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Chapter 15 - Family Dynamics

The next morning, the sunlight poured through the large windows of the Brennan household, casting golden streaks across the worn wooden floors. The house had always been a place of warmth full of mismatched furniture, walls adorned with Eli's paintings, and the faint scent of coffee that lingered from breakfast. Eli sat at the kitchen table, absently sketching in their notebook, the events of last night still swirling in their mind. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stop replaying the moment Sophie Bellamy had so casually dismissed that painting and them.

"Low standards?" Eli muttered under their breath, the memory of Sophie's sharp tone still stinging. They pressed harder on the pencil, the lines on the page growing darker, more frantic. It wasn't just the insult. It was the way Sophie had looked at them, as if sizing them up and finding them lacking. Eli had tried to shake off the encounter, but it clung to them, tugging at their thoughts in a way they didn't understand.

"You're going to tear right through the page if you keep doing that," Ava's voice broke through their focus.

Eli glanced up to see Ava leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping from a mug of tea. She looked effortlessly put together, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail, wearing one of her many blazers that made her look perpetually ready for a courtroom battle. Ava had always had that kind of presence the kind that turned heads and commanded attention without trying. Eli, on the other hand, often felt like they faded into the background next to their sister's glow.

"I'm fine," Eli mumbled, flipping the page of their sketchbook in an attempt to avoid further questioning.

Ava wasn't fooled. She set her mug down and slid into the chair across from Eli, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied them. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain Sophie Bellamy, would it?"

Eli frowned, surprised by the mention. "Why would you say that?"

Ava shrugged. "Lily said she saw you talking to her last night. Or, well, standing near her—does that count as talking?"

"It was… more like a disaster," Eli admitted, closing the sketchbook with a sigh. "She's...."

"Cold? Arrogant? Totally out of touch?" Ava offered, raising an eyebrow.

Eli couldn't help but smile a little at the accuracy. "Yeah. Pretty much."

"Don't take it personally," Ava said, crossing her arms. "Sophie's got this whole 'ice queen' vibe going on. But I've heard she's actually pretty decent once you get to know her. She's just…" Ava paused, as if searching for the right word. "Guarded."

"Guarded?" Eli repeated incredulously. "She basically called me an idiot for liking that painting."

Ava chuckled. "Okay, so maybe she's more than just guarded. But seriously, Eli, don't let her get to you. Some people just have their walls up. You know how it is."

Eli leaned back in their chair, folding their arms. "It wasn't just that. It's like she has this air about her, like she thinks she's better than everyone else. I can't stand people like that."

"People like that usually have something to hide," Ava said thoughtfully, taking another sip of tea. "Trust me, I see it all the time in my line of work. The ones who act like they have it all figured out are usually the ones who are the most messed up."

"Still, she didn't have to be such a jerk," Eli muttered.

Before Ava could respond, the front door creaked open, and Lily Donovan's voice echoed through the hallway. "Ava? Eli? I brought croissants!"

Lily appeared in the kitchen a moment later, her sunny disposition practically lighting up the room. She was one of those people who radiated warmth wherever she went. With her long, blonde hair and bright green eyes, she looked like the picture of optimism and kindness, a sharp contrast to her enigmatic brother, Max, and the cool demeanor of Sophie Bellamy.

Ava's face lit up as soon as Lily entered the room. "You're spoiling us," she said, getting up to kiss Lily on the cheek. "What's the occasion?"

"No occasion," Lily said with a smile, setting the bakery box on the counter. "I just wanted to see you two. Plus, I figured we could make some plans for next weekend there's a hiking trail I've been dying to try."

As Lily chatted with Ava, Eli leaned back in their chair, observing the easy rapport between them. Ava had always been the one who made connections effortlessly, who seemed to move through the world with a kind of confidence that Eli envied. Where Ava was outspoken and assertive, Eli was more reserved, preferring to express themselves through art rather than words. It had always been like that, even when they were kids.

"So," Lily said, turning to Eli with a bright smile, "how are you? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

"I'm good," Eli said, returning the smile, though it didn't quite reach their eyes. "Just working on some new pieces."

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "That's amazing! You know, Max was saying he saw some of your work at the gallery last night. He loved it."

The mention of Max sent an uncomfortable jolt through Eli. They had met Max Donovan only a few times, mostly at community events like last night's fundraiser. He was charming, sure tall, handsome, with that effortless charisma that seemed to draw people in. But there was something about him that Eli couldn't quite put their finger on. Maybe it was the way his charm felt too polished, too practiced. Or maybe it was the way his attention made Eli feel like they were being pulled into something they weren't sure they wanted.

"That's… nice of him," Eli said carefully.

Lily, oblivious to Eli's hesitation, smiled even wider. "You two should hang out more. Max could use more friends who are into art. He's always going on about how he wants to broaden his horizons."

Ava shot Eli a knowing look from across the room, as if sensing their discomfort. "Maybe we'll all do something together soon," Ava said, stepping in smoothly to change the subject. "Lily, did you already mention the hiking trip? You know Eli's not big on outdoor stuff."

"I can handle a hike," Eli said with a small grin, grateful for the shift in conversation.

Lily clapped her hands together. "Great! I'll send you the details. It's going to be beautiful this time of year. Plus, fresh air is good for creativity, right?"

Eli smiled politely, but inside they were still caught up in the undercurrent of the conversation. The mention of Max had unsettled them more than they wanted to admit, and Ava's knowing glances weren't helping. If Ava thought for one second that Eli was interested in Max Donovan, she was dead wrong. Eli had no time or energy to deal with someone like him not when their thoughts were still tangled up with Sophie Bellamy and that frustrating encounter from the night before.

As the morning wore on, Eli retreated back into their own head, letting the conversation between Ava and Lily become a distant hum. They could hear Ava laughing, the sound so natural and unburdened, while Lily chattered on about weekend plans and upcoming social events. Eli's mind, however, kept wandering back to Sophie her sharp words, her cool demeanor, and the way she had looked at Eli with such judgment.

A part of them wondered if Ava was right, if Sophie was just guarded, hiding behind her walls like so many people did. But another part of them the part that was still nursing a bruised ego—didn't want to give her the benefit of the doubt.

They glanced over at Ava, who was now deep in conversation with Lily about some new restaurant opening in town. Ava had always been good at navigating people, at breaking down barriers and getting to the heart of things. Eli, on the other hand, wasn't so sure they wanted to dig any deeper when it came to Sophie Bellamy.

Maybe it was better to keep their distance.

---

Later that afternoon, after Lily had left and Ava had gone off to a meeting, Eli found themselves back in their studio. The space was small but cozy, with large windows that overlooked the backyard. The walls were lined with canvases some finished, others in various stages of completion. It was the one place where Eli felt truly at ease, where the outside world faded away and everything made sense.

They stood in front of a blank canvas, brush in hand, trying to focus on the image in their mind. But as much as they tried to lose themselves in the work, their thoughts kept drifting back to Sophie.

*Guarded,* Ava had said.

Eli shook their head, frustrated. They didn't need this. Not now. Not when they were supposed to be focusing on their art, their career. They didn't have time to get wrapped up in someone else's emotional baggage.

But the harder they tried to push Sophie from their mind, the more she seemed to linger, her cool, detached expression etched into their memory.

With a sigh, Eli dipped their brush into the paint, letting the familiar motions calm their restless mind. Maybe, just maybe, Sophie Bellamy wasn't

 as unreachable as she seemed.