WARRIOR!
( chapter eight )
INGRID KNEW THAT the Piper had a plan, but she didn't realize how soon that plan would start.
Ever since her makeover, the Aphrodite cabin decided that wasn't enough. They had always seemed to meddle their way into people's love lives, and Ingrid had become their latest victim.
After one of their training sessions, Piper initiated the plan.
"Good session today. You're improving a lot." Ingrid said, wiping the sweat off of her forehead.
Piper beamed. "Good to hear. So anyways, you doing anything for the rest of the day?"
"Not that I'm aware of." Ingrid said.
"Good, well now you do! You're gonna go to the craft center to paint with Rachel." Piper said, and Ingrid dropped her machete.
"You have one minute to explain and then I'm locking myself in my cabin." She said, and Piper laughed.
"Very funny. Long story short, we've been stalking Rachel. We've all figured out her daily schedule, and today, she's going to the craft center to paint from 12-1. Sometimes longer. With you there, I'm sure she'll never want to leave." She said.
Ingrid took a deep breath. She knew this was going to happen at some point, but she didn't realize it would be so soon! She wasn't ready. Ingrid knew she would mess it up somehow, some way.
"I can't. I'll freak, and she'll think I'm crazy. I can't do it." She said, running a hand through her hair as she leaned against a wall.
"Hey, look at me," Piper said, and Ingrid looked, meeting her eyes. "You've got this. You're seriously one of the bravest people I know. And this is just a girl. No monsters, no nothing. Just you, her, and some paint."
Ingrid sighed. If she didn't do this she'd be upset at herself for the rest of the day. She'd be disappointed she missed her chance. She'd feel like she gave up. Ingrid doesn't give up.
"Okay. Okay, I'll go. One problem though." She said, and Piper cocked her head to the side.
"What?"
"I can't paint."
INGRID STOOD OUTSIDE the craft center, staring at the door. She was so incredibly nervous, especially knowing Rachel was in there at that moment. She started to reach for the doorknob, but paused. Did she really want to do this? She's happy. She doesn't need Rachel. But how much happier would she be with her?
Pushing all thoughts aside, Ingrid turned the knob, and stepped inside. Rachel paused what she was doing, and turned around. Ingrid held her breath, waiting for her to say something.
Rachel's eyes narrowed, before brightening suddenly. "Hey! Ingrid, right?"
Ingrid let out a breath, and a small smile. She nodded, walking over to the empty easel next to Rachel, where she grabbed a canvas and set it on top of it. "Sorry, if I'm, uh, interrupting you."
Rachel shook her head, returning to her painting, adding a few strokes. "Not at all. I was wondering when someone would finally come in to paint, it's usually just me in here."
Ingrid nodded, picking up the first paint brush she saw. Panicking, she dipped it into a color of paint, and made a big stroke across the canvas. Ingrid smiled to herself, feeling as if a huge weight was lifted off of her shoulders. She began to put more strokes, letting herself go into the painting.
"Have you painted before? You seem pretty into it." Rachel said, breaking the silence. She didn't look up from her canvas.
"Uh, no. This is my first time." Ingrid said, and Rachel nodded absentmindedly.
"Well I'm glad I get to share this experience with you. Meanwhile, I've been painting for as long as I can remember. I don't know who I'd be without it." She said. "What about you? What's the one thing that makes you, you?"
Ingrid paused. She began to scan her brain for an answer, panicking when she couldn't find one. "I honestly don't know."
Rachel turned to her, meeting her eyes. Ingrid felt her knees go weak, but stood her ground. "I'm sure you'll figure it out in no time."
All Ingrid could do was nod. All of her senses left her, for it was just her heart beating really fast. She was sure that Rachel could hear it, as it felt so loud, the thump practically ringing in her ears. As if couldn't get any worse, Rachel gave her a smile, one that made Ingrid's vision suddenly so much clearer. The colors on her canvas became so much more vivid, and she could point out each and every freckle on Rachel's face. Ingrid didn't know what was happening to her, but she liked it.
After that, everything was a blur to Ingrid. They returned to painting, occasionally brushing hands as they reached over for another color or brush. Every time it made Ingrid's heart thump faster.
"I think I'm done. What do you think?" Rachel said, taking the painting into her hands and holding it in front of her to show it off to Ingrid. Clearly, she went for a more abstract perspective, as it was a bunch of strokes and brush marks placed randomly across the canvas.
To Ingrid, it was more than that. She wasn't sure what Rachel was exactly going for, but it perfectly depicted her current emotions. The intense red colors were her heart, beating out of her chest. The soft pink tones peaking out was her face every time she blushed. The blue was the butterflies in her stomach, and the orange their hands. Most importantly was the yellow, for it illustrated her being connected to Rachel in a way she had only ever daydreamed about.
"I love it." Ingrid said, and Rachel raised an eyebrow. "I do! Really. There's so much going on but it all fits together perfectly, like a puzzle."
Rachel thought for a moment, then nodded, accepting Ingrid's answer. "That's a really good perspective. To be honest, I was really just putting down random colors because I didn't know what to paint, but I'm glad you got something out of it! Anyways, let me see yours!"
Ingrid smiled to herself, grabbing her own painting and showing it to Rachel, who gasped. "No. Way. You're such a liar!"
Ingrid froze, and she could feel her heart stop. "What?"
"There is absolutely no way that this is your first time painting. I mean the shadows, the contrast, the perspective... It's perfect!" Rachel said, pointing out small details.
Ingrid felt her face burn, and a smile was easily engraved onto her lips. She didn't expect that reaction from Rachel, but she was beyond glad to get it from her. She felt proud of herself, for many reasons, but being graced with a compliment that big was at the top of her list.
"Damn. Looks like I've seriously got to step up my game, huh? That'll be hard to beat next time." Rachel said as they began to put away the paints, and Ingrid paused.
"Next time?" She asked, and Rachel gave her a funny look.
"What, you think you can paint with a girl and never do it again?" She said, and Ingrid began to stammer in protest before Rachel cut her off with a laugh. "I'm kidding, Ingrid. But for real, this was fun. I wouldn't mind if you came in to paint with me again."
Ingrid nodded, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Me too. I mean, uh, I'll be here, for sure."
"Good. Same time, same place?" Rachel said, and Ingrid nodded. They gave each other one last smile, before Rachel said, "See you around, Ingrid."
At that, Rachel left the craft center, leaving Ingrid and a smile that didn't leave her face for the rest of the day.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
ahhh first chapter of rachel & ingrid
interactions!!! when i tell you
that ingrid is the definition of gay panic,
SHE IS THE DEFINITION OF GAY
PANIC!!! anyways i love them both
so much and i can't wait to write about
them even more :)))