Under the Umbrella ✓

-30-

Aria was a nervous wreck. Her mind was full of excuses she could make to bail out on Sandra but the only thing that kept her from actually doing that as she walked to Coffee Break was that she knew she was being irrational.

She just didn’t want to bump into Elliot after her oh-so dramatic run away but it had been some time since she had seen him and she assumed he should have realized by now that she wanted nothing to do with him. Aria was aware of how complicated she was making the situation look. The man seemed to have had the mere intention of getting to know her, though she was sure there was a cryptic reason to it in the hindsight. She still really liked his company anyway but she wished he wouldn’t intervene in her life again.

She wouldn’t have had to worry about going back to Coffee Break if she had made some time to meet up with Sandra on the days she was available. The both of them were so busy with their affairs that it had been nearly a month since they had seen each other. Even now, Sandra was only able to spare about two hours before she had to get back to her campus and Aria had to give up on the afternoon shift at the clothing store to free up her day. 

It didn’t mean they didn’t talk to each other at all. They spoke on phone from time to time and Aria had too many opportunities to disclose about the day she nearly got into an accident. She could have even brought it up when she mentioned about how her father had set off to Spain but she didn’t.

She convinced herself for the longest time that it was because it wasn’t anything significant but there was only so much she could lie about to herself that she had to admit in time that it was because she was worried Sandra would encourage her to bond with him. Sandra had always nagged about Aria’s social life, or the lack thereof. The only reason why Sandra hadn’t taken matters into her own hands was because she had no clue about the people around Aria. She couldn’t tell Sandra why she distanced herself from people. She wouldn’t understand; she wouldn’t see it the way Aria would. Then again, things might have been different if she was able to be honest with her only friend too. 

She sighed, both from the dreary turn of her thoughts and because she had finally reached Coffee Break. With the order of a moment’s hesitation and the squaring of her shoulders, she dragged her feet into the café, seeking for some vague reassurance through the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

She spotted Diane firstly, her eyes already on Aria as she welcomed her with one of her broad smiles that had Aria easily smiling in return. It was strange she missed seeing her than she missed turning to the soothing atmosphere of the café.

“Aria!”

Aria’s head flipped to the sound of the familiar animated voice in heartfelt excitement, the smile on her face wide and natural as she spotted her friend.

But just as soon, her smile slowly dimmed like the fading of a hasty sunset and she didn’t feel so eager as she did a few seconds ago when she noticed where Sandra was sitting and with whom.