#sarai jones x adrian lorenzo

[saturnville]

i definitely started writing the og “home” again after not touching it in almost 3 years. definitely grateful to have at least completed the concise version (cupid’s arrow), but I may take “home” through an editing process and make something shake in a year or so.

masterlist for home!

*on hold*

⇢ cast and playlist

⇢ chapter i.

⇢ chapter ii.

⇢ chapter iii.

⇢ chapter iv.

⇢ chapter v.

⇢ chapter vi.

⇢ chapter vii.

⇢ cupid’s arrow mini series

tags

@neealicious @parlous-propinquity @sillyteecup

[saturnville]

cupid’s arrow. (home series)

not my gif.

yeah, it’s been a while, and what about it? anyways, i reread home and, i missed sarai and adrian. so, here’s a more mature, a bit of an alternate introduction between them.

pairing: original characters adrian and sarai. adrian is inspired by actor/singer anthony ramos.

Her stomach clenched tighter than an iron fist. It was uncomfortable, but in a good way, if that was even humanly possible. Her stomach clenched and her heart was in an excruciatingly rough battle with the strong bones under her flesh. It pounded harder and harder as the seconds drew out further, desperate to escape. The rattling of her favorite organ could be heard from miles away. Her blood pumped swiftly and the sound flooded her ears. Her knees betrayed her when he came into sight. Her knees buckled and her palms began to perspire--she rubbed them against her worn jeans.

She’d been struck by Cupid’s arrow. That damned arrow that was brought up in television shows and movies. She didn’t believe in the saying “shot by the love arrow,” not until he walked into her life like he was meant to be there, like he knew he was meant to be in it.

It was in a coffee shop. How cliche, she thought to herself. He was on his way to the hospital for early morning rounds in the emergency room. She was preparing to spend her day in the library to study for her law exam. Two paths crossed at the decisiveness of whether or not to try a new (and expensive) drink that had been introduced in the cafe.

“That’s expensive,” she said as she squinted to ensure she was looking at the right item. Her glasses served their purpose—$4.75 neatly written on the black board next to the name of the drink; iced mocha with sweet cream. And for it to be the price of the smallest size? Her desire to try it was lessening by the second.

“It’s worth it.” Her eyes cut towards the owner of the raspy, accent heavy voice. Definitely not like the men she’d crossed paths with in high school and undergrad, no, he was beautiful. Hand crafted by Aphrodite and Adonis themselves. Their skillful hands crafted every freckle and speck upon his high cheekbones. He had curly hair, too. It was short but still long enough to see the thick spirals.

“Is it now?” she replied, eyeing him closely. Nicely dressed, she noted, almost like he was going to some honorable, professional occupation. She could be wrong, she assumed. He could be a nicely dressed drug dealer for all she knew. A drug dealer in a white button down and navy blue dress pants. She’d buy from him if that was the case.

“It is. A lil’ pricey but who says you can’t splurge every once and a while? That’s if you got it.”

She noticed the small smile that played on his blush pink lips.

“I can help the next customer, please!”

She glanced at the menu ahead before acknowledging the barista with a smile. “A small iced mocha with sweet cream foam, please.” Her locs swung along her back when she turned to eye the stranger, who nodded once and smiled.

“$4.75.”

The five dollar bill in the front pocket of her jean pocket didn’t come out fast enough, as the cashier’s register popped open and a few coins jangling caught her attention. He paid for the damn drink.

“I can thank you or scold you for thinking I can’t pay for my drink.” The faux offense on her face did nothing to him. He shrugged and folded his broad arms across his chest. She tilted her head upward as if to challenge him to speak. He couldn’t resist the smile that was itching to crawl upon his face. He’d only met her ten minutes ago and she had him grinning like the Joker.

“It got your attention quickly enough for me to ask your name.”

Her eyebrow rose. It rose, then fell. Then, her lips curled upward. The barista called her drink, and she reached to grab it, ensuring to thank the barista kindly. She never left his line of sight when she moved. Something about her was intriguing. Maybe it was her locs; long and flowing, enhanced with golden clips and beads. Or, possibly her outfit; a fitted black top with corduroy bottoms and heeled boots, a blazer thrown over her shoulders. It could’ve been her smile and her dimples. He found them cute.

“Sarai.” Was all she said before she took a hearty sip, turned on her heels, and started toward the door. “Thank you, by the way!” He chuckled and nodded to himself. An interesting one, he concluded.

“Next customer!”

The kiss planted upon her forehead signaled an array of chills to shoot down her spine. His lips brushed against the shell of her ear. She jumped. Sweet words poured from his lips like water from a fountain. Her insides jumbled once more and her eyes fluttered closed. She rested her head on his shoulder and draped her arms around his waist, welcoming in his lovingkindness.

She’d been struck by Cupid’s arrow.

tags (individuals who’ve interacted with home recently): @martiinok @est19xxshit @melaninhawtie

[saturnville]

home!

CHAPTER XIII.

Her lips quivered as she huffed and hiccuped aggressively. Her feet moved rapidly across the marble floors of the hospital as she rushed to the automatic doors. Her palm covered her mouth as she was afraid that if she dropped it, the people around her would hear her cries.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes with the back of her left hand. She felt so embarrassed, so ashamed, over a situation she had no control control over.

While she was getting her blood drawn by her doctor, it seemed that her body lost control over itself. Her eyes rolled back and began to flicker like an old light bums. Her body shook like she was standing on the icy glaciers in Antarctica with no coverings. Her heart rate increased so high that it almost seemed it would pump out of her chest.

It was a seizure, they told her. It lasted only two minutes, but her primary doctor, along with two other doctors from the neurology unit felt that it seemed so much longer.

They informed her that it could possibly be a case of epilepsy. The look upon her face was horrid. She looked frightened in the beginning, because she came to the realization that she could lose control of her body at any place, at any time. Then, it morphed into a frown, and she couldn’t look into the eyes of any one in the room. She was embarrassed.

