Arranged: Bound By Contract (girlxintersex)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17
Stella POV


"What is your budget?" Nathalie questioned as she handed me the keys to Mateo's car. I let her drive it and instructed her to not avoid a number of potholes we saw on the road.

She first refuses the delicious offer, but after noticing the car going closer to the curb than the actual road, I knew she was a bad driver. More or less, she couldn't avoid most of the potholes.

"What is that?"

She delivered a gentle laugh of astonishment. I honestly had no idea what budgeting was. I knew what it was, but I had no idea how to put it into practice. That's for poor people.

"Sure, you aren't worried about spending a lot of money on flowers, right?"


"Not much," I said, slipping the keys in my other pocket and taking the money from the next one. "Count this," I replied, practically ramming the money into her hand. She opened her hand, looked at it with confusion.

"Count it? Why?"

"Just count the awful thing."

She let out a breezy sigh, perhaps angry with me. That is what she gets for being friends with me. We've only known each other for a couple hours. We can be friends once she sees me in my underwear—which she did, considering that the maid uniform hides nothing.

She began straightening the crushed paper. She lined them up.

She soaked the tip of her fingers, which made me shiver in distaste. She started counting out the several limy dead hundred bucks.

"900...1000....1100." She murmured. "Your total is 1100."

"Can it buy flowers?"

"This can buy a grove of flowers." She remarked this as she moistened the tip of her thumb and counted the money again.

"You say budgeting right? "How do you do it?"

"Well, I don't have a prime definition. But basically, you may use this money to buy more than simply flowers."

I grinned darkly: "You don't say. "Does this mean I can have some snacks?"

"You eat snacks. I eat snacks, too."

"Everyone eats snacks—well not Mateo."

"But maybe you can't get snacks. You might need to buy super soil."

"What the fuck is that?" I sneered and looked around. It appeared that we were parked at a flower shop. They have flowers in black flower pots on display.
I couldn't be seen by my friends dress like a teen mom, cashing out recycling bottles.

"It benefits both the plants and the usual soil."

"What more do these stupid tiny creatures need?" We started heading into the shop. The indoors felt warmer than the outdoors. It exudes a fantastic mood. I was not an outdoor person. I didn't like nature. I would much rather stay home, and the only reason I would go out would probably be to party.

"Well, they need medicine as well. Like us humans."

"Sun and water aren't enough? What dirt are you talking about?"

"To keep them safe from insects and worms. They are cruel to the little plants." She pouted. It should've been cute, but I was irritated since there was a chance I wouldn't be able to grab some chips.

"What will everything cost me?"

"Perhaps around seven hundred," she calculated.

My eyes began to focus on some flowers that could be of interest. I normally ignore price tags on anything. But I was on a tight budget. I was tempted to call Mateo and tell her to fuck off and give me a divorce. But if I messed this up, I'd have nothing to go home to.

"Can these do?" I asked. I looked at the label. They were named foxgloves. They have pinkish-purple blooms and noodles-shaped leaves. The price range was the cause. Four bucks for two pots.

She stared at them, shook her head in displeasure, then laughed. I frowned at her, not amused that I couldn't simply toss a hundred dollars to the cashier and saved the rest of my money.

"What is wrong?" I snapped so forcefully that she was little afraid. She giggled at her own fear. She was something else. Something pure.

"It's not ideal for gardens. It draws many bees and hornets, which can sting children."

"Good. I want it?"

"That is mean."

"We live in a cruel world."

She returned her gaze to the flower, amazed. "I guess you could put it in your backyard. Two might not be that horrible. They have lovely pink flowers that will look great with yellow lilies."

"These are not clothing. They don't have to match."

"Gardens are clothing. They are garments for your yard."

"Whatever. What else can I get?"

"You can get the dwarf palm trees. They work near your porch. I don't know if you saw them at mine."

I shook my head; I was more concerned about Spartan than with plants and soil.
We proceeded farther into the shop. It has thin spines that shoot off into several blooms and trees in a container.

"What about roses?" It was actually the only flower I knew.

"It's perfect for gardening. But you're a newbie, therefore I don't think you should go for those. Plants such as cactus and palm will thrive since they demand little work and responsibility."

She knows too well that I was trying to avoid having any responsibility. We took a different way, and I noticed a strong aroma. I couldn't put my finger on it. Considering that we were surrounded by plants and flowers. The aroma might have come from any flowers, yet it felt stronger the further we went.

"What fragrance is that?"

I looked around and realized we were the only customers.

"This is the spices and herbs section. You have rosemary, thyme, and a variety of mints." She stated as she picked up a very little dish. The leaves were shorter than my finger, prickly, and a dismal green.

"Smell it."

I gently lowered my nose and took a delicate smell. Mateo's bedcovers were the only natural fragrances that appealed to me.

"It smells rather strong," I responded, wrinkling my nose to get rid of the fragrance.

"That is rosemary. You can have this in your backyard. It creates excellent, calming teas. When I get period cramps, I drink it."

"Or you can pop a pill." I whispered as I handed her the nasty plant.

"It is nature's medicine."

She sounded like a hippy. 'it natures medicine' like shut up and give me a damn break. She laughs as she moves, as she did in the kitchen, to another prickly plant. "This is mint. The fragrance is magnificent?" She stated that as she sucked so hard that I swear dirt got into her nose. She needs to relax.

"Can we just collect the disgusting plants and take me to the mall if there's any money left?"

"Oh my," she giggled, covering her mouth. "I'm sorry, I got carried away. I absolutely adore flowers and nature, and how wonderful they smell. Can you smell the fresh earth? How bright and lovely everything smells, and I just—"

At the height of her rant, I impolitely marched away. I need a drink. A powerful one if I have to hear about nature again. 

"Wait up!"