As a rule, Emma only ever draws birds. On the odd occasion, she'll draw a background. The tops of trees, a few fluffy clouds... Never, though, did Emma feel compelled to draw people.

That is, until she met Tancred.

Well...it was more like after she got to know Tancred.

At first, he'd really rather terrified her. He'd never smile and the few times that he'd speak were probably some of the most terrifying moments of her life. His voice would be flat and every word that he forced out was cynical and just daring someone to disagree with him.

And because it was when he had next to no control over his control over the weather back then, it wasn't uncommon for his eyes to match the stormy weather around him.

The first time she saw him smile was when her fingers first itched to draw him. It had been something Olivia had said (because really, when isn't it something Olivia's said?) and while everyone else had thrown their head backs and laughed, Tancred had simply sat quietly.

But Emma. She'd seen him smile.

Now, she finds that he smiles more. He laughs more. He's friendly...most of the time.

She likes him more than she used to. And for some reason, she can't get his smile out her head.

She supposes it's because it was once such a rarity and because of that, she finds it special. She supposes it's because that for a boy her age, Tancred has so many layers and she can't help but want to get closer to him. Mostly, she thinks it's because although his eyes will always be stormy and grey, he doesn't smile that way.

Maybe she likes the contrast.

It doesn't really matter though. No matter how often she analyses it, the image just won't leave her.

So she spends days and nights sketching. His eyes. His smile. His face.

It's borderline obsessive and she feels ridiculous, but soon enough page after page after page is filled with images, not of birds, but of Tancred and his warm smile.

"You should show him some day," Olivia says finding the hidden book. "I mean, maybe just take out one or two. Showing him all of them might be a bit creepy."

"Thanks a lot, Liv."

Olivia laughs, throwing the sketchpad back on Emma's bed. "I mean it, Em. Show him. They're awesome, by the way."

Emma, however, swears up and down that Tancred will never see the drawings.

But of course he does.

And it's all Olivia's fault too.

"Olivia says you have something to show me."

At first, Emma has no idea what he's talking about. And then she does and she really, really feels like hitting something. Because of course Liv had to say something.

"She's crazy," Emma replies, but even so she clutches her bag a little tighter and looks to the ground.

"She said you might say that." Tancred smirks, tugging at the bag and pulling it over her shoulder. "Which sketchpad?"

Except there's only three, so she doesn't reply—just stands, staring at her feet and waits for him to find the right one.

"Woah..."

And she knows he's found it. And it's insane and she really has gone crazy, because she actually chances a look up and practically faints.

He's smiling.