Now, she refuses sorrowfully down the street to the apartment she shared with Katya and Adya. For once, she was glad that they weren’t there when she pushed the door open and saw their boots weren’t by the door as they usually were.

Sarai kicked off her shoes and placed them on the designated boot tray by the front door and locked the door behind her.

She sauntered today her bedroom and immediately stripped out of her clothes and into more comfortable clothing. After she finished changing, she crawled into her bed and laid on top of her covers.

As she laid against her comforter, she felt her body slow down and her eyes flutter closed. She fell into a slumber.

-

Two hours had passed when she woke up. She could’ve slept throughout the rest of the day and well into the next day if the buzzing of her phone hadn’t caught her attention.

Sarai turned her head against the pillow a few times then extended her hand towards her nightstand. She swiped the device off the surface.

She unlocked it and read the text message she’d received.

Adrian

— How’s 7?

A pout formed upon her lips. She was so into her emotions from earlier that she had forgotten about the dinner. If she was being honest with herself, she didn’t feel like rushing to put herself together within two hours. She wasn’t in the mood to go out, there was still a lot for her to process regarding her newly found health condition.

Sarai

— So, so sorry, but I’m not feeling up to going out tonight. I’m not feeling well.

She bit along the skin of her thumb as she waited impatiently for his response. Her heart dropped when she saw the three little bubbles disappear after a short while.

She stared at the screen for many seconds hoping he’d reply, but he didn’t. Her shoulders fell and she released a broken sigh. Great, she said to herself, now he’s upset.

She huffed and tossed her phone to the side before stuffing her face back in her pillow.

-

A knock on the front door hindered her from continuing to stare at the gray wall ahead of her. Her eyebrows furrowed as she wondered who’d be at the door unexpectedly. It obviously wasn’t Katya or Adya, as they had keys to their own home.

Sarai hummed to herself as she pushed herself off her bed and tipped towards the front door. She wrapped her arms around herself as she weaved throughout the maze she called her home.

She peeked through the peephole to see who it could be, and her frown slowly turned into a smile. She quickly unhinged the door and swung it open.

“What’re you doing here?” Sarai gushed as she stepped to the side for the person to enter.

“I mean, you said you weren’t feeling good. So, I thought I’d stop by to check on you,” Adrian explained. “Oh, for you.” He held out a yellow bag that was filled with little goodies.

Sarai hesitantly peeled the bag out of his hand and started towards the living room, gesturing for him to follow. “What’s this?”

Inside the bag was a small little teddy bear along with some of her favorite candies. It was such a simple gesture but she appreciated it so much. It definitely brightened her mood. Aside from Katya and Adya, she didn’t have anyone present to pull her out of her occasional funks. It was nice to have another person to care for her, even if they hadn’t known each other very long.

She opened her arms just slightly for a hug, which he immediately accepted. The young man wrapped his long arms around her small frame and squeezed her tightly.

“Thank you...”

Sarai almost melted into his embrace, finding comfort in his stronghold. She let her cheek fall against his shoulder and her small hands gripped his sweatshirt. She inhaled softly, his sweet cologne filling her nostrils. Her body felt tingly and her eyes slowly began to sting. It was only when she felt his hand rub her back soothingly that the dam had broken.

Everything she’d felt and had thought about, things she kept tucked in the back of her mind because she was too afraid to speak about, in addition to the news she received earlier, hit her all at once and she couldn’t control the way she was feeling.

Sarai was never the type to show any kind of emotion that was deemed concerning. Of course, she seemed shy and quiet, a bit standoffish to some, but she never allowed her sadness, anger, or frustration to become evident to those around her.

Since she kept them all hidden, she had no way of expressing them, she had no way of getting any comfort, any closure. Now, she sat in the arms of the boy who seemed to have more care for her in the world, with tears streaming down her face.

She was tired.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?”

Sarai pulled away just slightly and wiped her damp face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

“I come with a lot of baggage, Adrian,” she whispered. “and that’s a huge deal breaker to some. But, I’m tired, to say the least. I just feel stupid crying. We’ve been talking for a few weeks and you’ve already seen me cry.” A humorless chuckle feel from her lips as she snatched a tissue from the box on the side table next to the couch.

Adrian swallowed and shook his head subtly. How could someone so beautiful, so deserving of every ounce of happiness the universe could provide, be so full of pain and sorrow.

He knew from the get go that there was something pulling her down, locking her in place, but he wasn’t going to ask. It wasn’t his place. She was so closed off, and now she was opening up. Slowly, but surely, she was blossoming. It may have seemed as if she was crumbling in her own eyes, but it was growth.

“There’s no shame in letting yourself feel everything. It’s apart of being human, Sarai,” he started. “Let yourself feel. Let yourself be open and speak about what’s bothering you. It doesn’t have to be to me, or Katya, or Adya. Maybe to a notebook, I don’t know, but don’t hold it in.”

He looked into her sad hazel eyes and bit along the side of his cheek. He hesitantly brought his thumb to her cheek, and he softly wiped the falling tear away. “It’s okay. You can cry today then smile tomorrow...”

it’s the first update in MONTHS. i’m trying to see if i can summon the inspiration to write the last 10 ish chapters of this then edit it. ahhh

[saturnville]

cupid’s arrow!

welcome to cupid’s arrow! a shorter, more mature, clearly written version of home with original characters adrian and sarai.

I. Introduction

II. The First Step

III. The Date

IV. The Proposal

V. The Wedding.

[saturnville]

cupid’s arrow!

V. The Wedding

a/n: last chapter in this miniseries. i completed this series in a handful of days yet it took a handful of months to post it all lol. thank you for the love and support on it. hope y’all enjoy this last party in adrian and sarai’s story.

pairing: adrian and sarai

warnings: none.

divider by @firefly-graphics

It came quicker than she expected. Their wedding day—March 8th—it came quicker than she’d expected. They’d gotten engaged on a fall day in November, she remembered clearly, she always would.

