Archie stood outside the quaint flower shop, his heart racing. The bell chimed as he stepped inside, the scent of blossoms enveloping him. His palms were sweaty, but he was determined. Today was the day he'd confess his feelings to Amelia.
Amelia, with her wild curls and eyes that held galaxies, had captured his heart since they were kids. They'd shared secrets, laughter, and late-night conversations. But now, she was falling for Billy Walsh—the enigmatic transfer student who seemed to have stepped out of a romance novel.
"Archie!" Amelia's voice pulled him from his thoughts. She stood by the roses, her fingers brushing the velvety petals. "Billy loves flowers. I want to surprise him."
Archie clenched his jaw. "Billy? Why him?"
Amelia's eyes softened. "He's different, Archie. He makes me feel alive."
Archie's heart sank. He'd rehearsed his confession a hundred times, but now, words escaped him. Instead, he picked a bouquet of sunflowers—their bright faces mirroring his determination.
"Sunflowers?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.
"They symbolize courage," Archie stammered. "And I need courage to say this."
Amelia tilted her head, waiting.
"I love you, Amelia," he blurted out. "I've loved you since forever. But if you choose Billy, I'll be happy for you."
Amelia's gaze wavered. "Archie..."
He held out the sunflowers. "These are for you. Even if they're not enough to win your heart, they're my petals of courage."
Amelia took the bouquet, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Archie, I—"
The bell chimed again, and Billy Walsh entered, his smile dazzling. "Amelia, I've been looking everywhere for you."
Archie's heart cracked, but he forced a smile. "Take care of her, Billy."
Billy frowned. "What's going on?"
Amelia stepped closer to Archie, her hand brushing his. "Billy, I need to be honest. Archie's my best friend, and he just confessed."
Billy's eyes widened. "And?"
"And I realized," Amelia said softly, "that courage isn't always about grand gestures. It's about choosing the person who's been there all along."
Archie's breath caught. "Amelia..."
She leaned in, her lips brushing his cheek. "Thank you for the petals of courage, Archie."
As Amelia walked away with Billy, Archie watched them through the flower shop window. The sunflowers lay forgotten on the counter, but he felt lighter somehow.
Maybe love wasn't always about winning. Maybe it was about being brave enough to let go.
And as the bell chimed once more, Archie whispered, "Goodbye, my love."
