Paper Thin

• 67: Amsterdam •

Song for the chapter! Let me know what you think:

Melody

Monday went by quickly and quietly, though I was pretty tired and unfocused for most of the day. Sunday's events had taken a lot more out of me than I had thought, and I knew Carson could tell because he kept asking if I was okay. However, the positive was that people were a little more relaxed when it came to the rumour mill and whispers seemed to be calmer. It might have had something to do with all the festivities for Christmas and the holidays, or that I was last week's news. Either way, I was certainly grateful to go about my day peacefully.

On Tuesday, I went to the art room at lunch, to work on my painting, as I knew I wouldn't finish it on Thursday because of the shoot. As I continued with my grey colour scheme, Ms. Foster leaned back in her chair, watching me.

"Not excited for the holidays?" she asked, pulling her dark ringlets into a ponytail. I shrugged.

"It's no different than any other time of year – just more people and clutter," I replied. It came out a tad melancholier than I intended it to. "I mean... even with all the family, it's still..."

"Lonely," Ms. Foster finished, looking at my painting. While it was abstract, it did have a figure in the middle surrounded, but separate from the Christmas chaos. The figure was more of a shadow, but it was vaguely a little girl, that seemed to emit darkness towards the brighter corners of the page.

Ms. Foster was right. That little girl was surrounded but lonely. It was what a typical Christmas looked like in the Reese-Allen household. It sucked, but it wasn't going to change, so there was no point in getting excited for the Christmas break. That way there'd be no room for disappointment.

"Would you... would you consider entering this in an art competition?" Ms. Foster asked. "I think it would do really well."

"Sure," I mumbled. It wasn't like I'd win, but she's been so kind to me that I might as well make someone happy. Ms. Foster smiled, her perfect white teeth glistening.

"Thank you."

***

After school, Carson took me over to his house. While I knew his sister would be there, I was still nervous to meet her. I didn't seem to have the best record with sisters – if Mia was anything to go by – and most girls hated me, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

We pulled into the driveway and I felt my heartbeat accelerating as Carson turned the engine off. We got out of the car and walked up the front steps. As the door opened, I heard two excited voices inside.

"They're here!" It sounded like Harper.

"Yaaaay!" It was dragged out and similar to the first, but slightly higher pitched.

"Okay, but we can't be weird," Harper said.

"Okay," the second voice laughed.

Carson and I stepped into the foyer and closed the door behind us. As we took off our shoes, we saw Harper and a girl I assumed to be Chloe come walking from the kitchen. She had tanned skin like her mother, but dark hair and eyes like her father. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, and she wore printed leggings and a pink, oversized crewneck. She was really pretty which was intimidating, but I tried not to let it show.

Harper smiled widely at me as she immediately pulled me in for a hug. "How are you doll?"

"Good, how are you?" I replied.