8.

Levi looked to his right while picking up a pellet and putting it in the gun and cocking it. Harlow was just standing there looking at them with a distant expression.

"Need help?" Levi asked and Harlow snapped out of her daze, turning to him. She looked confused for a moment before smiling and loading the gun, cocking it with ease while Izzy and Farlan struggled next to her.

"Nope." Harlow smirked, picking up the gun and readying to aim at the cans. Levi smirked back; this girl continued to surprise him. Once everyone was ready the man stepped out of the way and told them to go one at a time. Farlan went first, he got a few cans but not enough for any of the prizes. Izzy went next, getting a similar amount to Farlan which pissed the redhead off to no end. Apparently, she had her eye on the grand prize, a giant stuffed panda that required the participant to knock down all the cans in order to win it. In Levi's opinion it was impossible with the number of pellets provided. The person would have to use angles and rebounds to pull off a trick like that. Levi went next, not missing a single shot but still not getting them all down. The man asked if he wanted a prize, but he passed, not interested in such things.

The three all turned to watch Harlow last. Levi thought he could see a slight smirk on her face before she lifted up the gun and peered through the eyepiece. She took the first shot, hitting a can on its side, forcing it to move right and take down to cans with it. Izzy and Farlan gasped in surprise at the amazing shot while Levi just quirked an eyebrow. Harlow didn't seem to notice though. She was in her element. Every shot was perfectly planned and can after can fell until she only had one pellet left and one can. Harlow didn't even take a minute to aim before pulling the trigger and hitting the can right in its centre. She sighed in satisfaction, tucking some hair behind her ear and putting the gun back down on the table before taking in the shocked look on everyone's faces. The vendor of the stool's jaw was wide open. Even Levi had a curious look on his face, he couldn't help it. Where, the hell, did she learn to shoot like that?

It was the vendor who snapped out of it first and stepped forward earning Harlow's attentions. It was clear he was depressed someone had managed to win his ultimate prize, but he put on a professional face and handed it over to Harlow who accepted it with a smile. Harlow walked past Levi and gave the giant panda to Izzy, patting the girl on the head. Izzy's eyes lit up and the biggest smile came to her face.

"Really?! I can have it?!" Izzy asked hopefully. Harlow laughed and nodded her head. Izzy squealed in response and hugged Harlow tightly. Levi felt his usually cold heart warm slightly at the kindness of this girl. Izzy linked arms with Harlow and started walking, only slightly struggling with the panda due to the sheer size of the soft toy but it was clear from the look on her face she couldn't have been happier.

"Harlow, how did you do that?" Farlan asked, still shocked as he wasn't recently bribed with a stuffed animal to forget what happened. Levi was curious too but didn't say anything. He saw Harlow's face drop and her eyes widen with panic. It was the same look she had last night when she let something about her brother slip. Were the two connected somehow? What was she hiding? Although the look soon passed and she smiled at Farlan, not letting onto her dread at the question, although Levi could still see it.

"Good at aiming. Always have been, I used to practice archery when I was a kid." Harlow said with a shrug. Farlan seemed satisfied with the answer and started chatting about something pointless with Izzy. Levi wasn't convinced though. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth. The full truth anyway. She was definitely hiding something, but what? Levi was pulled out of her musings when Harlow spoke again. "Hey guys, I know this is kind of weird, but I wanted to ask you something." Harlow smiled, addressing the group.

"What is it?" Farlan asked.

"I have this art project coming up. I have to paint someone with oils. I'm finding it really hard to come up with a good subject but maybe I could do one of you. There's no pressure but I thought I'd ask any-" Harlow explained but both Izzy and Farlan cut her off.

"Draw me!" The redhead and the blonde said in unison before scowling at each other.

"She should draw me; I am way more interesting." Izzy argued as they sat down at a picnic bench. Izzy and Farlan, debating, on one side, while Harlow and Levi were on the other side watching them argue.

"No way! Your hair is way too crazy!" Farlan retorted with a frown. Levi tuned them out after that and turned to Harlow.

