Blank Canvas

●Chapter 31●

I have kept myself locked up in my room for almost a week now. Not exactly but metaphorically, yes. I do go to my gallery, eat and drink as usual but I'm very much sleep deprived. It doesn't come to me so easily.

The worst problem of all was that I couldn't even smile or laugh with genuineness anymore. I was completely caged inside the room of my brain.

My family noticed this but they knew better than to persist me into talking. They could tell that something was wrong and I revered them for giving me my space. 

I was sprawled on my bed with a sketchbook in front of me, busy sketching an imaginary island. I heard a knock on my door and a few seconds later just like I had expected, heard the shuffling of feet too.

"Hey, Aria?" I heard the familiar voice speak up. 

Tiredly looking up from my book, I saw Kris standing at the doorway with an impassive face. I had not replied to any of her text messages, missed calls and voicemails after leaving from the concert. However, she's so determined to talk to me, even if I'm not in the mood to. Well, that's my best friend for you.

I could tell why she'd decided to come to check up on me after a week. Must be because of all the work dumped on her in her office. Averting my eyes, I saw my mom standing beside her as well, her face masked with worry.

"Kris?" I muttered, surprised. I was surprised, yes but I expected as much from her.

"I'll leave," my mom intervened before  going back downstairs.

"Shoot," Kris said in a steely voice as soon as we were left alone. She plopped down on my desk chair before closing the door behind her.

"You wanna talk to me so you shoot," I retorted and went back to my sketching. I was in no mood to talk to anyone, let alone Kris. She could get really annoying if she doesn't get the answers she wants to hear.

Kris raised an eyebrow at me, not pleased with my reply and pursed her lips. Here comes the tantrum. "Aria," she warned through gritted teeth. 

I sighed dejectedly and sat upright, closing my book shut. "What do you want to hear?" I sighed, resigned.

"Everything. Starting from your sudden disappearance last week at the concert to why are you not attending any of my calls? For a week, to be more specific."

I began twiddling with my fingers, not knowing how to start with my stupid problems. Finally after clearing my throat, I told her. Everything. Just like she demanded. 

I informed her of everything since the beginning. About how I found out that Jenna was Atlas's girlfriend and what really happened to her. 

I had to even reluctantly tell her of the kiss Atlas and I had shared. I had to say this because I needed to make clear to her that I didn't know anything about Jenna at that moment but how degraded I felt when I did. I even revealed that Atlas also happens to be Mars and that I'd heard him singing that very same song weeks ago. Each and every detail that she needed to know.

Her expression ranged from shock to sympathy to sad to betrayal and everything in between. If I weren't feeling so down, I'd have teased her by saying that she's resembling a rainbow.

"Why didn't you tell me all of this before? And about that kiss?!" She exclaimed, narrowing her eyes. 'Seriously? All she could get from my sad, pathetic story was the kiss part?'

My eyes widened for a second and I sweeped a quick glance towards the door, scared if somebody or more likely, my mom might hear it. "Keep it a notch down, will you?"