The hike back down from the clearing was a quiet one. The weight of Sophie's words clung to Eli like the dense fog that had begun to settle between the trees. Max tried to revive the lighthearted conversation from earlier, but even Ava seemed subdued. The tension from Sophie's confrontation lingered in the air, thick and unspoken, leaving Eli with more questions than answers.
Eli couldn't stop thinking about what Sophie had said. "Do the work for yourself." It was the kind of advice they'd heard before but never really taken to heart. Sophie's delivery had been different, though sharper, more personal. It wasn't just the words themselves, but the way she had looked at Eli, as if she could see right through them, past all their walls. It unnerved them, made them feel exposed in a way they hadn't expected.
When they finally reached the bottom of the trail, Ava stretched her arms over her head, breaking the silence. "Well, that was refreshing! I'm starving, though. Anyone else up for grabbing lunch?"
"I could eat," Max said, with a flash of his easy grin, though it felt less confident than before. He glanced around the group. "How about that little café near the river?"
Ava's eyes brightened. "Ooh, yes! They have the best sandwiches. Eli, you in?"
Eli hesitated. They had barely spoken since the conversation with Sophie, their thoughts still tangled up in the moment. The last thing they wanted was to sit through another meal where they had to pretend everything was fine.
"I think I'll pass," Eli said, trying to sound casual. "I've got some work to catch up on."
Ava frowned but didn't push. "Alright, but you're missing out. Maybe next time?"
Eli nodded, managing a small smile before turning to head back toward their car. As they walked away, they could feel Sophie's eyes on them. The sensation sent a shiver down Eli's spine, a mix of anticipation and unease. They didn't dare look back.
---
Back in their studio, Eli sat staring at the blank canvas in front of them, feeling the weight of their earlier conversation with Sophie pressing down on them. Usually, they found solace in painting, but today, it felt like the more they tried to create, the more stuck they became.
Eli picked up their brush, hesitating for a long moment before finally dipping it into the paint. The colors blurred together, bold reds and deep blues clashing in chaotic streaks. It wasn't the careful, deliberate style they usually worked with it was messy, raw, almost violent. Eli could feel the frustration pouring out of them with every stroke, but instead of feeling liberated, it only left them feeling more restless.
They stepped back from the canvas, staring at the disjointed mess they had created. It was angry, disorganized, and unrefined a reflection of the turmoil inside them.
Eli sighed, wiping their hands on a rag. They couldn't shake the feeling that Sophie had seen something in them that they hadn't even recognized in themselves. It was like she had reached in and pulled out a part of them they'd been hiding from for so long. But why did she care? Why had she said those things?
The knock on the door startled Eli out of their thoughts. They weren't expecting anyone, and Ava was still out with Max and Lily. With a frown, they wiped their hands and went to answer it.
When they opened the door, they were met with the last person they expected.
Sophie Bellamy stood there, her expression calm but with an edge of something Eli couldn't quite place determination, maybe. She was still in her hiking clothes, but her hair was slightly disheveled, and there was a faint flush in her cheeks, as if she had rushed to get here.
"Sophie?" Eli's voice betrayed their surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Sophie didn't respond right away. Instead, she looked past Eli, glancing briefly at the chaotic painting behind them before her eyes settled back on Eli's face. "I came to talk."
Eli blinked, thrown off guard. They weren't sure if they wanted to let Sophie in, but something in her gaze serious, almost vulnerable made them step aside. "Okay."
Sophie walked into the studio, her eyes scanning the space, taking in the shelves full of paints, brushes, and half-finished canvases. There was something about her presence that filled the room, made it feel smaller somehow, like her very existence disrupted the energy of the space.
Eli closed the door and leaned against it, crossing their arms. "So, what do you want to talk about?"
Sophie turned to face Eli, her expression unreadable. For a long moment, she didn't say anything, as if she was trying to choose her words carefully. Finally, she spoke, her voice softer than Eli had ever heard it. "I didn't mean to be so harsh earlier."
Eli blinked in surprise. That was not what they had expected. "Harsh?"
Sophie nodded, her gaze dropping for a second before meeting Eli's again. "At the hike. What I said to you I wasn't trying to tear you down. I just…" She trailed off, running a hand through her short hair in frustration. "I wanted you to see something I wish someone had told me a long time ago."
Eli furrowed their brow, trying to make sense of Sophie's words. "What do you mean?"
Sophie's jaw tightened slightly, and for the first time, Eli saw a crack in her usually composed demeanor. "I used to care too much about what people thought of me," she said quietly, her voice tinged with bitterness. "I spent years trying to fit into a mold, to meet everyone's expectations, until I realized I was suffocating."
Eli stared at her, not sure how to respond. They had never imagined Sophie confident, untouchable Sophie had struggled like that.
Sophie's gaze grew distant, as if she was lost in some painful memory. "By the time I figured it out, it was too late. I'd already lost myself in the process. That's why I said what I did to you. I didn't want you to fall into the same trap."
Eli's chest tightened at the rawness in Sophie's voice. They had spent so much time assuming that Sophie was cold, aloof, even cruel at times. But now, standing here in their studio, Sophie was showing a side of herself Eli hadn't expected vulnerable, human.
"I'm not trying to tear you down, Eli," Sophie continued, her eyes locking onto Eli's with an intensity that made their breath catch. "I see something in you. Your work, your drive it's real. But you're letting other people's opinions hold you back."
Eli felt their throat tighten, their emotions stirring beneath the surface. "Why do you care?" they asked, their voice quieter than they intended.
Sophie's expression softened, and for a moment, there was something almost tender in her gaze. "Because I know what it's like to lose yourself trying to live up to everyone else's expectations. And I don't want that for you."
The words hit Eli like a punch to the gut. They had spent so long trying to navigate their own insecurities, their fears of not being good enough, and here was Sophie, laying it all out in front of them, exposing the very thing Eli had been avoiding for years.
Eli swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Sophie's words settle over them. "I don't know how to stop," they admitted, their voice barely above a whisper.
Sophie took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "You don't have to stop all at once. But you can start by being honest with yourself."
Eli stared at her, feeling a strange mixture of gratitude and confusion. They had never expected Sophie to be the one standing here, giving them advice, encouraging them to be true to themselves. It felt surreal, like the lines between them had blurred in a way Eli hadn't anticipated.
For a long moment, neither of them said anything. The air in the room felt thick with something unspoken, something neither of them was ready to confront just yet.
Finally, Sophie broke the silence. "I should go."
Eli nodded, though a part of them didn't want her to leave. "Yeah."
Sophie turned to go, but before she reached the door, she paused, glancing back at Eli. "For what it's worth, I think you're a lot stronger than you realize."
Eli's heart skipped a beat at the words, and they watched in silence as Sophie left the studio, the door closing softly behind her.
Eli stood there for a long time, staring at the door, their mind racing. The lines between them and Sophie had shifted, blurred. What had started as friction had turned into something far more complex, and Eli wasn't sure where it was heading. But one thing was certain Sophie Bellamy was no longer the person they thought she was. And Eli wasn't sure how to feel about that.