Celestial Tides: Scribbles of Fiction

Wildflowers

   "The wildflowers look lovely in your hair," Finlay says while sprinkling more clover buds into a head full of red. Hands come up to furiously attempt to brush out the flowers, a multitude of colors falling around her face and onto her clothes.

   "I thought I told you to quit with that! Last time I checked we were here to read outside, not to frolic and play in the flowers."

   "Well, I thought your outfit was missing something." This time, more sprinkles of bright red join the mix. The girl starts to shake out her book, making sure no flowers or pollen are in it so it can safely be closed.

   "I thought my outfit looked perfectly fine thank you very much."

   "I'm not saying it wasn't. I just think it was missing something special. Maybe a dandelion?" Off the freshly picked weed went, straight into Aspen's hair. She once again rushed to fish out the flower, finding it and the catchflies that were stuck in too. She grumbled under her breath as she rose from the blanket they were sitting on.

   "Oh come on, I didn't think it was that bad. You don't need to run away!"

   "I'm not running! Unlike you, I don't wish to get flowers and weeds all over the food."

   A pollen-covered grape was popped into Finlay's mouth. A small grimace was made at the texture before chewing. Aspen stood off the blanket and began brushing off her clothes and her head. She made sure to tousle the roots of her hair to ensure no flowers were left behind.

   Finlay laughed seeing his friend's slightly disheveled form. Her once neat hair sticking up in all directions, her shirt untucked, and her skirt slightly crooked. Aspen shook her head at his antics and sat back down in her spot. She grabbed a plastic-wrapped sandwich and unwrapped it. As she bit into it, she let out a small hum of satisfaction. 'Finn always makes the best sandwiches'

   Finlay had stopped his laughter and started shuffling around in his bag. He took out a small, brown box and set it beside him. The two sat in silence for a moment, snacking and observing their surroundings.

   When taking a sip of her water, Aspen noticed the box. "What's that?"

   "What's what?", a muffled reply from Finlay.

   "Disgusting! Talk with your mouth empty!"

   She thrusts a napkin towards him, to which he accepts. Wiping his mouth from his bite, he takes a sip of his water.

   "I had said, 'What's what'." A smirk was shared with her rolled eyes. "I was asking about the box you doofus."

   He blinked and looked towards the box. He then grabbed it and held it towards his chest in a possessive manner. "What's it to you? It's my box."

   "I just noticed that you bring it whenever we hang out. Especially at places like this." She gestures to the field around her. The different shades of green, yellow, white. and orange move gently in the breeze. Finlay looks at the plants surrounding them and smiles.

   "Well, it's special to me like these moments we have are. Isn't that reason enough to bring it with us?" He sets the box back down and tilts his head at his friend. She smiles gently at him, "Of course, it's reason enough. I've just never seen what's in it. I mean, it's a storage box, right? So something must be stored in it."

   "Well duh something is stored in it, you said it yourself," she shoves his shoulder a little, "the contents of the box are my little secret. Maybe I'll allow you to see it someday."

   "Finn, I'm your best friend! Why can't I know what's in the box now?" A small sting hit them both as Aspen said the words 'best friend'. Aspen put her hands into her lap and Finlay straightened himself upward a bit, both attempting to not show the other the effect of the words. "I'm just saying, if the box is as special as the moments we share, then why can't I know now." She looked down and started to fidget with the petals that remained on the blanket from before.