Chapter 35 - I Don't Know How I Pulled This Off (Ryker)

You know with all the craziness of the last few fews you'd think we'd get a break, start to settle into school, ease up on all the war stuff, but no.

I had the covers pulled all the way over my head, hiding from reality, hoping if I couldn't see it, it couldn't see me.

Tonight was the art gallery from my summer classes, and I was not looking forward too it. I hated going out in public, and I hated being the center of attention. So an open gallery filled with people who were going to not only paying attention, but judging my art - well - lets just say it wasn't exactly my cup of tea.

Mom was working a morning shift for a change, so she could attend the gallery viewing tonight. Leaving me the rare opportunity to cocoon myself in my bed and sleep in to a proper time, noon.

It wasn't that I didn't have faith in the quality of my work, well I mean maybe a little, it wa show they were going to publicly display it for everyone too see. Mom was going to be there obviously, not too mention my sisters and hundreds of strangers. My Family I knew would tell me they were impressed regardless of what they truly thought, but strangers, strangers didn't give a fuck about my feelings.

What of no one likes them? What if they don't understand what their about? What if, what if, what if, rattled around my head like a pin ball machine all different versions of the same fear. I was working myself into a headache.

"Ryker?" Peyton called out somewhere in my apartment.

How did she even get in here? Why was she here? Does she not know how early it is?

My door creaked open a bit letting in the light.

"Ryker? Ah- ugh gross! Ive been yelling for you since I got here, a little warning would have been nice!" she groaned with a hint of disgust.

What the Hell was she freaking out over? I followed her eyes to the blanket covering my lower half and understood. Rolling my eyes I tossed the cover off myself and glared at her.

"I wasn't doing that ya perv. I'm just hiding from the world," I grumbled and moved so I was sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Very angsty," she quipped and pointed to the closed black curtains. " The mood lighting helps the theatrics,"

I scrubbed my eyes starting to get slightly annoyed.

"What brings you by Peyton?" I asked trying to keep the attuide out of my voice.

She clicked her tongue and leaned a bit on the door frame, catching it anyway.

"Just checking up on you. I assumed you be anxious about tonight and I wanted to see if you needed a lending hand,"

I shrugged a bit and glanced at the alarm clock.

"I'm fine, not gonna have a panic attack over it. But I'm definitely not looking forward to it."

Peyton shifted her weight a bit and nodded while tucking back her hair.

"Well good, I'll get out of here then, I'm meeting girls to get ready. Oh and there was a package on the door step, I left it on the table,"

She turned to leave closing the door behind her, I caught her just before it shut.

"Hey Peyton?"

She opened it up a bit and poked her head in with a gentle smile.

"Yes?"

I cleared my throat and stuttered a bit as a spoke.

"Uh, thanks for ya know, checking up on me,"

Her smile widened.

"No problem, that's what family is for. See ya tonight!"

The time she left for real, finalized as I heard the front door shut. I had forgotten to ask how she had gotten in in the first place.

I finally got up and stumbled into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge - mom would go on and on about how we only drink purified water because of everything that could be in the tap- I turned and saw the package Peyton was talking about. I had been expecting a fed ex box or something but no. This was an ornate gift box, sleek and fancy looking. I capped my water and went over to investigate.

There was no shipping label or return address on it. I debated just leaving it, it was probably for mom, I hadn't ordered anything and no way anyone was sending such a fancy box for me. Curiosity got the best of me though and I carefully sliced open the tape.

It was clothes, mens clothes. With a neatly scripted note on-top.

So you can look as good as your art tonight. Can't wait to see your work tonight, and most importantly, you. I'll know how to spot you now, I'm looking forward to seeing you

- Caspian Steel

I set the note aside and picked up the sweater. It was a dark color, and incredibly soft. I looked at the tag, it was my size exactly, and made out of 100% cashmere. I didn't know a lot about clothes and fabrics, but I knew cashmere was not cheap.

I rifled through the rest of the clothes. Chinos, a belt, dress shoes, everything I needed to look nice tonight, and it was all top of the line, meaning suuuper expensive and my size.

I reread the note and my stomach flipped. Question after question pounded through my head until I was about to reach overload.

