M

ta against me. I stuffed my hands in my coat pockets and walked faster, but

er wasn't exactly helping. Five days. That's all I had left before I had

at I didn't even see the person

ry!" I blurte

kind of nice, framed by messy brown curls. He lo

th, like one of those guys in movies wh

eling my face heat up.

ling. "Almost walked i

eyes flicked to the sketchpad

at," he said, tilt

paint. But, y'kn

d love to see yo

g, he handed me his phone.

ected. But I did it an

ay," he said as he

ay

, Maya. Hope your

e that. I stood there for a seco

lly the best smell in the world. James was already sitting

nto the seat across from him. "I

totally just spent ten minutes repl

u look like you haven't s

rt? I lost my job. My rent is due in five days. And,

ng gone. "Maya, why didn't you tell me?

en though a tiny part of me kind

st like that, his face brightened. "Oh! Speaki

brow. "Good new

reat." He grinned.

t. You got a

big deal. He's hosting an

. "An art

u should tota

d. "Yeah

e a ton of paintings just sitting around. This could

or real artists. People who actually know w

ically. "You're doin

t th

d, rolling his eyes. "Maya, your art is a

if no one likes it? What

y. "And even if you do, so

offee, watching

ou have five days. Wha

nt. A really anno

" I mu

in

my arms. "But only because I'm

d. "That's

a canvas leaning against the wall. It was one of my

his rea

uzzed. I p

ed over today. Hope you made it to wherever you we

mil

made it, barely. And maybe I

fore I could

is never normal-a knock

. Too late

mach t

eck could