JUST FRIENDS

27

"It's Maze."

"Real." She thought about it for a moment. "Sooo... what does that make y'all?"

"I don't know, Blu. What does that make us?" Maze asked, nudging his shoulder teasingly.

"Husband and wife." She laughed alongside Babs, "I don't know why she's giggling like I won't get on one knee and ask for her hand in marriage right now."

"In other words, Maze got that singing-in-the-rain type of work."

"Precisely." Maze smirked. "And I won't go into detail but the way he had me in that bathroom, I'm turning him every which way except loose." She faced Blu, pointing a finger at his chest. "You're mine now."

"Good."

"Good."

"So you're really my girlfriend?"

"After doing what we just did, I would hope so." She fanned herself, "lord knows I wouldn't mind a rematch."

"Whenever, wherever."

"Promise?"

"Aww, I love my parents." Babs hugged them both simultaneously. "Can't wait to get some siblings."

Maze blushed and Blu winked in response before leading them to his showcase, his hyperactive nervous system long since calmed down the minute Maze provided him with some...physical therapy.

Honestly, it would be in his best interest to forget about it for the rest of the evening, however looking at her was a constant reminder of how perfect she felt around him. How they fit like a puzzle. How if she wanted to go home right now, he'd leave everybody in here without a second thought.

He wanted to fall asleep inside of her.

And obviously they had to have been pretty loud because the other artists were giving him thumbs up and cheesy smiles, including Honey who whistled when they walked by.

"Everybody knows," Maze covered her face bashfully. "Even before we did."

"Speak for yourself. I didn't know, per se, but I was wishing on a star. Every star, actually." He had stopped in his tracks, arms outstretched to his personal gallery. "This is me."

"Oh my god, Blu," he watched as her eyes widened, when she approached his installation,"this is incredible."

"You handcrafted all of this?" Babs asked, awe in her tone as she tinkered with his aquatic motifs. "It's insane."

Bashfully, he watched the two of them admire the ceramics he'd spent hours perfecting. Their praises meant the world to him, a blush spreading on his cheeks like a wildfire.

"The lava lamp? Are you serious? Look at these curves." Maze placed her hands on the glowing lamp with a barely-veiled wonder. "This is literally so me."

He knew she would gravitate toward it first, which was why he'd be taking it back to the apartment for her to keep. She was the muse for that particular piece, after all. It was priceless, highly valued, a one of one. Like her.

"Look at him over there blushing like a fool." Babs teased.

Maze laughed. "You and that modesty, when you have nothing to be modest about."

"Y'all sure y'all done with the bathroom rendezvous? Cuz I sense some heavy lust in the air still."

"I'm nowhere near done with her."

"Prove it,"

"I'm going to."

"Lowkey... should I leave?"