The streets were quiet as Arthur walked home from the local market, a paper bag balanced against his side, filled with odds and ends he needed for the week. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain that had fallen earlier in the evening. He liked these walks—alone, unnoticed, invisible. It was a sharp contrast to the world he was beginning to let himself explore, the one where Alishia seemed to be pulling him bit by bit.
He turned the corner toward his apartment building, his steps slowing as his thoughts wandered. His interaction with Alishia had been an unexpected but welcome change. It was almost unnerving how natural it felt to talk to her, to let her see parts of himself he'd kept hidden for so long.
Arthur entered his apartment and set the groceries on the counter. He glanced at the window, catching his reflection. His crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dim light of the room, a stark reminder of what made him different. For years, he'd seen them as a mark of isolation, something that set him apart. Now, he wondered if Alishia saw them the same way he did or if she saw something else entirely.
The next day, Alishia stood at her locker, idly rearranging her books. Luke leaned against the locker beside her, his arms crossed and a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
"Let me guess," he teased, "thinking about Arthur again?"
Alishia shot him a look. "Don't you have something better to do?"
"Not really," Luke replied with a shrug. "Watching you try to play it cool is pretty entertaining."
Alishia rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't," Luke said, his grin widening. "Just admit it. He's got you curious."
"Fine," Alishia said, closing her locker with a decisive click. "He's... different. That's all."
Luke straightened, his expression softening slightly. "Different isn't bad, you know."
"I know," Alishia said, her voice quieter now. "It's just... he's hard to figure out."
"That's part of the fun," Luke said with a wink. "But hey, don't push too hard. He's not used to people like you."
Alishia tilted her head. "What do you mean, 'people like me'?"
Luke chuckled. "People who see him for more than what he shows. Give him time."
Arthur's afternoon was quiet, spent at the park with a sketchbook and a pencil. Drawing had always been his escape, a way to translate the chaos of his mind into something tangible. He worked in quick, confident strokes, the lines on the page slowly forming the outline of a figure.
When he paused to stretch, he noticed Max bounding toward him, Alishia not far behind. Arthur smiled faintly as Max skidded to a stop, wagging his tail furiously.
"Caught you again," Alishia said, her tone teasing as she approached.
Arthur set his sketchbook aside. "Max seems to have a habit of finding me."
"Maybe he just knows you're a good guy," Alishia said, kneeling to ruffle Max's fur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Or he's just looking for someone to spoil him."
"Maybe both," she said with a laugh. She glanced at the sketchbook lying beside him. "What are you working on?"
Arthur hesitated before handing her the sketchbook. She flipped through it, her eyes widening as she took in the intricate drawings—landscapes, abstract shapes, and a few scattered portraits.
"These are amazing," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "Why don't you show these to anyone?"
Arthur shrugged, looking away. "It's just something I do for myself."
Alishia studied him for a moment before handing the sketchbook back. "You should share them. People would love to see what you can do."
Arthur met her gaze, the sincerity in her voice catching him off guard. "Maybe," he said quietly.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Max lying contentedly at their feet. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the park.
"I'm glad I ran into you," Alishia said eventually, breaking the silence.
Arthur glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Why?"
"Because you're... surprising," she said with a small smile. "In a good way."
Arthur looked down at his sketchbook, a faint hint of color rising to his cheeks. "You're not exactly what I expected, either."
Alishia laughed softly. "Guess we're both full of surprises, then."
As the sun set and the air grew cooler, Arthur found himself thinking that, for the first time in a long time, he didn't mind being seen.