ONE YEAR AFTER

CHAPTER III

It feels weird waking up in my new room in my father's apartment. The room doesn't really looks like is mine. The colors are the normal basic cream and white ones, and aside from the bed, the desk and the wardrobe everything else is empty.

    I leave the bed with the feeling of a weight in my shoulder and a restless mind. I hope today I get to actually work on solving some of my issues with my father so maybe I get to feel like I'm really back at home with him.

    I leave my bed and go straight to the bathroom thats beside my room. My father has his own bathroom so I don't have to worry on waking up earlier to shower not to disturb his schedule. Thank god, because I've done it before and is not fun.

    As soon as I get in the bathroom I take a look at my appearance in the mirror. I barely look like myself, the dark circles under my eyes cant seem to go away and I look so pale I could blend with the wall behind me. So I know I will have to fake yet another day. The amount of make up I wore this year is more than what I've done all my life together. But I guess is better than having people questioning.

    I stop looking at my reflection an go back to my morning routine. I wash my hair and let it dry naturally into its dark brown long curls. I put a lot of councilor under my eyes and then finish my face before giving myself another real look in the mirror.

     Make up really does miracles. I look well, I have given myself some pink on my cheeks so I look healthier. And with the mascara even my eyes seem to spark with life. I love my eyes, they have this distinct honey color to them and they make me stand out because of it.

    Today is supposed to be a good day. I've only got tree classes at university and then I will wait for my group at our usual hang out spot.

    This summer has been so hot that I decided to put on a simple dress, I like wearing dresses like this one they make me feel lighter and maybe even a little happier.

    I don't usually eat breakfast so I just grab my things and head out the apartment. I know my father is already at work because he works to much so I don't worry about not talking to him this morning.

    The way to university was uneventful. I walked and got to the bus stop just in time for my bus. And once I got to campus I went to my first classroom of the day.

    Amazingly I actually got there before most of the students, and than I saw my best friend Emma. I haven't seen her yesterday with the others so I just get of my chair and run to her, I've missed her so much. We hug and say how much we missed each other.

    We go back to my seat, she takes the chair besides mine and we star talking. Talking to Emma doesn't feel weird at all because we never stoped talking when I left. But is so nice to have her close to me and not thru a phone or computer screen.

    Emma updates me to all the gossips and whatever else is going on. She doesn't speak about him and I have mix feelings about that. I mean, I want to know but after what I saw yesterday I'm not sure if I really want to know if they are together.

    The teacher walks in so we just promise to have lunch together and Emma also agrees to hang out with the rest of the group after classes.

    The class was pretty boring since this is also a first class for this subject and basically the teacher told us what we were going to study and what books we should start buying and reading. I actually enjoy learning but I can't deal with all this informative talk, is so boring!

    When the bell rings Emma and I are the firsts out of our seats and we basically race to the door, desperately trying to scape all this boredom. But I wasn't expecting to run right in to someone.

    I look up to see who I've ran into and apologize but the world feel stuck in my throat cause I didn't just run into someone, I ran into the one I wasn't ready to see, I ran into him.

    They just stayed there, looking at each other. He looked tired just like she would if wasn't for the makeup. And the more they looked at the other the more they could see the changes the year did.

    Leo looked more mature. He's expression was hard, he's jawline was more prominent and he's eyes looked sad and tired like he hasn't have a good night of sleep in a long time.

    Maia new what he was looking at. She two had changed. This last year was hard on her, she lost at least 20 pounds, she was even afraid to step on a scale because she could already see by the lost of most of her wardrobe that her body had changed.

    She just wasn't expecting the look of anger that took over Leo's face. What is he angry about? Her weight lost? That couldn't be it, it wasn't that visible with the dress she was hearing, or was it? Or was it because she ran into him?

    She didn't know what made him angry so she just apologized and looked down while starting to make her way to leave him and go to her next class. But I guess that wasn't enough cause he just pulled her by the hand to the classroom she just came out of. Only now everyone had left and they were there alone.

     She didn't know what to say or why he pulled her so she just stayed there looking at him. He was wearing he's usual clothes, the signature white shirt and some black jeans. He's blue eyes were staring back at her while he put his hand thru his hair, like he was trying to calm down, just like he always did.

     "What are you wearing?"

    "What?" She heard him, she just wasn't expecting that question. "A dress?" She answer not really knowing what else to say.

    "I can see that. But why in hell are you wearing it?"

    "Its a dress Leo. I'm wearing cause I like it." She said looking at his eyes. She couldn't see the problem, the dress was stoped at the middle of her tights so he couldn't possibly be saying anything about the length. And the dress was appropriate according to the university norm so she couldn't see the problem.

    "It's to colorful. You look like a clown."

    "What?" Yes, the dress is colorful, I mean it has a gradient of yellow and orange but it was soft so she was sure that couldn't be the problem.

    "It's annoying for anyone to look at you. You should have tough about what others would think before deciding on something like that."

    "Why does it bothers you that I wear colors Leo?"

    "Because look like you've moved on with your life. Because you're well."

    She looks at him finally understanding what this 'fight' is really about. He didn't care about the colorful dress she was wearing, he was only angry about the fact that he believes she had moved on, that she could be happy without him.

    "You think I'm happy Leo? Do you really believe it? Just because I'm wearing colors I'm not in pain?" He doesn't answer her, so she signs and continues.

    "Leo, I can't see colors without you. I don't even care about them when I'm not near you. I only wear those clothes so people won't ask questions. I put on a fake smile so they don't know what I'm feeling inside." Now he turns back to her and look at her face, trying to see her real emotions. And she allows him. She stops her fake smile and shows him, only him, how she really feels.

    But what he did next shocked them both. He hugged her. At first they were both awkward but that soon changed when they let their guards down. And she hugged him back because it felt right like there in his arms was where she was supposed to be. And that embrace just made her go back in time, remembering the second time they ever hugged.