"THE COLOURS OF US"

THE DREAMER'S BRUSH : A connection beyond canvas

Ava stepped out of her car and waved goodbye to her sister, Attracta, who was sitting in the backseat, and their driver, Landon. As the car pulled away, Ava turned her attention to the imposing structure before her. Ashwood Elite High School, a prestigious private institution nestled in the heart of the city, loomed large, its sleek modern lines and expansive glass panels gleaming in the morning light.

As she joined the stream of students flowing through the entrance, Ava felt the familiar weight of expectation settle upon her shoulders. Ashwood Elite High School was a place where ambition, intellect, and privilege converged, and Ava was determined to make her mark.

Just then, a bright voice cut through the noise. "Ava! Ava, over here!" Ava turned to see her best friend, Sophie, waving enthusiastically from across the hallway. Sophie's long blonde hair bounced as she jumped up and down, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Ava, I've missed you so much!" Sophie exclaimed, as the two friends exchanged a quick hug. "I've got so much to tell you about my summer. You won't believe what happened in Europe!"

Ava grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "Try me," she said, as they made their way through the crowded hallway.

As they walked down the hallway, Sophie launched into a breathless account of her summer trip to Europe. Ava listened, laughing and asking questions, as Sophie regaled her with stories of famous landmarks, delicious foods, and quirky souvenirs.

"...and then we went to the Eiffel Tower, and it was just so breathtakingly beautiful!" Sophie exclaimed. "I felt like I was on top of the world!"

Ava grinned. "That sounds amazing, Soph. I'm so jealous!"

When Sophie finally paused for breath, Ava saw her opportunity to steer the conversation toward her own summer. "Speaking of amazing things, I've been working on a new art piece," Ava said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Sophie's curiosity was piqued. "Ooh, what's it about?"

Ava hesitated, unsure how to explain the strange connection she felt to the mysterious girl. "It's...well, I had this dream, and there was this girl in it. I don't know who she is or why I dreamed about her, but I felt this weird sense of connection to her."

Sophie's eyes widened. "That sounds so cool! What's the painting like?"

Ava's face grew hot as she described the painting. "It's just...her. The girl from my dream. I've been trying to capture her essence on canvas, but it's hard to explain. You'll just have to see it for yourself."

Sophie's expression turned eager. "I want to see it! Can I come over after school and check it out?"

Ava nodded. "Yeah, that would be great. The painting is in my studio at home, so maybe you can come over and I'll show it to you."

As they continued walking, Sophie turned to Ava with a curious expression. "So, what's the deal with this girl in your dream? Are you, like, obsessed with her or something?"

Ava’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt her chest tighten. She looked away, trying to push the strange feeling aside. "I...I don't know. It's just that I feel this weird connection to her. Like, I'm drawn to her or something."

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Drawn to her? Ava, you have a boyfriend. What's going on?"

Ava's face flushed with heat as she realized what Sophie was implying. She shook her head quickly. "No, it's not like that," Ava protested, her voice a little shaky. "I just...I don't know, it's hard to explain. Maybe it's just my artistic side or something."

But as Ava met Sophie’s curious gaze, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper, something more inexplicable about the connection to the mysterious girl.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of first period, Ava and Sophie hastily said their goodbyes and rushed off to their respective classes. Ava sprinted down the hallway, her backpack bouncing behind her, as she made her way to her first-period art class.

As she burst through the doorway, slightly out of breath, she scanned the room for an empty seat. Her eyes landed on a familiar figure, Jamie, her boyfriend, who was already seated at his easel, chatting with their art teacher, Mrs. Patel.

Jamie, a 21-year-old senior, was a talented musician. His messy brown hair and bright blue eyes made him a standout in the crowded classroom, and Ava’s heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. She quickly looked away, but the image of the mysterious girl flashed in her mind.

