Chapter 4 A Spark Of Connection

• Julian Lee walked back to Kim’s Art Supplies, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. His mind was still replaying the brief encounter at Mrs. Jenkins’ Studio. The girl—Lexi Martin—wasn’t what he had expected. There was something about her, something that went beyond her privileged background or even her passion for art. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but the curiosity had taken root.
• As he pushed open the door to the small, cluttered shop, the familiar scent of paint, paper, and old wood greeted him. Behind the counter, his uncle, Mr. Kim, looked up from a ledger, adjusting his glasses.
• “How was the delivery, Julian?” Mr. Kim asked, his voice warm and steady.
• Julian set the empty supply box down with a small sigh. “It was fine. Mrs. Jenkins was her usual self.”
• Mr. Kim let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “That woman is a force to be reckoned with.”
• Julian smirked. That was one way to put it.
• Just then, Alex, his best friend and coworker, popped his head out from the storage room. “Hey, you’re back. Took you long enough. What, did Mrs. Jenkins hold you hostage?”
• Julian rolled his eyes. “Not exactly. But I did have an interesting encounter.”
• Alex perked up. “Oh? Spill.”
• Julian leaned against the counter, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “Alright, so I was making the delivery, right? And there’s this girl—Lexi Martin. You know, that Lexi Martin.”
• Alex’s jaw practically dropped. “Wait. As in the Lexi Martin? Heiress to the Martin empire? Damn, man. You’re playing in the big leagues now.”
• Julian chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Relax, it wasn’t like that. I just noticed her struggling with her painting. She looked… frustrated, but also really into it. She’s not just there to impress people—she actually cares about getting better.”
• Alex smirked. “Uh-huh. And I’m guessing you wouldn’t mind helping her with that?”
• Julian sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t know, man. There’s just something about her. She doesn’t seem like the stuck-up rich girls you’d expect.”
• Alex crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “Well, if you’re that curious, why don’t you talk to her?”
• Julian hesitated. “Easier said than done. It’s not like we run in the same circles. What am I supposed to do—walk up to her and say, ‘Hey, I’m the delivery guy, wanna be friends?’”
• Alex snorted. “Well, when you put it like that, yeah, that sounds terrible.”
• Julian exhaled, staring at the counter for a moment before an idea struck him. His eyes lit up with excitement. “Wait… I got it. Tomorrow, I have another delivery for Mrs. Jenkins. What if I sketch a portrait of her and give it to her?”
• Alex’s eyebrows shot up. “Dude, that’s genius. Subtle, but impressive. You think she’ll like it?”
• Julian shrugged. “I have no idea. But it’s a way to break the ice, right? Show her that I noticed her without coming off weird.”
• Alex grinned. “Man, this is either going to be a really smooth move or a complete disaster.”
• Julian chuckled. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
• Without wasting time, he grabbed his sketchpad from behind the counter and flipped to a blank page. He closed his eyes for a second, picturing Lexi at the easel—her intense focus, the way she bit her lip in concentration, the stray curl that had fallen in front of her face.
• Then, with steady hands, he began to sketch.
• Alex leaned over, watching with growing admiration. “Damn, Julian. If she doesn’t fall for you after this, she’s blind.”
• Julian smirked but kept his focus on the page. “It’s not about that. I just… want to know more about her.”
• Alex clapped him on the back. “Well, tomorrow’s your chance. Let’s see if Lexi Martin is as interesting as you think she is.”
• As the two friends worked late into the night, excitement buzzed in Julian’s chest.
• Tomorrow, he’d take the first step toward something new.
• And for the first time in a long while, he felt like something was about to change.