Work Text:
“Katherine!”
A loud, brash voice rang out through the tattoo parlour. Katherine cringed, recognising the voice immediately. She kept her eyes down, focusing on the sunflower she was currently shading. Unfortunately, her visitor didn’t take the hint, footsteps quickly approaching her.
“Katherine!” Joey repeated. “I’ve come to profess my love!”
What a shock. It was almost like he’d tried this a thousand times before. She glanced at him briefly, noting a large bouquet of flowers she thought she’d seen at the grocery store in the nearby city. Unfortunately, this quick look was enough validation for him, and Joey launched into a speech. Something about her being the most beautiful girl in town and how much of a power couple they would be. Katherine could do nothing but try to tune him out. It was a nice gesture, she could admit that. A better person than her might indulge him, but she simply couldn’t bring herself to. She appreciated the sentiment, of course, but she couldn’t return it.
The truth was, Joey’s infatuation with her was rather shallow. The two of them had simply never had a meaningful conversation. All he ever talked about was how amazing he thought he was and how beautiful he thought she was. They didn’t appear to have much of anything in common, and if they did Katherine wasn’t sure if she would ever know. On top of this, Katherine was right in the middle of working on a client. Sausage was laying on the table obediently, silent save for the occasional yelp of pain as Katherine worked away at the piece. She wouldn’t have minded pausing if Joey had politely asked for her time, but this was just rude.
“So, what do you say?” Joey asked finally. “Let’s go on a date!”
The room was dead quiet. Not even a single breath was audible from any of the three inhabitants of the shop. After a moment, Katherine broke the silence with a sigh and finally met his gaze. Keeping her tone even, she spoke.
“Joey, I’m flattered, but I’ve told you at least a dozen times. I’m not interested. And even if I did, I don’t think it’s that hard to tell I’m in the middle of work. If you really want me to like you that badly, try talking to me when I’m not actively trying to permanently alter someone’s skin.”
“But—”
“I’d like you to leave now, please.”
Without another word, Joey sulked out of the shop with the bouquet still in hand. Katherine huffed, pushing a stray strand of hair away from her face.
“Wow, I’ve never seen you that mad before!” Sausage remarked.
“Wait, really?”
Guilt rushed through Katherine’s body. She hadn’t meant to get angry, truly. As much as Joey was frustrating her, the last thing she wanted was for that feeling to show itself and hurt his feelings.
“Well, I guess not mad ,” he clarified. “More like… not happy? You weren’t mean to him or anything, but you shut him up real good! I’m sure he’ll get over it, though.”
“Yeah, I hope so.” Katherine pushed out a breath, letting the tension in her shoulders dissipate before returning to the unfinished tattoo.
“How many times has he tried this with you?” asked Sausage.
“I’ve lost count,” she admitted, almost mindlessly adding detail to the sunflower petals. “It’s… nice to see he’s devoted, I guess? I just wish he could take ‘no’ for an answer. And I especially wish he’d respect my working hours. This is the third time he’s barged in while I’m with a client. No, no, wait. It’s the fourth.”
“That is rude! How dare he interrupt you like that? He could come in at any time, and he could absolutely check if you’re not busy! It’s not like there aren’t giant windows in the front that let people see if you’re working!”
Ting-ting!
As she laughed at her friend’s half-joking outrage, Katherine heard the soft jingle of the bell above the door. She turned her head, and any remaining negative feelings from the interaction with Joey melted away. Standing there was a heart-flutteringly familiar figure—Shelby, the florist who worked next door. She wore a sunny smile on her face and held one coffee cup in each hand.
“Hi Katherine! Do you have a second? I can always come back later.”
“I always have time for you, Shelby! As long as that’s okay with you, Sausage?”
“Oh, yes, yes, of course! Take your time!” Katherine decided she was imagining the smug grin on his face.
Katherine set her needle down on the side table, allowing Sausage to sit up and stretch a bit. Shelby approached the two of them and set down one of the coffee cups on the side table.
“I went to grab a coffee at that new little shop across the street, and they had this drink called the Princess’s Dream, and I thought you might like it.”
Katherine felt like her heart was about to burst. A simple gesture, yet one that meant more to her than any gift she had ever received.
“Oh my gosh, Shelby! That’s so thoughtful of you! You’re the best , you know that?”
Shelby giggled. “Nah, I just thought you’d like it.”
“Well, I do! Thank you!”
Katherine was aware that she hadn’t tried the drink yet. I trust Shelby’s judgement, she thought.
“Well, I’ll let you get back to it. Sorry for interrupting!”
“Hey, no worries at all! You can come over and interrupt me anytime.” Katherine giggled, and Shelby joined her.
“I’ll try not to. But thanks. See you around?”
“Of course!”
With a heart-melting smile, Shelby turned toward the door and left Katherine and Sausage alone again.
“Sooo, what was it about not wanting people interrupting you while you’re workiiing?” asked Sausage teasingly. Katherine covered her face with her hands.
