Chapter 2 Henry

I woke up to my alarm, realizing I had forgotten to turn it off the night before. When was the last time I had slept in on a workday? I couldn't remember. My routine had become a monotonous cycle: go to the library, read and arrange books, spend free time with Anna or Jamie, and then head home. That has been my life ever since I started this job. While I still loved my work, I had neglected my hobbies and fun. I needed to change that, and the workshop was a start.

I spent a few hours doing laundry and giving my small apartment a much-needed deep clean.

After tidying up, I prepared lunch boxes for Anna and me. Just as I was about to leave, Anna called.

"Hey, I'll be there in 20 minutes. Don't be late!" I said as I locked the door.

"Um, about that, I don't think I can make it on time. But I can come to hang out with you after the workshop," Anna replied.

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked.

"Evan's mom is sick. We were at the hospital all night. I'm so sorry, Mia. I really wanted to go with you," she sighed.

"Don't worry about it. Get some rest. I'll see you later," I said, feeling a bit down. Going to a crowded place alone was out of my comfort zone, something I had never done before. I admired people who could do that, and today, I had to be one of them.

"Alright, have fun, Em. Love you," Anna said.

"Love you too," I replied before ending the call.

"It's okay, Mia. You can do this," I told myself.

After leaving my apartment, I walked to the metro station and hopped on the train. About 15 minutes later, I arrived at my destination. It took me 20 minutes to realize I had no idea where the venue was. I was running late. I pulled out my phone and typed in the location, staring at the GPS. Suddenly, I bumped into something solid. Initially, I thought it was a pole. Looking up, I saw it wasn't a pole but a tall, muscular man. He didn't look angry, just surprised. I opened my mouth to apologize when he spoke.

"Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" he asked with concern.

"What? No! I-I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," I said, blushing. Why was I blushing? He was attractive, but I shouldn't be blushing and stuttering like a teenager. I tried to regain my composure.

He glanced at my phone screen and noticed the GPS.

"Are you lost?" he asked, looking down at me.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Admitting I was lost in the city I'd lived in my whole life wasn't something I wanted to do, but I was already running late.

"Yes, I think so," I admitted.

"I live in that building over there," he said, pointing to a building a block away. "I can show you the way."

Despite his attractiveness, I was skeptical about following a stranger to an unknown place. But I had little choice. I showed him the location on my phone.

"Oh, are you going to the painting workshop?" he asked.

"Yes, are you?" I blinked. He didn't seem like the type to attend such an event, especially since he was wearing a suit. Who wears that to a painting workshop?

"Of course. I like to paint sometimes. It's a hobby of mine," he said.

"Oh, great! Lead the way. Oh, no, we're already late. Let's go," I said, glancing at my watch.

He led me to a building across the street and stopped in front of it. "We're here," he said with a small smirk.

My jaw dropped in disbelief. I had been circling this building, and it was right here all along. How could I have missed it? I sighed, feeling foolish, and walked toward the entrance.

"Thanks for showing me the way," I said without looking up.

"Let's go in," he said, sounding amused.

I didn't respond, just walked in, too embarrassed to talk. Once inside, I was overwhelmed by the crowd, but then I noticed him approaching me. Before he could say anything, a guy in an apron walked over, waving his hands.

"Will! What are you doing here?" he asked the man beside me.

"I organized this. I told you last week, remember? What are you doing here?" Will replied.

"Oh, right. I'm here to participate," the man said casually.

Will then looked at me. "I see! And who's this lovely lady? Did you get a girlfriend without telling me?" he teased.

"No, she's not my girlfriend. We met on the street," the man said, rolling his eyes.

"You can call me Mia," I introduced myself.

"Well, Mia, nice to meet you. I'm Will, the owner of this building and the organizer of the painting workshop, which I'm guessing you're here for," Will said, extending his hand for a handshake.

I shook his hand with a smile. "Yes, I am. Nice to meet you, Will. I hope I'm not too late."

"Not at all! We're just getting started. Since you two came in together, let's pair you up," Will said, leading us to a pair of seats.

We sat down opposite each other with canvases between us. The silence was awkward until he finally spoke.

"I'll go get the aprons," he said before standing up.

"Well, this is awkward," I muttered to myself as he walked away. Despite his good looks, he had an aura of mystery that intrigued me. I didn't feel this way about Jamie. This was different. I found myself imagining his touch and blushed at the thought.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him returning with two aprons and snapped back to reality. What was wrong with me? I couldn't think like this about someone I had just met.

I straightened up and put on the apron silently, as did he.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Will Thompson, your instructor for today's workshop. Don't worry, ladies, I'll be here every day just for you," Will said with a cheeky wink, eliciting laughter from the room. The man sitting across from me didn't react at all.

"As you can see, you've been paired up. Today's assignment is to sketch the person in front of you and then color them as you see them. Don't worry about being perfect. We have a special gift for the pair who captures each other the best, which will be revealed at the end," Will announced, and the room buzzed with excitement.

"If you need any assistance or have questions, feel free to ask. Art is subjective, so do what you like, but avoid anything that might offend your partner. Get to know each other if you don't already. Remember, we're here to have fun. Let's begin!" Will said before moving to assist another pair.

I picked up my pencil and glanced at the man across from me. He was already looking at me. My cheeks flushed again, and I quickly looked away. This attraction was unusual for me. I needed to pull myself together. I focused on his features. Sharp jawline, a hint of beard, almond eyes, and striking eyelashes. It struck me then: I didn't even know his name yet, and here I was, lost in fantasies.

"So, what's your name again? I didn't catch it earlier," I asked, trying to sound casual. Our eyes met.

"Henry," he said, returning to his sketching.