CHAPTER 02 RYAN

Ryan didn’t belong to this small town and he liked it that way.

No one recognised him here. No disturbance. No reporters waiting to steal his peace.

Just quiet roads… and the weight of his camera resting against his chest.

He walked with long, unhurried steps, listening to the gravel crunch under his boots.

A calm confidence, sleeves pushed up, veins running across his hands like an artist’s sketch.

But none of it mattered.

His mind was stuck on one thing.

Inspiration.

He needed something real.

Something that wasn’t staged, artificial, or bought by fame.

And then… he saw her.

A girl sitting by the lake, sunlight brushing her hair, her sketchbook resting against her knees.

She wasn’t posing.

She wasn’t trying.

She was just existing ....quietly, beautifully.

Ryan stopped walking.

Found it, he thought(What a view)

He lifted his camera on instinct, but didn’t click.

He didn’t want to trap her in a picture.

He wanted to remember her exactly the way she looked — soft, peaceful, unaware of the world.

Then the wind blew, gently at first… and suddenly strong.

Her little cap flew right off her head.

Ryan smirked.“Really, wind? Helping me out now?”

He caught the cap just before it touched the ground.

Ruby turned around, surprised.

Her eyes widened when she saw him ...and for a second, Ryan's heartbeat messed up.

He walked toward her, slow and steady, holding the cap in one hand.

When he stopped in front of her, they were close enough for her to see his eyes clearly.

And God, the way she looked at him…

He could write a whole book about that moment.

He walked towards her and held the cap out.

“Here,” he said simply.

She took it gently from his hand.

“Thank you…” She said.

She looked up at him properly and froze for half a second.

He was used to that reaction… but somehow, from her, it felt new.

Ruby cleared her throat.

“I… I haven’t seen you around here. Are you new? Or just visiting?”

A beat.(lub dub)

“May I know who you are?”she asked.

Ryan’s lips curved slightly.

Smart girl . Curious . He liked that.

“I’m Ryan,” he said casually. “Just… wandering. Exploring. Somewhere between a tourist and a troublemaker.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds suspicious.”

He chuckled.

“If I say I’m harmless, will you believe me?”

“maybe”She said.

“Fair enough,” he said, amused. “Then let’s say I’m here looking for something.”

“What something?”

Ryan tilted his head, studying her ...the way her fingers still held the cap, the way curiosity sparkled in her eyes.

“Still figuring it out,” he said. “But I think I’m close.”

She looked at him strangely, almost shyly.

Then she smiled …small, soft, but enough to knock a little air out of his lungs.

Their eyes met again.This time, neither of them looked away.

And in that small, quiet town, Ryan realised something he hadn’t expected at all.

He didn’t just find inspiration.

He found her.

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