Muse

Eighteen ~ Crayon

Crayon |'karma, 'kraken| noun; a pencil or stick of colored chalk or wax, used for drawing. – New Oxford American Dictionary.

Chapter eighteen; crayon

Wednesday came in a flash and the whole morning just flew right by. I hardly even remember most of it to be honest.

            I recall spending a generous amount of time on my laptop looking at my college options. I know I decided to take the year off but ever since meeting Arthur, I've really been thinking about my future. I mean, despite the weight of his father's expectations he's following his dream and doing a great job of it.

            But maybe I just don't have the kind of drive he has.

            "– and then we went out at like one AM to get pizza. I didn't get home until three o'clock but it was so worth it. Ugh...he's so great Lovely." Lila finishes her very long and detailed story about what she and Jonathan did after we left the party.

            "Wasn't your mom mad?" I ask, giving no indication that I hadn't heard two thirds of what she said.

            She sighs and rests her chin on her hand, watching as I get ready for the rest of my day.

            "Well...she wasn't thrilled but she forgot about it in the morning. I could do something really awful and she'd be upset for two seconds before her phone rings. You'd think she carried that thing for six months and raised it. I'm just an accessory she and dad picked out in the miscellaneous isle at Walmart."

            I roll my eyes, brushing powder over my foundation and concealer.  "You're so dramatic and you know you're mom loves you so don't give me that bull."

            With a loud groan she falls to her back on the comforter. "Yeah but...ugh you know how her and my dad can be. I know they love me and they try their best to spend time with me but whether they like it or not, work always comes first. I like my car, right? And I like our house so...we've got to pay for it somehow."

            I nod in agreement; deciding to keep my mouth closed and let her be. Her life isn't very hard and her parents really do love her. Plus, they took her on that sweet trip...which I still regret not going on.

            "So." The subject now changed, "What will you and Arthur be doing today? Did he finally ask you out?" She smirks, tossing a throw pillow in the air and catching it swiftly.

            I pause in the middle of rolling mascara over my eyelashes and give her a glare. "You know as well as I do that we're nothing more than friends. Besides...I'm going to ask for my journal today. That way we can put this whole first encounter thing behind us. Maybe even hang out as real friends." This is new news to me.

            She gives me a flat look that says she obviously doesn't believe me. "And...what if when you get your journal back there's no incentive or reason to get together? I mean, really the only times you've hung out have been over either art or you getting that dirty old journal back."

            "First; it's not dirty or old...my dad gave it to me. And second; we hung out and went to one of those trampoline places and we went to his house to swim and watch a movie. So...yeah. Just drop it." Am I convincing her or myself?

            "I'm just saying...just make sure you're both on the same page before getting your journal back. Plus if he read it then things would get weird if you ever found out." She shrugs.

            I freeze. "He wouldn't do that. He swore he didn't and wouldn't. Ever." My voice half trembles at the thought of Arthur reading my darkest and deepest thoughts.