The weather was perfect and found me wanting to be outside when I conjured up the next newest painting. Since I had to unwillingly sell my other to my boss, painting was becoming a bit of a chore... not that I minded. It was good to see them selling, even Cookie messaged me the other day telling me about a couple wanting to know where that could purchase her café still life art.

Next year I had a feeling I was going to be a busy girl, If this gallery goes well I will definitely need to find me a bigger painting space. Storing everything in the corner of my room only to drag it outside to paint on a smaller balcony wasn't going to cut it. Perhaps once I gain enough money I could rent out a small storage bin and make it my own studio. A quirky idea but not entirely bad.

Evelyn was found once again hovering over my shoulder, scaring me half to death while I paint...this time times two with Elena on the other side. Most times I wouldn't mind, but with this painting, I wanted this one to be private. Which made a lot of sense considering I was going to use it to apply my others. Maybe.

"A dark one, this art is." She cooed.

"Indeed sister," Elena joined in, "A lot of emotions clashing through color...very nice."

This one was indeed another abstract mixed with my own personal touch of the human body painting between the edges of brush strokes. Focusing on a male's bare upper torso, trailing down his bicep as his other hand led upwards to his face, open but tensed. Although his mouth was hidden behind his fingers the unique structure of his nose, eyes and brow could be seen behind strong bold strokes of black, reds, and gold.

"It's Andrew," Evelyn confirmed.

My heart skipped at the sound of his names and I spun around embarrassed. "Oh my gosh, would you two go inside and make a voodoo doll or something!"

Elena was a little slower and had to tilt her head to the side a few times. "Oh it is Andrew!" she was now grinning ear to ear, "You paint him so intense and beautiful... I love it!"

"Please leave," I begged.

The witches didn't budge.

"You draw him often," Evelyn noted as she picked up the sketchbook I had placed on the exterior coffee table.

"I do not!"

"Is that so?" Evelyn turned my book around, open to a few dabbles of charcoal sketches consisting of human eyes and facial features... All belonging to Andrew. I huffed and my cheeks burned as I snatched the book out of her hand and cradled it to my stomach like a lost treasure.

"He is your muse." Evelyn smiled, one of the first I've seen. "This is interesting."

"So, why aren't you sleeping with that one?" Elena asked, getting straight to the point. "You obviously have the hots for him."

"Really? I said in disbelief. "It's Andrew we're talking about."

"Your point?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

"He's sweet but an absolute weirdo." I defended myself. "This is a guy who once tried to eat my paint just because it read delicious berry on the tube, shocks himself by licking the live end of a battery, and openly masturbates to Kenny Rogers."

"...and you have feelings for him?" Evelyn added.

I stopped, not knowing what to do or say with that question. In two months we had become fast friends and nearly as inseparable as Keiko on my days off. I cared for Andrew and found a strange solace when my arms were around him. I reacted so differently around him than I did with Beckett or Riley, but did I have feelings for him?

Looking at the table where my book was once at, the headphones were propped up against a used candle. They were an item I sacrificed to fuel my art, my very soul, for someone else. Evelyn already knew my answer before I even did.

I had a date with Riley tonight and it was getting well into the afternoon. Taking off my apron and figured it would be best to get myself ready and drop those headphones off before I met up with him. Picking them up and placing them around my neck, I walked back inside the house to change, but not before turning around with bad news.

"Y'all not keeping that painting so stopping staring at it!"

Both witches turned around groaning and booing at me in disappointment. Elena stuck out her tongue while I'm pretty Evelyn spit a curse at me. I held up two fingers and hissed at them as I shut the balcony door behind me.

I rode my bike to the Marina district feeling quite accomplished with myself, I had become an expert. Not taking any chances, I propped the main door open with my body and wiggled the six-speed inside the complex where it was safe and almost right into Jasmine.

Both of us froze. I loved the girl, but since my father kicked me out and I had been struggling on my own she has been nothing but judgmental to me. Never did I expect that kind of support from someone who I would call a friend, especially when I thought she would be so proud that of me that I finally stood up to the bastard.

I don't know, her whole aura seemed to just be mad at me lately for something more than the outburst at her daughter's birthday. Truly, I didn't know how to react to her anymore. Not enough to carry a conversation.

"Hi," I gave her a slight nod as I continued to push my bike down the hall.

"What are you doing?" she asked, propping Elizabeth upon her hip as she chewed on her teething ring.

