and Katie gathered her things, glancing over at Max as she did. He was packing up his sketchbook and she couldn't help but notice the intricate drawings he'd made. They were surreal and beautiful, filled with strange creatures and intricate patterns.

"Those are amazing," she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Max looked up, surprised. "Thanks," he said, his smile widening. "I'm actually an art major."

Katie felt a pang of envy. She'd always wanted to be an artist, but her parents had insisted she pursue something more practical. She settled for a double major in business and communications, but she couldn't help feeling like something was missing.

As they walked out of the classroom together, Max asked Katie what she was studying. She told him, feeling a bit embarrassed by how boring it sounded compared to his artistic pursuits. But to her surprise, Max seemed genuinely interested.

"I've always been fascinated by marketing," he said. "It's like you're trying to sell an idea to the world."

Katie grinned, feeling a spark of connection between them. She had a feeling this was the beginning of something special.

Over the next few days, Katie found herself looking forward to her classes with Max. They sat next to each other and chatted before and after class, often lingering in the hallway to talk about music, movies, and art.

Katie was surprised at how easy it was to talk to him. She'd always been a bit of an introvert, but with Max, she felt like she could be herself. He was funny and kind, and he had a way of making her feel special.

One day, after class, Max asked Katie if she wanted to grab lunch with him. She hesitated for a moment, feeling a flutter of nervousness in her stomach. She'd never really gone on a date before, at least not a proper one. But something in Max's eyes made her say yes.

They walked to a nearby café and ordered sandwiches and sodas. The conversation flowed easily, with Max asking about Katie's family and her interests. She told him about her love of reading and her dream of someday traveling the world. Max listened intently, asking thoughtful questions and sharing his own experiences.

As they finished their sandwiches, Max leaned in closer to Katie. "I hope this isn't too forward, but I feel like we have a connection," he said. "Would you want to go out with me sometime?"

Katie felt her heart skip a beat. She'd been hoping he would ask, but it was still a shock to hear the words out loud. "Yes," she said, feeling a rush of excitement. "I'd love that."

Max grinned and reached across the table to take her hand. Katie felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her at his touch. She knew this was the beginning of something special.

As they walked back to campus, Max slipped his arm around Katie's shoulders. She leaned into him, feeling a sense of comfort and contentment she'd never experienced before. She couldn't wait to see where this journey would take them.

As the days went by, Katie and Max started spending more and more time together. They went on walks, visited art galleries, and watched movies together. Katie felt like she was living in a romantic comedy, where everything was perfect and nothing could go wrong.

But then, on one particularly rainy day, Katie got a text from Max saying he couldn't make their planned date. He apologized and said he had to work on a project for his art class. Katie felt disappointed, but she understood. She decided to spend the evening curled up with a good book, but as the night went on, she found herself feeling more and more anxious. She kept checking her phone, hoping Max would text her back, but he didn't.

The next day, Katie went to her class with Max, but he seemed distant. He barely spoke to her and spent most of the class doodling in his sketchbook. Katie tried to ask him what was wrong, but he just shrugged and said he was fine.

Katie felt confused and hurt. Had she done something wrong? Was Max losing interest in her? She spent the rest of the day trying to distract herself, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Later that evening, Max called Katie. She could hear the exhaustion in his voice, and she knew something was wrong.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I've just been really stressed out lately with my art projects and everything. I didn't mean to be distant."

Katie felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had been worried that Max was losing interest in her, but now she realized that he was just going through a tough time.

"It's okay," she said. "I understand. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Max paused for a moment before speaking. "Actually, there is. My art professor wants us to create a sculpture for our final project, but I'm having trouble coming up with ideas. Would you be interested in helping me brainstorm?"

Katie felt a rush of excitement at the thought of collaborating with Max on a project. She had always admired his artistic talent and was thrilled at the prospect of working with him.

"Of course," she said. "I'd love to help."

Over the next few weeks, Katie and Max spent every spare moment working on their sculpture. They bounced ideas off each other, drew sketches, and gathered materials. As they worked, Katie felt a sense of closeness with Max that she'd never experienced before. They were a team, working together to create something beautiful.