FINDING ORIANA

Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

ORIANA:
Once Mrs Tanner had dropped me off at Mar's studio, I'm looking around, making sure nobody followed me. You know, Carter in particular. Luckily, I cannot see him. Yeah, I know I'm taking a risk but I've just had enough now. I want my freedom. I notice a green and white Kawasaki bike parked outside. I know it belongs to Cookie. I've not spoken to him before. Well, not a proper conversation anyway. But I've seen him around.
Anyway, as soon as I walk in, I see him sitting at his station, inking a dark-haired woman.

"Oh hey, Ori, it is Ori isn't it?" He asks after turning off his machine.
"Umm, yeah, hi... is Mars in?"
He grins and flicks his head towards her office.
"Go on through. I think she's doing a bit of stocktaking."
"Great thanks, Drew."
He sends a cheeky wink which makes my face turn a little red. I mean, come on he's freaking cute as hell far too old for me but still, he's hot. Shush though, don't tell Kaiden I'd said that.
I thank him and make my way through to the back of the studio, where I find her in her office. Her door is already open so I just give a little tap into the door frame. She lifts her head and when she sees me she smiles.

"Ori, hi, what are you doing here?"
She's looking behind me probably expecting to see her son. But I tell her, he's at work. She probably already knew this, but I knew that's what she was doing.
"Oh, yeah. Silly me. Well now, this is a nice surprise. To what do I owe this pleasure? Is everything okay?" She asked a little panicked, to which I assure her everything is fine.

"I-I was just wondering if you could maybe help me? You know, with my art skills?"
As soon as I ask this her face lights up.
"Wow, really?" She asked, looking shocked I'm asking.
"Well yeah. I mean, Kaiden's forever telling me how great you are, especially with this kind of stuff. Plus, I still have a couple of months before I go to college. I need something to get me started. I'm going crazy with being, locked up in my place. You know, with Kaiden working and my parents working. Well, it's only me and Carter hanging around. Trust me, he's not exactly the greatest of conversationalists."
She's grinning at that last part, and all the while I'm wringing my fingers together, I'm hoping, she'll help.

"Sweets, I'd be more than happy to help."
She suddenly stands up from her office chair and then, moved to stand in front of me. I'm shocked when she hugs me.

"I've hoped you'd come to me, you know for help. But Kaid told me if I came to you, he said you might think it was his doing. Or something like that anyway. I guess he didn't want to interfere, with your career. After the last time, he did a bit of soul searching and made a few life changes."

This made me feel a little sad. I think you can understand why. I'm grateful he's standing back, especially when it comes to my career path. But I wouldn't have minded with this one, only because I need all the help I can get. I tell her this too, making her chuckle.

"Well, from what Kaiden's told me. You're quite the little artist. So whenever you want to bring some of your works in with you, we'll go from there."
Shit, I didn't even think to bring some of them in.

"Yeah, of course, I should've brought some with me, but I was too busy esca..."
Bollocks! I can't tell her I sneaked out. So I tell her I was too excited to come here, instead.

"Ah, that's fine sweets. Just, remember to bring some with you. So, when do you wanna start?" She asked when she moves to sit back down.

"Well, I was hoping since it's the weekend, I could maybe start on Monday? If that's okay, I mean, I'd start today but Kaiden's coming to mine after work.
Since he's working now, we only really get to see each other at night and on the weekends. Hence the reason that my dad's, in the bad books today. Something about a huge shipment coming in, and once again he'd needed all hands, on deck. I tell you, I wasn't impressed."