Rayne

She and Z sat on the floor of the skate-park as Ocean and Colson explored all the ramps and rails, and every now and then, fell or crashed against each other.

“Salutations, sisters!” They heard Malcolm’s loud voice.

“Hey.” Z nodded.

Rayne didn’t lift her eyes from the sketch laying on her legs.

“What’re you painting?” Malcolm laid his skateboard on the floor and sat on it.

“The entire skate-park! She’s really great, like Alliyah.” Z answered for Rayne, louder than usual.

“It is just a sketch. I'm not like Alliyah, who actually makes a living out of it.”

“Maybe you could, too. What’s your job, anyway?” Malcolm asked, even though they knew each other for weeks by then.

“I’m a translator.”

“For like, books?”

“Books, instruction manuals, textbooks, anything with words that need translating.”

“Oh, Colson does that, too.”

“I know.”

“I heard my name.” Colson rode his BMX to near them and, as he proceeded to collapse on the floor, his snap-back hat fell off his head.

“You just wanted an excuse to stop.” Ocean chuckled at his friend, who was breathing heavily and sweating.

Rayne woke up gasping desperately for air. Tears rolled down her face while the images were still vivid in her brain. As she cried into the pillow, she knew she wasn’t going to fall back asleep.

It was only thirty minutes past five in the morning when she woke up, but she decided to stay in bed for a while. The cats even joined her for some cuddles.

By 7 am, she was sitting in her kitchen sipping warm black tea, her over-sized leather jacket making her feel a little bit cozier. Her stomach started to growl, but her will to go out for breakfast was not strong.

When she looked around the studio apartment, she couldn’t help a snarl. She despised the cream-colored walls, hence why she decorated them with objects of her liking, such as paintings (some created by herself), dried flowers, dagger collections, horror movie posters… These things at least almost made the house feel like home.

She got up and sipped her tea by the window. The sun was still rising and the streets were mostly empty. Well, as empty as New York could get.

“At least I won’t have to bee seen by many people.”

In one gulp, she finished her beverage, before checking her makeup and hair in the mirror. Then grabbed her backpack and left home.

Home. That word again. She had yet to feel at home in the dirty, noisy New York. It’s the city where dreams are made… But her dream was only to belong. Somewhere, anywhere! And she had yet to make that happen.

At Steamin Beanz, her heart thundered in her chest as she remembered her nightmare, she took her shaky hand to her vanilla cappuccino, and the scent calmed her. As Rayne took an unsteady sip, she heard her name being called by what had become a familiar voice:

“We keep running into each other uh.” Alliyah smiled. “What a small city.”

“Yet I never run into Olivia Wilde.” Rayne mumbled into the cup.

Without an invitation, Alliyah sat across the table from her. Again.

“How have you been? I feel like it’s been ages since we last talked.”

“I have been well.” Rayne answered, looking down at her blueberry pancakes with strawberry slices on top. “…You?”

“Are you sure you been well?” Alliyah tilted her head. “I know we don’t know each other well but..”

“Yes. Sorry. just didn’t sleep much last night.”

Their eyes met. She feared Alliyah knew she wasn’t okay. Her gaze seemed to convey a certain worry towards her.

“I, uh, hope you sleep better tonight.” The taller woman murmured. Rayne’s breath got caught when she felt Alliyah’s fingers grazing her own, across the table. She looked into her alluring, gleaming hazel eyes. The skin around them was a bit darker than her skin tone, Rayne recognized it as lack of sleep. Many mornings - like that one - she masked her own with make-up, but the girl in front of her never did.

“Alliyah!” The waitress shouted, making them both jump. “Need I remind you you’re banned?"

Rayne narrowed her eyes:

“You are banned from a coffee shop? You are like the embodiment of sunshine. What did you do? Hug someone too hard?” She scoffed.

“She did, alright. Hugged a man’s face with her skateboard.” The waitress failed to hide her own smile.

Rayne looked at Alliyah, eyes wide open. Alliyah on the other hand, beamed at the memory:

“It was a good day, indeed.”

