FISTS AND CANVASES

“Hey, Rowan!” Aiden called, running toward him.

Rowan spun, driving his fist forward, but Aiden rushed in at the same time. The punch landed on his face instead, and he dropped instantly.

Kai froze, then knelt beside him, tapping his cheek to revive him as Rowan stared in confusion. He had meant to hit Kai, not his brother.

“It’s all your fault,” Rowan spat, striding toward them, but before he could reach them, Kai bolted for the door.

“You better run, you bastard,” Rowan scoffed after him, then he turned back to Aiden.

“Wake up!” Rowan muttered, tapping Aiden’s face while scanning the room. His gaze landed on a glass plant.

He grabbed it, pulled out the flowers, and lifted the water, ready to pour it over Aiden.

“Don’t!” Aiden groaned, his eyes still shut.

“Nice acting,” Rowan said, setting the plant back.

Aiden slowly sat up, rubbing his already reddening cheek. 

“How could you try to punch him that hard? Have you lost it?” 

“How could you watch him use my belongings? And why isn’t he gone?” Rowan shot back.

“Stop being a badass and look at the beautiful painting he made! I wanted to show you. It’s mesmerizing, and I think the Rodriguez's would love the design,” Aiden explained, but Rowan let out a mocking chuckle.

“Rodriguez's like what that bastard drew? You’ve clearly lost a nut from that punch,” 

“I’m serious. They’re beautiful. I’ve seen them,” Aiden insisted, moving toward the paintings.

“Come take a look. Honestly, you’ll love it,” Aiden said, but instead Rowan walked toward the door.

“There’s nothing good that fool does. And there’s no point seeing his silly paintings. They’re just as useless as he is,” Rowan spat, placing his hand on the doorknob.

Suddenly, the door yanked open.

Mrs. Hale rushed in, panting.

“What happened to Aiden?” she asked Rowan, then spotted Aiden standing. She hurried to him and noticed the red mark on his cheek.

“How could you be so careless to miss a step and fall?” Mrs. Hale scolded gently, touching it.

“Miss a step?” Rowan echoed, staring back.

Kai had lied to save him.

Rowan’s jaw tightened.

“Aiden didn’t miss a step,” Rowan said slowly, his eyes fixed on his mother. “He ran into my punch.”

Mrs. Hale froze, her hand hovering near Aiden’s cheek. She turned to Rowan. “Your… punch?”

Rowan exhaled sharply. “I was aiming for Kai.”

Aiden straightened. “Rowan…”

“No, don’t,” Rowan cut in, lifting a finger. “That guy broke into our space, touched my things like he owned the place.”

Mrs. Hale withdrew her hand. “Kai touched your belongings?”

“He used my board,” Rowan snapped. “My brushes and my drafts.”

Aiden stepped forward. “And he made something incredible with them.”

Rowan scoffed. “You’re still defending him?”

Before Aiden could answer, Mrs. Hale turned fully to Rowan, her voice calm but firm.

“You don't solve problems with fists.”

Rowan looked away.

Aiden touched his arm. “Row… he’s not what you think.”

Rowan pulled back, dropping Aiden's hand. “You barely know him.”

“I know what he painted,” Aiden said quietly.

That caught Mrs. Hale’s attention. “Painted?”

Aiden nodded and walked to where Kai’s canvases were.

Mrs. Hale stepped closer without realizing it, her mouth parting, while Rowan stayed where he was.

Aiden glanced back. “You see what I mean?”

Mrs. Hale stopped in front of the piece, her breathing slowing. “This… was done today?”

“Yes,” Aiden whispered. “By Kai.”

Mrs. Hale spoke softly. “This is so good. They’re just like Rowan’s paintings.” Hearing that, Rowan scoffed, as Mrs. Hale turned to him.

“Rowan… I don’t know why you despise Kai so much, but he’s human, and he can feel pain too.”

Rowan swallowed.

Still, his voice stayed hard. “Pain doesn’t give him permission to invade my life.”

Aiden kept the canvases and stepped closer to Rowan. “Stop this… now,” he muttered.

“So, how did the meeting go?” Mrs. Hale suddenly asked, catching them off guard.

“It went well,” Rowan replied coldly. Aiden stared, confused, then forced a smile.

“We’ll finalize the deal soon. They love the design,” Aiden added.

Mrs. Hale smiled, then her eyes returned to Aiden’s cheek.

“Aiden, come with me. Let’s treat that,” she said, heading for the door.

Rowan stepped aside as she passed.

They expected it. Every time they had a scratch, she never wasted time pulling out her medical kit. She had once been a nurse before choosing fashion. She hated seeing injuries around her.

“You’re just making matters worse. We need to tell her the truth,” Aiden urged.

Rowan exhaled and nodded, his jaw still tight.

“She likes Kai’s canvas. Maybe she’ll agree to show the design to the Rodriguez's,” Aiden suggested.

“Hell no. Don’t dare say that. You’ll only make things worse,” Rowan said coldly, shutting the door behind him.

They returned to the living room, where Mrs. Hale sat with an antiseptic spray and a bandage in hand. They noticed Kai had quietly returned, sitting far on the couch; tense and silent. Rowan stopped, standing protectively close to his mother, his gaze locked on Kai.

Aiden sat down as Mrs. Hale sprayed his cheek and wrapped the bandage.

“All good,” she said, about to rise.

“Mum,” Aiden called.

She turned back. “Yes?”

“We have something to tell you.”