Now only a handful of months later, she’d been solidifying and checking off another thing on her list. She thanked God for her new salary and Adrian’s work as a surgeon. It gave them a lot more wiggle room than other young couples and for that, she was grateful. They planned a small, but beautiful wedding in Albany, New York.

The guest list was less than fifty, an agreement easily settled between the two of them. Extravagance was never eye-catching for either Adrian or Sarai. That of which prompted their wedding venue to be simple yet mesmerizing simultaneously.

It would be held in a garden, a garden that reminded her of the one spoken in the Bible—Eden. That where it flowed with earthly riches and substances. Flowers would surround them and the green leafs would brush away the nerves surrounding them.

It came quicker than she expected. She drew in a deep breath and opened her eyes. She was getting married.

Marriage. The commitment that legally bound you to another. The commitment where her soul, mind, and body would be intertwined with another. Marriage. She used to be indifferent towards it, seeing it as unimportant or just another social construct. However, it wasn’t until that man, her man walked into her world like he was meant to be there that she knew her mind began to change.

Now, she stood inside the small tent set up for any last minute touch ups were necessary, with her best friends at her side, preparing to usher her down the aisle to the man she deemed as her world.

She looked different, she inquired as she looked in the mirror Katya had brung along. No longer in her usual blazers, crop tops, and Doc Martens, she was almost unrecognizable in her long, white dress with a deep neckline and lace sleeves. Her locs had been retwisted and curled to fit her liking. Her usual minimal makeup was traded for full bridal glam—shimmery eyeshadow, lashes, and glossed lips. Beautiful, nonetheless, yet different. She couldn’t deny her fondness of it all.

The curtains of the tent peeled back and two heads poked in.

“You look so beautiful,” Katya gushed as she skipped towards the bride to be.

“Thank you.” If her skin was any fairer, the warmth that bubbled underneath her flesh would be revealed. “Is it time?”

“It’s time.”

“How is he?” She hadn’t seen him all day, as they followed the traditional wedding protocol—no seeing the bride or groom the day of the wedding. They spoke on the phone after waking up and sent a number of texts throughout the day, but overall, their communication was limited.

“He’s good. I can tell he’s nervous but the good kind. He won’t stop smiling; he’s ready. Are you?”

Sarai nodded. “I’m ready.”

Her mother’s wedding song played throughout the speakers. The sweet instrumental of You by Jesse Powell filled the atmosphere and ushered in the spirit of love throughout the small garden.

The guests rose at the sound of the music and the whispers of the bride soon coming. From around a corner turned Adrian’s niece and nephew, Tristan and Malia. The cutest twins she’d swore she’d ever laid eyes on, came waddling down the aisle with flowers tossed and a soft pillow with two rings pushed inside of them. Coos from the audience came immediately.

Following shortly behind was Sarai in all her glory. The gasps and cries of the other guests. She walked with his father at her side but everyone around her was blurred and unimportant in that very moment.

She wore no veil, rather a simple tiara and for that he was grateful. He was able to see every detail of her beautiful face—the small scar above her eyebrow that makeup failed to conceal and the beauty mark on her lip that his lips brushed against with every kiss.

The smile on his face was as bright as the son as he inched closer. The tears in his eyes blurred his vision and he had to quickly wipe them away. He couldn’t believe it—he was marrying the love of his life, and it was overwhelming in the best way possible.

Adrian’s father, Dean, kissed her twice, once on the cheek, and once on the forehead. “I love you, my daughter.” Sarai smiled tearfully and nodded before turning to Adrian who was beaming with as much joy as she was.

“Hi,” she grinned.

“Hi.” He reciprocated the same energy. “We’re getting married.”

“Yes, baby, we are…”

Their small moment was interrupted by the priest who began the traditional script they’d heard before but never fully took in.

Their vows were beautiful, heartfelt exchanges of love and adoration to one another. Oral love letters shared with tearfully guests, a pouring out of love for all to see.

“Do you, Sarai Lauren Jones take Adrian David Lorenzo to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” she breathed.

“And do you, Adrian David Lorenzo take Sarai Lauren Jones to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

His smiled reached his eyes. “I do.”

The next minute seemed to slow as it became officially official. “You may kiss the bride…”

The hoops and hollers of the guest were muted as Adrian pulled Sarai into his embrace. The world stopped spinning and it was just them, in the midst of greens and flowers and other vegetation.

His lips were warm, they always were. Hers were soft, they always were. Their kiss was sensual and passionate while also sweet and appropriate for the guests present. It took a few moments to pull away and the goofy grins on their faces showed their excitement.

“I love you, Sarai.”

“I love you more, doc.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo! Congratulations…”

Hand and hand, they walked down the aisle, strutting proudly towards a new life—together.

tags: @neeville @melaninhawtie @brattyfics

[saturnville]

cupid’s arrow!

II. The First Step

He’d found himself crossing the threshold of the tiny cafe on the corner of Third more than he’d like to admit. His wallet cried out to him each time he forced a dollar bill out of his home. Well aware of the fact that he’d grow to regret it later, but for the possibility to see her face once more, it was worth it.

Four days had passed. Four full rotations of the Earth around its axis. For four days and three nights, he found himself smushed in a pile of pillows with his eye trained on the intricate patterns of the ceiling above, his mind wandering back to the young woman who’d he met in the cafe.

He wondered what she did, what her interests were, who she was. Did she like art? He hated to stereotype, but most women he’d met that carried themselves similarly to her enjoyed it greatly. He could’ve been wrong, though: Maybe she hated art and created pictures like an immature child at daycare; the sun being a small crescent in the corner of a sheet of paper with little pricks signaling the beaming rays.

What about music? Was her favorite artist WILLOW or Luke James? Television? Was she a Grey’s Anatomy junkie or a Mayans M.C. fanatic? Criminal Minds or Outlander, perhaps? Four days had passed; would he get to know?

He ordered his usual--not the iced mocha with sweet cold foam--a large iced coffee with two pumps of caramel and a splash of almond milk. Almond milk was never his favorite, but he let his older sister get him on the minimal dairy train, and here he was. Gulping down iced coffees with dairy free milk like no other.

