I thought about it for a second, then strolled over to the bookshelf, grabbed a random book, and


    flopped down into the lounge chair to read. I stayed there for what felt like forever, lost in the quiet,


    until Lizzy called me down for dinner.


    1


    “You’re even prettier in person than in the paintings,” Lizzy said, just as I was about to take a bite of


    my food. I froze, fork mid air, totally caught off guard.


    “Paintings? What paintings?”


    She smiled. “Mr. Johnston’s paintings. All of them are of you. They’re in the studio upstairs.”


    Wait What?


    When I went up to the terrace earlier, I’d passed the second floor, but I hadn’t bothered checking


    any rooms I had no idea there was even a studio up there,


    And the craziest part? Wayne points? I’d never known that.


    We grew up together before he went abroad, and as far as I knew, art was not his thing. Did he pick


    up painting in thest few years? And he’s been painting… me?


    I nced over at Lizzy, busy in the kitchen. She had to be messing with me, right? I mean–maybe


    she couldn’t tell us apart, like how sometimes I struggle with distinguishing some faces.


    But then again, the curiosity hit me like a wave. So, I put my fork down, barely touched my food,


    and decided to check it out.


    I had no clue which room was the studio, so I just started opening doors, one by one.


    Wayne’s bedroom. A study. A workout room. A walk–in closet… Finally, I found a door that was


    locked with a keypad.


    This had to be the studio.


    It’s only natural to be curious, especially when it might have something to do with you.


    Lizzy’s words got me thinking. I had to see these paintings for myself, but I didn’t have the code to


    get in. I tried Wayne’s birthday first. Wrong.


    Okay, if it wasn’t his birthday… then what could it be?


    I racked my brain, but honestly, I didn’t know Wayne that well. Back when we were close, he was


    always so quiet, and I was way too caught up in Jace to pay him much attention.


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Then Wayne went abroad, and we barely kept in touch. I really didn’t know anything about him


    anymore


    Then it hit me–what Lizzy said about the studio being full of paintings of me. Could the code be my


    birthday?


    I typed it in and, after a beat, the door unlocked with a soft beep.


    But instead of the usual thrill of cracking the code, a weird tightness gripped my chest.


    Okay, that was unexpected. Wayne’s feelings for me clearly ran a lot deeper than I’d realized.


    look deep breath of the doors we wereet samenge


    Just like


    yet every sign


    josing the Johnson family


    fying everytime of


    of Summe


    greetings


    pitting on the mesos


    They didnt fee pennings. They est the mente THE


    atory


    As I looked at the tones to te SHAD SAATH TESTING tank


    I moved from one to the next the verse sorting of the nes


    So, even way was gone for four ons een watching the congestings


    canvas


    y


    A weight settled in my chest a fock in the fircle ssom My eyes triffies over the


    i an i took THE NATIVE draped with a cloth


    ell


    if every painting here was about the figures whatever was on that ease proca


    What part of my life was he santing now?


    1 reached out and yanked the cloth off The haffinched santing came now–and the im