Chapter Text
There were three things Shay loved about owning a flower shop:
First, she spent her entire day surrounded by plants, blooming and green and so wonderfully alive. She fondly remembered being a little kid and helping her grandma in the garden, grass stains on her knees and leaves in her hair and eyes lit with adoration. And that love had never wavered.
Flowers were pretty and fragrant and, best of all, incredibly meaningful. When she'd learned about floriography, it had been a revelation. An entire language, messages hidden cleverly in a bouquet and only there for those who were in the know? Well. She'd never pretended to be anything but a hopeless romantic.
The shop was cozy and small and hers. She loved the glass door with Shay's Flowertopia printed on it in curly white lettering, the broad windows crowded with plants drinking in the sunlight, the small stand by the entrance with the day's prettiest flowers, the fragrance clinging to her clothes even when she was home.
The way it smelled was her second favorite part - earthy and fresh and sweet. It lingered in the air and put a smile on her face. It was gentler than the 'floral' perfumes you could buy, entirely genuine and refreshing. In a city full of cars and chimneys and smoke, her shop offered an escape into nature, and the air was sweet and fresh with the oxygen the plants gave off.
But her favorite part was interacting with her customers: the tiny old lady who came in once a week to buy flowers for her husband's grave, the blushing and awkward teenagers here to woo someone they were in love with, the get-well-soon and happy anniversary and confession bouquets that she sold. It was always a little glimpse into the lives of all these people, buying flowers for different occasions but for the same reason: to express their feelings.
The chime of the bell always made her smile in pleased anticipation, and that day wasn't any different.
She'd just finished re-potting a rather ambitious fuchsia, so her hands were covered in dirt and she called out: "Just a minute!”
When she'd washed her hands in the small sink behind the counter and returned to the shop, her customer was inspecting a vase full of white carnations.
"How can I help you?", Shay asked cheerfully, a smile on her face.
When the woman turned to her, Shay took in the gray pantsuit and immaculate haircut before meeting her eyes. They were gorgeous, framed by long dark lashes and a beautiful blue, like a lake in sunshine or wild forget-me-nots.
"You're Shay, I presume?" Her voice was very musical, with a charming british accent. Cute, Shay thought, before replying a little awkwardly: "That's me."
Her customer smiled at her. Shay fell in love on the spot.
"I'm Allura. I'm looking for some flowers?"
"Then you've come to the right place," Shay said, gesturing around with a little laugh. "What's the occasion?"
"They're for my boss, Lance McClain." The name rang a bell, so Shay nodded. "He's trying to woo a co-star and wants to send her flowers, but she vetoed roses so I'm trying to find something else."
"You're his PA?"
"Agent," she corrected, before adding wryly: "And best friend, although sometimes I wonder why."
"Alright," Shay said, amused. "What's he like?"
"Lance?", Allura looked curious about why she was asking but continued when Shay just nodded, "Typical actor, I'd say. And with that I mean incredibly over-dramatic and a giant diva... but he has a good heart."
"Let me think... Yes, I think these would work."
She got out the scissors and some ribbon while explaining: "Flowers have all sorts of different meanings, and I like making sure the flowers fit the person. So I'd recommend red carnations," she stepped past Allura to where there was a bucket of them, "because they're pretty but not too flashy, which I feel the recipient will appreciate. They also suit Mr. McClain, because they mean 'My Heart Longs For You'."
Allura laughed. "That sounds like Lance, alright. Thank you, these are perfect."
She accepted the bouquet with a smile, before putting it back down on the counter to get out her wallet.
Shay managed not to gape when Allura handed her a black AmEx, but felt a little lightheaded when she scanned it.
"Can I help you with anything else?" Shay tried not to sound too hopeful.
Allura shook her head and gently shifted the flowers to offer her hand. Shay shook it, noticing Allura's skin was soft and warm against hers.
"Have a nice day," she offered, and got a smile in return.
Shay watched her leave and tried to ignore the butterflies swarming in her stomach. This, she thought, is what people mean when they say they're starstruck, isn't it?