An Unexpected Invitation

The days that followed the charity event were a blur of routine for Eli. They threw themselves into their art, using every spare hour in their studio to work on a new series of abstract pieces that were somehow more intense than their usual work. The sharp lines and bold colors reflected their mood restless, unsettled, and still infuriatingly stuck on Sophie Bellamy.

Despite their best efforts to forget about the woman who had so carelessly bruised their ego, Sophie seemed to linger in the back of Eli's mind. Every time Eli picked up a brush, they found themselves wondering about her. Who was she behind the cold exterior? What had made her so guarded? And why, after all this time, couldn't Eli let it go?

By the time Friday rolled around, Eli was more than ready to leave Sophie in the past and focus on the weekend ahead. Ava had mentioned something about a get-together at Lily's place, a casual gathering of friends for drinks and conversation. Eli wasn't thrilled about the idea, but Ava had insisted they come along.

"You need to socialize more," Ava had said, her voice playful but insistent. "It's not good for you to spend all your time holed up in the studio. Plus, Lily's excited to have you there."

Eli had reluctantly agreed, mostly because they knew Ava wouldn't drop it until they gave in. Besides, they figured it couldn't hurt to step out of their bubble for one night. Maybe some mindless chatter and a couple of drinks would help distract them from the thoughts that had been plaguing them all week.

That evening, Eli stood in front of their mirror, running a hand through their short, tousled hair. They'd never been one for dressing up, but they tried to look a little more put together than usual. A simple black button-down shirt and dark jeans would have to do. They weren't going for glamorous just comfortable. After all, this was just a casual gathering of friends. No need to impress anyone.

Ava poked her head into Eli's room, already dressed in a sleek red dress that made her look like she was ready for a night on the town. "You good to go?"

Eli nodded, grabbing their jacket. "Yeah, let's get this over with."

Ava laughed, shaking her head. "You're such a hermit. It's just a party, Eli. Try to have some fun."

Eli gave her a half-hearted smile as they followed her out the door. Fun wasn't exactly what they had in mind, but at least it would get them out of their head for a while.

---

Lily's apartment was warm and inviting, just like the woman herself. The space was filled with soft lighting, colorful artwork on the walls, and the scent of freshly baked cookies. Eli recognized a few faces from the community people they'd seen at events or around town but for the most part, it was a mix of new acquaintances and old friends. Ava, of course, immediately dove into conversation with ease, leaving Eli to linger near the edge of the room, observing.

They didn't mind it. Watching people had always come naturally to them catching the little nuances in body language, the way people spoke and moved. It was how Eli found inspiration for their art. And tonight, as they sipped their drink and watched the crowd, they found themselves drawn into the relaxed, easy-going atmosphere.

For a while, it was peaceful. Lily was making her rounds, laughing and chatting with everyone, while Ava held court in the center of the room, effortlessly charming a small group of people with one of her trademark stories. Eli had just started to settle into the rhythm of the evening when the door opened and everything shifted.

Sophie Bellamy walked in.

Eli's stomach dropped.

She was dressed in a fitted black coat, her short hair styled in that effortlessly cool way that made her look like she had just stepped out of a high-fashion magazine. She didn't seem like someone who belonged at a casual gathering like this, and yet, there she was, stepping into the room with that same detached, almost regal air that Eli had come to associate with her.

"Of course she's here," Eli muttered under their breath, turning their attention back to their drink.

But avoiding Sophie turned out to be impossible. Within minutes, she had been drawn into a small conversation circle across the room right in Eli's line of sight. Eli watched as Sophie exchanged a few polite words with Lily, who seemed thrilled that she had shown up. Sophie, for her part, remained cool and composed, her gaze scanning the room as if she were only half-interested in the conversation happening around her.

Eli tried not to stare, but it was difficult not to feel the magnetic pull of her presence. There was something about Sophie that made it impossible to ignore her, no matter how much Eli wanted to.

After what felt like an eternity, Lily made her way over to where Eli was standing, a wide smile on her face. "Eli! You're looking a bit too serious over here. Come on, I want to introduce you to Sophie."

Eli's heart skipped a beat. "Uh, that's really not necessary."

"Nonsense!" Lily said, already waving Sophie over. "She's actually really nice once you get to know her."

Before Eli could protest, Sophie was already approaching, her sharp eyes locking onto Eli with an unreadable expression. The tension between them was immediate and undeniable, even if no one else in the room could feel it.

"Eli, this is Sophie Bellamy," Lily said brightly. "Sophie, this is Eli Brennan. I think you two might actually have a lot in common Eli's an artist."

Sophie's gaze flicked over Eli, cool and assessing. "I remember," she said, her voice low and even. "We met briefly at the charity event."

Eli forced a tight smile. "Yeah. Briefly."

There was an awkward pause, the kind that made Eli want to shrink into the floor. They could feel Sophie's eyes on them, and it was unsettling in a way that made their skin prickle with discomfort.

Lily, sensing the tension but clearly determined to push through it, continued with a grin, "Sophie just moved back to town last year, didn't you, Sophie?"

"Yes," Sophie replied, her voice still calm but with a slight edge to it. "I've been away for a while."

"Oh! You were in New York, right?" Lily asked eagerly. "That must have been exciting."

"It had its moments," Sophie said, glancing away as if the topic held no interest for her. "But I wouldn't call it exciting."

Eli fought the urge to roll their eyes. Sophie's whole vibe screamed boredom with everything around her, and Eli couldn't help but find it irritating. Why come to a gathering like this if you were just going to act above it all?

"Well," Lily said with a slightly strained smile, clearly trying to keep the conversation afloat, "I'll leave you two to chat. I've got some drinks to refill."

With that, she slipped away, leaving Eli and Sophie standing awkwardly together in the middle of the room.

Eli cleared their throat, feeling the silence stretch on uncomfortably. "So… you didn't seem too impressed with the paintings at the charity event."

Sophie arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile. "You're still hung up on that?"

Eli bristled at her tone. "It wasn't exactly a compliment."

Sophie shrugged, her expression unbothered. "It was an opinion. If you want compliments, you're in the wrong profession."

Eli stared at her, taken aback by the bluntness. It wasn't so much the words themselves, but the casual, almost indifferent way Sophie delivered them. As if cutting people down was just another day for her.

"Well," Eli said, trying to keep their voice steady, "I didn't ask for your opinion."

"Then why bring it up?" Sophie countered smoothly, her eyes locking onto Eli's with a cool challenge.

For a moment, Eli was speechless, caught off guard by Sophie's directness. There was something maddening about her, something that simultaneously irritated and intrigued Eli. It was as if every word out of Sophie's mouth was designed to provoke a reaction and, against their better judgment, Eli was reacting.

"Because I don't understand you," Eli said, their frustration slipping into their voice. "One minute you're tearing people down, and the next you're what, pretending like it doesn't matter?"

Sophie's smile faded, her expression growing serious for the first time. She looked at Eli, really looked at them, and for a moment, there was something raw and unguarded in her eyes. "I don't pretend."

The words hung between them, heavy and full of meaning that Eli couldn't quite grasp. Sophie's gaze lingered on Eli for a second longer before she turned and walked away, leaving Eli standing there, heart pounding, with more questions than answers.