Barden was a fresh start for me, my grandparents took care of me. Not really took care as my parents did but rather financially. I refused to live with them. Not that I don't love them. I do but I'm trying to move on and seeing them everyday as a reminder of what I've lost was not good.
After high school graduation, I packed my bags and went to Barden. My parents want me to study medicine but I buried their dreams with their bodies. I chose different major, arts.
I drowned myself with every piece I made, sculpture, painting, or drawing. I release all the emptiness I feel and it was all paid off, good grades and relief. I distanced myself from everyone, I don't need friends or company even boyfriend. I'm perfectly fine all by myself. There's no need for me to worry that someone close to me will disappear without saying goodbye. I don't care if they labeled me loner, so what, I know I'm safe.
One day hazy afternoon, I was painting in school garden near the lake, not everyone knows about it. It was beautiful with all the scene especially like this twilight. My paint brush knows where it should go releasing all the misery I feel when I heard a gasp behind.
"You're broken like Taylor Swift." A female voice declared. I ignored my intruder and slide my paint brush against the canvas blending violet and orange together.
"Oh no, you're worst than Adele." I stopped my hand and dabbed my brush on black paint, then went back to the canvas, darkening my already dark piece. The stranger leaned on just above my right shoulder, I saw brown hair. I can smell her, raspberry. My brother had brown hair. My stroke got quicker and angrier. Small hands fell on my shoulders. I jolted at the contact.
"Relax." She squeezed my tensed shoulders. I stood up bumping my shoulder on her chin. She yelped from pain. I started gathering my things. "Are you not even sorry?" she asked me.
"Sorry for what? Your pain was self inflicted. You shouldn't sniff around other's piece." I countered sarcastically.
I turned around. She's incredibly small and pale, she's massaging her chin. My eyes traveled on her eyes. The effect of twilight and lake made it beautiful. The shade of blue, it's calming. Her face, all friendly and sweet. I peered down, she's wearing red top with gray cardigan, blue pants and combat boots."Now look who's sniffing." My eyes darted back on her face. She smiled at me.
Someone smiled. Not a sympathy smile but a really nice smile. It made my heart warm for a little. A smile was making its way out of my lips but the corner of my mouth dropped, the flicker of warm in my chest burned cold. Today was the day my brother was shot dead how can I smile?
I picked up my canvas and walked away. I can hear her calling for me, my pace got faster.
Three hushed knocks caught Beca's attention. I looked at the door, a blonde. Aubrey. She walked in at stopped on Beca's side. She put her hand on Beca's back and rubbed it gently. "She's gonna be ok." Aubrey said. "She's tough." It made Beca cried harder. "Hey, why don't you get some rest? I'll watch over her." Beca shook her head furiously. "You're here for two days, Beca, give yourself a break."
Two days? I'm stuck in the darkness for two days? "Chloe will be mad if you don't take care of yourself." Aubrey said convincing Beca. "It's gonna be ok, I'll call you right away if she wakes up, get some nap and shower then come back." Beca sat still. After few seconds she slowly got on her feet. She leaned in on my forehead and gave me a lingering kiss. "I'll be right back. Please wake up. I love you." She whispered to me. I love you. I love you. Her words are like arrows straight to my heart. She loves me. How can she? She walked out and closed the door gently. Aubrey sat on the chair beside my bed."Hi. Chlo, how are you feeling today?" she asked the lifeless me. I can stay here and watch Aubrey chat with me but I'm worried about Beca.
A sanctioning energy pulled me, the next thing I know I'm in a passenger seat beside Beca. The drive was quiet no usual music. I can sense heavy thoughts on her mind. Few blocks away she pulled over. I watched her stare at nothing in particular. "It's my fault." She whispered. "It's my fucking fault!" she yelled. She punched the steering wheel. One, two, three she can't stop. She's screaming, punching and crying. I've been through a lot of this. "Beca," I called out.
"It's ok. I'm alright. I'm here." I said trying to comfort her. It seems like she heard me. She stopped moving. She wiped her face and went back driving. Maybe I'm not that invisible at all?
"Hey!" I heard a familiar voice. I'm walking on the quad, my last class ended. I ignored the voice and walked straight. "Hey you! Red!" the voice yelled. I'm not wearing red so I did not turn, who else will call me? None. "Redhead! Wearing blue can you please stop walking?!" She instructed. I'm wearing my lucky blue blouse. What are the chances that someone else is wearing blue? Too many. I did not turn around. "You're stubborn!" I heard quick footsteps behind me. I stopped walking just in time she break into running. Too late to stop the momentum. She bumped on my back. Hard. I almost lost my balance, too bad for her. She fall butt first. "Ow." I turned around and saw her rubbing her forehead. "Why do I always get hurt when I come close to you?" She asked me. "It's a sign that you shouldn't get close." True. "But if getting hurt will bring me closer I think its fine." She winked at me, I rolled my eyes. She got on her feet and offered her hand. "I'm Beca."
The car came to a stop in front of an apartment. Beca killed the engine and went out. I don't know how but I'm suddenly out of the car. She fumbled the keys and opened the door. I inhaled the familiar scent. It's mine. She went straight to a room, I followed her. The wall, there's a mosaic of pictures meticulously made. I walked near it. There's me eating ice cream, me sleeping with my mouth open, Beca and I on a swing, me painting, Beca and I laughing. It's too many. Beca collapsed on the bed. She grabbed a pillow, my pillow and smelled it. I can hear her mumbling something. I sat on the bed. "Come back please, Chloe? I love you." She said over and over again until it becomes a ragged breathing. I lay next to her. My pillow was wet from her tears. I reached for her face. I felt nothing, of course. I retract my hand and lay still. Her breathing was comforting few minutes passed and I joined her on her slumber.
A/N: We'll take things slow, ok?