Flowers have a different meaning to us

Chapter 2

“No one can possibly know what it about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the time, for the only time.” – James A. Baldwin

Noah helped me to a chair, still spewing apologizes at me. “Really, I am really sorry. Did I say that I was sorry?” I chuckled, shaking the rest of the dizziness from my head. “Noah, it’s okay, you can stop saying sorry.”

He gave me a sheepish smile and blushed. “Oh, sorry. Oh, no, I mean sorry! Oh shit, no sorrys! You didn’t hear me say sorry!”

I laughed, watching him go redder and redder. Then I spotted all of the sugar on the front of his light blue T-shirt, from my donut when we crashed into each other. “Oh, I’m sorry myself; I’ve got sugar all on you!”

He looked down and laughed. “Nah, it’s okay,” Noah said, brushing it off casually. “But I think I owe you a donut!” Oh yeah, where was that thi—oh, right there on the canteen floor, looking very edible as everyone trod on it. “Dang, I was looking forward to that sugary goodness.”

"I will restore any damage that I've inflicted." Noah  swore, crossing his heart with his fingers. I smiled; he is really cute. "Oh, that's alright, I think most of it went on you. Besides, I'm not sure I can eat that donut anymore."

"Really?" Noah frowned. "Well, it only needs a bit of dusting and it would be as good as new!" He was joking, right? Noah caught my expression and grinned. "I'm joking, that looks downright disgusting!" I laughed, wiping my hand across my forehead in a relived way. "Thank God, I thought you were gonna pick it up and start downing it whole!" I laughed again, and looked up at Noah. I stared at him as he stared at me with a little smile on my face and my voice got caught in my throat.

"Wow," Noah said, shaking his head. "You're beautiful."

I froze, with a smile on my face. “Aw,” I said, ruffling his hair. “You’re cute.” He looked at me, confused. “What?” I got up, slowing shaking my head and laughing. “Adorable.” I started walking back to my table with Caden and Sara. “I don’t understand!” He called behind me. “Sweet!” I called back.

Sara was watching, her head cocked to the side. “What was that?” I smiled at her. “What was what?” She blinked. “That. You were getting all cosy with Mr Habanero chilli pepper and all of a sudden you got up and left!”

I laughed. “Oh, that. He complimented me.”  Sara groaned to Jesus. “Marilyn Jessica Evans, you have to get over your fear of people complimenting you!” I laughed again. “What? I don’t have a fea-“ Sara interrupted me. “Mar, every time someone says something nice about you, you laugh, call them cute, and deny it! I’ve know you for, like, forever. You always do it!”

“What? No I don’t.”

“Oh yes you do!”

“No way!”

"Oh yeah?”

“Yeah!”

“Fine. Marilyn, you’re beautiful.”

Laugh. “Aw, you’re sweet.”

“Ha!” Sara smirked, victorious. I cursed myself. “Told ya! Why d’ya do it?” I rolled my eyes. “Because afterwards it just gets really weird! Do you thank them, or compliment them back, because that just sounds so fake, or do you-” Caden had been usually quiet until now, because normally he just listens to Sara sassing me, but now he’s laughing and dramatically sighing exasperatedly. “Breathe, Mar! You just take the compliment and be as social as you can!”

Easy for you to me, I muttered inwardly. You’re like a modern-day Adonis. I shook that thought off. Well things in my head are getting weird. Don’t worry, I can hear my mum’s comforting words in my head. Whatever strange boy-related thought pops up in your head, just remember that they are more afraid of you then you are them. Thanks mum.