Chapter Text
The ding of the bell catches Summer by surprise.
City Blooms, the flower shop she works at, was a small shop hidden away at the end of the street. It’s rarely busy with few customers walking in and out at a time.
Bouquet of flowers filled the shelves, with baskets containing a variety of flowers and plants lining the brightly lit floor. Light shines freely into the space through the graciously placed windows that scattered the store’s walls.
She loves this place and nothing brings her more joy than signing into work every week. It’s odd, sure, but she loves it nonetheless.
The shop being as small as it is, got quite a few regulars. Over the months Summer has worked here- she’s grown to know everyone who comes in by name.
She was expecting to look up and see Doug, or maybe even Dakota- who sometimes drops by for a chat before running out, claiming he has “hero duties”. Whatever that means.
What she didn’t expect was to look up and see brown hair with slightly faded purple highlights. The person stood out within the store- a black jacket cascaded in pins hugs her shoulders, a purple undershirt showing underneath. Black ripped jeans lead into black boots that looked rather painful to walk in.
The person has her headphones in, fingers mindlessly tapping against the back of his phone. Summer finds herself staring longer than she probably should’ve, the odd sight of the person drawing on her attention.
Clearing her throat, she makes her way towards the figure, “Hi! Is there anything I could help you with?” The stranger looks up, bright purple eyes widening as if she wasn’t expecting to make conversation.
“Oh uh- my friend William actually recommended this place.” A small smile plays on Summer’s lips. William came in a couple weeks ago asking for a bouquet of roses- telling her that they were going to be a gift for someone. She hoped that whoever had gotten them was happy with the flowers.
“You guys don’t happen to have anything for funerals do you? I’m attending one next week and my sister decided to put me on flower duty knowing full well I don’t know shit about flowers.”
Summer’s eyes widen, the question snapping her back into reality. For someone who’s talking about a funeral she seems surprisingly nuanced. The other seem to catch Summer’s reaction because he added, “Oh it’s just a public funeral. They were heroes- died during a mission, we had the private funeral a couple weeks back. It’s nothing big.” Oh.
Trying to recall anything- Summer remembers seeing something about heroes getting majorly hurt on the news a couple weeks back. In hindsight, she wished she’d paid more attention so she’d have something to say to the person standing in front of her.
Offering him a small smile instead, she turns towards the back of the store, gesturing for the other to follow.
“I’m still sorry for your loss. Even if it isn’t a big deal, it must be hard, you know- losing someone you love.” Summer’s face scrunches up as she says that. Way to go Summer- not insensitive at all. To her surprise, the person scoffs at the comment.
“If you want…” Summer continues, ignoring the reaction, ”We have the standard funeral arrangements, you know- like lilies and tulips, or…” she goes to grab a piece of paper, “…you can file in a custom arrangement! It would take longer and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get it to you on time…but well, it’s really up to you!” She hands the paper over.
Their fingers brush and Summer can’t help the feeling that seems to explode in her chest. Considering she’s never met this person before- she blames it on being nervous.
“Oh uh- just the standard stuff is fine, again, I don't really know anything about flowers.” She laughs as she says this, glancing down at the sheet of paper in his hands.
The other’s laughter rings out in Summer’s ears, the sound sweeter than a thousand birds chirping in the morning sun. Summer realises then and there that a part of her wants to hear it again. Possibly even being the cause of that laughter.
She pushes the thought away, going to the back of the shop to get the flowers. Swiftly ignoring her not-so-normal reaction to someone else’s laughter.
She grabs a standard funeral arrangement, adding a couple other flowers like forget-me-nots and pink tulips in there before wrapping it up with paper and tying it off with a white ribbon.
Walking back into the store, she sees the other standing there waiting, foot tapping mindlessly on the ground.
She finds herself just- looking at him. His clothes, his hair, the painted nails that wrap around her phone. It takes her a moment before she realises she’s just been standing there for who knows how long just…admiring.
Awkwardly- she walks over toward the counter and hands over the standard arrangement of white tulips, lilies, daisies; as well as the extra flowers she added in.
The person handed back the custom arrangement slip as well as the payment Summer had asked for. She grabs the flowers with gentler hands than Summer expected, whispering a small thanks before leaving.
The sound of the bell rings throughout the store.
Summer stands still for a moment before shaking herself out of it. Sighing- she looks down at the slip of paper in her hand, preparing to place it back with the other slips before her eyes catch onto ink.
Huh- it looks like the other had started filling out the sheet but then decided otherwise. She casts her eyes to the box labelled ‘name’, praying that the stranger had at least filled that out.
To her pleasant surprise- Jade was left there in dark purple ink next to a half written date.
A smile makes its way across her lips. Jade. The name suited the other well and Summer realises that she wants to see Jade in the store again.
