Muted

Chapter 5

3:05 am. Those were the numbers that glared back at me. Giving a heavy sigh, I slowly made my way to the bathroom, getting into a nice hot shower. I could feel each muscle relax under the steady stream of hot water. Only to tighten up again every time I thought about what lies ahead today.

High-school

Just the thought alone sent chills up my back. There were large crowds of people; People who made so...much...noise.

Once I could gather myself enough to get out of the comforting shower I walked to the closet that was filled to the brim with all the new clothes Paige had insisted on getting for me yesterday. I slipped on my old ripped jeans, my black converse, a tank top and one of my new hoodies; a fitted black sweater that had holes in the sleeves for my thumbs.

Armed with my sketchbook and pencils I made my way down the stairs and out the back door. Breathing in the brisk morning air I walked towards the stable entrance. The door made a loud screech as I opened it, startling me.

As I walked through the stalls and looked at the beautiful horses, I felt a smile form. They all had such gorgeous colouring, and it was so calm in here as some munched-on food or slept. When I came back around the front of the building, I found a blanket thrown over a hay stack near the door I originally entered from. I turned one of the wall lamps, then settled down and opened my book; deciding to finish my sketch of Hunter from yesterday. As I drew, I made sure to remember to shade in the early morning shadows, so that you could see the depth of his face, and the way the still risen moon danced along his fur.

Rays of sunlight filtering through the stable windows drew my attention away from my finished sketch. I gathered all my things quickly; rushing through the stable door. Only to run straight into the brother I think is Jake? Our collision scattering everything that we were both carrying onto the ground.

"Damn it! Sorry Aurora! I wasn't paying attention are you okay?" He said as he bent down with me to help clean up my art supplies, as well as the buckets and rope that he was carrying. Giving him a smile I stood up with my things and nodded to him.

"Oh good." He said relieved. For a moment, the silence was awkward. "I'm Jake by the way. In case you forgot." He laughed. I smiled back at him and he got a thoughtful look on his face.

"So, todays the big day huh? First day of school? Are you exited?"

And just like that my smile vanished.

Jake gave a room filling laugh as he watched my expression sour.

"Don't worry so much Ari you're gonna do great! Plus, the twins will be there and even if Tyler can be a pain in the ass, Alex will be there if you need him."

I frowned as he talked, something he said catching my attention. Flipping my sketch book open to the very back for a scrap piece of paper I wrote,

Ari?

Jakes own cheeks reddened slightly.

"Oh sorry do you not like it? I won't call you that if you don't it just kind of slipped out..." He trailed off looking even more embarrassed than when he started talking. Smiling a little I wrote,

Don't worry. It's alright. Only Sam and Paige has called me anything but my full name before.

The redness faded completely as he smiled again,

"Thank god because I was about to keep on rambling my head off there! Anyway, you should better head in soon if you want to make it in time before all the breakfast is gone. Oh and good luck today! I'm sure you'll do great."