A seat by the window tickled his fancy. It provided a wonderful view of New York on a fall Tuesday morning; windy, rainy, and dreary. Many hated when the weather lacked a happier feel but he found it to be the perfect studying weather. The pounding of raindrops was a melodic lofi beat provided by nature itself.

A soft sigh fell from his lips as he brought the drink to his warm lips. He took a moment to embrace the outside view once more before retrieving his laptop from his backpack.

Another day, another surplus of medical school notes to read and retain. There were moments where he’d mentally kick himself for voluntarily putting himself through so much...pain. Hours of studying, immense hand cramping, and days of head spinning were never fun, but he tried to stay optimistic. The M.D by his name was at the end of the 100 meter dash, and he’d reached the 80 meter mark. Close wasn’t even the word.

It wasn’t long before he got sucked into work. Soon enough, an hour and a half had flown by. Fifteen pages in his notebook were filled, two cups of coffee had been emptied, and he managed to run down his favorite ink pen--the one with a broken stem and a bent body. He made a mental check to buy a new pack.

The next slide of the notes seemed interesting up until a swatch of color caught his eye. Forest green top with vintage brown pants and unique shoes. Locs enhanced with gold clips and beads. An iced mocha with sweet cold foam in hand.

“Mind if I sit?”

The trust he had in his ability to form words was whisked away at her presence. He only nodded. His green eyes followed her every movement with enchantment.

“You know, I didn’t catch your name, either,” she said, circling her thumb around the mouth of her cup. She shifted in her seat, her leg brushing against his knee gently. He fidgeted noticeably but she ignored it.

“Didn’t catch it or walked away too quickly to ask?”

“Little bit of both.” A cheeky smile played on her lips and a mischievous glint twinkled in her eye. She wasn’t slick. He hummed and crossed his arms. “So, are you a doctor or something?” Her eyes followed the notebooks, pens, and highlighters. The diagrams of the human brain with lines and words protruding from the sides. His writing was prettier than she expected. Most doctors wrote in chicken scratch, a patient hardly able to make out a single letter. His was clear, neat, damn near perfect.

“I will be,” he replied. “Couple more months until my fellowship. Studying for boards right now.” She hummed in interest. Smart, she thought, extremely smart.

“Doctor Adrian….has a nice ring to it.” The way she said his name made him shiver.

“Are you flirting with me, Sarai?” was his next reply. It was teasing. His eyelids lowered and he leaned forward against the table. The notebook, laptop, and materials for his fellowship were long forgotten. How she managed to suck him in was unbelievable. She had him wrapped around her finger.

“If I am?”

“Then it’s only right you let me take you out.” He smiled. She bit her lip. “Are you flirting with me?”

“And if I am?”

Sarai chuckled and cocked her head to the side, noting his confidence. She didn’t respond. Instead, she raised from her chair and swiped his notebook and a pen. Her slender fingers danced across the pages before flipping to a fresh one. She took the pen in her left hand and scribbled across the top of the crisp, white page.

She handed it to Adrian. His eyes examined the sheet. Sarai. XXX-XXX-XXXX.

“I’ll pick out my best dress,” she said with a wink before standing to her feet. She swiped her coffee cup and brought it to her lips. “You were right; this was worth almost five bucks. I’ll catch you later, doc.”

In an instant, she was walking away from the table, her hips swaying and her locs swinging. His gaze followed her up until she was completely out of sight. She was long gone yet his stomach fluttered uncontrollably. She had him wrapped around her finger.

[saturnville]

cupid’s arrow!

III. The Date

Sarai wasn’t lying when she said she’d pick out her best dress. He assumed it wasn’t the fanciest or most formal dress in her possession, but it still flattered her frame every bit the same. A little black dress was never a bad choice. Hers was simple—short sleeved and with a sweetheart neckline—and it was covered by a trench coat but she still looked beautiful nonetheless. Her brown skin shone under the dim lights of the museum. Just gorgeous.

“This one is pretty,” Sarai pointed out. Adrian was pulled from his miniature trance and moved to examine the work of art.

He agreed. It was pretty. A nineteenth century based painting with beautiful oil paint and scenery only seen in television and movies. He stood behind her and welcomed the warmth her body provided. She found herself leaning into him,

Rainy Day by Gustavo Caillebotte. A snapshot of life in a small French city. Top hats and long dresses with corsets were the superior fashion trends at the time. The higher and longer the hat and dress were, the better. Umbrellas were alert and prepared to protect their owners to their best ability. Blurry silhouettes of people reflected onto the cobblestone ground. Rainy Day by Gustavo Caillebotte.

“You know Frida Kahlo? This is probably my favorite piece of work she’s ever done.” She led him to a painting that was more dark, more dreary than the previous one.

“Memory, the Heart,” Adrian read the tan sticker below the framed painting. Frida, her unique and beautiful self, posed between two outfits, a needle struck through her very being. “What’s it mean?”

“Learned about it in an art class I took in undergrad. Her husband had an affair with her sister and she found out. She was devastated. She might have cheated back, but I don’t remember clearly.”

“That’s grimy as hell.”

Sarai nodded and they proceeded onto the next. “Sure was. Crazy because my sister did the same thing to me. I just was never married.”

“Wait, for real?”

“Yeah. Ooh, The Cliff Walk at Pourville. That’s really pretty.”

“You really gon’ speed past that like you didn’t say what you just said?”

“It slipped! She and I are cool. Never gonna be what we were before, but what’s the point of being bitter over someone with no morals, you know? I can be forgiving just to keep my conscience clear. I will never have to live with the guilt but she will. Sucks for her, but actions have consequences, you know?”

The concept of infidelity never made sense. For someone as intelligent as he was, the logic was…illogical. To him, breaking it off was the far more mature and responsible option than to step out on whatever form of commitment was curated.

