The Art of Love

Chapter 7: Interference pt2

"Let's talk." Zahir said.

They had made it to his house and she was confused as to what they were doing here. She asked for him to take her home but she guessed he had other plans.

"Umm, sure."

They were sitting in his backyard on his patio. The breeze was a good one. It wasn't too cold and it wasn't too warm. Just right.

Wrapping her cardigan over her body, she got comfortable. Again, Zahir took in her appearance. He didn't know where she got that big ass cardigan from but he loved the way it looked on her.

She had her hair in long braids, freshly done nails and the new balance's she had on her feet matched the colors she had on.

"She liked to match. Noted." He thought.

"How you been?" He asked breaking the silence.

"I've been good. You?"

"Same."

She looked around, annoyed with the damn talk already.

"What the fuck was this? A conversation?"

It got silent again. He knew that he brought her here to explain but he couldn't get the words out to start it. It was miserable for him to be battling with his mind like this.

On one had, he didn't want to let her in again. On the other, he wanted her to know just how much she had meant to him. How much he depended on her presence at one point in time.

"What was the hold up?" Rayne thought.

"He wanted to talk so why isn't he getting right to the point?"

He stood up and joined her on the other bench. He was now in her personal space and could feel the energy that she was putting out. Hesitant as he was the same.

Rayne turned to where she was facing him. Face to face, they just stared at each other. Hoping their eyes could tell what their mouths couldn't say.

"What's on your mind Zahir?" She finally asked.

"You."

She chucked. "No for real."

He just stared at her. He was serious and nothing in his tone should have led her to believe otherwise.

"What happened to you?" He asked.

Taken aback from his question, she didn't say anything for a minute.

"I was trapped in a hell that i thought i couldn't escape. To sum it up. What's it to you?" She asked.

"You getting defensive?"

She was confused so she remained quiet.

Zahir realized that he probably said the wrong thing. Fuck.

"I used to get lost in your eyes and now you can't even look at me for too long. Not that you used to be able too any time before but this is different." Zahir said quietly.

"Something that i really don't like doing now. Eye contact meant that i was 'trying to assert my dominance'. You know like how you do with animals and shit. I can't look too long at someone."

Huh?

"Look at me Ray and i mean really look at me." He said.

She wasn't expecting the talk to be like this. Maybe him explaining why he didn't want her in his life and all that other bullshit that meant nothing to her. Just a simple talk.

"Why are we doing all of this? Just tell me what you want to tell me so i can go home and go to sleep. I'm tired."

"It doesn't take much to just look at me Rayne."