After two hours I eventually caved and decided it was time to go upstairs. Not like this adventure was a one-way trip, we were free to wander around the floors until closing time. Which would be well past midnight. Everyone was having the time of their lives, and I was more than happy to meet other artists and mingle about what I knew best.

Beckett and Jasmine made their selves known to my presence with a hug and a congratulation but didn't dwell on a conversation. Which was fine, they seemed to have fun at the party, and I was still making up for my behavior. I will take everything into consideration and tiny baby steps.

I slipped away from Riley while he was walking with Kim when I noticed Keiko standing in front of one of my paintings. It was one I painted at the beach this past summer, one I didn't show to her for a very important reason. It's focal was a young woman with her back turned, looking out into the ocean. Her pale green skirt picked up within the winds, revealing her beautiful slender legs as she walked barefoot in the sand. Holding her hat high above her head with jet black hair dancing in the breeze.

I eased up next to her and smiled, giving her a slight bump with my hip. Looking away her dark eyes were as big as diamonds.

"Is that me?" she asked.

Without a word, my smile grew and I gave her a slight nod.

"It's me!" The noise she made was nearly inhuman. "She painted a picture of me!"

"Now, now," I told her. "Calm down or you'll ruin you Geisha makeup."

Keiko took a breath and whipped out her yellow fan and began to work it around her face and neck. My Mulan, fanning herself as if her Shane had walked into the room shirtless.

"This place is awesome!" I caught Elena's voice.

Turning around I saw both her and Evelyn walking my way. Evelyn came as red riding hood on a more traditional scale, without extremely tight corset and sexy low cut tunic that flaunts one's boobs. No, she chose the dark twist with an impressive Pilgrim wear and a beautiful red cloak with armholes accessible. Her eyes had burning yellow contacts and her nails were done up with sharp white claws. Acting as the maiden AND the wolf. I loved it.

Elena was sporting a Disney wonder herself, and a villain no doubt. I had to admit I would have never guessed it if I didn't see that large beautiful seashell around her neck. Elena was the party's lusty sea witch in human form, out to take the souls of mermaids.

"Very nice ladies," I approved. "I'm so happy you guys could make it!"

"She painted me!" Keiko repeated.

Both twins circled around me and went to the painting, as Keiko got her filled fill and commented on every little detail as if she painted the damn thing. Me? I just stood back and enjoyed the praise as I had just won the blue ribbon at a county fair. Better yet, Let's raise the hype.

Leaning forward I tapped the witches on the shoulder and pointed to another corner of the room.

"Check out that one over there."

I let them lead as I followed behind, watching them walk right towards my other painting, waiting for reality to hit. I could hear Elena gasp. The painting consisted of two large narrow canvas of one girl split into two. Her face was of one beautiful being holding a single rose to her chest. The left canvas showed the girl with blonde hair shining like the pale moon while the world behind her grew dark and haunting. The rose on her side was as red as blood. On the right canvas, she had dark brown wavy locks surrounded by warm shades of light. Her rose, as black as night.

"It's us!" Elena gaped like Keiko.

"You mean we us?" Evelyn asked with her head tilted to one side.

"Oh wow! So beautiful," Keiko joined in. "And sexy."

I kept my eyes on Evelyn, curious about what was going on in the dark brain of hers. Since I've moved in I have watched her slowly transform, revealing herself to me in pairs like a matching game. I had a feeling I was nearing the end. She expressed herself more in emotion and went from visiting the contents of her closet to coming outside twice now. All while still hold that hauntingly beautiful personality.

"Well, What do you think?"

"I've...never been a painting before." A wicked smiled spread on her red lips, "I love it."

"Do we get to keep it?" Elena asked.

"Yes, I have marked four of my twelve works, registered to keep while the others are showcased for sale."

"Would one of those four be a certain paint of the side torso of a certain, tall, wholesome individual?" Elena teased. "To hang in your room while trying on...underwear."

"Okay first off those things are evil and secondly..." I stopped, realizing that I didn't have a second. "I feel weird selling him out like that."

"Don't feel ashamed," Evelyn tuned in. "I wouldn't want any other woman masturbating to that either.

