Axel's Daisy

0 • Destiny

"This is boring!" Jade complained, yawning for the third time. She took off her eyeglasses, wiped them, and then grumbled, "This is practically for grandmothers. We should be out partying with the babes—"

Mrs. Alberta, the renowned florist, passed by us with a disapproving look directed at Jade. Jade nervously chuckled and said, "Oh, hey, I love your shoes." The teacher glanced down at her own tattered shoes with a few leaves on them and dismissed the comment.

"Do you have to embarrass me every time?" I asked rhetorically.

"It's not my fault this is boring. You made me miss out on the sexy beefcake," she said, looking up. I could have sworn I saw a bit of saliva at the corner of her mouth. She nudged me with a giggle, "Axel Hughes is coming to our school the day after tomorrow."

"So?" I raised an eyebrow at her as I finished with my roses. Some soil had gotten stuck on my dark green gloves. I patted the soil into the pot and watered it gently, leaving it for the sun to hydrate further.

"So?" She mimicked disbelief, shrugging as she looked at me with wide sapphire eyes. "Axel is a huge surprise for our school, the prodigy of prodigies, the Hamlet to our—oh, sorry." She apologized to the other students, who gave a few scowls, and lowered her voice. "You're coming with me. I don't care or there'll be no more classes for you."

"I don't really care," I admitted, trying not to laugh at how she opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water.

"Well, I don't care either," she parroted, smirking as she flipped her blonde waves. "You're coming with me anyway."

I glowered at her in surrender. If I didn't know her, I might worry about her obsession with the latest trends, but Jade was the kind of girl who looked but didn't touch. She'd get over it in no time.

I had lessons every Saturday and Monday after school. I loved the scent of fresh flowers and the atmosphere it created; it reminded me of my mom and felt like a connection to her soul. This was my only memory of her, and I was lucky to be doing it right.

It was something to keep me away from testosterone-driven jocks and self-entitled girls. Except for Jade, who was my childhood friend—we'd been potty-trained together. According to the Destiny-Jade rulebook, we were inseparable.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

I tossed the gloves aside as Jade wrinkled her nose at the worms escaping from the wooden tables, while an array of flowers brightened up the Blooming Blossom Center. My arrangement was the most striking, with roses and lilies combined; the vivid clash of red and white created a stunning display for the reviewers. This also gave me extra time to practice on Monday and prepare another batch.

Jade pretended to be interested. "Wow, I'm so proud of you." She pretended to wipe a tear. "It's Saturday night; you know what our plan is." She wiggled her perfectly shaped eyebrows.

"No, please," I pleaded. I was exhausted and missed Klaren, my comfy couch. It deserved a Guinness World Record for being the most breathable, exquisite couch ever.

"Oh, yeah," she cheered with a mischievous smile.

I looked down at my blue summer dress, with sand falling off the trims, and my messy sandals. Jade knew I was about to use my outfit as an excuse, making it the worst idea.

"You're not going to a Brady Hart party looking like this. I'd never let that happen," she said, placing a hand on her heart dramatically. "Get your ass in my car."

I didn't have my car because Jade drove us here, and I owed her since my Honda was at my aunt's repair shop. I would have missed a class otherwise.

So, a party wouldn't hurt, right?