5

                                    

                                          
Iris had been staring at a blank canvas for the past half hour and nothing was coming to her mind. Her art portfolio for colleges were due in two months and she had to get started on eight pieces. They all had to be different mediums and maybe a few extra pieces if she time. She had two that were done already and no inspiration for the next five. 
She had no idea where she was going with these art pieces. The first two had come to her with ease but now... she had no idea where to start.
It was frustrating.
It would probably help if Jonathan didn't consume her every thought. She'd heard that he woke up but nothing since then. She'd heard rumors here and there that he was home now but nothing concrete. 
Jordan was at football practice and she told him to get her some information on Jonathan. He was still ignorning her and she definitely wasn't going to call his mom even though she said it would be alright.
They'd had a long talk the day that Jonathan was admitted to the hospital but it did nothing to ease her guilt. 
Now, she just wished she'd stood up for herself so she wouldn't have to go through all of this.
She'd stayed after school because her house did not contain the quiet space she needed to get work done. 
But this was also proving to be non-effective. 
She used to have a lot of inspiration but lately she didn't have any. Her mind had been clouded lately and art was supposed to be her outlet but she couldn't figure out what to do. 
After another fifteen minutes she decided to pack her bags and head home. She had time to work through this artist block.
Fall came in with full force this year and the summer warmth she loved was gone. She pulled on her jacket and headed outside. 
There were different colored leaves everywhere and they crunched as she walked to her car. 
While she did love summer, fall was her favorite season. It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold. The leaves turned the most beautiful shades of brown, red and green. The crisp air came in gently and she loved it. 
She could hear whistles blowing from football practice and probably the cheerleaders too. They often practiced at the same time but on different fields.  She spotted her brothers car as she headed to her own. He wouldn't be home for another hour. 
After waiting for the car to warm up she peeled off and headed home. 
She saw an unfamiliar car in the driveway when she arrived and hoped that whoever it was would be leaving soon. 
Her mom and dad were always hosting guests that she had no idea about. Then she was forced to socialize when she really didn't want to.
"I'm home!" she yelled when she got inside.
She was met with the faint smell of cologne that smelled oddly familiar. It was so familiar she stopped dead in her tracks hoping that it wasn't who she thought it was.
He had a particular smell and she knew it like the back of her hand. 
She heard laughter as she removed her shoes and headed for the kitchen. 
When she saw who was there, she instantly wished she could disappear. 
Feeling herself go pale, she feared she might throw up, pass out, or run.  Whichever came first in her fight or flight instinct. 
She paused and turned around hoping to run before someone saw but her mom called her name, "Iris, me say hi," she smiled.
"Oh, hah. Right, I didn't want to interrupt,"