Chapter 21

Instead of going right into art class, I lingered outside in the hallway. I watched as the other students milled about, chatting as they made their way to their classes. I studied each face. But none belonged to Ty.

What was he up to that he was always so late? Was he putting in extra hours with Mick to try to improve his football skills? It crossed my mind that he might be caught up with other girls. Maybe I wasn’t the only one that he’d set his sights on. Maybe he didn’t want me to find out about the others.

As my mind traveled down this jealous path, I stopped myself. I had no right to be jealous. We weren’t technically dating, and even if we were, we certainly weren’t exclusive. But a hint of suspicion still crowded my thoughts as the second warning bell rang.

As I stepped into the classroom, Ty was officially late. It occurred to me that he might not even show up for class. 

Was he avoiding me? I sat in front of my easel and pondered that possibility.

Things had gotten so intense between us so fast. I hadn’t exactly been as warm as I could have been when he’d admitted that he had feelings for me. Maybe he was embarrassed. Or maybe he had realized his mistake.

As these thoughts bounced back and forth in my mind, I heard footsteps behind me. I watched as he walked past me to his easel. He didn’t look at me. He kept his head down. He barely responded when Mrs. Ruby spoke to him. His shoulders slumped as he leaned forward and pretended to swipe at his canvas. 

I could tell that he was pretending. Why did he even come to art class if he didn’t want to create? After seeing him with the kids at art club, I knew that he had talent. But it didn’t seem like art was important to him.

I couldn’t even imagine living without being able to create art. It gave me an outlet, a way to express myself when words and emotions failed me. 

Reminded of this, I set to work on my own painting. Again, I’d let Ty distract me. If that was going to continue, I stood to lose a lot. I could lose my future. I could lose my own artistic drive.

I could have a crush on Ty without letting it swallow me whole, couldn’t I? 

Determined that this would be the case, I continued to paint the building that I’d been working on for a little over a week. It was full of the people I adored the most and memories that had broken me free of my shy and closed-off nature. 

Soon, I was no longer in the classroom. I’d stepped through the front door of the building, right into the room filled with pillows and curtains and lamps. In that room, I was surrounded by friends, by people I really considered family. I was safe there, even when the rest of the world left me feeling far too exposed. 

“Apple.” Ty paused right beside me. 

“Oh!” I dropped my paintbrush and a few drops of paint splattered up to speckle the back of his hand. “Sorry.” I cringed as I grabbed a rag. 

“Don’t worry about it.” He smiled as he wiped his hand on one of the rags stacked up on my easel.

I pulled the cloth down over my painting to hide it from his view as my heart pounded. 

“I didn’t realize you were there.”

“Can’t I see it?” He caught the edge of the cloth. “I was watching you. It was like you totally disappeared into your work. I’d love to see what it is.” 

“Oh, I don’t really share my artwork.” I cleared my throat and glanced away from him. 

“But I know Mrs. Ruby considers you one of her most talented students. So, why won’t you let anyone see your work?” He tugged at the edge of the cloth. 

“Why were you late?” I pulled the cloth free from his grasp. 

“Eh, just got delayed.” He shrugged. 

“Everyone else manages to make it to class on time.” I bit into the tip of my tongue before I could mention the fact that most of those people appreciated the education that their parents paid small fortunes for. 

“I guess I’m not everyone else.” He leaned closer to me, his blond hair drifting forward until it almost tickled my cheek. 

“I guess not.” I whispered the words as his closeness made my heart race. 

“Do you want me to be?” He met my eyes. 

Everyone else in the room vanished. At least to me that’s how it felt. I lost myself in those eyes that probed mine with such determination. He wanted an answer, but I could barely get myself to speak. 

“No.”

“You sure?” He smiled, his light blue eyes shimmering with a hint of amusement. 

“I’m sure.” I swallowed, then turned my attention back to the easel in front of me. 

“Then show me.” He stepped behind me and crouched down so that his chin nearly rested on the curve of my shoulder. “Just a quick peek.” 

“Ty.” I sighed and started to turn to look at him, but as I did, my lips came dangerously close to his. I pulled away in the same moment that I took a sharp breath. 

“Show me.” He murmured his words again, this time beside my ear. “I want to see where you disappear to.” 

My heart raced as I realized that I wanted to show him. I wanted him to know. I wanted to invite him into my world. 

“It’s just a painting.” I bit into my bottom lip as I pulled the cloth away. I guessed that all he would see was a random building. He wouldn’t have a clue what it meant to me. 

“Is that a face in the window?” He pointed to the only window where I had lightly painted a face. 

“Maybe.” I smiled as I looked at him. “I’m surprised you noticed.”

“Not just pretty, remember?” He batted his eyes at me. 

“I remember.” I grinned. 

“I like it. It’s interesting. More than just brick and glass. It feels like another dimension.” He raised an eyebrow. “But it also looks familiar. Very familiar.” He looked back at me. “Is it one of the buildings here?” 

My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t expected him to recognize it. Would he be able to figure out which building it was? I felt the urge to tell him not only which building it was, but what it meant to me.

As I looked into his eyes, however, I held back. How could I reveal the hideout when I wasn’t sure that I could trust him? 

“It’s just a building.” I shrugged and covered the painting up again. “Am I going to see you this afternoon?”

“Absolutely.” His smile spread into a grin. “You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”

“I don’t want to get rid of you at all.” I rose up on my toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

“I’m holding you to that.” He wrapped his arms around me just as the bell rang. Reluctantly, he let me go as the other students began to filter out of the classroom. “See you this afternoon?” 

“I’ll be there.” I raised an eyebrow as I met his eyes. “Will you be on time?”

“I’ll do my best.” He winked at me, then walked out of the classroom. 

As I took my time putting my paints away, I wondered why I’d been so hesitant to tell him about the hideout. It wasn’t as if my friends hadn’t told others about it. It just felt as if he was hiding something from me. Maybe it was just paranoia on my part. Or maybe Ty had secrets that he would never be willing to share.