Chapter 1:
It was one of those perfect fall evenings the kind that begged for sweaters and warm cider, with the leaves casting a soft orange glow as they fell lazily to the ground. Eli Brennan pulled their jacket tighter against the crisp air, feeling the buzz of the annual charity event hum through the small community park. The little town of Copper Hollow took pride in its sense of togetherness, and this event, a fundraiser for local LGBTQ+ youth programs, was the highlight of the season. Almost everyone Eli knew had gathered in the park for it artisans set up stalls selling handmade jewelry and paintings, while local musicians played under string lights.
Eli stood to the side, leaning against a fence as they sipped their cider, watching the crowd. Despite the lively atmosphere, they always felt a little out of place at events like this. Crowds weren't exactly their comfort zone, but Ava, their older sister, had insisted they come. Ava had a knack for pushing Eli out of their introverted bubble.
"You'll never meet anyone if you keep hiding," she had teased that morning as she pulled Eli out of their art studio, rolling her eyes at the paint stains on their jeans.
Now, as Eli scanned the crowd, they spotted Ava near the front, her voice carrying over the noise as she talked animatedly with Lily Donovan, her girlfriend of six months. Ava was always easy to spot tall, confident, with a wild mane of curly hair that seemed to mirror her unapologetic personality. It wasn't hard to see why people were drawn to her.
Eli, on the other hand, preferred to stay in the background, observing. They were content to let their art do the talking. But here, in this vibrant gathering, Eli couldn't help but feel the tug of something missing in their own life a sense of connection they hadn't yet found. Sure, they had friends, they had Ava, but romance always seemed like some distant, unattainable thing.
Just as they were about to slip further into that line of thought, something caught their attention. Or rather, someone. Across the park, standing near one of the makeshift art galleries, was a tall woman Eli had never seen before. She was striking dark, cropped hair that contrasted sharply with her pale skin, dressed in a tailored black coat that made her look out of place among the more casually dressed crowd. She had an air of detachment about her, arms crossed as she stared intently at a painting on display.
Eli tilted her head, curious. There was something about the woman's posture rigid, almost as if she were daring the world to approach her but hoping no one actually would. It was a contradiction that immediately intrigued Eli.
A voice interrupted their thoughts.
"Her name's Sophie Bellamy."
Eli turned to find Dylan Cross standing beside them, holding two drinks and flashing his signature mischievous grin. Dylan had been Eli's friend for years, and if there was one thing Eli could always count on, it was that Dylan had the latest gossip. He was charming in a way that seemed effortless, always knowing who was who and what everyone's business was.
"Sophie Bellamy?" Eli repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Dylan handed them one of the drinks and nodded. "Yep. Apparently, she's some big-shot from New York. Moved here last year, but I swear, she barely leaves her family's estate. Her parents are loaded. Old money, you know the type." He took a sip of his drink, his eyes following Sophie across the park. "She's gorgeous, though, right?"
Eli glanced back at Sophie. Gorgeous wasn't exactly the word they would have chosen. Beautiful, sure, but in a distant, untouchable kind of way. There was something cold about her, something that made Eli feel uneasy. The more they watched her, the more they felt the initial spark of intrigue shift into something closer to annoyance.
"She looks… stiff," Eli said, not meaning to sound harsh but unable to shake the impression.
Dylan snorted. "Yeah, I've heard she's not exactly the warm and fuzzy type. Word is, she barely speaks to anyone, even at events like this. You'd think someone with her background would know how to mingle."
Eli frowned, glancing again at Sophie. She was still standing near the paintings, but now her expression had shifted her brows furrowed slightly, as though she were deep in thought. Eli couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those guarded eyes. Maybe there was more to Sophie Bellamy than just the cold, aloof demeanor. Maybe
"I wouldn't bother," Dylan said, cutting into Eli's thoughts again. "Girls like that? They think they're better than the rest of us. Trust me, I've seen it a thousand times."
Eli didn't respond. They weren't the type to make quick judgments, but something about Sophie's distant attitude was unsettling. And yet, Eli found themselves glancing her way again.
Just then, Ava appeared beside them, her energy immediately cutting through the quiet tension of Eli's thoughts.
"There you are!" she said, pulling Eli into a quick hug. "I've been looking for you. You're missing all the action!" She nodded toward the main stage where a local band was setting up, their sound check reverberating through the park.
Eli smiled weakly, trying to focus on the moment. "I'm here, aren't I?"
Ava narrowed her eyes playfully. "Barely. You look like you're a million miles away." Then, with a glance toward where Sophie was standing, she added, "Who are we staring at?"
"No one," Eli said quickly, taking a long sip of their drink.
Ava followed their gaze, her expression shifting into something more curious. "Oh, Sophie Bellamy? Have you met her?"
"No, and I'm not planning to," Eli muttered. "She doesn't exactly look approachable."
Ava shrugged. "She's a little reserved, yeah. But I've met her a couple of times she's not as bad as people say. Just… hard to get to know, I guess."
Eli raised an eyebrow. Ava didn't often speak kindly of people who gave off an air of arrogance, which only piqued Eli's curiosity more.
"Anyway," Ava said, changing the subject, "Lily wants you to come over and meet some people. There's this photographer she thinks you'd like."
Eli sighed but allowed themselves to be led through the crowd, Dylan following close behind with a teasing smirk. But as they moved away, Eli couldn't help but glance back one last time at Sophie Bellamy, still standing alone, eyes fixed on the art in front of her.
---
The evening dragged on in a blur of conversations and introductions, but Eli couldn't shake the odd feeling that Sophie Bellamy had left behind. It wasn't like them to fixate on someone they'd barely exchanged a word with, but something about Sophie had gotten under their skin.
Later that night, as the event began to wind down and the crowd thinned out, Eli found themselves near the art gallery once again, drawn there as if by some invisible force. Most of the guests had already gone home, but Sophie was still there, standing before the same painting she had been studying earlier.
Curiosity finally got the better of them. Eli hesitated for a moment before approaching, their heart beating a little faster with each step.
When they were close enough, they cleared their throat awkwardly. "You've been staring at that painting for a while," Eli said, their voice coming out softer than they intended.
Sophie turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Eli's with a cool, measured gaze. Up close, she was even more striking, but there was something unsettling in the way she studied Eli, like she was evaluating them. After what felt like an eternity, she spoke.
"I don't like it."
Eli blinked, taken aback. "What?"
"The painting," Sophie said, turning her gaze back to it. "It's… uninspired."
Eli opened their mouth to respond but found themselves at a loss for words. Who says something like that, especially at a fundraiser for local artists?
"Well," Eli said, feeling a sharp sting of defensiveness, "I think it's beautiful."
Sophie didn't look at them again. "Then you must have very low standards."
The words hit Eli like a slap. Without another word, Sophie turned and walked away, leaving Eli standing there, stunned and a little angry.
They had been right about her from the start. Sophie Bellamy was nothing more than a proud, pretentious snob.