For Sarai to admit she’d been a victim of infidelity through him for a loop. He’d only been with her for a few weeks and couldn’t imagine doing such a thing. How could one betray such a loving, kind hearted individual such as herself? He couldn’t fathom it.

Adrian nodded and found himself lacing his fingers between hers. Sarai looked up at him. “Don’t know where this is gonna go, how far it’s gonna go, or whatever. But, you don’t have to worry about that, swear.”

“Better keep your promise, doc.”

“Trust, I will.”

[saturnville]

cupid’s arrow!

IV. The Proposal

a/n: 4/5. we’re almost to the end! also, this was heavily inspired by the proposal between adonis and bianca in creed two, which was *heavenly*. btw, check out my other short work called garden if you haven’t already!

divider by @firefly-graphics !

“I’m gonna get out of this dress and take a shower, okay?”

Their night on the town ended with clanking their champagne glasses as they gazed out at New York nightlife.

It was an evening of celebration. She’d gotten her first job in a law firm and he’d begun practicing in a nearby hospital. Success surrounded m the both of them and it was indeed worth celebrating.

He took her to a high end restaurant in the heart of the city. He’d saved up like a madman to take her. It was expensive, but he was willing to cut spending elsewhere to show her she was appreciated.

He picked her up in his car, a black Honda accord with black interior, the one she claimed exuded “dominance and authority” or in words simply put, sexiness.

They talked for hours over shared entrees and glasses of chardonnay until the sun set and a low fire of passion bubbled within their bosom. Adrian was easily turned on by anything Sarai managed to do. At that point, it was her sitting prettily and glowing underneath the lights as she stared out at the skyline. The moonlight shone on her high cheekbones and caused her skin to glisten beautifully. The dress she wore left little to the imagination and only prompted him to wonder how the moon would shine upon her bare skin. She was breathtaking.

“Okay,” he finally said. “What movie again?” His fingers fiddled with the television remote. Soon soft drumming indicated Netflix had made an appearance. He clicked one of the profiles; A & S and prepared the search bar for a movie she said was American Assassin.

“Yes! That one. Okay, I’ll try not to take too long.”

He hummed slowly and waved her away. A short chuckle tripped over her lips as she closed the bathroom door. His green eyes followed the door as it swung shut, as the hinges met its casing on the doorway. A few moments passed and his watch ticking grew louder in his ears. Soon, the water turned on. He heard her soft welp. The water was either too hot or too cold once it splattered against her sensitive skin. Once he heard her soft adlibs to the harmonies that played in her mind, he knew he was in the clear.

He pounced off the couch faster than a lion after its prey and darted to his jacket pocket. Adrian shoved his hand into the inner pocket of the gray blazer he wore to dinner. He felt it--the hard, small black box that he’d kept hidden in a variety of different places. A shoebox, underneath his dresser, inside his backpack, and even in his pillowcase, which he soon realized was not the best idea.

He pried open the lips of the box and tilted his head to the side. The ring stared at him and he stared back. With a rotation of the box to the right, it was hit by the rays of the lamp by his bed. The ring winked at him, almost daring to make a move. Stop playing and just do it, it demanded. Adrian kept it in hiding for three months.

He knew he wanted her forever. To watch the youth slip away and to spend their days growing old. But only if she’d have him. There came the doubt. The doubt that she wanted him the way he wanted her, that he wasn’t good enough or he was undeserving. That couldn’t be the case, he’d remind himself. She wouldn’t have stayed with him as long as she had if it was.

“Snap out of it, man.” She loved him and he loved her. It was evident from all possible points of view. She’d say yes. He just had to speak from his heart, that’s all.

A forceful breath blew past Adrian’s lips. His hands shook and his heart raced but he was prepared. The few steps towards the bathroom door seemed like a walk down an old dirt road, long and grueling. By the time he was almost chest to chest with the door, his insides turned upside down. He shook off that feeling and inhaled deeply.

The water cut off.

“Baby?”

“Yes, love?”

“I have something that I wanna tell you, well, ask you…”

“Okay…” he already knew the face she was making. Her eyebrows were knitted together and her lips were pursed in confusion. She’d probably stopped what she was doing to listen to what she presumed to be something bad came out of his mouth.

“We met in a coffee shop,” he said. “That cute lil’ coffee shop on the corner. It wasn’t my usual place but after seeing you there once, it became my usual place. I went every day until I saw you again a few days later. You’ve got no idea how excited I was when I saw you, ‘cause I’d been thinkin’ about you those four days since we’d met. Then, I was geeked when you let me take you out. I was even callin’ your girls just trying to find out what was best suitable for you.

“I didn’t know flirting in a coffee shop on the corner would result in us growing together as both individuals and as a couple. Being by your side these last two years has allowed me to watch you blossom into a badass woman. I thank God everyday for you, Sarai. I don’t say that because it sounds nice, either. I keep you in my prayers and my dreams. I ask God that you’ll prosper in life and that you’ll continue to want me the way I want you…

“I asked Him to give me courage to ask....will you marry me?”

Her breath hitched. Moments of silence were exchanged between them. Adrian closed his eyes and rested his head against the door. He hoped he hadn’t messed up and ruined everything between them. It’s hard to redeem yourself from a situation like this one.

He heard shuffling. Shuffling and sniffling. Gosh, had he made her cry? The door pulled back and Adrian straightened as best as he could. He was met with her beautiful brown eyes and her semi-wet skin glistening beneath a white robe. Her eyes fell on the black box in his palm. It wasn’t yet opened.

“Adrian…”

He got down on one knee slowly. Sarai looked at the ceiling and her eyes darted back and forth to keep the tears at bay. A heavy breath escaped her and she clasped her hand against her chest. “Baby…”

“Will you marry me?” The box popped open, and holy, was the ring beautiful. It was small, but it was beautiful. A round princess diamond with small diamonds etched into the band. It fit her perfectly.

“Yeah, yes, yes, I’ll marry you!” Adrian tumbled as she pulled him to his feet and kissed him until his breath was caught in his throat. When they pulled away, he slid the ring on her finger. “Goodness, I love you.”

“I love you more.”

yaaaay. fourth part! hope y’all enjoyed !

[saturnville]

CHAPTER VII.

She felt miserable. Was the world out to get her? She had one good day, one of the best days she’d had in a while, then it seemed to come crashing down within a heartbeat.

When she had awoken in the morning, she’d received an email from her professor saying she’d done poorly on their recent quiz, which was unlikely for her. Sarai didn’t understand herself, as she spent hours and hours, days and days, studying and preparing for the quiz, she managed to get a 53.

Katya and Adya expressed how they had dates, so they wouldn’t be able to participate in their weekly movie night and catch up. Sarai would be alone.

Then, she felt faint when on her way to the bathroom to start out her day. Her vision seemed to blur, her mind seemed to lose itself, the sound of the air conditioning seemed to be like the turbulence of an airplane, her stomach churned, and her body seemed to shake. It only lasted a few minutes, but to Sarai, it was a lifetime. 

Now, with a poor attitude and a nauseating feeling swarming through her body, Sarai sulked down the streets of New York.

The sound of her footsteps hitting the concrete seemed louder than usual as she trudged towards the entrance of the hospital.

It was Tuesday. The day she went for her weekly “check up.” That’s what she told the people aside from Katya and Adya who’d ask. It wasn’t a check up, it was a session to run tests on what could possibly be wrong with her...internally, that is.

Sarai was sick. With what? No one knew. One morning many weeks prior, she woke up in a cold sweat with her body feeling like it had been by metal rods then rugged down by an anchor. She had gotten sick many times throughout the day, yet she couldn’t conclude why that was the case.

It happened almost everyday for three weeks, and while those horrific bodily disfunctions subsided for the most part, there were days where she’d relive the trauma. Today was that day.

Due to the concern of her doctor, they made it a mission to find out what was affecting her, but, they always met a dead end.

Sometimes Sarai just wished they’d stop trying to search. Her returning to the hospital every week to get tested and blood drawn obviously wasn’t helping, so why waste time?

Sighing heavily, the young woman entered the automatic doors of the hospital. She waved to the receptionists who knew her by name. They signed her in and instructed her to wait for her doctor to get her.

While she sat in her favorite chair in the office, she found herself mindlessly playing a game of Temple Run. She was deep into the game, going over 5000m when she was pulled out of the zone by her name being called by a familiar voice.

She raised her head and saw Adrian standing in front of her, hands in the pockets of his dress pants. A smile adorned his lips.

“Hi,” Sarai smiled, feeling her mood lighten. She stood to her feet and moved to give him a hug. She relaxed in his arms, loving the feeling of his hands cupping her slender waist.

“We didn’t run into each other this time,” he joked, stepping away from her. “How are you?”

“I’m good. How are you, Doc?” she teased, tapping the emblem on his white coat.

“Ah, I’m alright,” Adrian breathed. “Just got done conducting a brain waves experiment. Took a little minute, so I’m taking a break to walk around for a few. What about you, what’re you doing here today?”

“Another check up,” Sarai cringed as she said her little white lie. “They love me here, apparently.”

Adrian hadn’t caught onto her fib, as he nodded his head. “Well since you’re here, I can ask you out again.” He noticed how she got a bit flustered and brushed her hair off her shoulder.

“Okay,” she agreed. “What are you thinking?”

“Dinner, maybe? Tonight?” His answer sounded more like a question than it did a statement, only because he was a bit nervous to ask. He realized he had no reason to be when he saw Sarai smile and nod.

A nurse soon called her name.

“Yeah, just text me, or call and let me know a time, okay?” Sarai said as she pulled her purse over her shoulder.

“You got it,” Adrian replied.

“I’ll see you tonight,” Sarai said. She took a step forward as if she was going to hug him, but she leaned in. It seemed as they both had the same idea as Adrian met her halfway. Their lips collided in a short, sweet kiss.

The young woman pulled away, flustered. She gave him a small wave then quickly walked to meet with the nurse.

Adrian’s eyes were locked on her figure as she did so, his vision following her until she was out of sight. He brought his hand to his lip and touched his rosy lips gently. He could still feel her lips on his.

With a satisfied look on his face, he turned on his feet and made his way back towards the neurology unit.

tags

@neealicious @parlous-propinquity

[saturnville]

CHAPTER VI.

She was so invested in the conversation she’d engaged in with Adrian over text that she hardly heard Katya and Adya calling her name.

Her head sprung up and she pulled her thumb away from her lip. She lowered her right hand and dropped her phone into her lap. “Sorry, what happened?”

“Well, I wanted to know about this guy that you went out with but hell, he seems to have you attention,” Katya said with a smirk playing upon her lips. Sarai’s lips twitched as they threatened to pull upwards into a smile.

It had only been a short couple of days since she and Adrian had exchanged numbers but the amount of text messages exchanged between them was infinite.

Their conversations ranged from their childhood to their goals and aspirations and to their hobbies and odd habits. It seemed that they had known one another for a lifetime. Everything between them felt...comfortable.

“Oh,” Sarai said with a shy chuckle. “Yeah...”

“Tell me about him!” Katya urged. “Only what you’re comfortable with sharing.” She felt a bit out of the looo lately because of her hectic school schedule and wanted to catch up with her friends as much as she could before she’d fall off again trying to handle her business.

“Well, he’s the doctor, well soon to be doctor I was telling you guys about. He’s really sweet. A down to earth cat with a lot of success ahead of him.”

Adya and Katya couldn’t help but inwardly awe at their friend. They knew how her situations with men never were up to par, and she often had nothing good to say about the few guys she dealt with. But this time, they knew Adrian had to be a good guy if she spoke so highly of him.

“Good for you, Sarai!” Katya cheered with genuine happiness. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, y’know? It’s only been a few days and I don’t need to get in over my head. Who knows it may not even work out.”

