Every Rose Has its Thorn *Limited* By Bean

Deryk began painting his roses, and Sarah among them. He chuckled, watching her pull weeds. Even from that distance, he could see she was smiling.

--

Alex sighed, her breath coming out in more of a huff. "Then I guess it's got to be down here somewhere," she murmured, looking around the boxes and on the shelves, under the shelves and every other place it could possibly be.

Sarah looked up, smiling at Deryk. She had felt that someone was watching her, but she didn't know whom. When she turned and saw him painting his garden, and consequentially her, she blushed.
~~~
Grayson looked over Alex as she darted around the basement. She was cute, really.

Deryk chuckled and waved to her. He could tell her skin tone reddened and added a bit of the color to her in the painting, to match, and then continued with painting his roses.

---

Alex sighed. "I can't find it... It's really dark under these shelves," she told him and looked up at him. "What's that look for," she asked him, blushing as she was now self-conscious.

Sarah smiled, turning back to the garden. She finished her round 1 through the garden, her eyes twinkling. She liked Deryk, liked him alot...

Grayson chuckled. "Nothing, it's nothing... You're just really pretty is all."

Alex blushed brighter and looked down shyly. "Uhm... Thank you," she murmured.

---

Deryk continued painting, pausing to watch Sarah every now and again.

Sarah knelt down in front of the first rose bush, her eyes scanning for dead blooms. She found a few and pruned them off, scattering the slightly wilted leaves at the bottom for the bugs to keep them away from the fresher blossoms. She got a few cuts from thorns, but nothing too serious.
~~~
Grayson chuckled. "It's not a problem, and I find it rude to lie anyways..."

Deryk finished painting and left it there; he'd paint later. He decided to go for a walk in the garden to see his roses.

---

Alex nodded. "Lying is not good," she murmured in agreement, still embarrassed.

Sarah looked up from the rose bush as Deryk walked out into the garden. She sighed, smiling over at him.
~~~
Grayson smiled at her, nodding. "You're right, lying is bad..."

Deryk smiled at her, walking to her. "How's it going? Are my roses doing okay," he asked.

---

Alex nodded quietly, looking around to see if she'd missed the book. She might have looked over it; it might have been sitting in plain sight.

Sarah nodded, standing up. "Definitely. They're doing better than expected with all this heat..."
~~~
Grayson watched Alex, smiling softly.

Deryk smiled. "And how about you? Karen will be coming around with water for everyone shortly," he explained.

---

Alex looked behind things on the shelves she could reach, having to dust off the books so she could see what they were made of.

Sarah chuckled. "I'm fine actually... I've never really been phased into thirst by work or temperature.. But if it's 20 degrees, hot chocolate might be good." She smiled, dusting her hands off.
~~~
Grayson followed her idea, starting to reach onto shelves and dust off books he never would've considered. It was actually a really good idea.

Deryk smiled. "Well, it's hot outside. I'd rather not give you heat stroke," he chuckled.

---

Alex found one made of leather. "What about this one," she asked him, handing it to him.

Sarah smiled warmly at him, her cheeks slightly pink. "Well, that's incredibly kind of you."
~~~
Grayson ran his hands over the leather. It was unmarked, but had definitely been used. He flipped it open, smiling. "This is it..."

Deryk smiled. "Maybe once you get inside and get cooled down, then we can make you some hot chocolate," he chuckled.

---

Alex lit up, looking at him. "Really?"

Sarah chuckled. "Well, I might just take you up on that."
~~~
Grayson nodded, running his fingers over his father's calligraphic writing. "Definitely..."

Deryk laughed. "Will do; I'll make sure we have some when I go inside," he chuckled.

---

Alex smiled, happy to help, and looked around. Maybe she should help clean the basement? It was so dusty!