Eternal Blossom

Later that evening, Aiyana and Brian were in her living room with Rayne and Zacky. Both of their friends had wanted to come over and see her new art project, and had recommended dinner when they were done.

“Alright, I’ll take you to the spare room, but keep in mind it’s not for everyone’s tastes,” Aiyana said as she walked backwards down the hallway, trying to prepare them for what her artistic muse had pulled out of her this time.

“Shut it, Aiya, just show it to me,” Rayne whined, still holding onto Zacky’s hand.

Arching a brow, Aiyana stopped in front of the door, and put her hand on the door knob.

“Quit your bitchin’, Rayne,” Aiyana exclaimed playfully as she opened the door and stepped out of the way for them to walk in.

Before them once they entered were three canvases that showed people in the middle of different kinks. She’d been hit with the realization that people didn’t talk about their kinks because it made them uncomfortable at the thought of what others would think, and so she’d started there when she began her art work this time.

“I’m not done yet, but here you’ve got Voyeurism, Sadism, and Daddy Issues,” Aiyana looked at the canvases and tilted her head as she began looking for that missing thing in each that was still eluding her.

Rayne stood back and looked at the paintings, leaning back against the wall as she did so. They were out of Aiyana’s usual style, but then again, she thought, maybe not. They did come as a triplicate set that derived from some collective meaning.

“What’s the meaning this time, Aiya,” she questioned.

Zacky looked shocked that the paintings were so sexual, and Brian was just standing there silent, a hand over his mouth as he looked at the paintings like he was really studying them deeply.

“Well, the kinky things that people don’t discuss in polite society for fear of being judged, or embarrassment, I suppose,” she answered as she looked at each of them, wondering what they were thinking.

Zacky nodded, finally overcoming his shock, he spoke, “I think it’s a bold statement. There’s not much you can hide in today’s society, but we all do hide things in our own ways.”

Rayne crouched before the paintings and looked at them all more closely, taking extra time to look at the finer details of each.

Brian turned to her and put his hands on her hips, “I think you’re on to something, but I think we could come up with some more inspiration if you need it,” he joked as he wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

When she leaned up to peck him softly on the lips with a giggle, he placed his hands on her hips and deepened the kiss for a moment.

Rayne broke their moment though, when she finally stood up and grabbed Aiyana’s arm.

“Sorry to break it up, but I see it. Your missing piece,” Rayne stated plainly.

Arching a brow, she joined her friend in front of the pieces, and gestured for her to continue.

“It’s the eyes. You know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that jazz? That’s what you’re missing.”

Aiyana crouched down and looked at the pieces more closely before swatting Rayne on the ass as she stood up to her full height again.

“I swear to god, if we weren’t related, I could kiss you,” she said happily.

Brian leaned over between the two of them to look at the paintings a little more closely, trying to see what they were talking about. Not able to see what this missing piece was as they
kept calling it, he shrugged.

“I guess I’ll just have to wait for the finished piece so I can see the difference,” he said with a smile before wrapping his arms around her. “I like them, Aiya. A little odd of a subject, but at least they catch my attention better than bowls of fruit.”

Zacky laughed at Brian’s comment and put his arm around Rayne’s shoulders before speaking, “Alright, so dinner? I’m buying. Where do you want to go, artist?”

Aiyana shook her head and reached out a hand to grip Rayne’s cheeks between her fingers and thumb, the palm of her hand below her cousin’s chin.

“Nope, this beautiful bitch gets to pick where ya’ll eat. She found my missing piece, and besides, look at that cute face! I’ve got to stay here and work. Now that my link is missing, I’ve got to get to work.”

Rayne laughed and swatted her hand away as Brian tightened his arms around Aiyana’s waist.

“No, at least have dinner with us, and then you can paint to your heart’s content, babe,” he tried to bargain.

Rayne raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head as her cousin broke free from his grasp, her mind already running, and she didn’t even hear his words.

“It’s too late now, lover boy. She’s lost to her muse again,” she pointed out as Aiyana started rushing about setting a canvas on a tripod.

Brian pouted for a moment, and just watched her set up her paints before Zacky elbowed him.

“Is she going to paint all night? Surely she has to eat some time,” Zacky asked Rayne.

“Not all night, but probably pretty late. I’m sure if someone came back after we eat with some
food for her they’d be able to pull her out of it for the night,” she said with a big grin as she looked at Gates watching her best friend.

He was completely enthralled with her process from one artist to another, and Rayne found it absolutely adorable.

“Alright, so ya’ll feed me, and I’ll come back and feed her,” Brian said with a smirk. “You know what she likes, Rayne.”

Rayne nodded and pulled the boys out of the room, Brian following her reluctantly. He
wanted to watch her work for a few minutes, but Zacky was complaining he was starving to death.

“She won’t even notice us leaving, boys. She’s back in her zone. Come on, I’m feeling Thai,” she told Zacky with a wink, a firm hand still ahold of Brian’s t-shirt.

The three of them were at dinner for about an hour and a half, listening to Rayne tell them about some of Aiyana’s other art projects that she’d done before she offered to let them see the birthday present that her best friend had made her.

Walking into her studio apartment with a meal that Rayne assured him Aiyana would like, he took in the differences in the cousin’s styles immediately. Where Aiyana was a neat and organized person with her mess that her art created hidden behind a door, Rayne was not.
There were clothes everywhere, and empty glasses all over the coffee table.

He followed Rayne through her apartment until they were standing at the foot of her bed. The headboard was gone, and in it’s place was a 3 piece mural of galaxies. Each one different colors that only blended into the one beside them by the edges. They were diverse and bright. They were well done, and he found himself smiling at them.

Zacky was amazed at the technique and skill that it must have taken to create the paintings, and even more amazed that she had captured something that was so quintessentially Rayne all at once. She was bright and spontaneous, but in the same time had these dark moments that made you feel like you were falling in with her.

Smiling at Rayne, Zackyput his hands on her hips and kissed the back of her neck, earning a shiver from her.

“You can see yourself out, right, Gates,” he said to the man who was still staring at the paintings, while taking Rayne into his arms.

When Brian turned around he saw the two of them making their way to the bed and laughed loudly.

“Apparently her paintings inspired you guys too,” he laughed. “I got it. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, man. Bye, Rayne!”

Both of them waved at him as he made his way out or her apartment and into the cab that was still waiting. He had his own inspiration to go take care of. He had a feeling by the way Rayne had spoken about her and her art work, he was going to need something to help him get her out of her art room before dawn. After all, he still had something he wanted to talk to her about.

Running home, he grabbed a few things he thought he would need, and quickly made his way back over to Aiyana’s house, a smile plastered on his thin lips.

Notes

I'm home sick, so if I'm able to stay awake long enough to type up some more of the story, I'll upload another chapter or 2 today.

Please comment and let me know what you think so far!