The next few days passed in a blur of classes and assignments, but Sophie found herself looking forward to the quiet moments she shared with Max. Their conversations were never long, but they carried a depth that left her thinking long after they ended.
It was during a break between classes that Sophie found herself lingering by her locker, scanning the crowded hallway for a familiar face. Rachel was off at cheer practice, leaving Sophie alone with her thoughts.
"Waiting for someone?" a voice said behind her.
Sophie turned to see Chloe, one of Rachel's cheer teammates, leaning casually against the lockers. Her perfectly curled hair and confident smirk made her presence hard to ignore.
"Just… waiting," Sophie replied, trying to sound casual.
"For Max, maybe?" Chloe asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sophie's cheeks burned. "Why would you think that?"
"Oh, please," Chloe said, rolling her eyes. "Everyone's noticed how you two have been hanging out. It's kind of cute, actually."
Sophie didn't know how to respond. Was it that obvious?
"Relax," Chloe said, her tone softening. "I'm just messing with you. Max is a good guy. Quiet, but good."
"Yeah," Sophie said, smiling faintly. "He is."
Chloe hesitated, then added, "Just be careful, okay? Not everyone's as nice as they seem."
Before Sophie could ask what she meant, Chloe disappeared into the crowd, leaving Sophie more confused than ever.
---
Later that day, Sophie found Max sitting under a tree in the school courtyard, sketching as usual. She hesitated for a moment, Chloe's words echoing in her mind, before walking over.
"Hey," she said, sitting down beside him.
Max looked up and smiled. "Hey."
"What are you drawing?" Sophie asked, glancing at his sketchbook.
"It's not finished," Max said, tilting the book away from her view.
"Come on," Sophie teased. "You can't just say that and not show me."
Max sighed, then turned the sketchbook toward her. The drawing was of the courtyard, but it was more than just a landscape. It captured the little details—the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves, the way students laughed and talked in small groups, the way everything seemed alive.
"It's beautiful," Sophie said softly.
Max shrugged. "It's just what I see."
"Is that how you see the world?" Sophie asked, genuinely curious.
"Sometimes," Max said. "When I'm paying attention."
Sophie smiled. "I wish I could see things like that."
"You probably do," Max said, his gaze meeting hers. "In your own way."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them under the tree.
But then the bell rang, shattering the moment.
"Guess we should get to class," Sophie said, standing up.
"Yeah," Max said, closing his sketchbook.
As they walked back toward the school, Sophie couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing between them—something neither of them could quite put into words.