“Don’t be such a negative Nancy!” Adya scolded. “Let whatever happens happen. Just vibe with him, alright?”

Sarai prepared to respond but the buzzing in her lap caught her attention. She glanced at her phone and read the message she was sent.

Adrian

— You free to see a movie or something tonight? Around 8?

Sarai held in the gasp that threatened to dribble from her lips. Though she didn’t speak verbally, her body said everything she didn’t. She was...excited, and her friends could tell.

“What happened?” they questions in unison.

“I’m going out with him tonight.”

Her friends squealed excitedly and jumped up from the couch. They each pulled on one of Sarai’s arms and tugged her off of the love seat.

“That’s in two hours! Go shower, we’ll pick out an outfit or something. Hurry up!” Adya rushed, shooing Sarai off to her bedroom. The flustered girl held her hand’s up in surrender and walked quickly to her bedroom to prepare for the evening, the date with Adrian.

Due to her desire and constant need to be punctual, Sarai was finished getting ready by seven twenty-three. Since she had so much time on her hands, she decided to catch up on some Netflix. She could hardly focus because her eyes would flicker towards the clock at the bottom of her computer screen and she’d see eight creep up quickly. And, also because Katya and Adya were going on and on about how excited they were for her date. It seemed that they were looking forward to the night even more than she was.

“Stop! You guys are so...” a knock on the door interrupted Sarai’s sentence.

“I’ll get it!” Katya jumped up and skipped to the front door, much to Sarai’s dismay. Sarai pulled herself up from the floor and brushed off her pants. She grabbed her purse which was filled with all her personal belongings, and walked towards the door.

“Ooh, here’s your girl. Have fun, guys! Nice meeting you, Adrian,” Katya waved as she slipped past Sarai. “You know how to pick ‘em.” She whispered in her friend’s ear before leaving to join Adya in the living room.

“Sorry about her,” Sarai apologized awkwardly, rubbing her arm.

“She’s chill,” Adrian said. “You look good, though, Ms. Sarai.” She smiled as she closed the door behind her. Her outfit was simple, as she didn’t think the movies were something to get dressed up. She wore a black long sleeved shirt that fit snugly around her figure. It was a bit cropped, just as she liked it. She paired it with a pair of light washed jeans and black boots. Her curly hair was held by a black scarf. Her hair being pulled back only emphasized her beauty that was illuminated by the setting sun.

“Thank you. You do, too.” Adrian glanced at his outfit and shrugged. He figured a black sweater, slacks, and his favorite pair of black and gray Jordan’s would do.

Adrian led them to his car and opened the door for her. He knew some women preferred to open the door for themselves, but he didn’t want to take the risk if that wasn’t the case for her. Which it wasn’t, as Sarai thanked him as soon as she slid into the seat.

“What movie did you have in mind?” Sarai asked as she buckled her seatbelt. A smug smile played upon Adrian’s lips and he shrugged, telling her she’d see when they reached the theater.

Sarai just nodded and relaxed in her seat for the rest of the ride.

-

“Sonic? Really, Adrian?” Sarai laughed as he handed her a ticket. Adrian led them over to the concessions where they gathered up enough popcorn, candy, and drinks to feed a kindergarten class.

“You know, Sarai,” he spoke as he handed his ticket to the man sitting in the chair. “sometimes you’ve got to embrace your inner kid and let it roam free. Takes away from the stress of life, you know? This is how we’re gonna start.”

Sarai didn’t get the opportunity to respond before she was pulled towards the theater.

-

Adrian smiled as he listened to Sarai speak about scenes that she thought were absolutely “adorable.” He could tell when he told her what movie he had in mind that she was a bit skeptical, but it was obvious his mind was in the right place.

Adrian noticed that Sarai seemed very tense majority of the time and did little to bring herself some sort of relaxation. He himself couldn’t go too long without having a moment where he acted silly or had harmless fun just to relieve stress. It was obvious Sarai hadn’t done it in a while and all he wanted to do was to help her ease into a place of tranquility.

He was pulled out of his little trance when he heard her soft gasp. She turned towards him, hazel eyes linking with his green ones.

“What?”

“The arcade.” Sarai pointed to the miniature arcade in that was located near the exit of the movie theater. She felt her stomach churn with an emotion she wasn’t quite aware of. As a child, she never had the opportunity to go out places that required money.

Her father struggled a lot as a single parent. He didn’t have his high school diploma, nor did he have a college degree. While he worked like a dog to provide for Sarai, the one thing he just couldn’t make work was the ability for her to have extra change in her pocket for extracurricular activities.

She’d never forget the time where she asked for ten dollars to go to the arcade with her friends from school. Her father told her he wasn’t able to give it to her. She was upset, but she didn’t understand that it was the last ten dollars he has after paying the bills and he needed it to go to the dollar store to make sure she had food to eat.

As she grew older, she began to understand where he came from. But, seeing the one thing she never got to experience right in front of her, hit closer to the heart than she expected.

“I never played at an arcade before,” Sarai began. “My father couldn’t afford to give me money to go. I didn’t have a mother around to pitch in either. All my friends would go after school and I just...couldn’t. I never blamed him for it, because I rather have food than play with a joystick and a few buttons, but...” A small laugh fell from her lips as her eyes glossed over just slightly.

“Let’s play then,” Adrian chirped. “create the experience you didn’t have some odd years ago, yeah?”

Sarai blinked multiple times to rid the tears that flooded her waterline and gave him a closed lip smile. “Yeah..”

The first game they settled on was a motorcycle game. Sarai had the most fun leaning side to side while revving the electronic engine. Adrian leaned against the machine with his hands tucked into his pockets as he watched the young man have the time of her life from a simple game.

They stayed within the arcade for about thirty minutes, but Sarai wasn’t satisfied until she got to witness Pac-man in action. She didn’t know how to play, but, she figured it couldn’t be too hard. How complicated could a game with a joystick and button be?

“Wait, oh, no!” Sarai laughed as she was eaten by the the little jellyfish for the third time. “Okay, I suck.”

