Sylvie didn't know what was more stupid; being ridiculously in love with your best friend for the past eight years, or the best friend never noticing.
There she was, watching her Jace bent over his beat up sketch book as his 'doodled'. His strong hands making effortless strokes with the graphite as another masterpiece quickly came to life on the paper. It was an Elven warrior she discerned, Jace preferred drawing from his imagination. The facial features weren't distinct enough yet for her to decide if the character was male or female. He was concentrating on the curved blade of the sword poised above the figure's head.
Sylvie's eyes roamed up from Jace's large hands up to his beautiful profile. She always thought he was sexy when completely engrossed in his drawings. His shaggy, sandy colored hair dropped forward over his furrowed brow, his dark eyes so intense they almost pierced the paper. She wished those eyes would look at her with that intensity. She wished she knew what he saw when he looked at her.
She suspected she was rather average; a regular Plain Jane, or Just Sylvie. She was twenty five and still a virgin, and guys weren't exactly knocking each other over to ask her out. When she looked in the mirror she didn't see anything special; big but, small breasts, a long face and long limp honey brown hair. The only thing she really liked about herself were her green eyes, dark green like evergreens in winter. People complimented her sure, but having your parents and their friends tell you , you're pretty doesn't really compare to having someone your own age and the opposite sex tell you so.
Sylvie's mind went back to Jace's drawing. A female she decided, a strong female warrior. She could write a story about that. She could write and entire novel based on that one drawing. It wouldn't be the first time she had used one of he pictures as the basis for a story. She had always imagined if she were published he could draw the artwork for her books. They could be a team. They were a team, so why weren't they a couple?
Later that day Sylvie checked the mail and received a shock. One of her manuscripts had been accepted to an elite literary college in Boston. She had a scholarship waiting for her, a chance to become a real writer. Stunned she looked up at the small house she rented with Jace and two other friends. What was she going to do? Sylvie shook her head; what did she mean, there was nothing here, of course she was going to Boston. Immediately. She couldn't put her life on hold waiting for Jace to wake up. She needed this.
"Anything interesting?" Jace asked in the kitchen when she came in.
Sylvie swallowed. Jace, her six foot tall knight in shining armor, the hero of all her midnight fantasies. She would have to leave Jace. Mutely Sylvie shook her head and set the mail down on the counter clutching the acceptance letter in her other hand. Without a word she disappeared into her room. However the young man followed her.
"Sylvie? What's wrong, you look like someone just died." He sat on her small bed facing her, concern marring his smooth brow. "Your mom's parakeet finally kick the bucket?" He teased his generous mouth curving into the smile she liked so much.
Sylvie laughed despite her self, she couldn't help it, Jace did that to her. "My mom doesn't have a parakeet as you very well know." She took a deep breath, "I'm moving to Boston."
Everything seemed to freeze for a split second, time actually stood still. "What?" He exclaimed as it sped back up again. "Where did that come from?"
She held up the letter, "I've been accepted, the semester starts in May, if I move out there now I can find an apartment and get settled in."
"Sylvie that's awesome, but how are you going to get to Boston? You don't drive." He didn't look as excited as her best friend should have.
"I can take the bus, they have metro bus systems in Boston too." She told him getting up and putting the letter in her desk.
