Into the Storm

Chapter 16 | Akira

HIERO

Mai and Jade hired a new employee, but she's not new to us. Akira has been a friend of lot of us since we were kids and teenagers. We're lot protective of her. She's a gentle delicate and sensitive little bean. Never to judge anyone, even the worst of our crew. Brunette and medium short length hair, a soft innocent face you've never quite seen before with a finesse that can calm the most savage beast. Even her voice is reason enough to make a decision from bad to good. She's like a little sister to us even though she's our age. Maia and Jade have trained her pretty well this week considering the wicked signature drink my Jade taught her to brew.

A while later from me cleaning the counter and busing empty mugs from the tables, a ring of the shop door flutters on. I look to the redhead walking in with her snooty attitude as if she's just walked into an A celebrity hotspot. I laugh because this place nothing like, which makes me even more proud of Jade of her styles of rustic and urban art essence. I scowl at the redhead indirectly as I continue to clean. I realize after tossing a few mugs into the container, Jade is in her office and will flip if she sees Olivia in her shop. I imagine the worst scenario daydream of Jade throwing a scorching hot pot of brew in her face. Jade isn't that violent, but the thought entertains me well enough. I head to the back where Jade is working through numbers, or so I thought. I turn the corner to the back hallway lightly bumping into her. She is focused and heading right to the front door past Olivia and I follow. I felt a hand grab my hood from behind.
"Jade can handle herself, R.T. Stay right here." Mai looks like she's ready to pounce on Olivia just for breathing and I watch as Olivia grabs her cup to go and walk in Jades direction opposite of the exit. I can faintly hear the things Olivia might be chatting to Jade. Olivia mentions something about kids in the future and I hear my name and her uttering the words "Only I can give him that, sweetheart." My eyes shift to Jade immediately and her expression looks triggered heart-fully by her words as Olivia walks out of the shop. I want to throw a pot right at Olivia. Before I could walk from the hallway corner Jade is coldly in my face.
"You can take the day off, 'R.T.' Come back this evening to train Akira to promote!" Her voice was straight forward and her eyes were cold staring back at mine. She looked away from me with agitated stress and walked back into the hallway into the office. Jade had kicked me out of the building and I walked my sad ass right back to my car. Once I shut the car door and turned the key, it took everything in me not to go back inside and tell Jade that I had no idea Olivia was going to show her ugly redheaded face in Jade's shop and cause some shit between her and I.

When I walked into my house I threw myself on my bed and stared at the ceiling. My white and wooden lofty ceiling. I watched the ceiling fan spin around in at its lowest setting. I always wanted to tape glow sticks to the paddles and watch them spin into oblivion. I couldn't think straight knowing Jade was ready to tear my head off for some complete and utter bullshit Olivia had coming out of her mouth. I imagined a glow stick flying off from a pedal from my anger and I heard my front door shut. I sat up at the sound of the only voice that can sooth me at this moment.
"Hiero?" Jade shouted softly as she entered my room. She sat on the bed next to me and lay beside me watching the fan as I was moments before she walked in. I rested on my elbow beside her watching her lips move as I braced myself for her verbal assault.
"She said she will always have you. That you're meant to be with her no matter who you come across or think you love. She's always gonna be there." She didn't look at me as she spoke. My Jade has no idea how much nonsense that all is. "She's never gonna have me. No matter who I'm with, Shay."
She looked at me with tired and dark eyes.
"I'm sorry, Hiero. I shouldn't act like this." She look back up at the fan spinning and turned her head back to me with a soft smile. "You're mom is gonna love the color I picked to paint the shelf." A fucking sigh of relief came over me and I leaned over and kissed her forehead. "We have to built it first" I smiled at the promising comment she just made. She smiles brightly at me and I couldn't help but reach for her hand. "Hey." I said softly. She shifted her eyes to me and I wanted so hard to let out those three words again to her. I held it in because a selfish stubborn part of me wanted to hear the words come from her first. All I could let out was a soft kiss to her lips and the feeling of her deepening it, follow by whatever comes next in a Hiero and Jade world.
She smiled and sat up, "I've got to get back to work. I've got to train Akira on the Ryder Mason Special." I smiled at the the thought of tasty the hidden drink on the menu.
***