"See what you've done brat?" Levi asked in a monotoned voice. Harlow giggled, taking out her camera and snapping a few shots of the carnival scene and Izzy and Farlan's debate.

"I didn't think I'd get so many takers." Harlow chuckled. It was then that Izzy slammed her hands on the table silencing all the people on it.

"Enough Farlan. The truth is, she shouldn't draw me or you. If she wants a good mark that is." Izzy explained.

"Huh?" Farlan said confused. Levi was confused as well, although he didn't really care. His attentions were scanning the food vans and figuring out which looked the cleanest to risk eating from.

"She should draw Levi." Izzy replied. That did catch Levi's attentions. He turned to glare at the redhead.

"What?" Levi hissed. Izzy rolled her eyes at his aggressive behaviour and continued.

"Levi has the most interesting face. It's just fact. Anyone else know a person with grey eyes?" Izzy looked around quickly before Levi could interject again. "There, so it's settled." Izzy smiled happily.

"No." Levi crossed his arms. Izzy glared at him.

"Yes. Do you want Harlow to fail?" Izzy tried in an attempt to guilt trip him. It was working as well, the sneaky bitch.

"It's really okay, you don't have to-" Harlow said awkwardly but Izzy cut her off by holding up a palm and continued to stare Levi down. The four stayed like that for a while. Farlan was used to Izzy and Levi's competitions so wasn't that bothered but Levi could feel Harlow growing uncomfortable beside him. Eventually Levi sighed in defeat. If it would help the brat out, he would do it.

"Fine." Levi grumbled. Izzy grinned in triumph and nodded before getting up and dragging a very obviously angry Farlan to a food cart. Levi assumed it was so him and Harlow could talk out the details. Levi sighed before turning to the green-eyed brat.

"Really? You'll do it?" Harlow asked with a smile. Levi couldn't even try to regret his decision with Harlow looking at him like that. He nodded.

"But I have some rules. I am not sitting around in the same position for hours; I am not doing any weird shitty poses and it can't be displayed anywhere." Levi said sternly. Harlow laughed but nodded.

"Don't worry about any of that stuff. That's not how I do it. We can literally sit in the forest for an hour and I'll have enough to finish the rest back in my dorm. You won't have to sit still or anything either and the only person who will see it is my professor." Harlow reassured and Levi nodded. He remembered how Harlow finished the deer at a later date after probably only a few minutes of being able to sketch it in the forest. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Still he'd have to deal with the annoyed Farlan that was currently glaring at him from across the park before he would be able to do anything.

It was later on in the evening and everyone was back in their rooms. It had been a pleasant day, despite the noise and the people. Against all odds Levi had a pretty good time and he knew the reason, but it didn't mean he had to acknowledge it. Levi was sitting on his bed reading while Farlan was in their adjoining bathroom having a shower. The blonde hadn't spoken a word to him the rest of the day or once they had gotten back to their rooms. He was clearly still angry, but it was starting to annoy Levi that he wouldn't just come out and say it. Usually whenever they had a problem with each other they'd just come out and say it and talk it through. He got that Farlan couldn't do that in front of Harlow, but they had been alone for two hours now. What was waiting to go to solve?

Levi sat up as the shower turned off and a few minutes later a dressed Farlan with wet hair came out and sat down on his bed. He gave Levi a dirty look before taking out his phone and scrolling through his apps. Levi stared at him for 10 minutes while Farlan continued to ignore him and decided enough was enough. He stood up and flicked his friend between the eyes.

"Ow! Levi, what the fuck!?" Farlan cried, dropping his phone and holding a hand up to his face. Levi glared down at him with narrow eyes.

"What the fuck, me? No. What the fuck, you. You have a problem so stop being a coward and fucking spit it out!" Levi spat angrily. Farlan scowled at him, sitting up straight.

"Fine! Yeah, I have a problem, you dickhead! You know how much I like Harlow; I only talk about it every fucking night. This drawing thing was a perfect opportunity to spend some time alone with her and you fucking stole it!" Farlan spat back. Levi was about to shout back but he could see the hurt in his friends' eyes. He sighed and sat down. At least it was out in the open now.

