Page 10 of Outdrawn

“I think an artist who has been trying to get in the top five of Inkmic for over three years doesn’t have the skill or talent to outdo me at my job,” I said without hesitation. “If anyone’s getting their name removed, it’s going to be you.”

Noah didn't miss a beat either. I didn’t remember her being so quick on her feet. “Inkmic’s a cheap blow. Your work’s overrated. The only reason you’re in the top five is because you’ve been on that site since you were in high school. Nostalgia’s a disease at this point. Your fans would vote for you every week, even if you posted a drawing of dog crap.”

“Overrated? That's your critique after all these years?" I laughed. "You're very original.”

“I think we’ve gotten to the bottom of why I was hired," she agreed.

“Alright, how’s everything going? Sage helping you settle in okay?” Tyson appeared outside the cubicle. His eyes were bright, cheery, hopeful. He purposefully ignored the venom between Noah and I, probably hoping it’d disappear.

Noah smiled at him, all kind and sweet. Goddamn kiss up.

“Yeah, we’re catching up. Talking shop,” she said.

“I’ve been laying down the ground rules,” I added dryly.

“Playing nice?” Tyson directed the question to me alone.

“Always.” I pushed off my desk.

They both looked concerned when I neared Noah. I reached for her tablet and propped it up on the stand. The surprised noise she let out under her breath when I easily snapped the stand in place made me far too smug for my own good.

“There we go,” I said in a voice as sweet as hers had been. “You’re all set.”

When I looked up, I realized how close I’d gotten to her. Yeah, this cubicle had shrunk since she’d arrived. I could smell the lilac perfume she'd always worn in college. The frown she sported was enough of a warning to not linger but go back to my corner.

“This is going to be great, guys,” Tyson’s voice cut through the silence. “I can feel it. Once you two get on the same page, the art’s going to be magic. We’re going to make history.”

“That’s the plan,” Noah agreed while glaring at me.

“Definitely.” I winked at her, and it almost made steam blow out of her ears. “Looking forward to working with one of the best artists of her generation.”

Chapter Three

Noah

As soon as my mom's front door opened, I was nearly blinded by the flash of a camera.

"Are you serious?" I blinked, trying to rid the bright spots in my vision.

"I have to make up for this morning." Mom pulled her camera down for a second. There was dirt on her face, shirt, and palms. She was as tall as me, so when she pulled me in for a hug, our cheeks perfectly aligned as they smashed together.

“You smell like outside,” I complained and pretended to want out of her hug. In actuality, I needed this. After a long first day, I appreciated her comfort. Anytime I came home, I felt like a little girl trying to crawl into her mother’s lap. My mom never wanted me to grow out of the habit.

“How can you smell like outside when you're outside?" She pulled back and snapped another photo. That one, I was quick enough to block. She frowned when the majority of my palm appeared on the display.

"Because you smell more outside than outside." I stepped into the foyer, relaxing as the cool air inside surrounded me.

"You're a ridiculously rude daughter, you know that?" She pinched my cheek, affection in the slight shake she made before grabbing my bag. "You didn't come by on your first day for photos, and now, you're insulting my smell."

I shrugged and nervously cracked my knuckles one by one. Today had shaken me more than I thought. Now that I was in the safety of the home I'd grown up in, the cracks in my armor were more noticeable. Crybaby was the nickname Liana and my cousins had not so affectionately dubbed me, and at twenty-eight, I had yet to grow out of the title.

"I couldn't do first-day photos." I dug my nails into my palm, trying my best to focus on anything but having a mini panic attack. "They stress me out."

Mom frowned but at least put her camera down. "What are you talking about? You love first-day photos!"

"When I was in grade school, sure."

She stepped back to get a better look at me. "Wait, did you wear this to work?"

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