A/N: Muhahahuahauha! I quickly return! And with a College AU no doubt!

Summary: A follow up to Game On, Callum sketches Rayla for the first time. As he opens the door to his studio, the floor also opens for some mingling. College AU.

Word Count: 3,285

A Work in Progress

"Deep breaths," was the mantra Rayla had established for herself by late afternoon of that fateful football game.

She had rushed off from the locker room, bidding the team a quick goodbye and shouting to Soren to finish a pizza pie in her name. Before anyone could say anything, or before Claudia could even catch her, she dashed out the stadium and rushed over to Callum's art studio. She was beyond eager. To finally see Callum's artwork upfront and personal, and even his work in progresses would be amazing. But… she was also nervous.

Rayla never posed for anyone before. She had never been a model for sketching and she certainly didn't think she was outfitted well enough for this. Her eyes shot wide as she realized her current attire. It was so plain [nah I'm too lazy for this one, y'all just re-read what she was wearing from the second College AU oneshot] and boring she couldn't believe that she just rushed over without a second thought. Her only thankful cover was her varsity jacket that he returned, but did she really want to look like a textbook football player for her first—and quite possibly last—sketch?

Shaking off her doubts, Rayla recalled her newfound mantra and proceeded to take a series of deep breaths. With a perky smile, she knocked her fist against the steel door three times, then shoved her hand into her jacket pocket. This was it, the moment she'd been waiting for.

And it didn't happen.

Rayla blinked at the door. She quickly pulled out her phone, noticing that a good minute had passed after her knock. She cocked her head in confusion then tried again, another consecutive three knocks, this time slightly louder than before. Another pregnant silence stirred. Rayla leaned her ear up against the cold door, listening for anything. There was no music, so there wasn't anything drowning out her knocks. Could it be…

He cancelled plans?

"Rayla?"

Her worrisome thoughts faded immediately as soon as she heard his voice… from down the hall. She blinked once more in confusion as she watched I'm walk toward her. "Uhh… Callum? Ya're not inside?" She perplexedly pointed at the door.

Callum cocked his head and laughed. "No? I said we're going to sketch after the game right? So I thought we'd meet up and go together? I was uh, kinda surprised when Soren said you rushed ahead."

Rayla's cheeks flushed instantaneously. Did she really just do that? With a mental facepalm and an audible awkward chuckle, she sidestepped from the door. "Whoops!" She winced. "Guess, I kinda got excited." Again, she cursed herself for saying something so stupid.

Thankfully for her, Callum merely smiled, with a faint blush of his own. "That's good! That'll make this more fun!" As soon as he arrived in front of the door, he pulled out a set of keys and began undoing the lock that she hadn't even noticed was there. With a simple smile, he turned her way and said, "Shall we?"

She instinctively beamed back, and watched him push the sliding door aside. He stepped in and twirled around, watching her face in anticipation as she wandered in. And she wished she was him just so she could see what her reaction was, because what she saw was breathtaking.

It was like a scene setting out of a movie. Nothing too fancy, it wasn't like a huge room overfilled with art pieces hanging from every corner, or a gallery spread throughout with dozens of finished pieces waiting to be seen. It was just a studio. Like any other she had seen before when she passed through the art building. A few pieces hung up on the walls, and since she had familiarized herself with his works she knew they were more dated than his recent stuff. A few blotches of paint stains here and there, on the floor, carpet, and tables. There were also scattered themes of personal attachment like The Beatles album records, anime posters, and sci fi posters too. It was plastered with his personality. It just felt genuine.

He had a few easels set up near the centre, all arranged in a circle. They were unfinished works it seemed, majority only sketched, the rest half painted. There was a table just beside the door that had dozens of plastic shelves plastered atop it. They were no doubt filled with paint brushes, paints, and the other tools alike. She smiled at the sight of the stained furniture. It felt like passion. Her gaze easily scanned across the room and latched onto nearly every item with an admiration that must've seemed like an exaggeration to others. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep Rayla amazed and entertained.

"Like it?" She turned her head back to the centre. Callum had dragged a stool to an empty canvas and smiled at her. His expression looked pensive, as if a sense of worry had been aching at him. Boy, he had no idea how excited she was.

She eagerly nodded, beaming the brightest smile she could muster. "It's amazing…" she walked over to where he was prepping. "Can ya tell me about these?" she asked, gesturing around the unfinished pieces.

He chuckled. "Don't worry, we can talk and sketch at the same time."

She furrowed a brow. "Really? That won't be too distractin' for ya?"