"Look, I'm sorry. But Iz was not letting up. I just said fine so she would stop bothering me. But your right, I should have known how much it meant to you. If you want, I'll go to Harlow tomorrow and tell her you'll do it." Levi suggested, only lying slightly about why he said yes to the project. He saw Farlan's eyes soften.

"No, it's fine. Iz was right anyway, you do have a weirdly 'interesting' face. I want her to get the best mark she can. Thanks for the apology anyway. Sorry I called you a dick." Farlan laughed. Levi chuckled lightly, glad his friend wasn't mad at him and also a tiny bit glad he didn't have to sacrifice his time with the blue-haired brat either. Why he was happy he had no idea.

"No worries. I was being one. We good then?" Levi asked. Farlan smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, we're good." He confirmed and the both fell back into a more comfortable silence.

It was the next day. Levi had woken up early and was reading a book in his bed before he got a text. He felt his stomach flip when he saw it was from Harlow. Levi scowled at himself for having such a reaction. He was being pathetic. Friends, they could only be friends. Especially after his conversation with Farlan yesterday. The blonde would never forgive him if Levi pursued something with the blue-haired brat. But that wouldn't matter anyway since Levi didn't like her like that. Right?

Levi shook his head and opened the text. Izzy had made everyone exchange numbers with Harlow yesterday under the pretence of being 'better connected' although Levi knew it was just because Izzy was worried someone would try something with Harlow again like Bryce had. Levi was worried about it too, which was why he made no comments against the redhead's suggestion.

(9:28) Brat: Hey, you busy today? I figured we'll all have less time next week because of the fillers so it would be easier to do the sketching thing today.

Levi thought for a moment, looking over to a sleeping Farlan before replying. It would be better to get this done and out of the way now, before his friend was even awake if possible, then he wouldn't feel like he missed out on anything.

(9:30) Levi: Sure. I'm free now.

(9:31) Brat: Great, me too. Meet by the waterfall in 20 minutes?

(9:31) Levi: Sounds good.

Levi quietly got out of bed and changed into black jeans and a white V-neck t-shirt before raking a hand through his hair, grabbing his phone and keys and stepping out of the door heading in the direction of the forest.

Levi got there first which allowed his nerves to build up. Why he was nervous, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was because someone's attention was going to be solely on him with his permission. Normally if he caught someone staring at him, he could just send a death glare their way and the person would probably never look at him again out of fear, but this was completely different. Plus, he still wasn't sure what he felt for the brat. Being alone with her for an hour might help him figure it out and if he was honest, he didn't want to. If he discovered that he liked the brat or something, he would have to hold back whatever he felt for her because he couldn't do that to Farlan.

Levi took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Whatever he felt inside he couldn't show on his face. But that was alright because he never did. He'd mastered his emotionless mask a long time ago.

He heard some footsteps and snapped his head up in that direction. Sure enough, there was the very blue-haired brat that had been plaguing his thoughts the minute he'd bumped into her. She looked beautiful as always, dressed casually in grey joggers and a black tank top, her neck holding a gold necklace and her blue hair tied up loosely in a messy bun, a few strands spilling down over her face. It was a simple look and yet Levi couldn't help but marvel at her natural beauty. There wasn't an inch of makeup on her face.

Harlow smiled at him which snapped him out of his gaze. She sat down opposite where he was sitting, leaning on a tree like he was.

"Hey." Harlow said simply, rummaging through her bag and retrieving her pencils and sketch pad. Suddenly this felt like a very bad idea. Why was he here again? Before he could spiral any further, he felt something hit his foot. He looked down to see Harlow had thrown a book at him. Levi picked up the book before looking at the blue-haired brat quizzically. Harlow laughed at his reaction. "I figured you wouldn't bring anything to do. I've modelled for other people back home so I know how boring it can get. That is Lord of the Flies, a.k.a. the best book in all of existence. You don't like that book and I'm afraid we can't be friends." Harlow explained teasingly, looking back down at her pencils. Levi let himself smile a little while she wasn't looking. How was she so fucking thoughtful all of the time? Suddenly Levi wasn't nervous at all, plus this was his favourite book. Reading in the forest for an hour seemed like a great start to the day.

