Sweet Tooth, For You [Sunflower]

Feeling Sick of Myself

With a sneeze, Basil steps out of his house, a pair of keys clutched tightly in his hand and his messenger bag hanging on his shoulder. He locks the front door and sighs.

He barely ever gets sick, only during spring, when his allergies hit. It's currently summer, so that couldn't be it. He had the flu. How does one manage to catch the flu during summer?

Thinking about how he had to miss a whole week of work makes him a bit sad. Anyone else would be happy about that, but definitely not Basil. He likes helping out his grandma at the same time as he gets to spend time with his best friend, Aubrey, and the atmosphere in the flower shop is calming.

I can't keep sitting around at home, doing nothing...

Being outside and under the sunlight after a little while makes Basil wish he could just go back inside. He's pretty used to the heat, but that doesn't make it any better. Maybe just a bit more tolerable... but he'd have to be really optimistic to think that.

Thankfully, it doesn't take too long for him to arrive at the flower shop, only a five minute walk. Basil glances at his watch. 7:30, exactly when he should be coming in. He inserts the key in the doorknob and opens the shop.

As he places his messenger bag in his locker, Basil notices that there's a shop he hadn't seen before, right in front of the flower shop. It doesn't seem to be open for customers just yet, but there's a light turned on. The sign outside reads "Love in the Oven". Pretty rough translation. Maybe the owners are English... Basil could think of a better name.

But that's not what matters right now.

Basil closes his locker then heads towards the back door, leading to the garden. Everything seems to be in order, which isn't a surprise. His grandma is the best, after all... Kneeling beside a row of white tulips, he can see how happy they look. He reaches out to touch a small petal with his finger, before the sound of the door opening with a click startles him.

"Basil!" A familiar voice chirped. "You're finally back, huh? Bet you couldn't take it, sitting in one place for so long."

"Aubrey..."

Basil stands up, turning to look at his best friend. He smiles softly. Hearing her energetic voice is just what he needs right now. The pink haired girl steps towards him and places a hand on Basil's shoulder.

"You sure you're fully recovered? I don't want you getting our customers sick." Aubrey asks, jokingly, though there's a bit of worry in her tone. It's somewhere.

"Yeah, I'm fine now." Basil replies.

"Don't lie to me, eh?"

"I'm not. Come on..."

The blonde gently nudges Aubrey's hand off, with a small eye roll. He walks back into the shop. She simply laughs and follows behind.

"Grandma's not coming to work today," Basil speaks up. "Polly told her to stay home and something about it being too hot outside..."

"Mm, she deserves some rest. You know, Estrella's been extra focused on the garden this last week you were sick. She knows how much it would break your heart if any of them got a bit sad, heh."

Basil's cheeks flush a soft pink. He internally thanks his grandma for her hard work. Then, a thought pops into his head.

"Oh! Um, Aubrey, what's that shop across the street?" He asks, pointing towards it.

Aubrey glances between Basil and the shop. "A bakery, obviously. Well, it opened while you were sick." She explains. "I walked in front of it the other day and heard some people talking to each other in English. So, yeah, they're not from here."

Now the odd name choice makes sense to Basil. He really wants to walk up to the owners and suggest a change, but he can't do that. That's rude, so he forgets about it again.

"Anyway, it's almost eight, Blondie. Go ahead and open the doors." Aubrey's voice snaps Basil out of his thoughts again, and he nods, doing as she said.

🌿

The day moves on normally. Aubrey deals with the customers while Basil spends his time in the garden, taking good care of the flowers, collecting some seeds and, unfortunately, cutting up some of them to make some new bouquets. He doesn't like that step, but they do look beautiful after he's done.

The blonde is glad that everything is back to normal. Despite the hot weather, he enjoys being back in his safe haven and around the people he loves. Not to mention, he can do what he loves again.

Soon, the clock hits 18:00, and the flower shop closes. Basil wipes some sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, when he feels a hand firmly pat his back.

"It's good to have you back, Basil. We missed your company here." Aubrey said with a grin. She was being genuine, and it makes Basil feel happy. Maybe even a bit proud of himself.

"Thank you, Aubrey... I also missed coming here. You don't know how much I hated being home, just... laying there and doing nothing–"

Basil's words are cut short by the pink haired girl. "Yeah, trust me, I know. Same thing happens to me."

Aubrey moves to stand beside Basil, and she gives him a softer smile.

"You know? I think you should visit that bakery soon. Maybe not today, though, you're sweating. But do."

Basil raises an eyebrow. "Uh... are you sure? I don't really like sweets, you know that..."

"Trust me, dude. It smells good and the atmosphere is nice." She insists, before ruffling Basil's hair playfully. "The place closes at eight. Check it out, yeah?"

The pink haired girl gives Basil a wink, and then she walks away, towards her locker. The blonde is a little confused by the insistence, but if Aubrey likes it, it must be good.

He places his hand against the window and looks at the bakery. Maybe he'll get something for his grandma.