“Why did you do it?”

“He was a racist businessman. I’d happily do it again.“ She shrugged.

Rayne couldn’t help a smirk.

“Okay, but you’re still banned. If the bossman sees you, I’m in trouble.” The waitress motioned for Alliyah to leave.

“Fine, but Rayne, I want to invite you to come with us to a march that’ll happen tomorrow all over the city. The guys will all be there, and I’d like it if you came too.” Alliyah spoke, as the waitress almost yanked her by the arm. “Call Ocean and talk about it!” She shouted from the door.

The next day she was in Alliyah’s apartment looking around, inspecting it. It was slightly smaller than her own. Apparently, Alliyah slept in a bed in the living room. It was oddly minimalistic, yet looked loud. So many colors!

"You painted these?" She pointed at a wall filled with canvases.

"No, those are Lamar's, my... Kid."

"A toddler did these?"

"Well, not a toddler. He's nine."

Rayne blinked. She was impressed.

"I hear you're pretty good yourself." Alliyah commented from the floor, where she was painting signs. Her grey cropped-top had become a messy rainbow of colors.

"I am alright. But I am not a child."

"Maybe you could give Lamar a few lessons."

"Me? You are an interior designer."

"Sure, I can draw a living room in detail. But not a forest or a skatepark, like I've heard you're great at." She smiled up at her.

"Fine. I could..." She trailed off and paused.

She? Teaching a child something? No, no.

"I'm not sure I could. Sorry."

"Well, okay."

Rayne observed the paintings once again. Most of them were landscapes, some were animals, and others were plants. Leaning against the wall, Rayne asked:

“So, what’s the march for?”

“You know, civil rights, LGBT+, gender equality, the usual. They got celebrities to come to talk about the issues, so we expect a lot of attendance.”

“There’s fliers about it everywhere and it’s been all over the socials. Have you been in a coma, sis?” Malcolm spoke in his usual sass, walking in through the door that was left open.

“I don’t like you.” Rayne glared at him, making him laugh.

“I do. And I like you too.” Malcolm grinned as he exited the room, holding a sign almost bigger than himself.

Rayne ignored his comment, turning to Alliyah, who kept talking:

“Participation is free, but they encourage people to bring items that will be donated to homeless shelters and other organizations that help the homeless.”

“Oh, marvelous.” Rayne said and meant it, although with no great enthusiasm.

“Do you want me to make you a sign?”

“No, I will not be attending.”

Alliyah stood up and faced Rayne. She had dry paint all over her hands too, and bits smeared on her face, which almost made Rayne smile.

“Why?”

“I just- These things are not my… Thing.”

Alliyah looked at the shorter woman from head to toe.

“Well, yes they are. Don’t tell me you’re the type of person to complain about how things are on the socials and yet stay home watching it all happen. Come on, Rayne, these events are our opportunity to rise, and show them that the minorities all put together are able to form a majority, and stand against the privileged.”

“How dare you… Give me a rational, logical pep talk…?”

“Great!” She beamed. “I’ll let you choose your sign. I also have some flags if you prefer. I know you’re introverted, and stuff so holding someone will make you feel like you’re already doing something, other than being there, you know?” Alliyah spoke at a rapid pace.

“Did you say ‘holding someone’?”

“What? No. That being said, if everything gets too overwhelming, let me know, and I’ll help you get out, okay? Even I sometimes feel like it’s too many people. So I get it if you wanna leave earlier.

Throughout the march, Rayne stayed pretty quiet but occasionally commented towards Alliyah or Ocean about how she liked someone’s sign and even joined in on a chant, but quieter than most people.

“Are you okay?” Alliyah would ask every five minutes.

“Yup.” She would simply nod.

Until an enthusiastic, voluptuous woman who wore baggy pink sweatpants and a white sweater so large it reached her thick thighs practically yelled at her:

“I love your boots!”

Rayne glanced down at her own black boots, decorated with spikes and studs. Then she looked the woman up and down, as she composed her hijab, making sure no hair was visible, yet maintaining a warm smile.

