1 | Welcome Back To That Night

One Summer Later.

CANVAS RETURNED WITH pale lips and a blank stare during the end of summer, the day before school started. She left herself somewhere between the medication and happy thoughts. That's what they did to her. They dozed her off into some Wonderland that ripped her away from reality. 

          "Welcome back," Henry said with a weary smile. He couldn't erase the image of that night, but he would never admit it. Instead, he played dumb the same as she did; because it was easier that way.

          She smiled the way she was taught to do, unable to believe it herself, and said, "Thanks." 

          It wasn't the reunion neither of them had pictured. Maybe their expectations were too high, or something of that sort. However, they became eased into silence and their eyes hardly ever met. It became their new normal and it was okay because she understood why, but they never spoke of it.

          The true return was when she had to prepare herself for school. Neither of her friends had spoken to her or written her letters when she was taken to the institution. They were disturbed and perhaps forgotten about her within the muster of the beach parties and sleepovers that occurred night after night. They had to move on with their lives, she understood that. She had to understand.

          She wore a dress for the first day of school. She wrote about how she should wear more dresses because they felt more freeing than jeans, and she needed to feel free. So, she picked out a deep blue dress and wore black flats with them, tying up her hair in a neat ponytail. 

          Canvas was staring at a girl wearing a blue dress. She didn't recognize herself, but that was okay. She needed change.

 

They liked to stare because they heard. It was hard not to stare considering that she looked artificial. Nothing about her appeared real.

          She approached her friends with a forced smile and they nearly took a step back.

          "Wow, you're back," one of them said, brows furrowed. The others stayed silent.

          "Mm-hmm. Just came yesterday. How was your summer?" Her voice was stiff, almost robotic. She needed normal, something normal, to get out of this numbness that was eating her inside out. But she found out her friends weren't going to give her normal, not anymore.

          They held uneasy stares and another finally spoke, "We missed you."

         That wasn't what she wanted to hear. She wanted to hear stories, adventures, something to get her mind off of the fact that she was held captive in a place that was all smiles and happiness that was utterly disgustingly fake. 

          "Oh?" was all she said. 

          "I like your dress," someone piped up. "Where did you get it?"

          "You gave it to me for my birthday last year." She glanced down at the skirt of the dress and traced the hem lightly with the tips of her fingers.

          It was torture not being able to talk as if everything was normal. But they all knew that it wasn't because she wasn't. And that wasn't okay.

          "Well," she broke the silence, "Maybe we'll see each other in class later on. I still have to go to my locker. So, um, nice to see you guys again?" She headed down the hall with her chin leveled to the floor, but eyes gazing at the floor. They were going to whisper down the lane the same as the others; because how could they not?

          Just as she turned the hall, she was pulled to the side by a strong force and noticed that it was him. He smiled down at her, keeping his hand draped around her wrist, and said, "You're finally back, huh?" He was normal, unlike the others that stared because they heard.

     She genuinely smiled at him, feeling less stress on her cheeks than before. "Yesterday, actually." Goosebumps ran up her arm when she felt his fingers move against her hand. 

          "How does feel? Weird? Amazing?" His eyes lit up with amusement of his own comments. She always liked how casual he was, even when things were different.

          "I thought it would be natural, like walking after sitting down for long hours, but my friends can't manage a simple conversation. I hope it won't be like this for the rest of my life." She sighed and looked down when he squeezed her hand. Quickly catching herself, she kept her gaze on his eyes.

          "Don't worry. They just need time to adjust. Everyone does, including you." He removed his hand and she could still feel the warmth of his palm pressed against her skin. "But of course, if things don't smooth out fast enough, I'm always here for entertainment." He flashed her a contagious smile, causing her to smile back in return.

          The two stood in comfortable silence until one of his friends intruded. "Hey, Castor, do you have Willis fifth period? So far I'm the only one stuck with that b*****d."

          "No, I have Johnson." 

          "S**t. Thanks anyway." The boy left without glancing twice at her, and she was fine with it.

          She glanced down at her feet and felt his eyes on her. "I should probably head to my locker before class starts." Her voice was soft, hoping that he didn't hear so she didn't have to leave. 

          But he did, yet he didn't just say goodbye. "You still have the same locker?" He caught her gaze when she looked up.

          "Yeah." She bit down on her grin.

          They walked down the hall and up the stairs onto the second floor where her locker was. She fought the urge to hold his hand when their arms brushed against each other. Her mind flickered back to when he held her that night. It sent a burning chill throughout her body and she immediately shook the thought out of her mind. Happy thoughts, she reminded herself.

          "Do you have any classes with me?" he asked when they began to approach her locker. 

          She was supposed to be a junior. Her classes shouldn't mingle with his since he was a senior, but she skipped a grade in elementary school. They had classes together last year. And the year before. She was praying to some God that she had classes with him again this year. 

          They slipped out their schedules and studied both side-to-side. Third period, fourth, study hall, and last period. They were her new favorite classes, including AP calculus.

          "A hell lot more than last year," he joked, placing his schedule in his back pocket. 

          "Do you know how many classes you have with Henry?" she asked, opening her locker with a slight difficulty remembering the combination.

          He shrugged and leaned against the locker beside hers. "He probably wouldn't have many since he's not in any honor or AP classes."

          She nodded, noting that she wouldn't be seeing much of Henry unless he would have the same lunch period as her. "He's not a smartass like you, huh?" 

          "Or like you, Miss I-Skipped-A-Grade." He laughed when she scowled at his comment. "Don't worry, that was a compliment."

          "Sure, thanks." She closed her locker and zipped up her book bag. 

          The bell rang and Castor pushed himself off of the locker and started walking with her to her first class. "I guess I'll be seeing a lot of you now?" 

          She smiled to herself. "I suppose so."

          "Well, that's good."

          She looked up at him. "How?" she said a bit too curiously. She couldn't help it with the stares piercing her way.

          They stopped in front of her class and he stood close enough in front of her that she was able to smell his cologne. It was the same scent that he had when he held her that night. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

          "It means that I can keep an eye out on you for Henry." He smiled vaguely and then headed over to his just down the hall. She stared after him, unable to get rid of the scent.

Reviews

[Princess Cat]

I read these first two chapters and...wow. Your a powerful writer and i love how real Canvas is. I would love to read more! Also, can you take a look at my novel (only 1 chapter) and tell me what you think? Thanks! xCattyChicx

[Somehowe]

Thank-you so much! I will look at it when I get the chance in return for your kind review(: