Forever And Always || Jeyna Drabbles

Begin Again

Tattoo shop and flower shop! AU

***

As the pricking pain of the needle subsided, I bent to take a lot at the newly etched line on my ankle.

Begin again

It was styled in a cursive font and had three stars on the side with a wreath of daffodils drawn around it. Just as I had pictured it.

"That okay?" The blond tattoo artist asked.

"Yeah. It looks great! Thank you. It's just as I imagined it,"

He waved a non committal hand. "It was nothing, darling."

Darling.

The word felt like acrid smoke to my body. Thoughts of Bryce filled my head, the way he whispered the word to me, every morning. Without any hesitation in his lying, scheming eyes.

No, I shouldn't think of him.

Begin again.

"Don't call me that," I ordered, my voice tight.

He raised his eyebrows, his sky blue eyes widening ever so slightly.

"Then may I have the honour of your name?" he asked, placing his arms on the table.

"Reyna Avila."

"Reyna Avila? The owner of Bellona Bouquets?" His voice incredulous, he pointed to the beautiful shop on the opposite side of the street, the flowers on display in full bloom. As I saw it, I felt a small sense of accomplishment grow in me. As I nodded, he continued, "How have I never seen you before? And how have we never talked?" He sounded genuinely surprised.

I shrugged. "We're different people. Not exactly the type to become friends, are we? A tattoo artist and a florist? Not really."

He huffed, rolling his eyes. "Personally, I think a tattoo artist and a florist could be very good friends. I'm Jason. Nice to meet you, Rey Rey."

He extended his hand and I took it, my mind still pondering the nickname. Rey Rey?

But a small part of me bloomed with warmth when he said it, and I decided not to speak against it.

"Nice to meet you, Jason, " I said, shaking his hand, his grip firm but reassuring.

With blond hair in an unkempt mess, blue eyes with crinkles around them and arms covered in tattoos, he was the type of person I avoided and the polar opposite of Bryce.

Maybe that was a good thing, after all.

Tentatively, he asked, "So, begin again?"

I let out a sigh as I settled more comfortably into the chair I was sitting on. "Sometimes you get hurt. Sometimes you're destroyed inside. But you still have to start again, right?"

"Yeah. No use moping about," he said softly, his voice holding an emotion I couldn't quite place.

We sat in silence for a few seconds after.

Comfortable silence.

A silence filled with understanding and...companionship.

Something I hadn't felt in a long time.

"So, I should get going. How much was it again?" I said, finally.

He shook his head. "No, it's free of cost."

"Oh , I couldn't do that. Its beautiful and you've put effort into it. It would be wrong."

"Nonsense, it's fine. It's not every day I get to make a new friend!"

I asked again, "Are you sure?" People didn't necessarily give away things, did they? Unless they expected something in return.

He gently touched my hand and I had to resist the urge of flinching. Physical contact was something I was still not comfortable with, I suppose.

He said, "Of course I'm sure, Rey Rey."

I smiled and got up, walking to the door.

Just as I was about to leave, Jason asked, "So, I'll see you around?" His voice was slightly nervous and for the first time it dawned on me that he was just lonely soul.

"Yeah, see you around," I said finally.

And it was worth it to see the big smile on his face.

As I walked out into the bright day, I figured, maybe I could begin again.

***
It was 6 AM the next day and I was sleepy and I really hoped Gwen would be there waiting for me with an espresso.

As I walked up to the door of Bellona Bouquets, I noticed the lights inside were off and sighed in disappointment.

Honestly, I would have fired that girl long back if I didn't love her so much.

Just as I was unlocking the door, I caught sight of a yellow rose lying on the ground to my right.

A yellow rose.

New friendship. New beginning.

As I lifted it, I noticed the card affixed to it. A card with the logo of Jupiter Mark. And in that same cursive that was now inked on my leg, the card said :

Begin again?
~J

I turned to face the tattoo parlour on the opposite side only to see Jason Grace, his head in his hand, looking at me.

When he noticed me, he waved, his smile nervous but somehow, endearing and despite myself, I waved back, a similar smile on my face.

Yes, maybe it was time to begin again.

*****
This is something I started for the Writer's Month 2020 on Tumblr and I honestly hope to put up some good Jeyna drabbles

Love,
Rey