Your Ten Letters [Completed]

Letter 5

Letter five: May

Their faces were so close. Lily's heart raced in anticipation, her breath catching in her chest.

But to her surprise, Marcus suddenly stood up, a look of doubt crossing his face.

He awkwardly mumbled something about a mistake and started walking away, leaving Lily dumbfounded and confused.

His parting words echoed in her mind, "Oh, and... don't give up on painting."

As she lay in bed that night, thoughts of Marcus consumed her, school the next day be damned. Little did she know, Marcus was also plagued by thoughts of her, their connection pulling at his heartstrings.

The next day at school, Lily and Davina remained at odds, barely exchanging a word. Lily had no intention of making amends, feeling hurt by Davina's words. However, something seemed to have changed with Marcus.

He was no longer avoiding eye contact, and to everyone's surprise, he was even flashing a few smiles.

During lunch, Lily chose to sit alone, nursing her wounds in solitude. But she couldn't escape the intense gaze of Marcus, who seemed fixated on her.

Frustrated and slightly embarrassed, Lily mouthed, "What are you doing?" while rolling her eyes.

Marcus couldn't resist the challenge of their silent exchange, determined to break through the barrier of confusion.

His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he attempted to convey his message through exaggerated gestures and exaggerated mouthing.

Lily watched the spectacle unfold, a mix of amusement and bewilderment playing on her face. It was like watching a mime performance gone hilariously wrong. Marcus contorted his face into comical expressions, his hands flailing in the air with exaggerated gestures. Each attempt only seemed to add to the comedic chaos.

Finally, in an act of surrender, Marcus abandoned his food tray and boldly made his way to Lily's table. A mischievous grin stretched across his face as he playfully declared, "I said, want some company, you airhead."

His words hung in the air, laced with humor and a touch of affection.

Lily couldn't resist a smile, even as she retorted, "Thanks, but I'm good on my own," munching on the food before her.

Marcus wouldn't be deterred, teasingly remarking, "You wouldn't let me go yesterday." His words caught Lily off guard, causing her to sputter on her water.

"You liked being with me too..." Lily quipped, struggling to come up with a witty comeback.

Marcus confessed, "I did. It's been a while since I've had a deep conversation with someone..." A flicker of sadness momentarily clouded his eyes, hinting at a hidden vulnerability. But he quickly regained his playful demeanor, suggesting they head to class.

Lily couldn't help but notice the pattern. When their connection grew deeper, when sentiments of affection and understanding stirred between them, Marcus would retreat. Did he really believe that he couldn't love anyone?

Classes flew by in a whirlwind, but Lily was in for one more surprise as she stepped out of her last class. There was Marcus, sprinting towards her with an air of mischief. She couldn't help but chuckle.

"Are you trying to scare me?" Lily asked, but instead of being scared, she found herself surprised by Marcus's actions.

"Didn't you usually take the other way out of school?" he asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Yeah, but change is good, don't you think?" Lily replied, a smile playing on her lips. She was glad she had chosen a different path, preventing Marcus from successfully startling her.