He shook his head as he moved away to grab another stool. "Not really. I've done it before in my art classes. Sometimes my seatmates try to get the model to laugh and break her pose," he casually explained, "Plus it can be kinda dull just me drawing here in silence. Talking's a nice change of pace." He dragged the stool and placed it a few feet away from the canvas he had prepped. "Sit here," he patted gently.

She wordlessly followed and sat down at the vacant stool. She watched him rush to his table, gathering a collection of supplies and fumbling about throughout the drawers.

"So uh… wh-what type of… pose? Should I be doin'?" she asked.

He paused for a moment and turned around. Tilting his head to the left, he thoughtfully stared at her with a squint. "Ummm, not sure. You do you," he replied as he turned his back to her.

Rayla's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"

"Try anything," Callum shouted, "just do whatever feels comfortable!"

Rayla glanced down at her legs and sighed. That sounded easier said than done. Comfortability wise, Rayla defaulted to whatever would make her legs feel okay. She assumed this would consist of her being sat still for a long period of time, and figured being relaxed would help her too. She turned her body away from the canvas circle and over to the wall, because staring at his artwork would be a nice pastime. She rested her left leg on the bottom stretcher and her right casually dangled just above the floor. She slouched her back—she couldn't be bothered to be strict with herself—and tucked her hands into her pockets. And she was satisfied with what she had.

A pose otherwise known as the "cool person" pose.

Did that come off as trying too much?

Was she being a bit extra?

Rayla's face slumped into a frown. She had no idea what she was doing. "That's perfect!" Callum shouted upon his return. Rayla turned back and noticed him setting up his supplies at his easel. "Are you comfortable with that pose? Because you're gonna be stuck like that for a while," he warned with a polite smile.

She nodded back. "Mhmm. No problem!" She turned her head back to where she was facing and smiled at the wall of art. This was going to be okay.

::::

This was not okay.

Rayla has no idea what to make of Callum. His face was currently bunched up in a tight fit, he looked angry at his canvas, but the light brushes with his pencil left her wondering if he was just hiding how frustrated he was. Several minutes had passed and they fell into silence. A long, quiet silence. If she listened hard enough Rayla could hear the sound of his pencil dragging along the canvas, but aside from her deep breathing, nothing. Callum made no comment ever since they started, but Rayla couldn't help but feel like she was already messing up.

Maybe he said her pose was okay to spare her feelings?

Her lips fell at the thought. This was ridiculous. She wasn't a model. She didn't even understand why she was so eager to try this. She knew next to nothing about how to do this sort of stuff. She felt awkward even though she chose a pose that was comfortable for her. She felt stiff under his observant eyes and felt like her posture was unsatisfactory or something. He merely set upon her a calculating stare, as if he were scanning her like a barcode.

She felt weird.

Most especially since there hadn't been any discussion between the two. After all that banter in the stadium, it all cultivated to an anticlimactic silence. He did say he usually worked in silence, but he also said talking was a welcomed change. Was she suppose to start conversation? Was that his invitation for her to do so?

Deciding to be bold, she cleared her throat as she slightly adjusted shoulders. "So—"

"Oh my gosh I'm sorry!" he randomly spoke, startling her. "I totally forgot that like, you might want to talk and just went into silent spell!" He nervously rubbed the back of his head as he shot an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. Slipped my mind."

Rayla's face softened at his smile. "Nah, don't ya worry 'bout it."

"It's just, your hair is beautiful," he casually added.

Her face swelled with red as she stammered, "Wh-What?"

Callum went on, his attention returned to the canvas. "Like, I'm still sketching you out, but working out the outlines of your hair is so interesting. It's very smooth and like, well do you watch anime?" he excitedly chirped.

Rayla's eyes shot wide open. He watched—of course he did! She eagerly nodded as she exclaimed, "Yes! Of course!" She watched him startle at her pitch, causing her to clear her throat and settle down. "I-I mean, yeah… I do…"

"Well, you've got a very anime-esque hairstyle." He laughed. "Like seriously, girls must be jealous trying to copy it because it's so picturistic and like, very animated—like an artist's fine touch but brought to life," he nonchalantly explained, "It's amazing, and I could get lost in drawing it all day!"