All I knew for sure was that Caspian Steel was going to be at the art show tonight, my art show.

Well Fuck.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about tonight.

I took a long breath and picked up the box and stashed it in my room.

I started pacing wearing the tread in the carpet in more.

When my time ran out I changed into street clothes and grabbed the box, heading out to the the gallery.

Yippie.

-*-

It was comforting to see that I wasn't the only one turning into a nervous wreck. All my class mates were fiddling with their paintings and sculptures, repositioning them over and over trying to make sure everything was perfect.

a delicate hand rested on my shoulder, grabbing my attention. Ms. Martian gave me a warm calming smile.

t "Oh Ryker, I just know your art will be a main attraction. Not to be biased of course. You've made such an improvement over the summer, I am so proud to have you have one of my students,"

I looked down at my perfectly polished shoes, not sure what to do.

Her hand lifted off me and she took a step forward.

"I should finish my rounds. Don't be nervous Ryker, your work will speak for its self"

I finally looked back up when I heard her heels click away.

My stomach was coiling, but it was too late to back out now. All I could do now was endure and try not to make things worse.

-*-

There was so many people, too many people. So many more I had expected. So well dressed, flaunting their wealth as if they were the real art.

When I spotted my sisters and Ivory walk in, I couldn't tell if they made me relived or my anxious. They looked beautiful, powerful. I remembered all the texts I got from Peyton to day as they got ready getting ready for tonight. It certainly seemed to pay off as everyone turned their heads to stare and look at them. At least they took the attention of me as they approached.

"Hey my brother from another mother, literally," Peyton laughed at her own joke as she greeted me.

It was enough to tug the corners of my mouth up a smidge.

Jade reached a hand out and rubbed my arm.

"How are you feeling?" She asked in a soft voice, treating me like a ticking time bomb of anxiety, which in her defense, was a fair assumption.

"Like an anxious mess, but its fine,"

Peyton reached out and envoupled me into a half hug and pressed something metal into my hands.

"I recommend vodka," she gave a fake cough as she whispered to me.

"Think anyone would notice if I snuck out and left?" I half joked.

My heart stopped mid beat as I heard some answer behind me.

"Well I can't speak for all the rift raft here, but I certainly would. Especially when It looks like your the only one her with any creative skills,"

I turned to face the glamours Caspain Steel, bedazzled in his normal extreme look. colorful and breath taking.

I could feel my skin heat and flush. Just looking at him was incredible.

I turned to Peyton and took a quick swig from the flask she was pressing into me.

Ivory cleared her throat.

"Uh- wow. Girls look at that sculpture, looking, thing. Lets go,"

She grabbed Peytons hand and started to drag them away from us.

"Is that meant to be a tree?" Jade inquired as if she actually cared and started to follow.

"Tree? Definitely compositing for something I thought it was a di-"

I swallowed the lump in my throat with relief when the last of Hale's sentence got lost in the crowd. Which left me alone, standing with Caspain steel. Alone.

"This is your sister, is it not? Your certainly captured her personality from what I've seen," Caspain had turned and was looking at my painting that were displayed.

"How did the image come to you? I can't exactly see her modeling," Caspain chucked a bit, and turned to me a bit to check my response.

" Um- no. I didn't even know her when I painted it. I saw it In a dream and it just stuck with me I guess,"

Caspain took a step forward, almost in awe.

"She looks so ,much like her mother,"

I rocked in my heels a bit trying to calm my nerves.

"I don't know if you hear d, but I um, found my mom,"

Caspain gave a slow nod and looked at me with soft eyes, my his jaw seemed to clench a bit.

"I heard. I would love to see her again, but im not allowed on dark property," He swirled the amber liquid in his glass and then took a drink from it.

"Why not?" I asked relaxing a bit, following suit by taking a swing from the flask.

His body was so close to mine, and he didn't seem to mind at all.

He shrugged nonchalantly with a small smile.

"They have secrets, I have secrets. We have an unspoken agreement, I have the city, they have to forest," His smile turned to a smirk and he turned fully to face me. "Not that I don't like a biusness man, but are we going to talk about your war all night or am I allowed to ask questions of my own?"

