The day dragged on painfully slow and I was amazed when I made it through. It was just after six when Gio pulled up outside the old building. I removed my seat belt and sighed loudly, turning to face him.

"You don't look tired. I'm convinced you're a robot" I tell him, taking in his appearance. He looked bright and so full of life.

"For someone so young you seem to have zero energy all the damn time" Gio points out the obvious. I throw my head back and close my eyes, feeling tired.

"Today was tiring, Gio. We went to every gallery and I don't even know why. All I know is I'm tired and my eyes hurt."

"My eyes hurt everytime I see you abandon your paintings 'cos it's just 'not looking right', Kaia!"

"Oh shut the front door! Sometimes things don't go as planned. I need to work on deciding what exactly I wanna paint first --"

"-- instead of being impulsive and starting without a clue" Gio finishes my sentence.

I nod my head in agreement. He was spot on.

Gio removes his seat belt and turns to face me a little more. As he took off his glasses and loosened his scarf, I noticed that behind all that he did look weary and tired.

"You look different without all that" I point out, offering him a smile.

"I know" He responds, chuckling.

"I'm sorry for being bratty. I just have alot on my mind right now" I explain, feeling horrible for how I've acted all week.

Gio gives me a soft smile and shifts abit in his seat.

"I know, child. Your mother informed me you've been down lately with your boyfriend being away and your parents situation. Things are tough for you."

I didn't know what to say. I usually kept things bottled inside but Gio knew everything, especially since he and mom kept in contact.

"Kaia, do you know what's wrong with your work? Don't say you're not good enough because darling you are" He asks, staring into my eyes.

I look down and exhale, I have no clue.

"No, I don't" I say truthfully.

"Well let me tell you. The problem is your mind is full. It's so full that there's no more room for imagination and inspiration. You've lost all that good stuff. That's why you're unable to finish anything. Halfway through the painting you lose focus and concentration. You lose the purpose of the piece" Giovanni slowly explains.

I listened carefully and for the first time in a while, I fully understood what he was talking about. All this time I just lacked imagination.  My work was always missing something. It lacked something. It lacked me.

I sat still in the car for a bit. Gio quietly got out and made his way inside the building. I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my gallery, all of my work from a year ago looked great. For starters, they were all complete. It had me written all over it. I smiled as I clicked on my first painting I did in college. It was bursting with creativity.

My phone buzzes and a text notification covers the top of the screen. My heart beats a little faster and I scream internally as I see Ash's name on the screen. I don't hesitate in opening the text. I have so much to tell him.

Ash:
Angel, sorry for not keeping in touch. I'll explain everything soon. Miss you lots xx

"Wait.. that's it?" I muttered in disbelief.

I re-read the message a few more times before trying to understand what he meant. Although he said he would explain, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"Why couldn't he just explain through text message?" I wondered.

I didn't waste anymore time. I quickly replied to his message instead of letting it sit.

Looking forward to this explanation. I miss you so so so much it's sickening. Pls come home soon! I love you

And sent.

**

After another ten minutes of waiting for a reply from Ash, I decided to get out of the car. I guess he must be too busy to text back.

I went inside the building and found Gio sitting by one of my unfinished paintings. He didn't look angry or mad, he looked like he was observing. Weird.

"What's up with you?" I asked as I came to sit beside him. He glanced at me then back to the painting again, not saying a word.

"Hello? Earth to Gio!" I called again, waving a hand infront of his face to annoy him.

"You're such a child, Kaia" Gio tells me, swatting my hand away. A small smile on his face.

I didn't pester him further, instead I tried to see what he saw. It was my painting of Ashton but Gio looked like he saw through the painting. The way he looked at it was so intense, like he saw through it's soul. I was kinda freaked out about it.

"Have I ever told you that this piece, although unfinished, is brilliant?"

"How could you say that? It's not even done" I answer back, looking at him all crazy. The painting was only half done, how could he see it as brilliant? All I see is a painting that's not finished yet.

Gio laughs at me and shakes his head before standing up.

"You need to open your eyes more, child" He says before leaving me alone in the room.

**

I thought about what Gio said, about opening my eyes. I didn't know what he meant but it was something I would try to find out. As far as I knew, my eyes were open. But maybe not in the way that it should be. It's all too confusing.

"Ready to go?" A familiar voice calls out to me.

I look up and gasp when I see who's standing infront of me.

It was Axel. .only different?

***

Quick a/n:
Sorry for the late update
My WP is playing up. Had to rewrite this chapter like a hundred times cos it kept deleting itself omg so fricking annoyin!
Anyway hope u enjoyed it.
More soon xo