BFDI AND II ONESHOT BOOK!

Business Proposition: Chapter 3! More Than Just Business

(It's been like a year, ahhh!! Chapter 3 suddenly out of nowhere rahhH!!! Apparently I already wrote half of it a year ago, so i finished it off and here it is :D)

The next morning came quietly.

Flower had fallen asleep on the couch at Lollipop's house, curled up like a content kitten, still in her bright pink sweater from the day before. Lollipop had watched her for a few seconds too long before finally tearing herself away and heading to bed. When Flower stirred awake the next morning, she was greeted not by cold distance or a sarcastic jab, but the gentle clink of porcelain and the soft scent of camomile and eggs.

Lollipop had made her tea. And breakfast. Scrambled eggs, simple and warm. It was... sweet. Too sweet.

Lollipop caught herself watching Flower again as she quietly nibbled at her breakfast, Her stomach twisted in a way she didn't like. This couldn't be happening. You're losing control. That thought scratched at the edge of her mind like a splinter.

She hadn't planned on liking Flower. That wasn't part of the blueprint. Flower was loud, scatterbrained, overly emotional, everything Lollipop normally found exhausting in a person. And yet... There was something about the way she smiled when she talked about their shop. The way her face flushed pink whenever Lollipop paid her attention. The way she looked at her like she was the sun.

It was dangerous. If she got too close, it could jeopardize the entire plan, her perfect, flawless scheme to siphon the business right out from under them. Flower couldn't know. And she definitely couldn't suspect it. Which meant Lollipop had to keep the charade going. She had to keep flirting, keep the pet names, keep up the image that Flower meant more to her than she really did.

Even if, deep down, she was starting to wonder if maybe she did.

By the time they arrived at the store together, Gelatin was already there. He had the lights on, the grill warming, and the signs flipped to "OPEN." When he saw the two of them walk in together his stomach turned a little.

"Morning," he greeted, eyes narrowing slightly.

"Morning!" Flower chirped, all sunshine and sparkle. Lollipop offered a breezy nod and a smirk before disappearing inside.

Gelatin said nothing. He watched them a little longer than he should have. The way Flower's cheeks lit up when Lollipop brushed past her. The way she was nearly glowing.

They're getting too close.

He didn't want to think the worst. He wanted to believe that Lollipop was being genuine, that maybe somehow she was actually trying to help. After all, the shop was finally thriving. Customers were coming in. Sales were booming. There was money in the till again. But Gelatin knew Lollipop. He'd known her for years. She didn't do things out of the kindness of her heart. Not without strings.

Still, what could he say? Everything was going fine. And if Flower was happy, was that really a bad thing?

Flower, meanwhile, was practically dancing on air.

She began unpacking boxes of new sweaters, arranging them delicately on the display mannequins near the window. The sun caught the sequins and shimmered like little stars. She hummed as she worked, her eyes glancing occasionally toward the office door where Lollipop had gone.

She hadn't said it outright, but she could feel it... something had changed. Lollipop was so warm. Thoughtful. Kind. Even her teasing had softened at the edges, turning into something more affectionate.

Flower spun in a happy little circle, holding one of the glittery sweaters to her chest. She wanted to believe this was more than just business. That she wasn't imagining things.