"Well you're not wrong about the book, brat but... don't I need to be looking at you, you know, so you can draw me or whatever?" Levi asked, confused. Harlow smiled and shook her head, finding a blank page on the A3 sketch pad.

"I don't know how to explain it, but I don't need to see you looking straight forward to draw you looking straight forward. I could probably draw you pretty well from memory, although having you here will help with proportions and accuracy. I will need you to look at me when I do your eyes, Izzy was right your eyes are unique, I need to get them right. But I can do them at the end." Harlow said with a shrug. Levi nodded, crossing his legs and opening the book, desperately trying not to blush at the indirect compliment. People complimented him on his appearance all the time, he never reacted this way. What the fuck was wrong with him? No, don't think about that. Just read. Thank fuck she brought me something to do.

There was silence for a while after that. Just the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, the rushing of the water and the distant chatter of the wildlife. It was oddly relaxing, and Levi often forgot there was someone watching him. After a while he got used to it, emerging himself in the world created by William Golding. He loved this book growing up, his mother used to read it to him all the time. It was the only book they had. He hadn't read it in a while, so it was nice to sit here and have his memory refreshed.

Levi was starting to think he did Farlan a favour. Clearly the blonde wanted to use the time alone with Harlow to talk to her and get to know her better, but from what Levi could tell, the blue-haired brat didn't like talking while she drew. She was very concentrated. Farlan probably would have been disappointed by the lack of speech, he was a very talkative person. Levi didn't mind it though. He liked silences; they gave him more room to think. From what he had learned about Harlow in the past few weeks, she was the same.

50 minutes later and Levi heard Harlow sigh and put down the pad. He flicked his eyes up to her to find her rummaging around for something in her bag. Not long after, she found it, pulling out two breakfast bars and throwing one over to Levi. He caught it easily.

"What's this brat?" Levi asked memorising his page number before closing the book and putting it down beside him. Harlow rolled her eyes playfully.

"Breakfast. Would have brought more but I don't each much. But then again, you don't either do you?" Harlow asked. Levi found himself wondering if this girl just magically knew everything about him because, otherwise, she was incredibly observant.

"No, I don't. Thanks." Levi replied. Harlow smiled and nodded. He tried hard but couldn't help the warm feeling in his chest. What was that? Happiness? No one had ever brought him breakfast before. Was that all it took for someone to make him happy? Or was it the person bringing him breakfast? Levi pushed the thoughts down and took a bite out of the bar, chewing and swallowing before speaking again. "Almost done?" Levi asked looking at the sketch pad. Levi only saw a glimpse before Harlow shut the page. Levi turned to glare at her, she only laughed in response.

"No looking. Not until its done. But don't worry, you can approve it before I hand it in." Harlow reassured. Levi narrowed his eyes at her but nodded anyway. "And yeah, I only need to do your eyes and we're done. Thanks again for helping me out with this." Harlow added.

"No problem. Thanks for bringing me something to do." Levi gestured to the book. Harlow smiled and nodded, taking a bite out of her breakfast and moving some hair out of her face. Her gaze turned to look at the waterfall and Levi couldn't help but notice how her tanned skin glowed from the sunlight breaking through the trees. She was by all definitions... breath-taking. Levi mentally shook his head, trying to distract himself from himself. "Who taught you how to draw?" Levi asked. He didn't miss how Harlow's shoulders tensed at the question before she forced herself to relax. She took a deep breath and turned to him.

"I guess I can tell you." She chuckled humourlessly, "My brother." Harlow said simply, her voice only slightly strained. Levi nodded in understanding.

"No follow up questions, right?" Levi asked seriously, Harlow smiled gratefully at him.

"Yeah. Thanks for being so understanding, although I have no idea how you're doing it." Harlow mumbled, putting her wrapper back in her bag. Levi pocketed his.

