Rayne

“I think this is the last box.” Ocean squatted down to put a large heavy box on the floor. “I already hate how high up this is. The elevator takes ages!”

As he fumed, Alliyah put a glass of champagne in his hand.

“I suggest a toast. To Rayne’s new awesome, big, and secluded…” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Penthouse! Any words from the owner?”

“Well, we’re alive.” She downed the champagne.

Ocean and Alliyah shrugged and followed. The taller woman made an appreciative noise about the taste of the drink. Rayne smiled every time she did that when eating or drinking.

“So can I go, or do you also want me to help…” He looked around, unsure. “Decorate?”

“You can go. Thanks a lot for your help.” Rayne smiled, no hint of sarcasm there.

When she looked back at Alliyah, she found her walking around, touching and picking up things, curiosity splashed on her face. Rayne leaned against the wall watching her with a certain adoration in her features. It hit her that Alliyah had started talking to her, but she wasn’t listening. Then Alliyah stopped and looked at her:

“Is something wrong?”

“No, no.” She leaned away from the wall and started unpacking.

“Wait,” Alliyah asked, or maybe commanded. “I was saying I got you something for your new home.”

Alliyah unveiled a painting. It was quite great, so Rayne wondered how she sneaked it in without her knowing. It was beautiful though, mostly colored in blue and golden.

“Is that…”

“Us at the aquarium on our first date. I started it that night. I finished it this morning when I got home.”

“I adore it.” Rayne almost had tears in her eyes. “I cannot accept it though.”

“I’m not asking you to accept it. It’s yours. It was yours before I brought it here.”

“Alliyah, you must sell this. It is too magnificent to hide it in my house. Please. Paint me something else, and I’ll accept it, I promise.”

Alliyah blinked, taken aback:

“I’ll… Think about it.”

“Good. Because you’re too fucking talented to be afraid of success.”

Alliyah chuckled, probably at the aggressiveness in her tone.

The splendid painting stayed in Rayne’s home until it was sold. She did love to look at it and imagine living in that little world Alliyah created for them. A world made of blue and gold. Just her lover and herself. Glorious.

They met up at the diner one morning.

“Who’s ready to learn how to skateboard?!” Alliyah beamed, before bending down to kiss her girlfriend's forehead and sitting in front of her.

“I’m ready to have breakfast.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” She grinned, stealing a stripe of crispy bacon from her.

“Your definition of fun may just be a tad different than mine, darling.”

“Fun is fun, and that is what you will be having!” Alliyah playfully glared and banged her fist on the table.

“Yes, ma’am.” Rayne raised her eyebrows.

At the skate-park, Malcolm just had to annoy her:

“Sis, why’d you always dress like you’re ready for a funeral?”

“If you don’t stop commenting on women’s appearances, it’ll be yours.”

“…Maybe I do like this girl.” Cleo cocked her head.

Ocean and Blue shared a snicker as the freckled boy attempted to rest his elbow on the taller one’s shoulder.

Z and Mariam approached the group, but Alliyah motioned for her girlfriend to follow her to a less populated area of the park.

“I taught Malcolm and Little and since then, they taught me tricks. You can trust me, okay?”

“I do. I trust you.” She didn’t hesitate.

“Good. Hold my hands, and I’ll help you on the board.”

She did, she got on the skateboard with Alliyah’s help. Then slowly, they rolled around for a bit, back and forward. It was much easier than she expected.

By the end of the session, Alliyah handed her a water bottle, and she had a feeling, looking at her… Maybe, just maybe she could conquer life with that woman holding her hand.

She didn’t know what the future held in place for them. But on that morning of May, she was blooming. She realized she had been blooming all along. She had hopes that the future would be bright for them. Not just her own or Alliyah’s, but the whole group’s. They all had pasts, maybe somewhat dark ones, but that didn’t mean their futures couldn’t be golden.