Poor Keiko had no idea what we were talking about, and I was beyond embarrassed to explain myself. I'm sure she will find out soon enough if she wandered around the gallery... I knew I should have burned that painting. What the hell was I even thinking when I started that thing.

I quickly found myself desperately wanting company, his company. The whole gang was here including my continuing patchwork even Cookie baby stopped by to take a look at the gallery before having to rush off to make supper. The night grew late, but no Andrew.

Maybe he was bothered by my rejection more than he expressed. Had I hurt him? I was getting depressed and a little desperate, and his unanswered texts weren't helping the matter any. "Deep breath Cora," I told myself as I stumbled upon the art from my secret notebook.

Five pictures framed together, each showing off my collaboration of charcoal sketches. All features of him. His hands, the majestic curve of his nose, Andrew's dark, intense eyes, and the constellation of marks along his skin. I suddenly took a breath as my stomach swelled and the light bulb busted in my brain.

... I was in love with Andrew Howell.

"Who are you searching for?" Riley asked. Coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me. "It's him isn't it?"

"No..." I blurted, "Not really... I don't think."

"You do draw him beautifully," Riley spoke softly, resting his head on my shoulder as he admired the pictures. "They are your best work, love."

"You're not angry?"

Riley scrunched up his nose, "Angry?"

"Finding bare drawings of another man showcased in your girlfriend's gallery."

"Heavens no," Riley laughed. "I can tell he is your muse, you speak and draw highly of him. Remember where I'm from darling, over the pond we have people dying to drop their trousers for complete strangers if it meant becoming a work of art."

"This is true..." I relaxed, remembering a few foreign films I watched for art class. "Tit's everywhere."

Riley kissed my cheek just as Keiko walked into the room. "Riley will you help me with my uncle, Pikachu's a little tipsy and trying to backtalk to a sculpture."

"I'll get him." Riley sighed, "I have office party experience with this one."

I released a deep sigh, alone again. With Riley occupied, Elena taking over the dance floor, Evelyn enjoying Keiko's company and spotting Beckett making out with Cleopatra while sneaking off to a hidden corner, I wandered to the third floor on my own.

It settled with me on how much I truly sucked at parties and how lonely they can get with no one to relate to. Checking out the works of the top floor gallery, my personal favorite quickly became an abstract floating piece that took up the center of one room. Stepping under its shadow you were greeted with different levels of skeletons keys, lights, and broken mirror pieces forming above you. The lights combined with the broken mirror cast a luminous river of light waves and rainbow stars.

A strange sadness overwhelmed me at the moment and I could feel the tears forming, causing the lights to blur around me. It was a wonderful party and a great display of artwork and I should be having the time of my life but I wasn't.

Suddenly I felt an odd presence around me, the creepy Hallows eve feel of someone stalking you. Looking all over I checked to see and realize that I was completely alone in the room.

Until I turned around.

A shadow cloak swooshed past me and a dark masked figured revealed itself, its hand reaching for my face. I screamed in terror and brought my knee up in defense by the time his hand was on my mouth. My attacker dropped to the ground and yanked off his helmet gasping for air.

"Man it's hard to breathe in that thing."

"Andrew!" I said throwing my hands over my mouth, "Are you okay?"

"You punched me in the dick...with your knees." He groaned.

I wrapped my hands around his neck and cradled his head into my stomach. I've been missing the guy all night and when I finally see him I nearly destroyed his pride. "I am so sorry!"

"Nope," He shook his head and pulled back to look at me, slowly but surely climbed to his feet. "Don't ever apologize for defending yourself on instinct. That was awesome, and I had it coming."

Suddenly remembering the unanswered text and no visits all week I could agree with that last statement. "Yes, you did." I glared folding my arms.

He looked handsome as ever, dressed in all black attire with a cloak wrapped over his shoulders into a hood. It wasn't until I spotted the helmet. "So, did our commander finally get away from his duties long enough to come to visit me?"

"I told you I would come."

"And dressed as Kylo Ren." I smiled.

"I love Star Wars," Andrew argued. "And I get told I look like the guy a lot so here I am."

I tilted my head to the side and shook my head. "Nah, I don't see it."

"Seriously," he scoffed, rubbing his chin. "I even shaved for this."

