Hollow Highs [h.s]

15.

Eliana woke up early today, even though she hated waking up before ten a.m. She quickly got dressed in a pair of loose jeans and a small black shirt over it.

A few yards away from the campsite, on the beach where Eliana, Harry, Blanca and Mason were staying was a bicycle rental pop up shop. It was near the main road that led to the farmers market and mall, if you travelled straight north for ten minutes.

Eliana took a white bicycle, it's leather seat torn and tattered in some places. She cycled through the city, in search of a florist.

The city seemed to be peaceful and calm at such an early hour. There were no vehicles ravaging the roads, but only a few fraction of people walking the streets with bags full of groceries in their hands.

It was a big to contrast to New York. The city was always awake. It seemed to be composed of material specially made for night owls. The neon lights, the noise of the crowds and the random mob flashes that took place suddenly only seemed to add up to the charm of New York.

New York was a mess. But a unique mess of unique people.

Hampton's on the other hand, was much more peaceful and small. It screamed "quaint" in all languages. The sound of the ocean crashing and the early calls of seagulls filled the empty sky above her, like air in a ballon.

Eliana's legs pumped against the pedals of the bike, the rusted chain squeaking with each turn of it. The sun shone down on her honey brown skin, making her seem angelic.

After pedalling for twenty minutes, north on the main road, she reached a small street that smelt like fresh baked bread and rich flowers. She stood her bicycle against the wall of a stationary shop.

She walked around, her hands stuffed in her pockets looking for a florist that wouldn't charge her extravagantly like most do.

"The Tilted Tulip."

An old painted sign board, on the verge of fully rusting read. The white paint was peeling off the metal board that was rusted in corners. Eliana pushed open the glass door of the shop, the small golden bell hung above it chimed tenderly.

An old woman, with moon shaped spectacles looked up from her newspaper with a welcoming smile. Her pale skin was red at her cheeks and nose.

"Hi, I'm Tulip. How can I help ya hun?" She asked Eliana.

"I was looking for a small bouquet of sunflowers. I don't need anything big. Just small and sweet." She said, her eyes moving around the shop.

Roses hung from wooden racks that were placed all over the white wall having miss matched splotches of paint all over it. Tulips, sunflowers, daisies, petunias were arranged in a haphazard manner all over the walls and counters.

Ribbons hung down from a plank where they were kept as a bunches, all colour coded. A pair of pink scissors was kept in a cup that was filled with markers and Sharpies of all colours.