Zas sighed as the elevator doors opened on his floor. Please don’t let Penny be home. Please don’t let Penny be home. He thought over and over. He didn’t need to deal with her after the day he’d had. Walking as quietly as possible past her door, he finally let out the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding as he opened the door to his apartment.

“I’m home!” He called. He turned and began walking into the bedroom to change, when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind. A face pressed into his back and nuzzled him for a moment. Smiling, he reached down and gave the tanned arm a quick rub, he was on the fence about what to do with Ezza and her cuddle needs. Obviously if he wasn’t going to be with her, he shouldn’t reciprocate or encourage her actions, but something inside of him wanted to let go and take all she could give and then give it back to her.

Suddenly his train of thought got derailed. He stopped rubbing the arms wrapped around him. Who was holding him? This certainly wasn’t Ezza. He could hear Ezza laughing as he stiffened. She knew exactly when it had dawned on him and now she was mocking him. He grabbed the arms and flung them wide as he stepped away from whoever it was. Turning he saw Cameron.

“Well Muffin you could have kept going. I don’t mind being lovingly caressed.” Cameron said flirtatiously. Zas started to see red, and in that haze he could see Ezza standing in the living room laughing.

“Not funny. Besides, don’t you have a boy toy to annoy at home?” He threw out there. Cameron looked down hurt, and Ezza gasped. Zas stood bewildered looking at the two of them. What had he said?

 

After a mostly edible dinner, largely thanks to Cameron’s intervention on Ezza’s behalf, the three of them made their way to the Romance Festival. People were chatting and of course flirting their little hearts out.

Ezza clapped her hands in excitement and pointed out several things she wanted to try. Zas nodded thinking he’d like to hit the food stalls himself, when Cameron laced his arm through Zas’s.

“Come Muffin, we should hit the tea fountain and then live at the bar.” Cameron said pointing to the fountains.

“That’s tea? Is it like the tea at the Humour and Hijinks Festival?” Ezza asked Cameron.

 

“Sort of, this tea has a specific purpose, just like that tea did as well. You felt funnier at that festival right?” Cameron asked Ezza. She nodded.

“What does this one do?” Zas asked him trying to remove Cameron’s hand from his arm.

“Oh Muffin, do try to be a bit adventurous? Try it and find out. Who knows the experience could be very pleasurable.” He said rolling his eyes. Zas sighed.

The three of them walked over to the tea fountains and took a cup. After downing the tea, Cameron went to the bar.

Zas went to get some food, and Ezza chatted with a few people.

Ezza had just had flower petals showered on her  and was laughing with joy, when Zas stepped closer to her.

He had been watching her as he ate, in fact he found it hard to ignore her right now. What was in that tea? He thought. Ezza seemed to glow in his eyes, and he couldn’t resist being near her. Time seemed to slow as he reached up his hand up to her hair and pulled a flower petal out of it, slowly gliding it down her cheek. Ezza’s eyes widened at first, and then slowly started closing as she enjoyed the sensation of the petal trailing down her soft skin.

Zas was in a world of his own as he watched Ezza’s reactions, all around them he could sense people going about their business, but none of that mattered right now, just this. He slowly slid his fingers up into Ezza’s hair and cupped the back of her neck. Then he kissed her passionately.

Once he had started, he found he didn’t want to stop, his need to touch and be with Ezza was almost overwhelming. Ezza didn’t seem to mind either. After a few moments, they broke apart. Then the dread settled in for Zas. Quickly letting go, he walked away from Ezza, trying not to notice the confused and hurt look on her face.

Zas stood hiding in the crowd, trying to collect his thoughts and feelings. Trying to find the will to leave Ezza alone. He was trying to figure out his next move when a hand landed lightly on his shoulder. Turning he saw the smiling man staring at him.

“Yeah?” He asked a bit rudely. The man’s smile just got larger.

“You seem troubled. As the Romance Guru, I’ve come to offer advice.” He stated.

“What is a romance Guru?” Zas asked suspiciously.

“We are Masters of the ways of Love. It is our job to guide you on your path to discovering it. I believe you may have already on your own, but you resist it. Why?” He asked.

“It’s none of your business.” Zas said defensively. He was really not liking this man.

“Some free advice then. If you turn your back on what you have now, because of what ever fears you have you will never again taste love. Your world will be like ash, colourless, soundless. You wander through it with out hope as if you are dead to this world,” he looked Zas in the eyes. “Do not be a fool Sazarn. Stand you’re ground, after all, only by standing can we truly see and face life’s trials; and this way you won’t have to face them alone.”

Zas’s eyes widened, how did this man know his name? Before he could ask the man wandered off and disappeared into the crowd. Zas made his way to where the man had been by the tea fountains, but he wasn’t there. Instead another person with same outfit was. Zas looked around bewildered. What’s going on?

Tired, and out of sorts Zas went looking for Ezza. He could see her under the wedding arch, eyes closed and with a smile on her face. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going through her head at the moment. Not wanting to tangle with that anymore tonight, he wandered over to some flowers. As he watched them, he thought about everything that had happened tonight.

After calming down a bit, he looked around him. Ezza was no longer at the arch, but she wouldn’t leave without him. Spying some art easels he went over to look at the art on display. Instead he found empty pallets. Seeing paint below on the easels, he walked up as if he owned the easel he was using and he began to paint. As each colour splashed down on the canvas he could feel a little more tension leave his body, a little problem floating away. Zas stood back after a few moments and looked as his work. He had lost track of time, but it didn’t bother him. What was on his canvas was an assortment of colours and splash marks, all jumbled together in a mishmash riot of colours. It was basically how he felt at the moment.

“Oh! How wonderful. It’s just seething with emotion isn’t it?” A woman walked over and looked at Zas’s painting. “I’m sure I could find a buyer. Would you consider selling?”

Zas shrugged his shoulders. It wasn’t as if he had an attachment with the thing. So when the woman offered him $81 for it he took it. Then he went to find Ezza. She was at the bar with a very juiced Cameron. They sat on stools side by side, Cameron’s head resting on Ezza’s chest. Zas could feel his temper start up at the sight, but quickly stamped it down. Noticing Zas watching them, Ezza laid Cameron down on the bar and stood up. She beckoned for Zas to come over.

“We should take him home.” Ezza said. She motioned for Zas to pick him up. Zas reached under Cameron’s one arm and lifted him to his feet. Holding Cameron upright and steady they made their way out of the Festival and towards their apartment. Once inside they deposited Cameron on the bed. Then Zas went out to the couch, while Ezza got ready and slipped into the bed beside Cameron.