I woke up as the sun began to rise. There was a light knock on my door. "Fall?" I say. Her name is all I've said this trip. She entered. She gave a light smile, which shocked me. The dark holes that ran through her eyes lightened up a bit, this time less shocking, since I had been expecting a certain kindness behind them since I appeared. She's in her pajamas, which look very cozy. I must look ridiculous, fully dressed in bed, shoes and all. I hope she doesn't care. What am I saying? Of course she doesn't care.
"Drina. I wanted to say welcome. It appears the way I greeted you yesterday was inappropriate. The truth is, I had a strange dream last night and honestly I've learned," Could it be the dream I as well had? "I'd like for you to be my friend. You are my niece, afterall. I don't want to be a boring aunt. Have you met your Aunt Liz yet? She's quite the bore." She gave a light laugh, and to my surprise I laughed too, because I had met Liz. That woman had no life. The first time I met her, she discussed politics with me and gossiped about every possible celebrity that had some sort of scandal. I was a small eight year old child that only liked bugs and rocks at the time, so you can only imagine how confused I was and how, well, bored I was.
"Liz was very dull indeed, could only talk about other people's lives since she hadn't her own."
"Just thank the elements you never had to live with her!" She looked exhausted at the thought of Liz. She looked at my room and changed the subject. "I was wondering, maybe you'd like to go shopping later on? To get some paintings. We can hang them up in your room. It looks too plain in here. I know you leave at the end of the summer, but you might as well feel comfortable away from home."
Was she reading my mind? "I would like that very much, Fall. Thank you." I smiled and she smiled back, then turned around and left the room. I got up and looked out the window. It was sunny and warm, so I decided to go with shorts and, I know this is ridiculous, a sweater. I put on my boots, and brushed my hair. My phone rang loudly from underneath the pillow on my mattress, where I usually put my phone. I went over to it. "Hello?" I say. No answer. "Hello?" Nothing. I sigh. Suddenly, I hear movement on the other line. "Oh my God is someone there or not?" I was growing rather impatient I admit. Who calls and then doesn't say anything? Honestly, who even calls me in the first place?
"Drina." a voice said. A deep, male voice, that I knew all too well. A voice I wish I could forget.
"Vincent." I say his name monotonously. What could he want? Why does he have to do this now?
Silence, then, "I miss you."
"Well I don't miss you." I say sharply, as tears prick my eyes. "If you excuse me, I'm going out with my aunt. I really don't have time for this sudden, useless call."
"Drina I know I messed up, but please-"
"No, Vincent. Goodbye."
I hung up. I was so angry, I wanted to scream and kick and run. I couldn't believe after all this time, he picked now to call me. I almost forgot. I could have forgotten. He called back, so I turned off my phone. I take a deep breathe and try to keep my thoughts away from him.
Sitting in Fall's car, I couldn't help but keep thinking of Vincent. Fall comes into the car, smiling and blushing. "Sorry I took so long getting out, I misplaced my purse, and you know how important those things are. But I'm here now! Let's go!" said Fall, so excitedly. She was so happy to finally have someone to talk to and go out with, you could see it in the way she smiled at me and the light in her cold eyes. In a sense, I understood. It's been a year, almost two, since I've really had a friend. Maybe getting to know Fall would be good for me. She could help me forget. Could she not?
She pulled into an empty spot and turned to me. "I know this mall is kinda small, but there's this amazing art store. It's called 'Nostalgia.' I haven't been there in eight years, so nostalgia is definitely right." Fall informed me. I was excited to get paintings for my room. Even if I was just here temporarily, it would be nice to feel a little at home. At my actual house, my walls were barely existent. Posters, drawings, pictures, letters, you name it. If it could be hung up in my room, I'd hang it up.
Just because I hung up a lot of things doesn't mean I wasn't picky, and Fall could see this. All I could hope was that she wasn't annoyed. "None of them are really sticking out to me." I say to Fall, for some reason needing to justify my pickiness. We had practically gone through every painting, sketch, and photo in this building. I just couldn't get a vibe, at least not a good one, with any of them. I needed something that I could look at and say "wow" to when I woke up in the morning. I need something that fit my personality. Humming to the song playing on the radio, I turn to Fall. "I feel like the only thing I've enjoyed here so far is the music." I confessed, before going back to humming. Fall laughed, setting down the poster she was holding and confessed just the same to me.
"I guess this place isn't as I remembered. Eight years is a long time after all. Listen, this was going to be my last resort since I'm embarrassed of this, but I don't want to let you down. I suppose I have to do what I have to do to help my," She paused with a complex look spreading across her face, "Niece in a time of need. I draw and paint a lot, and I have a lot of sketches and things you could hang on your wall if you want."
"You're an artist then?"
"I guess. All throughout high school, I was in art class and in cooking. I wanted to be a chef, but, it just," She paused for a moment. "It just didn't work out."
"Why not?"
"Ah, it doesn't matter, Drina. You'll know in time, I promise."
"This may sound rude, and I mean no offense," I say, because I don't know how to interact nicely with people, "But how exactly do you afford your house? I mean, it's very nice looking, and I'm unsure of how you afford it if you have no occupation."
"I do have an occupation, actually, I mean I suppose. I sell my art. The thing really keeping my financially stable is, well, after my father, your grandfather, your mom's dad, whatever, passed away, he left a majority of his savings to me, likely knowing that I wouldn't be able to thrive without it. That left me with a lot of money."
"Is that why my mom doesn't like you?" I really didn't mean to say that.
"She's always hated me, but that's okay. She had a great daughter."
I smiled, and together we walked out to her car, and drove back home.
Something was wrong in the way she said Sea had a great daughter.