In My Art

Chapter 11- Sugar Rush

Song- Lys by Susanne Sundfφr

…/…

“I am so sorry,” I said to the figure, but as he turned around, the utmost shock replaced the sorry expression I had on my face. I stood there for some seconds in silence wishing I had a drink in my hand that actually spilled on him. What possible explanation could he have? Did he come to get notes or a drink?

“Char, I can explain”. “You really don’t have to, Bryan, it’s not like we’re official or anything, so just save it. Jane, let’s go”. I heard Jane whisper ‘Eggplant’ from behind me as we walked out of the building. “Oh wait, let me say bye to my brother”.

As Jane leaves me, I suddenly feel insecure again. I feel like the girl that couldn’t do without Tim and I hate it so much. I see Bryan walk to meet me and I find myself saying, “Don’t”. “Please let me explain, I really didn’t want to come, but the student body leader made it mandatory for governors, and I couldn’t say no”. “And you couldn’t call me to tell or text me? What are you saying?”

He was about to say something when I saw Jane coming towards us. “You know what? Don’t bother. It’s not like this is a relationship or anything. You can do whatever you want to do”. I stormed out as soon as Jane reached the front porch where we were standing.

“Are you okay?” Jane asks when we get to a safe distance where we couldn’t even spot the house. “I don’t know. I mean, am I the problem? Is something wrong with me?” “Hey! Don’t let a guy make you ask these questions about yourself. You’re not the problem and he’s not worth it. Plus, Lincoln, the guy he was talking to, told me that Bryan was saying he isn’t a big fan of relationships”.

A part of me knew because everything he was doing around me looked like he was trying to play safe, but I know he loves me. “Guys, suck!” I managed to say. “Yeah, that’s right”. We keep quiet again for the second time this night then, all of a sudden, Jane stands up and yells, “Guys, suck!”

I looked at her with surprise. “Come on, don’t just sit there. Shout with me”. I didn’t even second-guess it. “Guys really suck!” I yelled. “Better?” “Yeah, a little”. “Come on, let’s go get ice cream”.

Jane and I walked to the ice cream factory to get ice cream. I am happy that the store is open round the clock because ice cream makes everything better. We get a little more to keep in the suite for later and head home.

On the way home, we get compliments from strangers on how they love our costumes. “Too bad, we couldn’t show them off completely at the party,” Jane says as we walk into the suite. “What are you talking about? Everyone saw us. Remember when we were dancing and a lot of people cleared the path for us, clapping and cheering? If there was a competition for best dressed, we would’ve won hands down”.

“If there was a competition, I would’ve gone back, can’t let anyone take my joy and my trophy,” Jane says. “Yeah, me too. Wanna watch a movie?” “Sure, let me go change. I’ll probably fall asleep on the couch”. “Most definitely,” I replied.

We both entered our rooms to change out of our costumes, into our PJs. After deliberating on what movie to watch for about thirty minutes, we decided to watch ‘Beauty and the Beast’. We knew we were setting ourselves up but we couldn’t resist.

“Someone just rang the doorbell,” I say ten minutes into the movie. “Who could that be? I just got comfortable,” she whines. “Well, we do have two other roommates that aren’t here right now”. “Stop being so smart, I like complaining. Plus, I’m sure it’s Lexie. ID already texted me that she wouldn’t be coming back tonight”.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go get it”. “You are a darling”. I opened the door to see Cole helping Lexie stand upright. “Is she drunk? How many bottles did she drink?” I asked rapidly. “Zero,” he replied, walking into the suite and helping Lexie get comfortable on another couch.

“What do you mean, Zero?” Jane asks. “Believe me, this is all a sugar rush. She had way too many sodas and she needed to let the energy out, so she danced all night. When it all died down in her system, she couldn’t even stand upright. Couldn’t leave her sprawled over some couch there so I decided to take her home”.

“That is so sweet of you,” I said. “Yeah, thanks Cole”. “It’s nothing. I’m going to head to my dorm now, leave you guys to your movie”. “Okay, bye!” I said as I walked him to the door and shut it behind him.

“He’s such a gentleman,” Jane says when he leaves. I settled down on the couch again, getting comfortable. “I wish I had a man like that, but no, my supposed man attends the same party with me but doesn’t go with me”. “Yeah, and my man prefers video games to me”.

“Don’t worry, Ty’s going to grow up one day, I’m sure of it,” I said.

…/…

“Hey, I’m off to go study in the library”. “Jane, how can you even study this early, I’m so tired,” I lament from my bed. “You have to get up, it’s 12 pm”. “What? Really? Is Lexie up? We’re supposed to go to the fair today”. Lexie appears in sight, all clean and dressed up, “Yup, I’m up, and ready”.

“I’ll go have my bath,” I say, with my head buried in my pillow. “Bye,” Jane shouts. “Bye,” I mutter in response.

…/…

“You’ll have to put in a bit more energy to smile”. I looked at her with no expression on my face. So far, I haven’t found what I was looking for at the fair. “Well, it’s hard to, considering the fact that I haven’t found what I’m looking for”.

“We both know that’s not why you’re frowning”. I looked at her, knowing that she knew what was truly bugging me. “Jane told you, huh”. “Yup! Has he tried to reach you though?” “Only several times”. “And?”

“And what?” “Well, what did he say?” I explained everything he had been trying to say to me since last night to her, plus the numerous calls I missed, intentionally and mistakenly, throughout the night. “So, are you guys on your way to being good now?” My eyes wandered, looking everywhere except her face.

“You haven’t replied to him yet? Why?” “I just don’t think I’m ready to. It really hurt last night, you know? Plus, Jane told me that Bryan's friend was saying that he isn’t a big fan of relationships. I guess that’s the real reason I haven’t replied to him”.

“You have to hear him out. Misunderstandings can be very frustrating and annoying, but I think they are important sometimes, especially when you get to discuss after the whole thing and clear the air”. “Yeah, I guess,” I say, looking down at my shoes, having a change of heart already.

I pick up my phone to text him but Lexie says, “Not over the phone, you can’t see his emotions from over the phone and he wouldn’t be able to see yours. Do it in person”. “Fine, I’ll do it when I see him in class on Monday”.

“Technically, you don’t have to wait till Monday”. “What do you want from me Lexie?” I said out of frustration. She wouldn’t let me text him and she wouldn’t let me talk to him the next time fate would let me see him.

“I want you to turn around”. I looked at her with disbelief written all over my face. Then, it clicked. I started shaking my head little by little, then I followed the supposed subtle action with, “You wouldn’t dare” in the form of a whisper. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed in response.

I turn around to see Bryan standing in front of me, with two ice cream cones in his hand. “I’m sorry, Char,” he says. “Hmm, tempting. Not because of your apology, but because of the ice cream. I wouldn’t want it to go to waste, you know”.

I grab the two cones from his hands and say, “I’ll just take these and I’ll see you later”. “Just let me explain, please Charlotte,” he says to my retreating figure. Hearing my name made me stop in my tracks, plus a few words from Lexie’s persuasive speech rang in my head, so I turned to meet him.

I handed him a cone and said, “Fine, explain”. “No, I got both of them for you”. “Well, aren’t we off to a good start?”