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“Apparently you didn’t get the ability to accept help when it’s offered,” he points out, and a laugh leaves my mouth. I tap my laptop’s mouse pad and place the coffee on the table.
“If we keep chatting, I’ll be finished next year.”
Lorenzo then gestures his mouth zipped closed, and turns toward the laptop. I look at him a little longer, my face unableto hold a grin. What would I do without him as my best friend, I don’t know. I hope I never do.
Chapter 41 – Quarantaquattro
Val
Seven thirty a.m. I think I finally have a concept for my next project, and got an hour of rest in between. Even though I proved my earlier theory of sleep making me more tired, I can say I achieved a lot. I have more time to do the rest, and I’ve done a great job for now. The event planning is almost done, thanks to Oliver’s help, but I can’t complete it until I’ve found a second winner. Maybe I should ask Aurora to introduce me to some of her classmates. That way the trip won’t be awkward. Then I can finish everything else.
I rub my eyes and get off the chair, walking blindly into the kitchen for a drink of water. The whole house is dark, only a glimpse of light shining through the window. It’s dawn, so I’m not really surprised. When I get to the kitchen, I let my hand brush the wall in search for the light switch, until I get to a small bump. I switch it on, the light attacking my eyes for a second, so I squint while I get accustomed to the bright glare, rubbing myeyes again, before turning to the sink, where my mom stands, starting at me. I jump, closing my eyes at her sudden sight.
“God, Mom. Why are you standing there in the dark? Why are you even awake?” I ask her. She pushes her body off the sink and straightens her posture.
“Well, I woke up at four to get some water and saw a light in the hallway. I was even more surprised when it stayed on, until now.” She raises her eyebrows as she waits for my reply. I press my lips into a thin line. I was fine last night, I thought I might be able to get away with staying up so late. “What are you doing awake at this time?” she asks.
“I’m working, Mom. I have stuff to think about and plan?” I walk toward to fridge, opposite where mom’s standing, and open it to grab a bottle of water.
“At four in the morning? How long have you been working? Did you even sleep?”
I open the water bottle, hesitating to answer. “Yes. I slept. For one hour,” I admit, taking a sip from the bottle. Mom frowns in front of me, sighing. “Ma, I have a lot to do. I have to catch up, and I barely have any time during the day.” I raise the bottle and drink again until it’s half empty, then close it and place it on the counter.
“And you can do that slowly,” she says, walking closer to me. She places her hands on either side of my face and leans her head to the side, analyzing me. “You look dead, Vi. Did you talk to Oliver about this?”
“Mom, I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’ll get through this, like I do everything. This is nothing for me,” I tell her, grabbing one of her arms and lowering it. She drops her second one with it.
“Just please don’t overwork yourself. I need you here both physically and mentally,” she tells me, and I smile.
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” I assure her. I know all her intentions are good when it comes to me. She worries more than she shouldthough and tries her best to make sure both me and Ellie are well. If anything could stop me from working too hard, it would be her. If she told me to drop in front of a car in the middle of the road, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it. I owe her that much, and more. Which is exactly why, at seven something in the morning, after two days of almost no sleep at all, I promise to actually get some sleep when I get back home. For me, and for her.
This time, everyone is here before me. Wow, so it’s none or all I guess. They’re all standing next to the same lockers, chatting. I walk toward them, making out more of their features. They all look lively, and it makes me wonder if it’s because I’m dead or, now my eyes are just failing me completely. Either way, my legs continue until I get to them.
“Hello everyone,” I vaguely greet. All three of them look at me, shifting their attention. “Why are you all early?” I ask.
Aurora’s the one to answer me. “I came with Elias today, who’s always early. Lorenzo arrived after us,” she explains. And I’m the last one here, of course. I wipe my face with the palms of my hand before looking at them again. Who cares who came early or not. I just have to get through the day. I might even leave before last period, though I still have to look for winners. I should do that.
“Violet?” Elias’s voice wakes me back up, making me jump back to reality. I jerk my head toward him, standing to my left. “We were talking to you.”
“I’m sorry, I zoned out. Need anything?” I ask. He looks at me for second before shaking his head, a soft smile on his face. Has his smile always been this soft? Maybe it’s my lack of energythat’s making me think that. Yes, that’s it. That’s a reasonable explanation.
He turns back toward the others, continuing with their conversation. A conversation I barely hear or focus on, understanding nothing. God, I forgot to get coffee. Maybe I’ll skip first period and go to the shop. It’s that or sleeping through it, so it doesn’t really matter. Sleeping through it will just make me more tired, so the other option feels more efficient. I guess I’m skipping first period, then.
I notice that I’m still standing up, and the urge to sit down takes over me. I close my eyes again, refocusing my energy. I can do this. I have energy, it’s somewhere in there. I got this.
When it’s time to leave to class, Elias offers to accompany me. His lesson is next to mine, unlike Aurora and Lorenzo, so he walks with me anyway. I guess it’s a good thing; I need someone to keep me awake anyway.
“So, how are you? You look dead,” he mentions. Do I still? I literally spent thirty minutes this morning trying to make sure I looked at least half human. Is it still noticeable?
“I’m great, just tired.” My lips curl upward, my head twisted toward him as we continue through the hall.
“I figured that was it. Lorenzo told me you have a lot of work going on.”
Of course he did. I get he’s looking out for me, but he needs to more careful about what he’s saying and to who.
“Lorenzo talks a lot.”
“He does. He also mentioned that your father died.”
