Commuovere - Flowers At Your Door

Chapter One

Max runs up to the gate to let me into his neighborhood pool. I look around him, searching for any site of Willow I could find. I heard she was going to be here, but I honestly don't know what to expect. I had never met her before in person. We were in the same group chat but we both rarely talk in it.

I first notice her long dark hair. It is the type of hair you assume every girl dreams of. You know, the shiny, thick, flowy hair. The hair has natural face frames and highlights. The hair that curls oh so perfectly, naturally.

As Max and I make our way over to the chair she's sat on, I notice her eyes next. Her eyes are a deep blue, like the ocean. The type of blue you find yourself getting lost in. They're deep, deep enough to imagine your whole life in.

Wait, what the hell am I talking about? I don't even know this girl. There is nothing special about her right now. She's just another girl who probably rushes relationships like everyone else our age.

We spend a few hours at the pool and the longer I'm with her, the more I realize just how wrong I was. She is special, but not in the way I mentioned earlier. She's somewhat dumb, always trying things that anybody else would realize wouldn't work. Not only would it not work, but you would probably end up hurt afterward.

She doesn't care though. She's carefree and she's funny. God, I haven't laughed like I did tonight in a long time. She can turn the driest conversations into laughing so hard your ribs hurt.

By the time I get home, my cheeks and jaw are screaming at me to stop smiling. To go back to our resting face, but for some reason, I can't. Her jokes keep replaying in my mind. Her laughter too.

It's so contagious. She doesn't try to mask it with a pretty or fake laugh, she just lets it out. Sometimes that comes silently, or sometimes it includes a few small snorts. I think that's something that really draws me to her. She's so real.

She's not fake like every other girl I know. She's straightforward. The more she likes you, the more straightforward she is. Willow doesn't keep thoughts to herself and she sure as hell doesn't sugarcoat them either.

From the moment I get to the pool until the moment I leave, I can see just how wild Willow is. She and Max start fighting over the pool ball, in which Willow doesn't hesitate to speak her mind.

"You little shit! Give me the ball. You don't even know how to throw it correctly." Willow lets out with a soft laugh. The two of them have both hands holding each side of the ball. Their feet are planted and they might as well be playing tug of war for the football.

"Willow, I literally play football. What are you talking about?" Max replies, still struggling against Willow's pulls.

"Just because you play doesn't mean you're good at it, Maxwell." Max's head tilts slightly as he stops fighting for the ball.

"You know my name isn't Maxwell right?"

"Yeah, I know," Willow replies as she brings the ball fully into her grip.

Max stands up straighter before continuing, "Then why do you continue to call me it?"

"I won did I not? You let it affect you too much and I get whatever I want." Willow shrugs slightly, looking over at me and giving me an innocent smile as if to say she did nothing wrong.

The feeling that overcomes my chest as she looks at me makes me want to vomit. It's a confusing feeling. My chest feels like it's expanding but at the same time I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest.

I break eye contact first, praying that this feeling will go away once I stop looking into her eyes. As I turn away to walk towards my chair I can hear footsteps running towards me. Max slams his hands into my back, throwing me into the pool.

Before I can come up for air I hear a splash next to me. When I break the surface I can see Willow sitting with her feet dangling in and Max underwater to the right of me. She continues to give me that innocent smile as I push my hair out of my face.

Willow laughs slightly and jokingly rolls her eyes at me. As Max makes his way back to the surface, he starts getting closer to the edge of the pool. He swiftly grabs Willows's ankles, pulling her into the pool.

Max and I laugh as her body plunges into the water. When she comes up for air, her head is barely out of the water. "Max you little shit, I can't touch here." Willow forces a struggling laugh

"You seem to be doing just fine." Max motions to her arms and legs which are treading the water below her. I swim towards the side of the pool, grabbing the football Willow dropped when she got pushed in.

Max and I throw it around for a few minutes before I can hear Willow's struggling sounds. Max and I look over at her at the same time, looking to see if she's okay.

"I thought you said you were good at swimming?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"I am, but not for twenty minutes." Willow's head is back and her legs and arms are moving frantically under her. I reach my arm out towards her and as she takes my hand I pull her closer to me.

I lead my hand behind me, pushing her with it. I squat down slightly, tapping my shoulder with my other hand. Willow takes the hint and climbs on before I start to stand back up straight.

"Is this better?"

"Yes. Thank you." I chuckle to myself, hearing her response as Max and I start to throw the ball back and forth again. Occasionally Max will throw it a little higher so that Willow can reach it. If not, I'll hand the ball to her so she can throw it back to Max.

That's how it went until Willow had to leave. We get out of the pool to check our phones and the time, and Willow's face drops slightly.

"Everything okay?" Max asks, setting his phone back down on the pool chair.

"I have to be home in ten minutes.." Willow states and at first, I don't understand the problem.

"That's bad because?"

"I don't have my license or a ride, and I live fifteen minutes away." I didn't even need her to continue anymore. I finish drying off, put my shoes on, and collect my belongings before looking back at her.

"Well don't just stand there, let's get going." Willow quickly throws on her oversized t-shirt and her sandals before grabbing her things. We say our goodbyes to Max before heading out.

I open the passenger door for Willow before getting in the car myself. The first few minutes of the drive are silent. I pick up the aux cord, handing it to Willow without taking my eyes off the road. When she doesn't immediately take it, I look over at her for a split second. I immediately notice her excited smile.

I can feel the corners of my lips lifting as I nod my head slightly, reassuring her she can take it.

"Does it have to be what you listen to?" Willow isn't necessarily shy, but the question came out very quietly as if she was afraid to ask.

"Play whatever you'd like Willow." I can see her smile return out of the corner of my eye.

I always knew Willow had a big personality, but this was the first moment I realized just how big it truly was. Willow starts by playing a rock song we both know. She then ventures to indie and pop, then ends the fifteen-minute car ride with some rap.

The whole time, screaming the lyrics with her head back. The windows are down and her long hair is blowing behind the headrest of the seat. I can't help but catch myself staring at every red light and stop sign we come across.

She's in her element. She looks so relaxed and happy. Her eyes are closed the majority of the ride so I decide to drive around her neighborhood for a little while, giving her more time to listen and sing.

I don't think she ever realized it. She thank's me as I park and she climbs out, grabbing her things. I get out myself and walk her to the front door, opening it for her. Willow's eyes widen slightly in surprise and I just give her an innocent smile.

Normally I wouldn't even offer a ride back, let alone get out and help her inside. It's not that I'm rude, it's just not my problem you were unprepared. But Willow, she's the most innocent person I've ever met. Sure she has a dirty humor and her song choices are interesting, but she's pure and kindhearted.