How many times am I gonna strike out with Juli? I mean honestly, how hard is it gonna be with her?
Why wouldn't she just talk to me?
Since Wednesday in the window hall, Juli hadn't said twenty words to me. When I knocked on her door, she didn't ignore me like she had before, but she would open it up and before I could say anything she'd sag against the door dejectedly and say, "Not now, Bryce", or I'd call her house and she'd answer with, "I'm busy, Bryce".
I didn't know if it was worse or better than having her avoid me altogether. But buddy, it stung. What did a guy have to do to get a date to a school dance? I mean really, this was ridiculous.
But there was only one course of action. I'd often wondered what drove a man to such a low state as to rely on the growth of the earth to solidify his relationship with a female. And why did girls like them so much, anyway?
Eventually I broke.
Friday morning I got up early and got ready for school, grabbed some money from my short term savings jar, and rode my bike to school on the longest route possible, past the local florist.
I stopped my bike in front of Montgomery Flowers and kicked up the kick stand. Sighing, I opened the door and a bell tinkled, announcing my shameful arrival.
When I went inside, I was
overwhelmed by all the choices. I chose some pretty little pink and white ones that looked kind of wild, I thought she would like them.
"Oh you poor thing! Who did you loose?"
I didn't jump back or cry out if that's what you're thinking. I just happened to move quickly backwards and let out a slightly awkward syllable at the same moment she spoke, and what was she doing sneaking up on me anyway?
"Oh I'm so sorry, sunshine, I didn't frighten you, did I?
I swallowed and shook my head.
"Well good!" She beamed, "I'm Ella. Aren't you just darlin'? But who'd you loose? I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Loss? I— no one... I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, Chrysanthemums, darlin'. Those flowers your holding? Those pink ones mean loss of a loved one. Same with those white carnations. I just assumed... I'm sorry, I guess I shouldn't have. Well what are you looking for?"
Flowers have meanings? This was it. I'd officially entered an uncharted territory, taking a giant leap for all male-kind. "How do you know what flowers mean?"
"I had to learn these things to work here. It sort of comes with the job, I guess. The shop's been in my family for years, I just moved in with my uncle and cousins this summer, and they offered me a job here at Montgomery Flowers." She held up an apron she had yet to put on. "I just open shop before school, but most of my shifts are after."
"Ah. That's cool. Well, uh" I cleared my throat. "Uh— I...for a— I mean I'm looking for flowers; for a girl, a girl I like. Um, to ask her to a dance." Why did my voice have to break right then? "A sc-school dance."
"Oh! Well isn't that just the most darlin' thing? I think you want this one." She held up a bouquet of flowers that looked like the ones I was holding, only yellow. "Yellow chrysanthemums mean that you have a crush on her. These blue flowers are called irises, and blue irises mean hope. And these leaves here? That's ivy. It means opportunity, renewal, and growth of relationship. It's on sale today anyway. We have to sell them before they wilt."