“It’s not like that!” she insisted. “It’s totally different! She asked if she could come in, and she was really sweet about it!”
He laid back down on the table. “I think you just like Shelby.”
“What? I mean—of course I like her! Who doesn’t like Shelby? She’s such a sweetheart, and she’s so dedicated to what she does. Not to mention her flower arrangements are amazing.”
“I don’t think most people like her the way you do.”
“Oh, you shush.” She reached over and picked up the coffee cup, taking a sip. The flavour danced on her tongue, flavours she couldn’t quite describe beyond delicious . She closed her eyes for a moment, savouring the taste.
“You know I’m right!” His exclamation shattered the moment, though she didn’t let him know that.
“Sure, Sausage. Whatever helps you sleep at night.” She set the cup back down and picked up the needle again, resuming her work.
“Ooh, is that good?” he asked, gesturing to the coffee. “I’ve been getting my morning coffee there for the last week. Best I’ve ever had. Plus, the barista is super cute.”
Katherine felt a sense of relief at the change in subject. “Yeah?”
“Oh yeah. He’s oblivious, and very innocent, but that just makes him cuter.”
She let Sausage ramble on about his new crush, slipping into her own thoughts as she brought more and more sunflowers into existence across his chest.
The truth was, he was right. She hadn’t been the most subtle about her feelings for Shelby, and she was humble enough to admit it to herself. But that was just the thing. As far as Katherine knew, these feelings were unrequited. She had never seen Shelby react in a way that indicated that she viewed Katherine as anything beyond a friend. Shelby was this generous, this thoughtful, this caring toward everyone. Shelby was special. Katherine wasn’t.
Yeah, I do like her, she admitted to herself. But I don’t think it’ll ever go beyond that.
~~
Many hours had passed. Sausage had long since gone home. Katherine had begun to tidy up the shop, as she was set to lock up in exactly nine minutes. She hummed to herself as she swept the floor, doing everything she could to distract herself from the lingering thoughts about her one-sided affections.
Ting-ting!
“Katherine?”
Startled out of her trance, she all but dropped her broom. In the doorway, for the second time today, stood Shelby. Beautiful, wonderful Shelby. The two of them made eye contact, and Katherine felt her heart begin to pound at her neighbour’s golden-green eyes.
“Hi, Shelby,” she said softly. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just… I have a question for you.”
“Ask away.”
Shelby closed her eyes and sucked in a long, deep breath; meanwhile Katherine couldn’t find the strength to either inhale or exhale. She mumbled something that sounded like “Here goes nothing,” before opening her eyes and meeting Katherine’s gaze again.
“Every day since I moved out here, you’ve been the highlight of my day. You make me smile, you make me laugh, you make me feel like I’m someone worth being. You’re a better person than I’ll ever be. Katherine, you’re my best friend in this whole town, but I would really, really like you to be more.” It was only now that Katherine realised Shelby was holding her hands behind her back. She dropped one hand and extended the other, revealing a single pink peony. “Do you want to go out with me?”
Katherine was completely and utterly speechless. A simple gesture, yet one so powerful and full of meaning and emotion. She opened her mouth, but no sound escaped.
Shelby’s face fell at the silence.
“It’s okay. I understand. I’ll get out of your way. I’m so, so sorry.”
She turned toward the door, her free hand reaching for the handle. Barely thinking, Katherine caught her other hand with hers, careful not to damage the flower Shelby was still holding.
“Wait.”
Shelby stopped and faced Katherine again.
“I… I’d really like that, Shelby.”
A slow, sparkling smile spread across Shelby’s face.
“Wait, you will? Really?”
Katherine nodded vigorously, not caring about the hair falling over her face as joyous laughter bubbled up in her chest and escaped her mouth.
“Really! More than anything else!”
Shelby giggled giddily along with her, and Katherine’s heart soared. That laugh was one of her favourite sounds in the world.
“Could we go to that new coffee shop?” Katherine asked her. “That coffee you brought me was amazing.”
“Yeah! Maybe tomorrow at ten-thirty? That’s usually when I go get coffee. I can have Owen man the shop ‘till I get back.”
“That sounds amazing! I don’t think I have anything booked until the afternoon.”
Shelby beamed.
“Perfect! Gosh, I can’t wait.”
“Me neither.”
Shelby and Katherine just stood there for a moment, wearing matching goofy smiles as they admired one another.
This has to be a dream, Katherine thought. That, or the best day of my life. That works too.
“Ah!” said Shelby suddenly. “Here, this is for you.”
She held out the peony again, and this time Katherine took it.
“It’s perfect, Shelby. Thank you so much.”
“I’m really happy you like it. I picked it out specially for you.”
“You really know me, don’t you?”
“I do.” Shelby’s smile slightly dimmed, and Katherine noticed her gaze was just past her shoulder, looking at the clock. “Oh, man I should really head home. I’ll… see you tomorrow?”
Katherine nodded, unable to keep the grin off her face.
“See you tomorrow.”
“G’night, Katherine. Sleep well.”
“G’night, Shelby.”