"Your business, not mine. You want to tell me, you will." Levi shrugged. Harlow smiled, picking up her pad and getting closer. Levi felt a lump form in his throat at the lack of distance between them. They were both sitting cross legged, their knees basically touching. Levi looked at Harlow and she also seemed a little flustered but was handling it better than Levi. Although he wasn't showing his inner turmoil on his face, his heart was beating a million miles a minute. This definitely was not normal. Shit.

Levi felt two soft fingers under his chin, gently lifting his face up so he was looking directly at Harlow. He didn't even realise he had dropped his gaze. Harlow smiled reassuringly at him before removing her hand. He couldn't help but miss her touch. Even though it was warm today his skin felt icy without her.

"Relax." Harlow whispered comfortingly. Perhaps he hadn't been hiding his nervousness as much as he had wanted. Or maybe she really was a mind reader. Still, Levi did as he was told, unclenching his jaw and doing his best to slow his heart rate. If it beat any louder, she would probably hear it. Harlow got to work with her sketch, flicking her attentions between Levi's eyes and the paper in front of her. Every time he caught her eyes Levi felt his heart skip a beat. It was getting dangerous. He felt like one more look from those sea-green orbs and he was going to have a stroke. They were so deep and full. Levi felt himself getting lost in them. He really thought he was going to stop breathing when Harlow paused to move a strand of hair away from his eye, tucking it behind his ear. Her touch was so gentle and warm, all Levi wanted to do was lean it to it. Lean into the feelings he was having. But he couldn't. He held back and held strong.

What was really only a few minutes later but what felt like a few hours, Harlow closed her book and smiled in satisfaction. She brought her gaze up to Levi one last time. Levi saw her hesitate before moving backwards and standing up. When she turned to retrieve her equipment, Levi let out a breath he didn't realise he had been holding. That was way too close. A minute longer and his resolve might have melted. She was so close he could have lent over and kissed her. It would have been way too easy. Damnit, he really wanted to. Fucking shit, he couldn't deny it anymore. He liked the brat. This was exactly what he didn't want to realise. Sure, he knew it deep down all along but knowing and admitting were completely different things.

"Levi?" Harlow called, bring Levi out of his thoughts. He looked up at her. "Are you coming?" she asked with a look of concern on her face. Shit, she was so damn thoughtful and adorable. What the fuck had she done to him?

"No. I think I'm going to stay here for a bit longer." Levi replied. He needed to sort through his thoughts and recollect himself. Harlow smiled at him and nodded.

"Alright, thanks again. You can borrow the book if you want. It looked like you were enjoying it." Harlow smiled before walking away, back towards the building. Levi felt both sadness and relief at her absence. He watched her walk away until he was alone once more.

Levi groaned in annoyance, falling back on the ground and gripping at his hair.

"Shit." Levi whispered to himself, looking up at the clouds. He had to be the worst best friend in the world. He liked Harlow. But so, did Farlan. The blonde was infatuated with her. This was bad. This was really fucking bad. If he tried to start a relationship with Harlow, it would break Farlan's heart and his trust. He couldn't do that to him. Izzy and Farlan were the only family he had left. He couldn't lose them over some girl, no matter how amazing that girl was. No, he had to push these feelings down. He had to push them down deep.

Besides who even says that Harlow had any interest in him anyway. Sure, Levi sometimes caught her looking at him. Sure, she was more confident around him than the others. Sure, when they had gotten closer a second ago Levi saw a small blush on her cheeks. But that didn't mean she liked him. No. They were friends, nothing more. She had even said it herself when she was talking about the book. No matter how wrong it sounded to him, that's what they were. They were friends and that's all they will ever be.

Levi would have to suck it up. Harlow deserves a good guy like Farlan. Not someone like him. He was broken. He has too much darkness in him. Levi will just have to ignore the jealousy as they get closer. He will ignore the pain if they become a couple. He will be happy for his friend if it kills him. And he will get over his pathetic crush and move on.

Levi sighed and stood up. It was decided. Yes, he had feelings for the brat, but he wouldn't do anything about them. He picked up the borrowed book and smiled briefly at the worn-out cover. He held it carefully to his side and started walking back to the campus.