Salty Licorice

Chapter 70

Avery's POV

I feel my palms get sweaty as I look in the mirror. I've redone my hair about 4 times already and I'm still not confident with it. It probably doesn't help that I had to change the time of me picking her up after deciding where I wanted to take her. I stare at my clothes, just a pair of jeans, some boots and a long sleeve, I have a hoodie and jacket in my truck. I told Lizzie to dress warm but I don't think she will dress quite as warm as she should, so I have to remember to grab another sweatshirt and jacket just in case.

"You will be fine," Marisa announces from the hall as she walks past the bathroom door. "It's also 5, so you might want to leave."

"Crap," I groan and rush out of the bathroom and into Marisa's room to grab a few extra things then bolt down the stairs, jump over the last few steps. "Bye, guys I'll be home late tonight."

"We know, you're going to take Miss. Liz on a date," Mateo pouts from the kitchen table as he finishes his school work.

"Ignore him, he's just jealous," Mr. Garcia explains. "Good luck and remember, treat her well and be a gentleman, or well, gentlewomen. If I hear that you weren't, you'll have to answer me. Got that Avery?" He warns, I just nod my head with worried eyes. "Go, get her some flowers before picking her up, remember to open all her doors and pay for her, you asked her out, not the other way around. Manners matter here, don't go out there and act a fool."

"Yes, sir," I nod, making a mental note in my head of all the things I should do.

"And don't overthink it," His voice catches my attention as I reach for the door handle. "Just go out there and have fun, but not too much fun."

"Yes sir," I smile shyly at his words.

"Love you kiddo," He says as he messes up my hair. "Oh and make sure you get her home on time. Don't be late, you hear me, no matter what."

"Okay," I nod. He just pushes me out the door and I stumble my way to my car running through my head all the things I need to remember.

I drive to a floral shop that's on my way to Lizzie's to get a small bouquet of flowers. But as I stand looking at my options I feel lost looking at all the different types of flowers. I feel my nervousness get higher at the prospect of Lizzie possibly hating whatever I picked out for her.

"Do you need help finding anything?" An older woman asks, walking around the counter.

"Umm, maybe?" I sound extremely unsure. "I need flowers for a date?" I test the waters not sure if she will be uncomfortable learning it for a girl from a girl. "I can't seem to remember what her favorites are now that I'm here."

"Oh how nice," She smiles up at me. "Well, is it a first date?" I nod while rocking back and forth on my feet. "Do you have a plan for the date?"

"Oh yeah, I'm taking her ice skating and stuff, She was saying how she missed it since moving here," I beam, feeling rather proud of my idea.

"Well where is she from?"

"Germany," I admit, not thinking as I look at the wall of numerous flowers.

"I have just the flower for you," The woman exclaimed excitedly. "Now technically it's not for sale, but I'll make an exception especially for young love." She winks at me before disappearing in the back. I feel my cheeks go red.

"This is a specialty flower named Edelweiss," She expresses to me as she holds out a single white flower.

I don't normally judge but this doesn't exactly come across to me as romantic, like a rose or something. It just has white petals and pollen clusters around the center. I tilt my head and look at it confused before taking the flower in my fingers, and look at it closer.