"Oh, I always bring my bike outside," I pointed towards the door. "About a block down is where homeless Dave likes to hang around. He's a sweet passionate man but will rob you blind."

"No...I meant here,"

"Oh, I'm dropping something off."

I could see that tiny spark of irritation in her eyes along with a tad bit of jealousy. She had every right to be considering the fact I've probably visited Andrew's place more than I have hers since she moved in. It wasn't meant to be personal by any means, I was just uncomfortable there. It made me wonder if she had any idea how it felt to seem like a complete stranger in a home of someone you've known since you were sixteen.

It's not a good feeling.

"Don't grow to close to that one, he's dangerous."

"I know," I added, "A complete psychopath... I do heed your warnings trust me."

"I'm serious Cora, he uses people." Jasmine continued, "Promise me if he tries something that you'll get upstairs to me."

I slowly exhaled, it felt weird. Half of the time she acted as my very existence burned her skin, yet she says stuff like this. Makes me wonder... did she know Andrew was ex-military or was I missing another piece of him altogether. I nodded to acknowledge her and continued down the hall as she left the building with little Elizabeth.

Her words made me worry about something I could be missing, a worry that instantly melted away when Andrew opened his door... covered in grease.

"What the hell dude?"

"Great you're here!" he beamed, "Come to the den I gotta show you what I salvaged!"

Andrew reached for my arm to pull me in. Remembering my date I yanked away protectively of my new clothes. "Don't touch me, I'm pretty."

Stepping to the side he rolled his eyes and vanished in his apartment. The den is what he called the weird space between his bed area and the living room. Propped up on an old photo backdrop was an Indian Dark Horse. Small parts and greasy bolts littered the area but the bike itself seemed to be in solid shape.

"You bought a motorcycle?"

"I always wanted one," Andrew beamed like a child as he got on his knees and continued to tinker with his new toy. "My dad was a dick about it though, figured I get this fixed up I'll have a second form of transportation."

"Do you have a first?" I asked, quickly followed by a more interesting question. "How did you even get it through the door!"

"I brought it in through the window."

"What!"

Andrew ignored me and just pointed over his shoulder. I followed and took myself passed his bed to the overly large wall of windows that practically touched the ceiling. Leaning out I looked down to see an unstable homemade ramp of pallets and garbage leading up over the shrubs and into the window. I shook my head, and yet people wonder why women live longer than men.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time for this today and made my way back to him with my first mission in hand. "Get up!" I ordered him, with my hands on my hips. "Come on...stand up."

Dropping his tools Andrew jumped to his feet and gave an extra bounce like a toddler. With a devious smile on his lips. Before I could ask him why he pointed his finger to me, threatening to poke me in the face.

"Don't you dare touch me?"

"I'll do it."

"I have a date with Riley!"

"I have a date," He mocked me in a childish tone.

"Andrew." I scolded. Backing up and swatting at him. Creating a distraction, I pulled out the headphones and waved them up towards his height. "Look! look what I got."

"Wow are those Beats?" Andrew said taking the headphones, "God, I heard these were expensive."

"I sold a painting form them," I spoke proudly. "...and they're yours."

Andrew's movements stopped, when he looked at me I thought he was going to fall apart. "Why?"

"They are sound-canceling headphones. I figured if something happens and I'm not here or can't get to you during a storm... Or and other triggering noise you can't control."

"I can block it out." He finished.

"Yeah, might save you some plaster and band-aids." I watched as he just stood there holding them. Looking at them and touching them with such elegance you would have thought he had struck gold. They were just headphones. "For crying out loud you look like you've never received a gift or something."

"I haven't."

"Seriously?"

Andrew shook his head. "Nope. Thank you for this."

He caught me off guard by quickly leaning down as if he were going to kiss me. Stopping just inches away from my face, I watch as his dark eyes darted from my own to my painted lips. I could feel my heart swell and Evelyn voice in my head asking how I felt earlier.

Closing in, at the last second he turned away from my face and purposely brushed his cheek against mine. Smearing black grease and oil on the side of my face.

 "Andrew you asshole!"

Woo! two chapters posted! - so proud of me. 

There was a lot of feels and tension in this one muwahaha, I just know a certain reader will eat it up as she waits for her "train". With that said, who do you guys currently ship?

Cordrew (Cora & Andrew) OR Corley (Cora and Riley) >>>

On an artist note, I did my best with the descriptions of the unique painting which is inspired by the style of Pier Toffoletti's bodysplash collection. Mostly of women but very VERY beautiful work.

Example of one here.