flower language ✿ [dreamnap]

ch 1 ✿ oxyen daisy

It was George's idea.

Of course it was, really. Sapnap would never come up with this. He's not some poet or artist and he's certainly not a romantic. His plan going into this was as simple as a few passing words, maybe a text if he was lazy enough. But no, no, melodramatic George just had to butt his head into the mix and give him some stupid, flowery (pun intented) idea that only romcoms and fan fiction writers could come up with.

It starts with his shift at the flower shop on a warm spring afternoon. Winter just passed in their small town and the last bits of snow finally melt away to reveal the bright sky and green grass of springtime. Frankly, it's Sapnap's favorite season for how colorful and lively the place is. Still, he doesn't have too much time to stop and appreciate his surroundings.

He's already met with a judgmental glare from mismatched eyes by the time he's stopped at the front of the store. The ravenette pants heavily, schoolbag slung carelessly to the side as he catches his breath.

It doesn't take long for the silence to break, a long sigh elicting itself from his coworker, "You're late again, Sapnap. What is it, the third time this week? You're going to get yourself fired."

"Geooorge!" Sapnap whines, pressing himself against the counter as he stares back at his friend, "You know I don't have a ride anymore! I mean Quackity quit, what do you expect from me? You should be pitying me for having to run all the way here!" He punctuates his statement with a punch to the skinnier man's arm, letting out yet another whiny cry as he does so.

The latter only returns his words with a soft huff, being sure to throw the boy's apron at his face when he finds it, "I mean later than usual. At least ten minutes more. Something wrong?"

George can see the way he tenses, the way his fingers flex around the fabric, and how Sapnap's mouth closes swiftly right after opening to retort. He doesn't miss the slight coloration in his cheeks either. Huh.

The two fall into comfortable silence afterwards as the day at the shop starts. On weekdays, it's relatively slow and rarely ever exciting. Occasionally, one of them talk to a window shopper or explain the difference between a nosegay and posy bouquet, but nothing really catches onto them as the time passes. It's only a matter of time before break comes rolling in, the sun slowly setting off in the horizon.

Very rarely do George and Sapnap ever talk about anything serious. Usually, their breaks consist of exploring Twitter or Tiktok and laughing at something stupid for the next thirty minutes. Sometimes they do end up talking about something a little more deep, but it never gets personal. As the two scroll aimlessly through their phones, it's Sapnap who suddenly breaks that little rule between them.

"How do you tell someone you like them?" The words are abrupt and barely audible. George would of thought he didn't say it at all if not for the way Sapnap's eyes bore into his.

"What?" He asks, just to be sure he heard that correctly. The raven glances away, just for a moment, before they turn back ever so sure.

"How do you tell someone you like them?" He repeats, louder than before. When he's met with silence, he supposes he's gone too far to try clamming up now. Sapnap draws in a breath before he continues, "I... I like someone. Have for a while. Six years? Something like that." He laughs, but it isn't very funny to him.

George blinks at him, a little surprised. Of all the people the passionate firecracker goes to for love advice of all things, it's him. Well, it's easy, right?

"Just- I don't know, say it? Go up to him and tell him?" He offers, shrugging. Sapnap chuckles again, more dry than the last. It makes the other frown just slightly.