Amelia leads me through street after street, and I start feeling tired from walking.
'Are you taking me somewhere far away so that you can kill me?' I ask, panting for breath.
Amelia shoves me. 'Ha, ha, very funny. Also, you need more exercise. We've barely walked half a mile.'
'You know, you could've told me about how far this place was and I would've brought my motorbike.' I say.
'Yeah, but like I said, you need more exercise. Oh, I think that's it!' she points to some blue banner in the distance excitedly.
I straighten up a little, squinting in the direction she's pointing at. 'Cool. Now can you carry me there?'
'That's enough, you sloth. Come on.' She grabs my arm and tugs me towards the shop.
She wasn't kidding when she said it was supposed to be one of the best shops. Stepping onto the clean white tiles, I look around wonderingly. I was expecting a tiny convenience store with a small section for art supplies, not an entire store full of it, even though Amelia had specified it was dedicated to art. The shop surprisingly had a lot of customers, though having just recently opened.
I dart to an aisle filled with oil paints and tools where two teens are bending down to inspect some brushes and tentatively lift up a painting knife. 'Oh my god.' I turn around to look at Amelia. 'This is awesome. I can finally get around to doing those Bob Ross tutorials.'
Amelia grins at me. 'I knew you would like this place.'
'Like' is an understatement. I've always liked going shopping for art supplies, but most of the time I would go to Walmart or someplace similar, someplace where they had only a small section for art. Something about shopping for something I like relaxes me, and as I inhale the clean smell of the shop, I can feel my muscles loosening and my breathing get deeper.
I don't know what items I want exactly, as I never banked on an art shop actually opening. I scratch the back of my neck and look around, reading the signs for different art categories.
'What were you planning on buying?' Amelia asks me.
'I don't know. Just a few oil paints and some canvases. But I kinda want a new sketchbook. And some charcoal sticks. I want everything in this store.' I groan. 'Oil paints are expensive enough, and here I am wanting Copics.'
'I have no idea what a Copic is, but I'm going to pretend like I know.' Amelia says. I roll my eyes at her and put the painting knife back on the shelf, stepping back to take a better look at the items.
'You know what, I'll just get the paint and some canvases and come back some other day for other stuff.'
'Mhm.' Amelia's checking her phone, leaning against a shelf. I shake my head at her and pick out the things I want, then drag Amelia around to look at some other stuff.
'What even is this?' I say, picking up a chisel of some kind. 'Looks like something used for sculpting but this isn't even the sculpting section.'
'I don't know, art is weird.' Amelia glances up from her phone. 'Bruh, your new video just hit a hundred thousand views and it's been like four hours since you uploaded.'
'Wait what?' I straighten up to check Amelia's phone. It is true. 'Huh. That's cool.'
'"Cool"? Seriously? This is epic!' Amelia looks excitedly at me, then rolls her eyes when she sees no reaction on my face. 'Here I am getting excited for your successes.'
'I have you to convey my emotions,' I say, placing the tool back on the shelf. 'Ok, I'm done looking around this place. Wanna pay?'
Amelia shoots me a death glare and I laugh. 'Just kidding! Let's go.'
I pay for my items and we go out of the shop. I can't wait to get home and open these new paints, but Amelia has other plans.
'Where are we going?' I ask, confused, as Amelia starts down a street heading away from our apartments.
'There's a really good café down here.' Amelia says, pointing down the street. 'Let's go have something to drink.'
'Okay.' I start walking alongside her. 'How far is it from here?' I didn't notice it much when I was in the shop, but my feet are starting to ache really badly.
'Just a turn down this street.' Amelia says. I can feel myself itching to sit down on a chair, so I start walking faster. Amelia offers to carry my canvases and paints, but I decline.
'Honestly, I should call in a trainer for you. You clearly haven't exercised in the past, what, six months?'
'One year, actually.' I put in. 'But stop talking about my fitness.'
Amelia shakes her head. I zone off for a while, watching the clouds move and relying on Amelia's guidance for which way to go. Watching the vehicles go whizzing by reminds me that I'm not the only person in this world who might be doubtful and stressed about something and that there are possibly millions of other people who are trying to take tough decisions. The thought comforts me a little, and I look back ahead to pay attention to where we're going.
Amelia takes my arm and turns to push open the door of a shop. I look up at the signboard of the café before entering, even though my brain doesn't really note the name. The café has a nice atmosphere, relaxing and pleasant, much different from where Amelia works. Not many people are there, which eases me up a little bit because I don't really like crowds.
'I wanted to apply for a job in here at first, but there weren't any positions open at the time.' Amelia sighs. We choose a table near a window and I sink down into the soft seat of a chair.
'Ohhh,' I kick off my shoes and massage my feet. 'Oh my god.'
Amelia giggles. 'That sounds so wrong.'
I reach across the table with my free hand to hit her. 'Shut up.'
Hi there! Thank you for reading so far.
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Have a good day/night wherever you are!
Amelia gets us each a drink, and we sit by the window, sipping it. I stir my milkshake with my straw absentmindedly, my thoughts going haywire. I'm brought back to reality when Amelia snaps her fingers in front of me.
'Honestly, you zone out too much. I asked you something.'
'Huh?' I blink.