Something about the other had caught her interest and she finds herself wanting to know more about her and possibly get her to laugh again.
Oh god.
******
Two weeks passed by before she saw Jade again. During those two weeks life went on as usual. She’d go to school, hang out with friends, go to work, and yet for some reason she couldn’t help but let her mind wander back to Jade and his dyed hair and dark outfit that completely contrasted against the colourful bouquets of the store.
It’s childish sure- but Summer can’t help but feel like Jade was meant to be in the store and in Summer’s presence that one afternoon.
As if on command, the store bell rings out. Summer watches as the door opens and in enters the one and only: Jade. Looking as confused as ever in the middle of a flower shop.
Their eyes meet and for a second Jade seems surprised to see Summer behind the counter, her brilliant purple eyes widening once again before morphing into something of recognition; the slightest of smiles playing on his lips.
“Oh! I was hoping to see you actually.”
Summer freezes up...Jade was hoping to see her? Just a moment ago she thought the person standing in front of her wouldn’t even come back into the store yet here she is. In the middle of City Blooms. To see Summer. She isn’t quite sure what to do with this information.
Jade interrupts the silence again, “I just wanted to say thanks for the flowers. My sister seemed happy with them, which is enough for me. So thanks.”
Before Summer could say anything the bell rings out again, “Sorry I gotta get that, feel free to look around though!” Jade seems taken aback but his face floods with understanding upon seeing the door open. Summer gives Jade an apologetic look before walking towards the person who just entered the store.
She keeps Jade in her peripherals though, smiling to herself and watching Jade inspect the flowers- not really sure what to do with them but admiring them nonetheless.
With her attention being elsewhere, she didn’t realise it was William—who did let her know he was going to pop in later—who entered the store.
Sheepishly, she smiled at him, “Hey Will! Sorry about that, I was uh- distracted.” She pauses for a moment, sneaking another glance at Jade; who’s now inspecting the roses.
Speaking of which-
“How are the roses?” She asks Will, curiosity rising in her voice. A visible blush creeps up Will’s face which is rare for him despite how pale he was. Summer never really questioned it.
“I'm actually not sure…” He pauses for a moment, “...Vyncent seemed to like them, though I have no idea what he did with them.” He smiles at the thought.
Summer grinned, “Vyncent, huh?” William chuckles quietly then nods, “Well who else would it be? Hopefully I wasn’t being too forward.” She gives him what she hopes to be a reassuring look, “Will, with the way you two look at each other? I think you’ll be fine.” He shakes his head fondly, “I sure hope so.”
He glances over to where Jade is now looking through some of the small potted plants, a grin adorning his face, “I see you’ve met Jade?” Now it’s Summer’s turn to blush.
“Yeah! She came in a few weeks ago for some flowers, didn't really expect him to come back.” William seems to be thinking a bit before saying, “It was her idea actually- to come say thanks. I thought I might tag along, say hi to you.” He looks at Jade who’s now picked up a pot, smiling softly to himself, “I think he likes the place.”
Huh.
Once again Summer is lost for words. William seems to give her a knowing look and before anything else can be said, Jade walks up to the both of them, small pot in hand.
She gives a small nod to Will before turning to Summer. “Hey, sorry to interrupt just- could I get this one? I don’t know- I’ve actually never had a plant before but this could be fun. Might be nice to try something new.” Her face beams with excitement, and Summer’s face lights up immediately.
“Of course! Here I’ll ring it up for you.” She walks Jade over to the register, putting the plant onto the countertop. Jade follows suit, leaning her weight onto said countertop and watching happily.
Summer’s face heats up noticing Jade’s eyes watching her work. “Okay so that’ll be $19.99.” She says, trying not to stutter.
God, she’s had what? One conversation with Jade? And she’s already nervous around him? Summer has to got to get herself together.
Jade pays and grabs the plant happily, once again whispering Summer a thanks, only this time- he offers her a small smile before turning to William—who turned around to give Summer one final knowing look—and leaving the store.
Summer sighs as the door closes, collapsing her head into her hands. She isn’t one to get nervous around people easily, let alone feel butterflies fluttering in her stomach when she talks to Jade.
It’s like Jade and her were meant to be and now that they’ve met Summer just…can’t stop thinking about her.
It’s so quick and new yet she can’t help but be pulled towards Jade and his soft smile and lack of plant knowledge, which Summer finds more endearing than she probably should.
Something in her mind is telling her that this feels right. Jade feels right. She groans as the thought registers. Two times they’ve met. Two. And now Summer’s waxing off childish beliefs as if they’ve known each other for a lifetime.
Forcing herself back to work- she finds herself already missing Jade’s presence in the space. How is it so easy to miss someone you’ve only met twice?
She stares out into the window wordlessly and hopes to see a familiar head of purple hair come back inside the store soon.