Rayne

Her stomach tightened as she slipped the paper out of the envelope and saw her own appearance. Her mouth fell open. The details.

“Alliyah…” Her voice just above a whisper. “This is remarkable.”

“Yeah, you are.”

“That is not what I meant.”

“It is what I mean.” The tall girl’s voice was raspy.

Rayne finally lifted her eyes from the portrait and looked into Alliyah’s:

“This is the most extraordinary gift anyone has ever given me.”

She observed as the artist let out a breath, and they held each other’s gaze for a few seconds. A meaningful silence sat between them. Then her sight slipped back to the portrait.

My eyes, my lips, my hair… This is me. This is how she regards me.

“Wow, just wow.“

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When she looked back at the other girl, Alliyah seemed to be studying her.

“I’m sorry, I’m speechless, I don’t know what to say. I just adore it, okay?”

Alliyah nodded:

“I believe you.”

Something overpowered Rayne, and she hugged her. Alliyah was quick to press her tightly against her own body and hold her head against her chest, Rayne was able to hear her thumping heartbeat and was glad to know that Alliyah was just as nervous.

“Okay.”

When Alliyah cradled her face in her hands, Rayne tried to ignore her lips, and the growing desire to taste them, but it became more difficult when she started talking:

“I have a whole night prepared for us. Are you ready?”

All she could do was nod. The urge to lean in was overwhelming.

“Oh, and I brought this backpack, so you don’t have to carry the portrait all night.”

“Oh, right, splendid. Thank you.” She rambled, blinking out of her trance.

“Okay, so, we’re using the subway… To Coney Island! Have you been there?”

Alliyah spoke as she inserted the portrait in her backpack and slipped the latter over her shoulder.

”The subway? Why do you hate me?”

Alliyah opened her mouth but didn’t vocalize whatever was her first thought. Instead, she insisted:

“Have you been to Coney Island or not?”

“Do you not know me at all?”

That made her laugh, as they walked to the subway.

“We’ll just get a couple of hot dogs and chill at the beach.”