A crease appears in between Amelia's eyebrows. 'I'm worried about you.'
I make a 'pffft' sound with my mouth and wave my hand indifferently. 'I'm alright, you dunce.'
Amelia laughs, her tone full of scorn. 'Sure. You're alright. I'm not stupid, Art.'
'Really?' I take a sip of my milkshake. The cool vanilla flavor flows down my throat. 'I thought you were.'
Amelia kicks me under the table, and I reflexively kick her back. She lets out a loud 'Ow!' and rubs her leg, glaring at me, her exclamation making the pair nearest to us turn around and stare at her. I laugh a little and resume drinking my milkshake.
'Seriously, Art. It really feels like you're not too well. Just tell me what's wrong.'
'That sentence framing is so wrong,' I say evasively. 'You should probably take English classes.'
Amelia heaves a deep sigh and buries her face in her hands momentarily. In that instant, guilt overwhelms me, and I almost spill everything. Luckily, I remind myself of where I am, and manage to keep myself from letting it all away. Besides, if I actually told her, wouldn't it just worry her more? It's probably best to not tell her. But then again…
'I'm just worried, okay? It's fine if it's something personal, but you look so worn out right now.'
I nod and look down at the table, slurping milkshake through my straw noisily to make the atmosphere less awkward. Eventually, something in my mind gives up and I set the chilly glass down, clearing my throat.
'I think I'm gay.'
I lift my eyes from the table to Amelia's face, trying to discern her reaction. She's just frozen, clutching her glass of Coke in her hand. I pick up my milkshake again and continue drinking like nothing happened.
Amelia says something, but I can't understand what it is because it's more like a croak.
'What? I didn't hear that.'
Amelia shakes her head, clears her throat, and speaks again. 'For who?'
'Kara.' I say without hesitation.
Amelia sighs in relief, and I realize that she'd frozen like that because she thought I liked HER. The thought makes me laugh, and Amelia begins to laugh too.
'I don't even know why I thought that.' She says, managing to not get embarrassed. 'So, Kara, huh? Yeah, she's pretty hot.'
I laugh again. 'You say that like you've met her.'
Amelia widens her eyes in mock seriousness. 'Hey, you never know. I might've seen her.'
'Yeah, sure.' I gulp the rest of my milkshake down, and it makes my throat strangely cold. I clear my throat multiple times to get the feeling out.
Amelia's face splits in a wide grin. 'You're actually gay? Really?'
I press my lips together, trying to hide my amusement. 'Damn, you look excited. I don't really know, though. It's just…Kara.' If I was like normal people and could blush all the time, I'd be blushing right now. My face feels hot, at any rate.
Amelia shakes her head, still grinning. 'Wow. Just. Wow.'
I don't know what to respond with, so I reach out to grab my glass of milkshake, then remember that it's empty. I withdraw my hand awkwardly and casually scratch at the back of my neck.
'Then why do you look so rough? Being gay isn't bad…' Amelia's grin slowly slips from her face as she realizes what's up. 'Oh. You're not sure if…'
'If Kara likes me back.' I complete her sentence and close my eyes. I shake my head a little. 'I don't know what to do.'
Amelia reaches out to place her hand over mine. 'She does. Or if she doesn't, she will. It's impossible not to like you.'
I smile at her. 'Oh, really?'
'Ok, I take that back.' Amelia laughs, and I laugh along with her.
'That's what I thought.'
Amelia withdraws her hand, still smiling. 'Don't worry about Kara. She definitely likes you, everyone can tell.'
'Really?' My tone brightens, and I feel a smile tugging at my mouth. 'Are you sure?'
'Well, why else do you think everyone ships you two?'
I laugh in surprise. 'I thought that was because we joke about being gay for each other.'
'Seriously?' Amelia smacks the table. 'You know less than I thought you would. You don't have to worry about this at all. In fact…' Amelia's face takes on a devilish grin.
I raise my eyebrows, then realize what she's thinking. 'Amelia. Amelia, no. I won't let you.'
She laughs. 'Don't worry, I won't.'
I almost believe her, but then I catch the glint in her eye. 'Amelia. I swear to god, if you tell Kara…'
She throws her hands up. 'I won't! I told you I won't! Do you seriously trust me that much?���
I roll my eyes, not believing her for one second. 'I'm not letting you join us in the next video.'
Amelia widens her eyes innocently. 'You wouldn't! I swear I won't tell her. I'm serious.'
I can tell she's not joking anymore, but I ask her even then. 'Promise?'
Amelia exhales loudly, then nods. 'Promise.'
I lean back, satisfied. 'Cool.'
'Will you let me on your video, then?'
I nod, then check myself. 'If you promise not to tell her.'
Amelia sighs in exasperation. 'I already promised.'
'Well then, I'll let you.'
Amelia lays a hand on her chest and sighs to show fake relief, and takes a huge sip of her Coke, swallowing before talking. 'Can't wait to talk to Kara, by the way. I like her better than you.'
'Oi.' I reach out and poke her on her shoulder. 'Admit it. You like me better.'
'Fine, fine.' Amelia laughs. 'I like you better.'
'Can't wait to tell that to Kara.' I say jokingly, and laugh when she shoots me a glare.
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