(Past Thea) -

[Stalker Journal: Entry NO. 3]

I exited the building where my dance class took place out and patiently waited for my dad to pick me up. The air was cool and crisp, with fallen leaves flying around.

I was just looking around trying to spot my father's car when a piece of paper smacked into my face. I grabbed it only to see, it was a freaking 100 dollar bill. Being the responsible and amazing teenager I am, I stuffed it into one of the pockets of my coat.

"Hey! I saw that that's my money!" I turned around to see that the source of this voice was no one other than the mystery guy. I pretended to be clueless, like come on, I don't wanna give up that money.

"What money? And are you like stalking me or something?" I quickly whipped it around on him, avoiding confrontation.

"I'm not stalking you, I have some self-respect but don't try to play dumb and change the topic, I know you have a 100 dollar bill in the right pocket of your coat and frankly that's mine" he ended with his hand held out.

I sighed and cursed under my breath. I took out the money from my coat's right pocket and put it in his hand. He smirked while I stuck my tongue out at him.

"You know I can press charges for stealing, right?"

"But you wouldn't" I replied and finally spotted my dad's car and waved him over.

With a genuinely curious expression on his face, he asked, "And why do you think that?"

"Because first of all, you lost it and I found it so I didn't technically steal, and secondly to press charges you need to know my name, which you don't" I shot back and tilted my head in a teasing way while he clenched his jaw.

"Toodles!" I waved him bye and got in the car.

My dad smiled "Hey kiddo, how was class?"

I smiled back and answered "It was nice, I learned some new techniques" he nodded.

I leaned back on the seat and put on some music thinking about the weirdest thing that happened today.

Why the freak did I say Toodles?

(Present Thea) -

After Chance and I explain the situation to Vince and Noah, Noah was blown away and comments, "Dude, you two are meant to be together besides that story will be awesome to tell your kids."

While Vince on the other hand says, "Well, this is some weird shit."

Raise your hand if you agree with Vince. *Everyone raises hands*

Raise your hand if you agree with Noah. *Crickets chirping*

I'm on my way to my dorm, with the boys behind me. While Noah and Chance share a dorm, Vince lives with his twin sister in dorm 126.

I unlock the door and walk in, waving the boys goodbye. The first thing I see is a bright pink sticky note on the fridge, saying 'Went to work - Lexi'.

While I seemed nonchalant before when I met Chance, it really had shaken me up so I decide to clear my head by going for a jog.

I go into my room and changed into a pair of black leggings and a sports bra paired with running shoes. While I make my ponytail, with my phone in my mouth as I tie it, I leave the dorm, locking it on my way out.

Grabbing a bus on campus, I reach the park where I jog for a while. The fresh air, the way the ground feels under my feet, and the soft music playing in my ears make the experience much more relaxing and instantly clears my head.

In the middle of my run, I catch a glimpse of a huge willow tree so I stop jogging, swerving around to go towards it. I settle down, leaning against it, and close my eyes just focusing on the music I had on.

What I don't notice, however, is the person sitting right behind me, also leaning against the tree, so when they tap my shoulder, they immediately earn my surprise.

"Thea, right?" A familiar guy asks, I recall my memory to see if I remember him and I smile when I recognize him.

"Yep, what're you doing here, Jonah?"

"Well, I was sitting behind you, so I thought I could give you company since we're both here alone if you don't mind that is?" He finished, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

I shake my head, smiling, "I don't mind, what do you wanna talk about?"

Jonah returns my smile and shrugs, "Well for starters, how old are you? I'm nineteen, this is my second year here."

"Oh I'm eighteen, just turned this May."

And like so, we chat away the whole afternoon, Chance far from my mind but as the sun begins to set up, I stand up.

"It was nice talking to you Jonah, but I should go before it gets late, see you tomorrow in class," I smile at Jonah. It really was nice talking to him, the conversation just flowed out so naturally.

He instantly stands up as well and takes off his grey hoodie underneath which he wore a dark purple t-shirt, "Hey, take this, it's getting windier and there may be creeps roaming around. I would drop you off but I have to run an errand. Text me when you reach your dorm."

I thank him and slip it on, the warm hoodie hugs my body, giving out a strong scent of coffee.

I suddenly realize something and laugh, "How am I supposed to text you if I don't have your number?"

Jonah chuckles as well and hands me his phone while I hand him mine to exchange numbers. I wave him bye, as I jog off to the bus-stop.

Once I reach home, I immediately text him. As I look around the dorm, I find out that Lexi still isn't home so I decide to make dinner for the both of us after I shower. I was singing in the kitchen, tossing some spices in the pot when the door jingled and Lexi walked in

"Hi," she greets me, taking off her shoes.

"Hi, how was work? Wait...where do you work?"