My breath caught in my throat and I ended up stuttering.

"You- you don't seem like the person who asks permission for things,"

Cassians smirk widened.

"I normally don't. You must be something truly special," He leaned in and his breath tickled against my ear as he spoke, sending chills though my nerves. "I should dress you more often, you look deliocus,"

I was stunned still by his boldness, not that I should be surprised, he seemed to be the human defintion of bold.

His lips were on my neck, not quite kissing, but grazing, teasing. causing my body to go into over drive.

"Its been so long since I've had young, untainted blood. Even longer since I've had one as handsome,"

I forgot where we were, what was going on. I could only focus on Caspian, how badly I wanted him to finally put his lips on me, to turn so I could feel his body against me. He was going to, I could feel it. I never wanted someone touch so bad as I wanted his right now.

Wish was beyong weird with how much I detasted being touched. But for him, I was almost inpatient for his touch, to feel his skin against me.

I felt his lips just barely touch my skin in a soft kiss, causing an audible, yet quiet, breath from me.

Then it was all over when a sting of comes echoed out and Caspain pulled away from me.I blinked and readjusted, remembering the world around. Caspian had his phone pressed to his ear. He looked at me disappointed and gave an irritated breath when he hung up.

"I have to go unfortunately," He took a step forward and brushed his thumb over my bottom lip, causing me to stop breathing. " I will see you soon my artist,"

Then he walked off to the door, leaving me stunned in place, in complete and udder shock.

I had about thirty seconds to process everything before my sister and Ivory were flocked back around me.

"OMG! Ryker what was that!" Peyton exclaimed sharing my surprise.

"He looked like he was going to bang you right against the wall!" Jade joined in her eyes wide.

"Who knew Ryker was so into PDA," Hale joked and bumped into Ivory shoulder.

"Dude! What exactly do you have in your pants! Caspain Steel hasn't been with anyone in years, I mean a few physical flings but nothing serious. And that, was some hardcore flirting!" Ivory gasped.

How is that even possible? Caspain Steel, single? That was like saying Peyton was quiet, just didn't make sense.

I cleared my thoat, my nerves settling back in and drained from all the attention.

"I'm sure it was noting, he's probably just bored or something,"

Luckily they seemed to take the hint to drop it, but they shared a look between each other before changing the subject.

"There's a lot of cool work around here, but I think you paintings are my favorite," Jade smiled and then looked at Hale with an amused smile. "Guess were lucky Hale doesn't sleep naked,"

"Hey! First off, you'd be lucky to see me naked. and Second, ewww Ryker painted that!"

"Hey Ryker why are they taking your work down so soon?" Ivory asked looking past my shoulder to the wall my work was hanging on, or was at least.

Miss Martian was pointing and instructing the people who were taking down my work.

" Um, I'm not sure,"

I walked over and Miss Martian gave me a huge grin.

"What's going on" Is there something wrong with my paintings?"

She let out a loud laugh and shook her head.

"Oh no my dear boy! Quite the opposite! They have been bought, each one! And fro quite the hefty price I might add,"

My stomach dropped. Who wanted my art that bad to spend such a high dollar on it?

"These notes were left for the artist. Congrats Ryker, with this kind of recknation you could qualify for a scholarship next summer" Miss Martian handed me two pieces of paper before walking off instucting in where to put the paintings.

Who even knows if im going to be alive next summer, let alone be in a position to apply for school scholarships.

I unfolded one of the pieced of paper, shaking my head of the previous thought.

Here's your excuse to come back to my loft. Your painting will be waiting, as will I. Perhaps you'll paint me this time.

C. Steel

Any excuse that Caspain wasn't flirting with me left my head. My heart was beating fast.

I quickly unfolded the other note to see what else he left for me.

You really captured your sisters beauty, thank you for such a wonderful gift son. I'll see you soon.

Dad.

My heart stopped this time and I almost dropped the note.

I knew better then to expect that he was still here, this seemed to be his thing, taunting,

Now he had a picture of Hale which was creepy enough, but his true message was clear.

He was watching us, and was letting us know it, and we had no idea. if he wanted us, he could get us.