Eternal Blossom

Aiyana looked in the mirror, checking herself out after she’d put on a bra and finished putting herself together. Bras were detestable things; a cage for your tits that bit into your sides and the tops of your shoulders. If she was home, she was always without it, as she had never enjoyed wearing them.

Seeing her dry, straight hair falling around her shoulders, and her smoky eye makeup done in shades of grey fading into black, she decided to forgo the winged eyeliner, and instead just applied a layer of mascara. Figuring that was about as good as it was going to get, she straightened her shirt again, and walked back to her room to put on her trusty old high top black converse.

Once they were on, she got to her feet and made her bed so it would stay nice and cozy warm for when she climbed back into it that night. She picked up her discarded clothes and threw them into the hamper before she grabbed her purse and dismissed the idea of cleaning the living room, deciding she would clean it when she got home.

She locked the door behind herself and hopped onto her bike. Once the engine roared to life under her, she pulled her hair around her shoulder, braiding it quickly and efficiently so it wouldn’t get too tangled as she rode over to La Choza, where she would meet up with Brian.

As soon as she parked her baby and climbed off, she took out her braid as she walked into the restaurant, her eyes scanning the room for Brian. She finally spotted him in a booth in the far back corner, and started to head for him, almost reaching his table when a hand clasped onto her wrist. She heard a voice that made her shut her eyes in complete irritation, her face falling into a hard grimace, “Well, well, well. Guess you finally decided to join me again, Little Blossom.”

“No, I have not. I’m actually here for lunch with someone else. Let me go,” she said, turning to face the asshole in question, Lance, her ex. Lance was 6’0, tan in complexion, and had jet black hair. He had tattoos covering most of his body, and a lot of them had been done by her own hands. His crooked aristocratic nose sat between two hunter green eyes that held nothing but cold malice.

“Bitch, I didn’t ask,” he growled lowly as his grip tightened on her wrist.

She knew better than to try to pull out of his grip, knowing it would just hurt her further. He had a grip like steel when he was angry. “Lance, let me go. We are over, and have been over for a year. Go back to your lunch, and leave me alone.”

Just then, Brian walked up, and put a hand on her shoulder as he spoke from behind her, “I believe Aiyana asked you to let her go and eat your damn meal,” he spoke calmly.

“I didn’t ask for you to butt in, you pompadoured ass hat,” Lance said with malice in his voice.

“No, but apparently you don’t know how to treat a lady, either,” Brian said, his irritation beginning to show in his voice.

“Lance, please. Just let me go, and leave me alone,” Aiyana pleaded as she felt Brian step around her, moving his body in front of her own.

“I won’t ask you again, ‘Lance’,” Brian sneered, his hand landing on the forearm of the hand that was holding Aiyana’s wrist.

Lance looked down at Brian’s hand when it touched him, and fire raged in his soulless hunter orbs as he gave the other man an evil smile. Aiyana, having a feeling she knew what was coming, pulled on her arm, trying to get free and grabbed the back of Brian’s shirt, trying to get him out of the way of Lance’s anger.

Just then, she felt a pop, and her face twisted in pain as Lance pulled against her attempt to escape, and raised his fist to connect with Brian’s jaw.

Brian shot into action when his head was thrown sideways from the blow, and punched Lance in the nose before coming down on the arm holding Aiyana, breaking Lance’s hold on her. He twisted around quickly, and pulled Lance’s arm up roughly behind his back so hard it caused Lance to cry out in pain.

The manager finally walked over, and yelled at them to break it up. Aiyana held her elbow and her arm to her body, and marveled at how well Brian dealt with Lance. Brian walked out of the restaurant, pushing Lance ahead of him as he kept ahold of his arm, jerking it upwards harder when he hesitated.

Aiyana apologized to the manager on the way out, following Brian. As she got out the door, she heard Brian talking harshly in Lance’s ear, but couldn’t quite make out what he was saying. Suddenly, Brian let Lance go with a shove forward, and told him to get the hell out of there and never bother Aiyana again.

Lance stumbled forward and turned around with a glare aimed at Aiyana as he head off for his own bike. Brian kept an eye on him as he left the parking lot, only letting the tension out of his shoulders when he felt Aiyana’s arm slide around his waist as she pressed herself into his side. His arm came to rest around her shoulders, and he kissed the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry, Brian. Thank you for coming to my aid,” she murmured quietly from beside him, kissing his cheek in thanks.

“Think nothing of it. He shouldn’t have put his hands on you. Let me see your arm,” he said as he turned to face her. He saw tear marks on her cheeks, and he saw the bruising evident on her wrist already. What he wasn’t expecting was for her to raise her arm over her head and then lower it and pull it behind herself. The resulting pop made his stomach turn over uneasily as he saw the joint pop back into place. It didn’t look like it had been fully out of place, but that still had to hurt like hell.

“Jesus, Aiyana. Are you ok?” He asked frantically, his hand gently moving over her now normal looking shoulder.

“I’m fine,” she said after taking a deep breath. “I have super mobile joints. Sometimes things just move farther than they should.” She waved it off like it was nothing, and looked at his face where Lance had hit him. There was already a dark bruise forming, and she cringed.