Now Rayla's face had been flushed ever since Callum started his casual compliments, but that last sentence really sent her from cherry red to full blown tomato. Did he really just say all that? "I-I, um… th-thank ya," she managed to reply. "I… I like your hair too…" what was she saying? "It's very… chocolatey. Nice." She winced as she watched him poke his head around the easel. His face looked as flushed as she felt. "I mean—"

"Thanks," he beamed, "I-I appreciate it?" It seemed like a question, but he hastily shook his head and added, "I just realized I sort of went into another spell there. Kinda rambled. S-Sorry about that. If it uh… weirded you out y'know?" He sheepishly shrugged before returning to the covers of his canvas.

Rayla shook her head. This was amazing. He was feeling the exact same way. He was…

Nervous too!

A sigh of relief blossomed over her as she smiled at Callum. "Don't worry 'bout it. All these lil' spells of yours are actually pretty fun." She giggled, silently relishing in the visual relief that took up in his expression before sliding behind his canvas. "Member, I came here because I also wanted to see your artwork." She could do this.

Callum poked his head out again and smiled with a raised brow. "Oh yeah, about that! You said you're a fan of my work?" A broad throwaway topic, but she gathered he was prompting her to talk more about it.

Rayla nodded. "Yup. I started going to the art showcases my first month at Katolis, because I've always had a love for the arts," she proudly stated. "The second I heard about it I had to go. And I was so glad I did!" A content sigh escaped as she reminisced all her attendances. "I just wandered around the floor talking to artists about their pieces—"

"You see Rashan's?"

"You mean him and his beautiful contrasting landscapes?"

Callum grinned as he snapped his fingers. "That'd be the one."

She nodded. "Aye, I did. I really do love his attention to detail and his theme of distorted community in nearly every one. It's beautiful." She smiled as she stared at Callum's wall of artwork. "But, one caught my eye that garnered some confusion. It was a beautiful painting of an empty park bench, ol' gray and cold, but yet there's a centred field of view on it for some reason. Then there's a bunch of other people, in black silhouettes, just staring at this vacant spot—surrounding all around this bench. Now I thought it was a piece on society's way of idolizing cultural figureheads not because they're good or influential, but because they have a position or platform of power—hence why it's empty, to show the hive minded perceptions we all have—"

"It was! Glad you could see that!"

"—But there wasn't a single artist around to stand by it and agree or disagree! Not a one!" Callum's excitement shot down a few pegs as he winced. "I waited, because I figured he or she went to the restroom but after twenty to thirty minutes of hoverin' I asked an attendant and they said that this particular artist doesn't show up to his showcases very often!" She watched as the artist in teasing shrink at her taunt. "Imagine that! Somethin' so beautiful and not a single soul around to talk about it."

Callum sheepishly laughed at her gaze. "I uh, don't really have the courage to stand up to a couple of lingering eyes."

"Pfft, Callum, whenever I visit your showcase at those galleries yours has more than a couple," she easily countered. It was true. There was always a good amount of people gathered around his artwork, and like she had, waiting around for an artist to claim it and speak about it.

He sighed. "Not exactly encouraging me, Rayla."

She rolled her eyes. "Callum, if ya can talk pretty about an empty football arena ya can do the same for your art." Her eyes shot up as she began looking around the room, realizing something very important.

"Hey, can you try not to move so much?"

"Sorry, sorry," she winced as she kept her gaze back on the wall. "I uh, was looking for that finished piece ya were blocked on awhile ago?" She smiled. "Ya said ya'd show it to me?"

She glanced over and noticed his face light up. "Oh right!" He walked away from his easel and over to an adjacent easel, carefully bringing it over for her to see. "It's another piece about spotlights!"

Rayla's jaw dropped at the sight of the painting. The lime green grass, the yellow glinted gleam of the spotlight, the shadowy atmosphere of the seats, and the exclusive focus on the emptiness—it was exactly like she always saw it. Every single time before a big game, every single time she sat in those stands and looked on to the empty arena that was her turf. It was nearly a picture perfect replica. The only exception was the shadowy figure stood in the centre of the field, all by their lonesome, like a mere speck. She couldn't make out if it was anyone of significance, but it was clear that they weren't exactly a centred focus, just someone lurking within the spotlight. It was…

"Beautiful," she muttered. "Cal… that's… that's amazing!" She exclaimed. "Seriously! Like, ya managed to perfectly capture the entire stadium! An-And after seeing it once? How did ya… how even?"

He shrugged as he rubbed the back of his head. "Uhh, we all have our talents I guess," he joked.

Rayla laughed. "Yeah, and yours seems to clearly shine." He seriously was talented. It was ridiculous how reminiscent the entire piece looked, and she only felt that from a distance. If she were even closer where she could notice the finer details? She groaned as she threw back her head. "Now I really want ya to finish this sketch so I can look at that up close!"

