Chapter 63 - Liam's POVI received a letter from my artist role model, I haven't opened it yet, I feel like I would like what was in it, and at the same time hate it.I opened it later and read it again an again, then placed it back on my table. The letter sat on the edge of my desk like a loaded weapon. I read it again for the fifth time, though the words hadn’t changed: You have been selected to join Master Renaud Laurent for a six-month artist residency in Paris, France. Paris. Six months. With my role model. My dream. So why did my stomach churn with something more than nerves? I glanced at the window. The sky outside our apartment was a dull gray, with streaks of early spring rain. The soft patter on the glass was normally calming, but today it felt like a ticking clock. Each drop was a second slipping by, a countdown. Barbie was at school. I knew she’d be home soon. I turned to the canvas I’d been working on—a portrait that had Barbie written all over it, even if I hadn’t
Jasper’s POV It was like I was watching from the sidelines, a quiet observer to something I couldn’t be part of, even if I wanted to. The image of Barbie and Liam together, so effortlessly happy, kept replaying in my mind. Every time I thought about it, my chest tightened, and my stomach twisted with a mixture of jealousy, confusion, and something much darker. I had been trying to convince myself that I was fine with everything—that Barbie had made her choice, and I needed to move on. But seeing them together, seeing her smile the way she hadn’t smiled with me, shattered whatever I had managed to hold together. The night before, I had been in London with my dad. He had insisted on a few days away, and though I didn’t mind spending time with him, my mind had been elsewhere. The moment I stepped back into the apartment today, the tension in the air hit me instantly. There was no mistaking it—Barbie was with Liam, and she wasn’t just “hanging out” with him. No, it was different now. I
Chapter 61: They Visit an Art Gallery Together, Liam’s Painting is Featured There was an excitement in the air as Liam and I walked side by side through the busy streets of the city. The day had started like any other—quiet, peaceful, and full of the usual routine. But today was different. Today, Liam’s work was going to be showcased at the prestigious art gallery downtown. His painting—a piece that I had seen him work on tirelessly for weeks—was being featured as part of a group exhibition. I could see the nerves in his eyes, despite his outward calm, and I couldn’t help but feel proud of him. He deserved this. He deserved everything that was coming his way. “You alright?” I asked, glancing over at him as we approached the gallery. He had been quiet since we left our apartment, lost in his own thoughts. Liam gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Yeah, just… you know. A little nervous, I guess.” I chuckled, nudging him with my elbow. “You’ve been working on this for weeks, Liam. Y
Chapter 60: Barbie and Liam Are Officially Together, Romantic and Warm The day felt like the beginning of something new, something better than I had ever allowed myself to imagine. After all the confusion, the heartbreaks, and the doubts, here I was, with Liam—finally, truly, with him. I could feel the weight of everything that had happened slowly fade away as we moved forward, hand in hand. For once, it felt like the future was something I could look forward to, and it was right there, just within reach. It wasn’t some grand gesture that made it official, nor was it a dramatic confession in front of a crowd. It was the little moments—the way Liam’s hand felt when he held mine, the way his smile made everything around me brighter, the way we could talk about everything and nothing at the same time. We were a team, and we always had been. But today, it finally felt real. We had spent the day together, much like we had over the past few weeks—laughing, teasing, and getting to know
Chapter 59: Quiet Moments of Happiness, Feels Like the Calm Before the Storm Everything felt calm. For the first time in what felt like ages, I was able to breathe easy. I woke up every morning with a sense of peace that I hadn’t realized I was missing. The mornings had become our time. Liam and I would wake up early, with the soft light of the sun filtering through the blinds, and we would make breakfast together, laughing at silly jokes, and enjoying the simplicity of being in each other’s presence. We’d sit together at the kitchen table, talking about everything and nothing, savoring each moment. I remember one particular morning when the scent of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes filled the air. Liam had that look on his face, the one that I now recognized as his “I have a plan” face, as he set down a small plate in front of me with a goofy grin. “What’s this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Pancakes,” Liam said, his voice full of mock innocence. “But with a twist.” I looke
Chapter 58: Barbie and Liam Reconcile, Start a Real Relationship The days following my rejection of Ethan had passed in a strange, almost surreal haze. I was walking through life, but it felt like I was moving in slow motion, as if I were trying to outrun the consequences of my own decisions. The decision to break things off with Ethan had been the right one—at least, that’s what I kept telling myself—but the weight of it all still lingered, especially because of Liam. The night of the confrontation with Ethan had opened something inside me. The walls I had built up to protect myself were starting to crumble, and the more I thought about everything that had happened—everything I’d been through—the more I realized something else, something I’d been blind to until now. It wasn’t just that I was tired of the drama with Ethan. It wasn’t just that I needed to find peace with myself. No, it was bigger than that. It was Liam. It had always been Liam. I just hadn’t been ready to admit it
Chapter 57: Barbie Rejects Ethan for Good The next day, I couldn’t escape the feeling that I was caught in a web of confusion, one I had tangled myself up in over the past few weeks. Ethan had come back into my life, and for a moment, I had felt a flutter of hope. I had imagined that maybe, just maybe, we could start fresh. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple. He had left me. He had chosen Zoe over me. And that wasn’t something I could just forget. Even now, with the weight of his apology hanging in the air, I couldn’t shake the truth that had been lingering beneath the surface all along — he was still with her. He was still tied to a future I had never been a part of. I was sitting on the couch when the doorbell rang, a sound that made my stomach twist. I already knew who it was. My heart sped up, but I refused to let the panic rise. I had made my decision. I had made it clear the night before, but I knew Ethan would be persistent. He didn’t understand how deeply he had h
Chapter 56: Ethan Tries to Win Barbie BackBarbie’s POV The moment Ethan walked through the door, I could feel the weight of his presence. It wasn’t just because of the silence that filled the room; it was the unspoken tension that seemed to hang in the air. For the past few days, I had been stewing over everything that had happened between us — his return to Zoe, his coldness after we’d been so close, and now, this. “Barbie,” he began, his voice almost too soft, a stark contrast to the pounding of my heart. His eyes were intense, pleading for some kind of forgiveness or understanding. Why would he even think I'd forgive him? “I know I’ve messed up,” he said, stepping closer to me. “I made a mistake, and I should have never let you go. I... I don’t want to lose you, Barbie.” I took a deep breath, holding it in. My chest felt tight, like it was constricting with every word he said. His face, once so familiar, now felt foreign to me. There was a time when I would have dropped every
Chapter 55: The Sketch (Liam’s POV) --- It started with a mess. I’d been trying to sort through my paintings to decide which ones to keep in the museum display rotation and which ones to pack away. The apartment was filled with canvases—stacked against walls, leaned up by the windows, even some on the floor because I’d run out of space. I told myself I was cleaning, but really, I was hiding. From her. From Barbie. Ever since the kiss at the museum, I’d been a shadow of myself. I hadn’t planned to kiss her. I didn’t go in thinking, today’s the day. It just… happened. Like gravity had tilted in her direction and I couldn’t stop it. But then that artist showed up, and everything shifted. And I panicked. --- Avoiding her was easy in theory. Our schedules were different, and I buried myself in paint and canvases like they were armor. I left the apartment early, came back late, and when we did cross paths, I kept my words brief and my eyes even briefer. Because I didn’t know wha