Flower Boy

Chapter 1

I sat on the park bench, swinging my legs like a child. I looked around at the lonely playground, the swings sitting motionless, no one to slide down the slide. I was the only one there, sitting in the light of the slowly sinking sun. I glanced at my watch; 5:30. Where is he...? I sighed. Suddenly, a pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Guess who?" someone murmured into my ear. I smiled and exclaimed,

"Donavan!" The hands released my eyes and I turned around, seeing a boy with sparkling, dark chocolate eyes. He grinned down at me, his hair wild as usual.

"How'd you know?" He asked, coming around the bench to sit next to me, not so subtly hiding something behind his back.

"It could only be you. No one else is here." I answered, gesturing to the empty playground. He tilted his head towards me.

"Very keen, I see." I giggled and the corner of his mouth curled upward. I cleared my throat.

"So, whatcha got behind your back?" I grinned and he feigned surprise, his eyes widening.

"What? Behind my back?" He began pulling something out from behind his back. I gasped at what he pulled forth. He pulled out a deep red rose, the thorns plucked off.

"Oh, it's so pretty! But, where are the thorns...?" I asked, reaching out slowly.

"I picked them off myself. I didn't want you to hurt yourself on your present. Besides, it's a lot smoother now, see?" He held it out and I stroked it. He was right; it was smoother now. Of course I could still feel the bumps on the stem where the thorns were once, but I appreciated how much he did for me, the rose being a small part of it. 

"You know, roses are the most traditional flowers of love. Unlike this thing." He chuckled and reached up, tapping gently on the flower clip holding back my bangs. I smiled and took it out, brushing it affectionately with my thumb. The three small plastic flowers nestled together looked worn, the colors faded from constant wear. Still, I couldn't bear to not wear it. The clip meant so much to me. 

"But this was our first flower, don't you remember?" I brushed my bangs out of my face, looking up at him. He smiled gently and nodded.

"I remember, do you?" he asked, and  I nodded back at him, recalling the first day I had met Donavan...