Deer in the Headlights

Part 52 - Flowers of the Field

[Adam's POV - Walmart]

I sigh shakily as I hear excited snickering from the aisle behind me.

Fangirls.

For once I wished they weren’t there, right now I needed to focus on what I’d come here to do, buy flowers, although deep down I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Nothing was ever easy.

Rubbing my sweaty palms together I nervously flick my eyes over the flower display, the heady blooms causing me to lose my train of thought for a second as the bright colours and bold fragrances washed over my mind. Blinking my eyes sharply I came back to reality and squinted at the flowers.

A bouquet of delicate white lilies and cream roses caught my eye, they weren’t the brashest flowers on show but I liked that about them. Nothing too showy and in your face, just pretty flowers.

Walking over I pick the bouquet up and smile as I take in the strong scent of the speckled red and yellow throated white lilies, I hoped these would be a suitable peace offering for Brielle; I had to admit I didn’t feel like I was the most romantic guy ever but I guessed flowers were sort of a universal law of friendliness. If nothing else I hoped they’d mend the broken bond between the two of us, being without contact for over a week was killing me; I couldn’t be away from her any longer.

Turning around I swiftly walked down the aisle and towards the checkout, hoping and praying I would be able to escape notice from the fans; it seemed that ever since I’d done the music video for Fireflies about a year ago everyone in town recognised me. I had to admit it was pretty nerve racking being the centre of attention when all I was doing was going to the shops.

Taking a space in one of the queues I shyly look down at my feet in an attempt to not get anyone’s attention, however I soon realised by what I was wearing that I was pretty noticeable as the ‘Fireflies guy’. Black Onitsuka Tigers with distinct white markings, heavily faded grey skinny jeans and a thin black hoodie on top, my outfit I guess was quite recognisable. Which was probably why I began to hear whispers all around me, people pointing me out and chatting excitedly, I guess some people didn’t know that the Fireflies guy lived in their town.

“Next please.” I jump out of imaginings as the trill voice of the cashier pipes up, blushing as I realise I’d been stood in an empty queue I quickly walk up to her and place the flowers down. Immediately the cashier’s eyes light up, I think she knew me and I could tell she was guessing what or who the flowers were for. Nervously fumbling around in my pocket for my wallet I eventually pulled it out and handed her the money.

“Who’s the lucky lady?” She asks as she retrieves the change from the till. I blush immediately and swallow a lump in my throat as I almost instantly felt all eyes on me.

“J-just a friend.” I stutter, the cashier laughs as she hands me the change, fixing me with one of those knowing looks that made me smirk shyly, she knew it wasn’t ‘just a friend’.

“Alright then, have a nice day!” She says throwing me a wink, chuckling to myself I nod as I stuff the change in my pocket and take the flowers before hurriedly walking away. As if I didn’t have enough nerves already, the whole going out in public thing really wasn’t working for me today.

I let out a sigh as I walk out of the doors and into the bright sunlight, I’d escaped.

That was until from across the car park I heard a shout of “Hey Adam!” Turning in the direction of the voice I see two girls stood by some large SUV’s, grinning shyly I wave at them briefly. I smirk as I see one of the girls blush and wave back, frantically tugging the other girl’s arm who seemed to be completely uninterested in what was going on, more absorbed in the phone in her hands than me. But that was fine, the less attention I got right now the better.

Getting into my car I place the flowers on the passenger seat and let out a sigh. Turning to look at the flowers I see a little card stuck to the bouquets wrapping, tilting my head I quickly fumble around in the glove box till I find a black ballpoint pen and with shaky hands write out a short message on the card.

It wasn’t much but at least this way I could apologise and maybe the idea in my head could work, that was, if she wanted me back.

Closing my eyes for a second I see in my mind one of the secluded lakes not too far from where we lived, past a little forest and down through a meadow. If all went to plan I’d hopefully be seeing that lake with Brielle on Saturday.

Here’s hope.

[Brielle's POV]

My heart jolted as I heard the deep rumble of a car engine outside, for some reason; even though I couldn’t see the car I was worried it was Adam. Worried because I’d played with his feelings so much recently, he must hate me.

A sharp knocking on the door however made me almost jump out of my skin.

Rushing over to the window I was just in time to catch the tall hurried figure of Adam as he ran to his car and swiftly drove off, my stomach twisted as I watched him go. I’d barely even had time to recognise it as him but already I could feel my heart crying out for him. Longing to hold him and feel his touch. With a massive effort of will I pushed the thought back into a corner of my mind.

Letting out a sigh I made my way over to the front door, completely unsure if there would be anything there or whether Adam had simply tried to talk but panicked and fled. For some dark reason I was expecting it to be the latter, I couldn’t think of any other reason why, I’d hurt him too much with what I’d said and I could completely understand why he was flighty about approaching me, let alone talking with me.

Heaving open the front door I felt my heart skip a beat.

For sitting quite clearly on the doorstep to my house was a bunch of white and cream flowers, a beautiful bouquet of speckled red lilies and bold roses wrapped in hazy grey and beige paper gift paper.

Immediately I felt tears pricking my eyes.

This couldn’t be right.

But as I bent down to look pick them up I noticed a small note attached to the wrapping just under one of the folds in the paper, clear and distinct in the shaky black letters was Adam’s handwriting, scrawly yet surprisingly neat I recognised it in an instant, it really was him. With trembling fingers and bated breath I nervously unfolded the note and read the short paragraph:

‘Hi Brielle,

I’m so sorry for what happened, sorry for shouting at you and being a complete jerk, I honestly feel terrible and I know you might not be ready for an apology just yet but I really can’t keep ignoring you like this. I really miss you and I’m terribly sorry for what I’ve done.

If you feel like it, you’re more than welcome to come round to mine on Saturday so we can go for a walk or something. Of course if you don’t want to I’ll understand entirely but I should be free around evening time if you do want to come, I hope you can make it.

Adam x’

My breath caught in my throat as I read the note over several times, each time my eyes filled with more and more tears until finally they fell in wavy lines down my cheeks.

Even after everything that had happened he was still such a gentleman, so kind and caring. It was obvious the lack of contact was hurting him too and that he wanted to resolve the issue.

A choking sob escapes from my lips as I close my eyes and clutch the flowers to my chest, wishing instead that I was in Adams arms and everything was ok and that we were back as friends, before all these emotions got in the way. But that was it, things would never go back to how they were, if Adam didn’t feel the same way about me then I was pretty sure our friendship would crash and burn; there would always be that elephant in the room, unspoken feelings and emotions raging around without means of escape.

With a deep breath I opened my eyes and calmed my thoughts.

I couldn’t keep thinking like this. Whether he liked me or not I had to tell him how I felt, Saturday would be the deciding day.

[Authors note: Some nice stuff coming next!]