Andrew's expression quickly became concerned. He ran his hand over my cheek, wiping away the tear. "You're crying."

"It's nothing."

Andrew placed his hand on my shoulders and leaned down to my face for a closer look, a rather protective look on his face. "Did someone make fun of your paintings?" He growled, pulling out a toy lightsaber from his belt and activating it. "Who was it? Point them out."

"I'm fine really." I brushed him off and cleaned my face. "I just got emotional staring at all these wonderful pieces of art."

Satisfied, he pushed the red blade back into the hilt and shoved it back in his belt harness before looking around. I happily followed him around as he checked out the gallery, guessing which ones were mine and childishly making fun of the others. We came across an odd coffee table covered in spilled paint and household objects with a sign displaying: Do Not Touch.

"Weird one this is," Andrew noted not quite understanding the piece.

"It's a composition of one's life on a table-top," I explained.

"No, it's a hot mess." He replied, picking up the mug half-filled with cold coffee from the corner of the table, "And someone just left their drink here."

I leaned in and whispered, "Actually I think that's part of the artwork."

"Oh shit!" He panicked placing the coffee mug back down in a hurry only to knock off three other things.

I bit my tongue and watched as he quickly tried to throw things back on the table, nowhere near the right place, and back away before he could do more damage. I was officially entertained.

"Hey," Someone behind us approached.

"Nothing!" Andrew snapped and pointed at me. "I touched nothing, she did it!"

"Traitor!" I gasped.

It wasn't security, but a guy dressed as a pirate and two girls. One dressed as a princess while the other rocked a steampunk looking Mad hatter. They looked at us like we have just lost our minds before continuing the conversation.

"You're that guy right?" The pirate asked, "The guy in the painting?"

"Painting?" Andrew looked confused.

I just stood there looking out into space, eyes widening a little bit at the very mention of Andrew and painting in the same sentence.

"Yeah," Princess chick said, "It's in the room over there North side of the gallery. You look like him."

"Oh," Andrew felt awkward, "Thank you, I'll have to check it out then."

He waited until the trip left before casting me a glance and darting out of the room. I knew it was inevitable but I panicked and ran after him, grabbing at his clothes and pulling on his cloak.

"Did you paint me?" Andrew spoke over his shoulder as he took long strides through the gallery.

"It's really no big deal, and it's not that good. We don't need to go look at it." I frantically fought to distract him. "Look! It's Luke Skywalker, go kill him!"

There was no stopping Andrew, he even carried himself like the supreme leader of the First Order and I mean when he walked...people moved. He came to a halt in front of my painting and I remained latched to his arm facing the other direction, too embarrassed to look at him look at me looking at the painting.

"You did this?"

In shame I pulled away and face him, my cheeks probably sunburned red by now. I looked at the abstract work and those emotions during its creation flooded back to me. "Yeah, and that is you...you inspired me after I saw you triggered for the first time... I was moved."

"Wow."

It was the only thing he managed to say but his face wasn't one of joy or fury. He was completely unreadable at that point and that scared the hell out of me. "I know, it's something I should have asked about first before displaying something so personal in a public place." I babbled on, "I don't know what made me paint such a thing, I just can't get you out of my head. You're just beautiful and– I mean, I think you might be my muse...but... I'm really sorry I -"

My anxiety was kicking in hard, I was barely able to catch my breath when his lips crashed onto me. Silencing me once again and this time he didn't let up. The kiss was rough and deep, I felt Andrew's gloved hand slide up my chest and rest around my neck. He squeezed softly and I gasped, granting his tongue entrance.

All of a sudden he stopped and backed away from me with torment in his eyes, leaving me breathless. There it was...there I saw Kylo Ren.

"Andrew," I sighed.

"I'm sorry." He exhaled, wiping his lip of our kiss. "I told myself never again... and I did."

Before I could say anything Andrew rushed passed me and left.

Sorry if this is a long one. Things are happening!! I dedicate this chapter to Read4Adam since I got a good scream comment out of that one when Andrew and Cora first kissed, and I'm sure WriterNat_A is screaming at this point.  Eat your heart out ladies.

I give a little....then I take it away. 😈😈