She puts her bag down on the couch as she settles down. "I work as a chef at Jitters but I also sell some of my photographs online."

"Oh, I actually went to Jitters today! The food is great, anyway, I'm making rice with some curry, want some?"

She sighs in relief as she stretches her arms, "Yes please"

I take out two portions, handing one to her and sitting down beside her to start eating. As we chat while eating and I find out that Lexi has two older brothers and two younger ones as well as a sister. Her parents died when she was fifteen, so her elder brother, who was only twenty-two at the time got custody of her and her siblings; her elder brother and the younger triplets.

"You know, you and your brothers are so strong, it's hard enough to deal with death and you all also took care of your siblings, that's amazing," I honestly say, after she finishes and she smiles.

After finishing dinner, I go to my room, finally remembering that I have to complete my painting. I grab my acrylics from under the bed and set to work. The whole background was already done, so I start to paint a little line somewhere in the middle, the line with some more paint, eventually transforms into a boy, holding a pink balloon in his hand. Then, I paint a little girl next to him, adorning a frilly dress.

Me.

I work on the piece for nearly two hours, perfecting every little detail, so it was no surprise that when I collapse on my bed, I fall asleep in a matter of minutes.

~

I wake up to my alarm and go to the bathroom straight away, quickly slipping into a pair of jeans, a velvet bralette, and a sheer shirt on top. Braiding my hair, I go out of my room and make two cups of coffee and two egg sandwiches. Lexi comes out just when I'm setting the plates and we both begin to eat.

After cleaning up, we both leave for our classes. Time flies by and before I knew it, it's art. I submit my canvas and shuffle over to my seat, dodging the people in my way.

As soon as I settle down, I notice Chance entering with his portrait, it had no colors except for a hot pink blob of paint in the middle but before could analyze the painting anymore, he turned it over.

When he takes his seat beside me, I immediately turn to him. "What'd you make?"

Chance smiles at me before opening his mouth to answer, however, he's interrupted by Mr. Bianchi who starts to babble on about today's task.

"Today you have to express your hobby, I'll be at my desk, grading yesterday's paintings."

This time I don't have to think and start right away. My hobby is making art and I knew it, it has played a big part in my life ever since my childhood. Another hobby of mine was photography but Mr. Bianchi didn't say we have to illustrate only one hobby.

I begin to sketch out my idea on the paper, the idea is simple yet complicated as I had to draw in such a way that the person looking at my sketch could imagine my love for these hobbies. After an hour of hard work, I'm finally done with the sketch, in the middle of my sheet was a sketchbook with a drawing of a camera on it, surrounding the sketchbook were some photographs.

While it looks good, it feels as if something is missing so I decide to add color to the photographs, it would show how even sketches and photographs could bring things to life.

I finish about three minutes before the bell rings so I look over at Chance's picture which renders me speechless. He had drawn and painted multiple art supplies like paintbrushes, pencils, paper, paint tubes, etc. It looks beautiful with the vibrant colors and different shapes, everything complimented each other so beautifully and as a person who shares the same love for art, I could see how much hard work and love went into it.

(A.N can you visualize the art in your mind? If yes, tell me if you like them, if no tell me how I can improve. Thank you)

"It looks beautiful...," I comment and I mean it, I was in awe of the painting.

He looks at me, a genuine smile adorning his face and a dimple prominent on his cheek. "Thank you, would you mind if I took a look at yours?"

I shake my head and hand my sheet to him. He stares at it for a while and traces the outline of one of the photographs with his finger. After a moment, he looks up at me, sincere awe lacing his face.

"It's amazing." I feel my cheeks heat up from the compliment and mumble a thank you.

I reach out to take it from him, and my fingers brush against his hand as our eyes lock with one another, and then...

'RING!'

The bell blares throughout the room and I break out of my trance, quickly I pick up my sketch and submit it before rushing out of the class. My mind was crowded with various scenarios and my heart racing.

._.

Hey guys, I'm sorry if I kept you waiting but it's not my fault this chapter's been ready to post for a while but the electricity has been out for some time and comes back for at most an hour or two. (At the time this chapter was posted it has been 14 hours that the electricity has been out!)

My exams are also finally over and I get my result the day after tomorrow.

Hope you liked the chapter, if yes please vote, and if no please do tell me where I can improve.

I have made two changes with the first chapter, firstly the flashback, read it if you can but if you don't, it's just that now before Chance went they talked and it will come up later, secondly Thea also has a brother, Lucky and I added a pic of her siblings.

I also added the aesthetic for Jonah's character so make sure to see it.

I know because of these changes you have to go back but this is the first draft of the book and I'll probably continue to make changes to suit the story as I have decided the plot of the story but not all the details are planned out.

That's it for now.

Potato out.