"Hey, gorgeous," Jamie said, flashing Ava a charming smile as she made her way over to him. "What's the hurry? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Ava rolled her eyes good-naturedly, but her chest still felt tight. "Just Sophie and I getting caught up on summer gossip," she replied, setting up her easel and supplies.

As Mrs. Patel began the lesson, Ava found herself stealing glances at Jamie, who was intently focused on his painting. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of affection for him, but as her eyes drifted toward her canvas, she saw the outline of the girl from her dream—her piercing gaze seemed to follow Ava. She quickly turned back to Jamie, but the pull of the image was undeniable.

Was it just a painting? Or was there something more to the girl in her dream?

As the bell rang, signaling the end of art class, Ava gathered her supplies, her mind still tangled in the thoughts of the mysterious girl and the swirling emotions she couldn’t quite place. Jamie stood up from his easel, stretching his arms above his head, his movements easy and confident.

“So, you ready to head out, or do you want to stick around and work some more on that piece of yours?” Jamie asked, his voice light and casual. His smile was warm, and Ava couldn’t help but smile back, even though her mind was elsewhere.

“I think I’ll head home,” Ava replied, packing up her brushes and paints. “I’ve got a lot to think about today.” She glanced over at Jamie, hesitating for a moment. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

Jamie nodded, his smile faltering just slightly as he caught the hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “Yeah, of course. Don’t stay up too late.”

Ava gave him a quick nod, forcing a smile. “I won’t forget. See you then.” She gave him a small wave and made her way out of the classroom.

The hallways were already buzzing with students eager to leave for the day. As Ava walked through the crowded corridor, her thoughts remained fixed on the girl in her painting. The girl’s image lingered in her mind, and even the noise of the school around her seemed to fade as Ava’s heartbeat quickened.

When she reached the school gates, she found her mom’s car already parked, waiting to take her home. Her mind swirled with an odd mix of excitement and unease, the nagging feeling that she was missing something important only growing with each step she took toward the car.

Attracta was already in the backseat, her head buried in her phone. She barely looked up when Ava climbed in and buckled her seatbelt.

“How was school?” Attracta asked without much enthusiasm.

“Same as usual,” Ava muttered, her thoughts drifting away from her sister’s questions. She was anxious to get home, to get back to her studio and the painting that seemed to call her name.

When the car pulled into their driveway, Ava practically jumped out of the vehicle, eager to be alone with her thoughts. “I’ll be in my studio,” she said quickly, not waiting for a response from her family.

As she walked into the house, she greeted her Abuela in passing and climbed the stairs to her room. Her studio was just a few steps away, and Ava felt an almost magnetic pull toward it. Once inside, she turned on the lights and walked over to the canvas, staring at the painting of the girl. She had made some progress since the morning—her figure was now more defined, her face almost finished.

But it was the eyes that captured Ava’s attention, as if they were silently beckoning her to come closer. Ava reached out and traced a finger gently along the edge of the girl’s cheek, lost in the intensity of the gaze that seemed to pierce through the paint and into her soul.

She shook her head, trying to push the feeling away. “It’s just a painting,” she whispered to herself, though she knew deep down that it was more than that. The girl wasn’t just a figment of her imagination. It felt like she was real, like she was reaching out to Ava for something.

The sound of her phone buzzing broke her concentration, and Ava quickly pulled it out of her pocket. It was a text from Sophie:

“Can’t wait to see that painting later! I’m dying to know more about this girl in your dreams. You’re gonna tell me everything, right?”

Ava hesitated for a moment before typing a response:

“Yeah, I will. Just a lot going on right now. I’ll explain more when you come over.”

As soon as she hit send, Ava set the phone down and turned back to her painting. The connection she felt to the girl was undeniable, but it only left her feeling more confused. She needed answers. Something about this dream—this girl—felt so real, so significant, and Ava couldn’t ignore the pull she felt toward it any longer.

She took a deep breath, her eyes locked on the girl’s painted gaze, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw something shift in the shadows of the painting.

It was as if the girl was smiling.