Callum chuckled as he returned to his easel, picking up on his sketch. "Relax, relax, I promise I'd show you stuff and I will!" he lightly assured her. "Besides, you make it sound like a sketch of yourself isn't anything to glance at."

Rayla snorted. "Please, with what else ya've been creating? I'm the least interesting muse ya ever could've had."

"Is that a fact? Because," he smirked as he grabbed his easel and turned it around for Rayla, "I think it's coming along nicely."

It was her.

A very rough, unfinished sketch of her. Her hair, her face, her smile, her physique—it was just her. She couldn't describe it as anything else. Yet, what stood out to her the most was the level of detail. It didn't feel like his other pieces, ones that told stories of personal opinions and past sufferings. This told her something different. Of course it was merely just a rough sketch, but there was a vibe to it. Something about it spoke out to her. And she wasn't sure what it was.

"I like your smile," he suddenly said.

She blinked out of her trance and met his sincere eyes. "What?"

His face flushed slightly as he chuckled. "I-I mean, like… it looks nice. Very… genuine? I dunno it was my favourite feature to draw…"

Rayla's lips upturned at his words as she felt her shoulders relax. She had felt so stiff and awkward this entire time, but something about Callum just eases her down. She nodded at him. "Thanks. Ya… Ya're doing great so far."

He beamed up at her praise. "Really? Oh my god thank goodness, I was worried for a second." He turned the easel back to his face and returned to sketching. "I-I always get nervous about doing hands so I was so glad you put them in your pockets!" he mused.

Rayla laughed. "Well maybe next time ya sketch me I'll be sure to show 'em off more."

His head popped around the easel. "Next time?"

She smiled at him. There was something going on here. Whether it was obvious or not wasn't exactly something Rayla concerned herself with. It went beyond that. Her attention was more deliberate on what they were doing. They were talking, laughing, and learning about each other. Something about that touched Rayla. It was nice. It was a kind of nice she didn't want to let go of yet. All these feelings she had, and whatever one's he had, were all out on the floor, just there. It felt like it was a moment, the moment, to finally do something. To say something. But when she found his grassy green eyes, the excitement laced behind them, she thought against it.

"Yeah, next time, if ya'd like."

He smiled back. "Yeah, I would…"

Because none of that mattered. For now, they were a work in progress.

A/N: FULL DISCLOSURE. Have not seen the 3rd season yet, so PLEASE do not spoil it in the reviews/comments for me. I'm busy with exams right now, and I really, really would appreciate it if no one did me dirty here. By the next TDP oneshot, I'll have definitely had watched it (and who knows, maybe it'll be about the new season!) but for now, I remain in the dark.

Anyways! This oneshot! Finally am I right? After like five other College AUs, I finally got to write the first time Callum sketches Rayla. And yes, it was a fun one. Admittedly starting off I kinda struggled so I had to redraft my approach, but I liked it. This was nice to write because this was before they got all buddy-buddy and so close with one another. And you get to see into Rayla's mindset a little regarding their whole relationship. I hope I conveyed that well enough, and now y'all start to see why this AU is burning slower than ever. It's friendship!

(also I just like torturing you guys)

Fun fact! The inspiration for both the message I was trying to get at and the title of this oneshot came from how I always title my Rayllum oneshots when I'm working on them. I title them "Rayllum WIP" (Work in Progress) until I come up with a clever title. Halfway through I realized that was like, the perfect way to close this story.

Review responses:

Pidgey104: I'm glad you loved it! Hope you stick around for more!

Ultrawolfie: oh my god I love it when I see people talk about binging my stuff! I usually do the same thing so it's nice to feel the other side of the screen! Sorry about the frustrations but I full on warn you... it only gets worse from there. Also, the steaminess? I feel like that's more likely to happen in another AU before the College AU, at least, for the rate they're going.. :P

TheLemonsAreComing: Splendid idea! I'm working on that one right now! Whether it'll be the next oneshot you read will depend on how I'm feeling, but don't worry, I'm on it!

SassySapphire: Nooooo, do the homework! Might be late to say it now, but ya gots ta! Hyprocritical coming from a guy who just finished editing and posted a oneshot for a fic when I should be studying for my exam in 7 hours. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (if i fail it was worth it).

Prophet21: No u.

So that's that for now! Next ETA for next chap is unknown! Hopefully I'll have one up before Christmas, maybe two before New Years. I'm hoping I'll get one down to a holiday special of some sort!

Until next time,

- Bleh