“Yeah, I lost track of time,” I explain as I grab a bottle of water. “God, my eyes feel like sandpaper.”
“Want some eye drops?”
My gaze snaps to Noah. “Do you have some?”
“Yeah.” He walks to his room then comes back with the bottle. “Tip your head back.”
I do as he says, and when he’s put a couple of drops in each eye, Noah says, “Keep them closed for a minute.”
“You must’ve gotten a lot of experience helping Kao,” I mention while I wait for a minute to pass.
“You have no idea,” he mutters, drawing a smile from me.
When I blink, my eyes feel so much better.
“What’s this?” Noah asks, and I watch as he checks the containers. The frown returns to his forehead. “You didn’t eat?”
I shrug again. “Lost track of time, remember?”
Noah’s eyes sharpen on me. “I heard Kennedy is back.”
“Yeah.” I take a couple of sips from my water bottle. “Great news, right?”
“Is it?” he asks as he comes to lean back against the counter next to me. He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m no expert, but I’ve seen a hell of a lot between these walls, and keeping your feelings to yourself never ends well for either party involved.”
I pull a face and pretending I have no idea what Noah is talking about, I ask, “What are you talking about? Who has feelings for who?”
Noah’s gaze sharpens on me. “I have an IQ of hundred and sixty, remember?”
My shoulders slump. “Sometimes, feelings don’t matter.”
“Yeah? You really believe that?”
Needing for Noah to drop the subject, I lift an eyebrow at him. “Are we talking about Forest and me or you and Carla?”
Noah stares at me for a moment, then he lets out a deep breath and pushes away from the counter. “Get some sleep, Aria.”
I feel like crap for saying that to Noah, but I’m not ready to talk to anyone about my problems.
Chapter 15
FOREST
When I wake up and find the space beside me empty, I shoot up into a sitting position. It takes me a moment to remember I fell asleep working on an assignment while waiting for Aria.
I spot the laptop on my desk and notice the light was turned off and my door shut.
Worried about Aria, I quickly relieve myself and brush my teeth before I head to her room. I knock and pushing the door open, I see her bed hasn’t been slept in.
I check the time, and a frown forms between my brows.
Fuck, it’s six am. Did she paint right through the night?
I walk to the kitchen to fix myself a cup of coffee, and my eyes fall on the containers on the counter. I open them, and seeing the uneaten sandwich and cake, a sense of dread washes over me.
This is not like Aria. She’s gotten lost in her painting before, but she always ate and slept.
I get a cup of coffee and go back to my room so I can get ready for the day. While drinking the beverage, I shoot Aria a text.
F: Are you painting?
The message goes through, but she doesn’t read it. I set my phone down and go shower. When I’m dressed, I check my messages, and seeing Aria still hasn’t read the text, I tuck the device in my pocket and head out of the suite.
I stop by the restaurant to get Aria a cappuccino and cream cheese bagel before I walk to the art building.
Entering the class, I find Aria painting with her earphones in, which means she would’ve heard the text when it came through.
I set the cup and bagel down and tugging one of the earphones out, I say, “Why are you ignoring me?” Her head snaps up, and I take in the dark circles under her eyes. “What’s going on with you, Aria?”
“Nothing,” she answers, and when she lifts her hand to continue painting, I take the brush and palette from her hands.
“What the hell, Forest!”
I set them down, and feeling the first licks of anger, I pin her with a scowl. “Did I do something to piss you off?”
Aria’s face instantly becomes emotionless, as if she’s flipped a switch, and I fucking hate when she does that. “Don’t do that. We’re going to talk, and you’re going to be emotionally present.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “It’s obvious you woke up in a shitty mood. Don’t take it out on me.”
I take a step closer to her. “You haven’t eaten. You barely slept. You ignore my messages.” I lean into her. “And I’m the one who’s in a shitty mood? What the fuck?”
Aria gets up and takes a step back away from me. “Yeah, maybe this thing between us isn’t working anymore.”
Shock ripples over me. “What do you mean?”
She shrugs. “We should’ve stuck to being friends.”
“Hell, no,” I snap. I close the distance between Aria and me, and grabbing hold of her, I crash my mouth to hers. I show Aria this wasn’t a mistake, that we work, and that we are far from over.