after they met her

twentyseven

i v a n a

The next morning, I woke up and got ready for school. As I stood in front of the mirror, I pinched the skin on my tummy.

I had gained more weight, and I didn't know how to feel about it.

My emotions were a tangled mess—frustration, insecurity, and a lingering sadness. Accepting my body as it was felt impossible, especially when it seemed like everything else in my life was out of control.

I walked down to the kitchen, and it was quiet.

Oh right, everyone was out except for Ray. He was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a bowl of cereal.

"Good morning," he greeted me, his voice surprisingly warm.

"Morning," I replied, feeling a bit perplexed by his presence. I watched as he made a bowl of cereal for me.

"Stop staring and sit down," he sighed, pushing the bowl toward me. "There will be no fancy breakfast. That's all I can do."

I didn't complain. I quietly ate my breakfast while he ate his. The silence between us was thick with unspoken words. I glanced at him from time to time, but he avoided meeting my eyes.

In the car ride to school, Ray tried to apologize again. "Ivana, listen, I'm sorry, okay?"

I clenched my nails into my palm, feeling a surge of anger. "Sorry for what, Ray? For knowing all along what my brothers did and not telling me? But you were fine enough to make out with me, right?"

He looked pained, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "I never wanted to hurt you. It was a mistake. We never should have kissed."

I bit my lip, the sting of his words cutting deep. "You're right. It was a mistake. We crossed a line we shouldn't have."

Ray sighed heavily. "I just want us to be friends again, Ivana. Can we do that?"

I didn't reply, staring out the window instead.

The rest of the car ride was silent, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

The school day was boring, with the usual monotony of classes dragging on longer than usual.

When the final bell rang, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Finally, it was time for art club. I headed to the art room, where Ethan, Lily, Joshua, and Sam were already waiting.

We gathered around a table, ready to brainstorm ideas for the summer festival. Each club had to set up a booth in their club room, and in the afternoon, everyone could wander around and check them out. It was an exciting opportunity to showcase our creativity, but it also meant a lot of planning.

"So, what are we thinking for our booth?" Ethan asked, looking around the table.

"I was thinking we could do a live painting session," he continued. "We could take turns creating a mural throughout the day. It would be cool to have a big, collaborative piece by the end of the festival."

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "I love that idea! We could even have small canvases for people to paint on and take home as souvenirs."

Joshua leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "What about a theme? Should we have a specific theme for the mural and the canvases?"

Sam chimed in, "Maybe something related to summer or the festival itself. Something bright and cheerful that everyone can contribute to."

"How about 'Summer Dreams'?" I suggested. "It's broad enough that people can interpret it in their own way, but it still ties into the theme of the festival."