Almond Blossoms

Chapter 2

3 YEARS LATER

The wonder of springtime abounds with vivid colors. White wisps of clouds decorated the azure-colored sky as they slowly floated overhead. Little daisies, daffodils, and delicate petals of different flowers littered the sun-kissed grass. The days looked like watercolor paintings, soft with dilute tones. Butterflies flew around the blissful, sweet-smelling air making the surroundings look stirring.

It was the time of the year when Louis felt the most inspired. The local planet Earth was timeworn, but he believed that everything appeared younger when it was spring.

He was in his art studio, tender but bright sunlight was coming through the big windows. He had been sitting here all day, in the big rectangular room, paint splattered over his loose black shirt. His hair looked carefully disheveled and often came in the way of his eyes whenever he looked down.

There were plenty of desks in the studio, some of them covered with half-dry paintings. Louis bought these second-hand pieces of furniture for his second home, his art studio, a few months ago. There was a dusty-mustard-colored couch and a smaller black seat placed in the opposite corner of the windows. A bowl of raw Carnelian rested on the center table (Zayn said it would boost his creativity). Louis had placed small plants right on the windowsill, and below that, there was a cabinet full of primer and bottles of varnish. Other drawers were also abundant with cans and bottles of different types of paints. Paintbrushes, knives, and pallets were scattered everywhere, and the wooden easels were located arbitrarily throughout the room. The walls were covered with canvases and graffiti of cities and superheroes made by Zayn. And after all that, he added fairy lights on the ceiling, which always gave off a soft, warm glow.

In a nutshell, this place was pretty chaotic, but Louis loved it to death. When he was younger, he always wanted to have an art studio where he could create anything. He rented this place a year ago in a quiet area of London. Since then, his art studio became his hiding spot where he could get lost in his own world.

Louis was having a busy day. He just packed three portraits for shipment after he sketched a still life. He was varnishing the oil paintings that had been drying for a month now. He listened to a podcast as he applied the clear liquid over the portrait, completely zoned out. And that's when Liam called, startling him a bit. He cursed under his breath and put the call on speaker.

"Louis?" Liam chirped

"Yes, Liam. I am here. What do you need?"

"What are you doing?" he asked, his pup barking in the background.

"Varnishing some paintings. These pieces have been drying for a while now."

"Yeah about that, I need to buy some of your work. The collectors love your art. They have been nagging me about this."

"That's good to hear." he giggled, "Stop by the studio anytime you want. I have many new ones."

"Oh, I will!" he exclaimed. Quickly he added, "Also, are you free tonight?"

"Why?" Louis quirked his eyebrows, his motions slowing down as he listened.

"We haven't hanged out in a while, you and Niall should come over for dinner." There was shuffling in the background, and then Zayn added, "I miss you, Louis!"

"Awh, I miss you too, bro." Louis bubbled, a small fond smile cracked on his face.

"What about me?" Liam teased as he snickered.

"Who are you?" he replied trying, to sound serious, but chuckling a little instead.

Louis was now standing beside the window, staring outside as he added, "About the dinner, I am not sure if I can make it tonight. I have to go to the groceries after this and..." He wanted to go back home, do his laundry, and sleep. It had been an exhausting week for him, and he would love to save the Friday night for himself.