Adrian chuckled and took a step towards her. He dug into his pocket and pulled out some quarters, which he thrust into the chain coin slot.

“Here,” he stood behind her and placed his hands upon hers. Sarai’s breath hitched, but he didn’t hear. Her body tensed for a moment, but it relaxed when she inhaled the scent of his sweet cologne.

He guided her hands, both left and right. Sarai had almost slipped into a trance. She couldn’t focus anymore. The only thing she could comprehend was that he was close; that kind of close where she’d be uncomfortable if someone else was in his place. But she wasn’t. She felt okay, protected in a way. Like he was her outer shell.

The victory cheer sounding from the machine pulled her out of her mind. She quickly threw a smile upon her lips as she laughed lightly. Adrian withdrew his hands from hers, and she turned around.

“I can now say I’ve gotten the chance to play an arcade game...and won!”

The smile that was on her face fell slightly. Not because a negative emotion took over her, but rather because she got lost in those pretty green eyes he had.

Of course, she recognized their beauty, but here and now, they were speaking to her more than they were prior to. They were so soft and loving, gentle and welcoming.

Her eyes then flickered to his lips. They were a rosy shade of pink, and she’d be lying if she said she never wondered what they felt like.

Sarai felt embarrassed when she raised her eyes and saw his vision following her every moment. She fixed her mouth to apologize, but she was silenced by the soft kiss she had just been thinking about.

It lasted for just a second. Sarai hadn’t even gotten to opportunity to process what had happened.

Her silence almost had Adrian cursing himself for lack of self control. It all washed away when pushed up on her toes and kissed him again.

A feeling arose between the both of them, one that made their hearts pound, their stomachs churn, and their palms sweat. They didn’t know what it was, nor did they care to differentiate it. They just wanted the feeling to never go away.

tags: @neealicious @parlous-propinquity @sillyteecup

[saturnville]

CHAPTER V.

After about an hour of conversing in the cafe, Adya expressed her desire to head home to rest for her day at work the next day. Everyone wound up following suit--packing up their belongings and putting their cups in the plastic dish to be collected.

Adya was the first to say her goodbyes, then Dante shortly after, as he wanted to walk her out to her car. Their absence left Sarai and Adrian by themselves. Sarai was humming a tune to herself as she packed away her phone and wallet in her purse.

A somewhat awkward silence dawned over the two and it had been for a little over five minutes, and it was driving Adrian insane. He didn’t expect Sarai to open up to him immediately as they just met, but she had him thinking nothing about him appealed to her.

Adrian’s tooth scraped across his lower lip as his eyes caught Sarai pulling her keys out of her purse. Before she took a step towards the exit, he called her name.

Sarai turned around slowly with her heart pounding in her chest. She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her joggers and slid back onto the couch. “What’s up?”

“I know we’ve only known one another for less than a day, but I can’t help but ask if my being here made you uncomfortable?”

Sarai swallowed the lump that formed within her throat and shook her head. “No, why do you think that?”

Adrian shrugged and rubbed his hands over his thighs, his arms flexing unintentionally with every subtle motion he did. “Just seemed kinda standoffish.”

Look what you’ve done, she said to herself. That was not her intention whatsoever, she just didn’t know how to handle being around a guy. Sarai shook her head and gave a shy smile.

“T-that definitely wasn’t my intention. I just,” she sighed. “I don’t have a good history with guys therefore I really don’t know how to conduct a decent conversation with one.” A humorless laugh fell from her lips. Adrian’s eyes were on her as she spoke.

“I don’t know how to handle myself around men, never had to do it. Especially men like you…”

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “Like me?”

“Smart, handsome, goal orientated all around. You don’t see a lot of that nowadays.”

Adrian snickered and smirked just a bit. “Smart and handsome?”

Sarai rolled her eyes. “That’s the only thing you got out of that, Adrian?” He cocked his head to the side and nodded, just to mess with her.

The young girl waved him off and relaxed into the couch, something she hadn’t been able to do since she’d been there.

“Look, Sarai, I think you’re cool, and I wanna get to know you.”

She felt her heart leap within her chest. He liked her, or at least felt that he had the capability of being able to do so.

With tinted cheeks and a bashful expression, Sarai said okay. Maybe she didn’t have so much guy trouble after all.

tags

@neealicious @sillyteecup @parlous-propinquity

[saturnville]

masterlist for home!

*on hold*

⇢ cast and playlist

⇢ chapter i.

⇢ chapter ii.

⇢ chapter iii.

⇢ chapter iv.

⇢ chapter v.

⇢ chapter vi.

⇢ chapter vii.

⇢ cupid’s arrow mini series

tags

@neealicious @parlous-propinquity @sillyteecup

[saturnville]

completed on 10/26/21

cupid’s arrow!

welcome to cupid’s arrow! a shorter, more mature, clearly written version of home with original characters adrian and sarai.

I. Introduction

II. The First Step

III. The Date

IV. The Proposal

V. The Wedding.

[saturnville]

part 4 is up!

cupid’s arrow!

welcome to cupid’s arrow! a shorter, more mature, clearly written version of home with original characters adrian and sarai.

I. Introduction

II. The First Step

III. The Date

IV. The Proposal

V. The Wedding.

[saturnville]

chapter 3 is up :)

cupid’s arrow!

welcome to cupid’s arrow! a shorter, more mature, clearly written version of home with original characters adrian and sarai.

I. Introduction

II. The First Step

III. The Date

IV. The Proposal

V. The Wedding.

[saturnville]

update: i’ve started writing this story again, but i want to edit it bc i genuinely do not like how i wrote it lol, so therefore, there may be a new updated version in the future ;)

masterlist for home!

*on hold*

⇢ cast and playlist

⇢ chapter i.

⇢ chapter ii.

⇢ chapter iii.

⇢ chapter iv.

⇢ chapter v.

⇢ chapter vi.

⇢ chapter vii.

tags

@neealicious @parlous-propinquity @sillyteecup