Akira

The line was not that long but at a constant move. Outside the sun was about to start setting and my brain was locked remembering every drink on the menu. I've learned to make about five popular drinks properly exactly in the style of Jade and Mai. I didn't expect to come back to London this fast, but I needed out. I haven't been here and seen everyone since the big party Arthur had for his first music release. I remember being sat around with Maia and Jade in the living room while they chatted about opening up this place. They really did it and it's amazing.
My next customer stepped up and my focus to the register and my ears at attention to the order. A make figure I can tell but he he's taking a while to speak as he takes out his wallet from the back of his black jeans. My fingers on the register buttons like a trigger on a gun. I've got this down already. I'm quite proud of myself.
"Almond milk, cinnamon, no sugar." My eyes immediately shifted away from my focus to the counter top. That familiar voice. I smiled before I looked up. I know exactly who it is. He isn't looking at me he's focused on taking his card from his black leather wallet. The same one my mom gave him for his birthday one year. I can't help but say nothing as the smile on my face lingers and I ring him up.

Ryder

I hand her the card as soon as I hear her soft quiet hypnotic voice. "Three-seventy five." I lock my eyes to hers and I am speechless. Mesmerized. In complete weakened through my entire body as I am stood motionless at this beautiful and familiar delicate being that beholds itself in front of me. Her soft lips grace a smile at me that is hard not to smile back. Her eyes light up softly as if they know the exact mood that bestows upon me. If she brushes a lock of hair behind her ears, I am done. Completely done with every single fuckery I have ever been and done. She pulled the card from my hand and pushed whatever nonsense into the register screen. When she handed back my card, it slipped slightly out of her hand and I caught it along with the back of her hand into mine. Her gentle skin sent a bloody phenomenon through my entire system.
***

Hiero

Maia phoned me and told me not to come to the shop to close up. Her and Akira will close, I don't like when the girls close late at night because it isn't safe. I went in an hour before closing time to check on them and then head back to my home to prepare paint for Jade and I to work on my mum's shelf. Jade isn't here and I'm assuming she will show up at my place after closing time. I stuck around a while to help the girls clean the tables. Half hour to closing time and I sent the girls home so they wouldn't lock up late. Ten minutes to lock up and I had already put the cash away in the office and hampered the dishrags. The glare from the headlights of two vehicles turned into the driveway parking lot. I sat in the booth waiting to see who could be turning in this late in the hour. Jades car and another vehicle parked imperfectly in the open spaces. Jade jumped out of her car and leaned against it. Darren got out of his douchebag vehicle and rounded stood in front of Jade. Her arms crossed and his arms waved around looking for reason it seemed. Jades eyes looks tired and and frustrated. They have no idea I'm in locked up inside this shop right now. But I'm watching. Making sure he doesn't put his hands on her, in any way that would make me choke his throat. After a few more minutes of their muted argument, I stared to wipe tables and continue my business while keeping an eye on Jade at the same time. I couldn't move as I watched what was happening right before my very eyes. She leaned back into her car and Darren leaned into her to kiss her cheek as she nodded and wipes a tear. He got into his vehicle and drove away.
"Hiero." Jade whispered as I was sat in the booth that always seemed to have many secrets if it could talk. She sat across from me and we said nothing to eachother. I pulled the keys from my canvas apron pocket and took off the apron. I put the keys on the table and sat back down. She looked tired, pissed, and done with the night. I wasn't pissed at her, I was pissed at who just made her this way. I took her hands in mine and she broke down. I couldn't move around then booth fast enough and I threw my arms around her. Jade doesn't do this vulnerable shit with just anyone unless it's Mai or Vince.
"Stay with me tonight?" She asked softly. I nodded. That was already a given.