“Thanks.” Rayne's heart thundered in her chest. “I like your… Necklace.”

The girl reached behind her neck, unclasped it and handed it to Rayne:

“Have it! I have a whole collection. I make them myself.”

Rayne stared in bewilderment. Was a complete stranger being so cordial to the point of giving her a necklace just because she complimented her?

“I’m heading to the front. It was nice meeting you, have a nice march.“ The girl smiled as she disappeared in the crowd.

“You made a friend, eh?” Ocean came up behind Rayne.

“She gave me her necklace…”

“Why?”

“I have no idea.” She extended her hand to him, still amazed.

“Oh, this is Mariam’s.” Ocean realized looking at it.

“What?”

“Mariam is a client/friend of Alliyah’s. She’s kinda famous around the city for designing and creating handmade jewelry.”

“And I complimented her necklace… How accidentally cliche of me. She must think I did it so she would offer it to me.”

“Nah. She’s just like that. Like Alliyah, always ready to give and help without expecting anything in return.”

As the march grew larger and louder, reaching its peak, Rayne’s stomach twisted. She looked around, searching for Ocean, but didn’t find him. There were too many people, too close to her, too loud in her ears… It was all just too much.

“You okay there?” She heard Alliyah’s voice.

Alliyah looked into her brown eyes and caught her panic. She didn't wait for Rayne to answer, and took her hand, pulling her out of the march, guiding her to a deserted alley.

“Deep breathes. Here, have some water.”

Rayne leaned against the wall, trying yet failing to follow Alliyah’s recommendations.

Deep breaths? If I could, I would.

“Can you tell me five things you see?” The tall girl asked.

Rayne looked around, but her brain didn’t see to process anything. “Come on, I’ll start. I see that brick wall behind you.”

“I…” Her brain finally caught something. “Your eyes.”

Alliyah’s expression softened, but she was quick to compose herself:

“Great. What else?”

She cleared her throat and forced herself to look away before she could drown in hazel:

“The blue sky. That smelly dumpster… That white car. Is it a Ferrari?! Oh, there is a fat cat on that window.”

Alliyah smiled, resting her hand on the wall behind Rayne.

“Are you feeling better?”

She stroked her shoulder through her leather jacket, and Rayne bit her lip, then simply nodded, keeping her eyes on the white Ferrari.

“How embarrassing, though.”

“I can assure you no one thinks that of you. I personally think it was brave of you to come, even knowing this might have happened.” She reached into a backpack and took out a cereal bar.

“Well, none of you had a panic attack.”

“Why do you think I know how to recognize and cope with a panic attack? I used to have them a lot and even nowadays, I feel overwhelmed all the time - when I can’t organize my work, bills, Lamar… People don’t make me panic, but life does.” Alliyah bit into her snack and proceeded to talk with her mouth full. “That’s kinda why I try to treat others with kindness, you know? Life's hard enough without people being jerks.”

Rayne lifted her eyes from the ground to the tall girl, who kept growing more and more interesting.

“Come on, now, let’s grab a proper snack and take you home. “ Alliyah smiled.

Not much time had passed, the two women were eating grilled cheese sandwiches, as they walked towards Rayne’s house.

“So, do you regret coming?” Alliyah probed.

Rayne took a few seconds to reply, but Alliyah waited patiently.

“I think not. Good things happened.”

“Oh, yeah? Like what?”

“A nice woman gave me a necklace…-”

“What?!”

Rayne reached for her backpack and grasped the sunflower shaped pendant to show Alliyah.

“Oh, my God, you met my girl, Mariam.” She immediately recognized it.

Alliyah held the sandwich between her teeth, and pulled the item from Rayne’s hand:

“Let me put it on you.”

Rayne froze in place as Alliyah’s hands proceeded to clasp it around her neck, her fingers grazing it softly. Alliyah held the pendant in her hand and smiled:

“This collection is my favorite.”

Does she not realize how close we are? Rayne thought as she cleared her throat, before licking her lips, looking up at the tall girl, who was just a breath away from her.