“Sorry he hit you. That looks like it hurts. Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Come on, lets go eat. I’m starving,” he chuckled and turned towards the door. He may have a bruised jaw, but Lance had a broken nose. He knew the manager, and knew they’d let them sit down and eat once he explained what happened to the manager.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, and led her back into the restaurant where he spoke to the manager, and they were seated shortly. They perused the menu’s, and made an order for some enchiladas and tacos.

“Want tell me about the asshole that bruised your wrist,” Brian asked her as he started eating the chips and queso.

“Not much to tell, really. I dated him for some time, and things were fine until he decided I was some weak damsel that needed him,” she replied calmly.

Brian smirked, “and I’m guessing that didn’t sit well with you.”

“Not in the least. I may have my weak days, but I’m still fully capable of taking care of myself. The final straw was the day that he hit me,” she responded prior to taking a sip of her Dr. Pepper.

“He actually hit you? That asshole!” Brian was seething now at the idea of someone putting their hands on such a kind and obviously tough person.

“He did, but when he left to go drink off his irritation I left. I also left him a note on the counter informing him just what type of pig I thought he was. I’ve made it clear to him every time he contacts me that we’re done, but he doesn’t want to accept it.”

“If he contacts you again, let me know,” Brian said as he grinned over at her mischievously.

“I won’t, but I truly appreciate the offer. I should have seen it coming when I was with him. He was verbally and emotionally abusive for a while before that,” Aiyana moved so one of her feet was under her in the chair, dangling the other now to swing back and forth. She was feeling a bit anxious with all the talk of her ex, but she was trying to keep it contained.

“Actually, I won’t be able to ride my bike back to the house with my shoulder like this. Do you mind if I call Rayne? She can ride it back for me, I guess.”

At that moment, their food arrived, and they dug in. The table was companionable in silence, and not uncomfortable. Aiyana was very grateful of this because she knew the interaction with Lance could have made the conversation and meal awkward. She didn’t notice the little looks Brian kept giving her.

Brian looked at her after taking a bite of his meal, his eyebrow raising, “Are you talking about that classic Harley that Matt was telling me about? Shit, I’ll ride it to your place and you can drive my car.”

“Do you know how to ride, sir?” Aiyana wasn’t going to leave anything up to chance with her bike, but she wouldn’t say no to driving the nice black BMW that Brian had been driving the night before, either.

“Yes, I do. Zacky, Matt, and I ride, so I would say any of us could,” he chuckled.

“Matt didn’t say anything like that! He told me he’s so-so on a bike! That jerk!” She began to grin, shaking her head at how she’d assumed when he’d waved his hand. “He told me he wouldn’t ride bitch to me back to his place when I went to whoop his ass on xbox.”

At this, Brian let out a loud laugh, and gestured at her with a chip. “Men riding bitch behind anyone is just awkward. It hurts our ego.”

“Oh, not the fragile male ego!” Aiyana spoke feigning shock, her eyes widening in mock horror.

“Yes, and with that, I’ll ride it back to your place and you can drive my car. I’ve even got a customized bike at home,” he replied, feeling like it was a rather good bargain, himself.

As they finished their meal, she grabbed the ticket and paid before he got the chance. When he began to complain, she stuck her tongue out at him, “tough luck. You’re just too slow, Gatesypoo.”

He laughed, and tucked her into his side as they left. “Alright, but I’ll come prepared next time.”

She nodded at him and traded him keys before giving him her address. Once they split up, she sighed heavily, the pain in her shoulder still irritating her. She’d have to call Rayne and have her bestie come to her today.

Once she started the car, she dialed Rayne’s number and told her to meet her at her place because she’d had another subluxation. She hung up, and drove home using her good arm.
Brian’s car was very nice, and she couldn’t help but marvel at how well it handled.

When she parked, she saw Brian sitting on her bike having a smoke in the driveway. Laughing to herself, she got out of the car and walked over to him.

“Thank you so much for bringing my baby home for me. I really appreciate it. Do you want to come in for a drink, or anything?”

“You’re welcome,” he replied before grounding the end of his cigarette under the toe of his shoe. “I’d love to, gorgeous, but I’ve got to meet up with Zacky. There is something that I’ve been wanting to do though.”

With that, he stood up and pulled her body closer to him by her hips, kissing her stunned lips. Aiyana felt a spark ignite when his lips touched hers, and after a moment, she began to kiss him back. He took her bottom lip quickly between his own, and nipped at it gently before pulling back.

He grinned at her as she opened her eyes, “I’ll see you around, Aiyana.”

“Yeah… I’ll see you around, Bri,” she responded, still a bit stunned from his kiss as she turned to watch him walk back to his car.

She shook her head at herself, wondering what this meant. She was so confused as she walked up to her door and let herself in, she didn’t notice Rayne following her in.

“So, are you hooking up with both of them,” Rayne asked from behind her, making sure to stay back far enough that she wouldn’t be struck if Aiyana spun around from being surprised.

“Am I what? No. I slept with Matt last night, and it was amazing, but that kiss with Brian surprised me, and came out of nowhere,” she responded, not even startled since she was still reeling from it. “I’m guessing you saw that, huh?”

Rayne laughed in response, and followed Aiyana into the living room where she began to clean up the mess of beer cans and popcorn bags with her cousin.

Once the living room was clean, they sat down, and Aiyana filled her cousin in on everything that had happened from the moment they had parted ways the previous night at the bar.

Notes

Dun dun dun! And the plot thickens.

Please vote, subscribe, and comment!