Chapter 1: Potted Plants and Seeds

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You wake up in a frenzy, drawing a cold sweat and erratic breathing. It's 3 am, right on schedule for the past 5 years. Once you calm down, attempting to take  a look around your empty room but can only make out shapes from the moonlight peeking through the blinds.

    "It's okay. It's okay. You are here. You are still here..."

You coo to yourself, slowly cupping your eyes and drawing your knees towards your chest. You refused to let the little hiccups of weakness well up in yourself  and flood your eyes. It's gonna be a long night....

~~~

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*

    "Ugh, what time is it?"

You whip your head at your phone, it's 7 am. You have work in two hours sadly. You get out of bed, stretch and sigh in relief as you crack out the kinks in your back and joints. You walk over to your window to peek through the blinds revealing a sunny day which fills you up with determination. Hopped into the shower, and standing in the warm rushing water soothing you to your core.

*Ding Ding*

Your phone rings out in your bedroom while you are in the shower. Must be Luke, your boyfriend for 3 years.

    "I'll reply when I get out." You mumble to yourself retreating back to the soothing water. Wrapping yourself in your favorite towel you head out to your bedroom and read the text.

   *"Goodmorning babe, sorry about last night my phone died and I got home at like 2 am and knocked out instantly :("

You scoff, whatever being together for 3 years wasn't all bubbles and giggles. You and Luke have had many break ups and make ups, despite it all you seemly still want to be with him, but lately you can't quite figure out what doesn't feel right, like something is laying in the dirt waiting to be dug out but you are gonna be late for work so ignore the feeling. Rapidly texting him back with a "it's okay babe and good morning."

It's your usual mornings, on the bus with your earbuds in place as you stare out the window, occasionally looking around the bus and nod a good morning  to those that catch your eye. It's been 2 years since monsters have appeared, you always thought that monsters were just folklore that was passed down generations to keeps kids in line. Not everyone has warmed up to them though, you glance over as the bus doors open and see a rabbit woman with her child in hand walk up the steps. She is greeted with heavy stares, no empty seats some taken up by bags and what not. Her and her child are left with the option to stand and hold onto the railing. You hear the child's little whines of how tired her legs are and watch how the child is holding onto her mother's legs when the bus hits a bump. It's not fair, you grimace at the sight that everyone around you seems to ignore. Standing up you walk to them with a warm smile on your face.

   "Goodmorning, you guys can take my seat if that's alright with you. My stop is next so it's no problem."

The mother looks at you with a grateful smile and thanks you.

You get off at your stop and walk down the busy streets, occasionally glancing at your watch to be on time. You take out your phone to change to the next song, in the middle of finding the next song Luke shoots you a text asking what your plan was for the day. Clearly you had work until 5 pm at your first job and then until 2 am at your next job. You reply a bit annoyed that he doesn't know your schedule. Picking the next song and stuffing your phone into your pocket you continue to walk down the street and arrive at your work.

"Planted" the flower shop that you have work at for the past year. It's a quiet little shop in the bustling city. You are always here in the morning until closing at 5 pm the shop tends to be slow most days but every now and then you get orders that come flooding in like on Valentine's Day or the prom weeks and what not. It's nice to see people come in just to admire the flowers as well, like taking a break from the blaring sounds and smells and walk into a shop that is somewhat your sanctuary for peace of mind.

   You put on your green apron over your clothes and greet the owner of the shop a goodmorning.

     "Morning ________. I got some orders this morning for some bouquets, can you get started on them? They said they will be coming around 12 pm to pick them up."

    "Sure, no problem."

She hands the list of the flowers including Sweet Peas, Garden Roses, Astilbe, Baby's Breath etc. You gathered the flowers and started to arrange them. You are focused on the task at hand but every now and then look up to see the occasional walk in to stop and smell the flowers. Answer some questions and help some people come to a decision to buying a small bouquet or two. After finishing the arrangements and helped out all the customers you head out with a cute tin watering can to sprinkle the flowers and plants that sit outside of the shop, greeting those you meet out the door. It's warm outside, it's mid spring and the birds are singing. Taking a look around you seeing humans and monsters going about their daily lives something catches your eyes.

   "HURRY UP! YOU ARE MOVING SO SLOW!"

    "I'm coming,I'm coming."

Two monster skeletons, a tall one maybe at least 7'2 and a shorter one following behind maybe at least 5'5 two inches or so taller than you. The shorter one in a full on winter jacket, you begin to wonder if monsters don't get as hot as humans do. You wonder back into the store when the store owner calls for help.

It is now 11:30, you rest your head on your hand and watch out the store window as people and monster pass by. It's the beginning of the slow part of this job. You receive another text from Luke,

   *"Hey babe, did you eat? Want me to bring over food?"

You smile at the text like an idiot, Luke can be a ass sometimes but he can also be kind as well. You tell him that he doesn't need to you were going to go to the coffee shop two stores down and grab something to eat. It's now 12:30 and you are wondering if the people that said they are coming to pick up the flowers are coming at all. You ask the store owner if it's alright for you to run down to the coffee shop to get a bite to eat. She said she is heading out too so she handed you the keys to the shop and left. You locked up shop and run out to grab a warm panini from the cafe. Walking back you notice someone looking into the store. You instantly thought about the bouquets, it must be them!  You rush back to store as fast as you can.

     "ARE THEY CLOSED? UGH SEE, IF YOU WALKED FASTER THEY WOULD'VE STILL BEEN OPEN!"

      "There is a sign saying they will be back, a lunch break I guess."

You make it in time before they decided to leave,

      "Hi, sorry I went to grab something to eat...."

You suddenly realize it is the two skeleton monsters you saw earlier today, the taller one holding a brown paper bag with groceries while the other is holder a plastic bag full of drinks and refreshments. You didn't notice how long you were staring until the shorter skeleton waves his hand in front of your face.

     "Hey, you alright kid? Looks like you just saw a monster."

He has a wide grin, but all you can think is if that was his try at a pun? Or just out of context, the taller one makes a face of discomfort and sighs. You break from your stare and apologize,

   "Sorry didn't mean to stare, and keep you waiting. Lemme get the door unlocked for you. Are you guys here for the bouquets?"

You fumble around for the keys in your pocket and unlock the door and allow them in. Stepping in they stop and stare in awe of all the flowers and plants in the tiny store. While they are in awe you head to the back and grab the bouquets you had set aside.

     "Wowie, look at all the pretty flowers. I never knew they could have so many colors and shapes."

    "They smell pretty nice too bro."

You walk back up to the front counter, and ring up the registered.

       "Here you guys are, that will be 15 dollars."

They break from their trance and pay you the amount, they grab one of the bouquets and go out leaving one behind, you were putting the cash into the register until you noticed the bouquet. You grabbed it and attempted to chase them down but when you got of the door they were nowhere to be seen, like they just went poof.

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