The Painter:
Chapter 5:
The next day, Raye and Darien stood outside of Serena's apartment. Yesterday after Darien told Raye that their new client was blind, Raye wanted to meet her for herself. "Remember Raye, she may be blind but she's still a person." Darien told his sister before he knocked on the door.
"I know," Raye said annoyed with her brother. "I'm not five."
"Okay, okay." Darien said as he knocked on the door.
"Come in." Serena's voice called from inside the apartment.
Darien placed one hand on the door knob and opened the door. They both entered the apartment and looked around. It wasn't very big, but it was a good size for someone who was living on their own. Sitting in the center of the tiny living room was Serena. "Hello Darien." Serena greeted them as they went into the living room. "Who is with you?"
Raye looked surprised that Serena knew that it was Darien or that someone was with him. Raye then looked at Darien questioningly, but he just shook his head. "Serena, my sister Raye is with me. Raye, this is the new client, Serena."
"Nice to meet you." Raye said to Serena. "If you don't mind me asking, how exactly did you become blind?"
"RAYE!" Darien yelled at his sister.
"It's alright." Serena told Darien as she turned her head to the sound of their voices. "I don't mind. If you want to know I wasn't born blind."
Flashback
Five-year-old Serena lay in bed. She had been like this all week and was only getting worse. "Hey Sere, I have your school work." Mina told her sister as she set the work on Serena's night stand.
"Hmhm." Was Serena's only response.
As soon as Serena turned to face the wall the door opened and Serena's mother came into the room. "How's my baby feeling?" Her mother asked as she walked over to the bed and placed her hand on Serena's forehead. "You're burning up. Why don't you try and sleep?"
Serena nodded before drifting to sleep. An hour later she woke up and saw nothing but darkness. She then let out a piercing scream. "What's wrong?" Jadeite asked as he ran into his sister's room.
"I can't see." Serena told her brother as she started to cry.
End Flashback
"From that day on I could no longer see." Serena told them as she how she lost her sight.
"Oh, wow." Raye said. "You lost your eye sight to a fever. I'm so sorry."
"It's alright, but that's not why you're here." Serena said to them as she stood up.
Serena then walked over to the couch and pulled a painting from behind it. Darien walked over to her and took the painting from her. "Oh wow." He whispered softly.
The painting was of a beautiful garden. Ivy and flowers were everywhere. To the side were ladies having a tea party. "That's really beautiful." Raye told Serena as she took the painting from Darien. "Do you know what it looks like?"
"Yes, I paint an image I have in my head. I'm very surprised that you guys think its any good."
"It's absolutely breathtaking." Darien told her as he pulled out a checkbook. 'It's not the only thing that's breathtaking. Wait, what am I thinking? I'm engaged, I shouldn't be having thoughts like that.'
Darien finished singing the check before handing it to Serena. "I'll pay you more when I sell the painting."
Serena nodded as she took the check from him and guided herself to the table to set the check upon. As she was doing that Darien and Raye then left. Before he was out the door Darien turned around and looked at Serena. "Good bye." Darien said as he left and shut the door behind him.
"Bye." Serena muttered as he shut the door behind him.