Parade Des Fleurs

5

To his surprise, a few seconds after Alistair had picked up the phone, Alex walked through the front door of Parade Des Fleurs. He began speaking, but Alistair held his hand up in a shush motion. Regardless, he could still hear the guy whispering at him - but that was just the kind of person Alex Kessler was. A little dense at the best of times, but he tried his hardest, that's for sure.

You would think not that many boys would want to be seen working at a flower shop - Alistair knew that was sexist or whatever, but he just had a gut feeling that if his parents didn't own the shop he'd have been at least shoved around for it a couple times for choosing to work there. But when Alex transferred to his class a few months ago he hadn't stopped pestering him about a job until he finally caved and asked his parents. The star basketball player who worked at a florists... huh. He wasn't complaining about it, because Alex could work a till better than Alistair - who'd often charge people double by pressing the wrong button. Sophie had always done the till work, even though Alistair knew she would have rather helped with the flowers. But she did it because she knew Alistair would be mortified if he was placed back at the till again - they didn't have a credit card machine, not that they really needed one, but it made things harder. Sophie had been kind like that, always looking out for Alistair. Pointing out when his shoelaces were undone, always having a flask of coffee at the ready when he'd stayed up too late playing video games and looked like he was about to fall asleep as he was pouring over flower arrangements. He wondered if she had changed that about herself over the past year.

When Alistair put the phone down he began writing a to do list. Alex was still chattering away.

"... so that's why I'm early today!"

"Alex, you can't just speak to me while I'm on the phone and expect me to listen - I took in none of what you just said." Alistair muttered, engrossed in his list making. 

"Well, I was telling you about why I came in early - I had to stop by Stew's, and I suddenly realised that he lives kind of close by! I woke up early, for some weird reason, and thought I may as well come in and help you out for a couple of extra hours. You always look so busy, I figured you might appreciate the help!" The short boy said, beaming as he grabbed a green apron and brushed stray flower petals off the table. Bless him, Alistair thought.

"Well thank you, Alex," Alistair smiled, turning to him. "But seriously, you only just realised your boyfriend's house was less than ten minutes from the place you work at? Even I knew that..."

"Shut up!" Alex nudged him, threateningly shaking a pot of rooting hormone at Alistair. "Stuart is not my boyfriend."

"Pretty sure he doesn't think that..." Alistair teased, finishing his list and tucking it into his pocket. Alex turned red and hurriedly thumped a crate of various garden tools on the table, pricing them with gusto. 

"Alex."

"What?"

"You do realise those are my  tools."

"Ugh, I'm sorry. I guess I -"

"Left your brain at Stew's?"  Alistair snorted when he saw Alex's dismal expression, taking the crate from him. 

"Jeez, you look like a sad puppy," he laughed, "Don't cry, if you're really up for some work I actually have a job for you." 

"Okay, sure!" Alex's eyes brightened up as he turned to Alistair, rolling his sleeves up.

"It's not flower related though - I actually need you to carry some luggage for me."

"Hm...  odd request," Alex tilted his head to the side, peering at Alistair , "Is this anything to do with the yelling I heard earlier?"

"Yeah." Alistair sighed. He saw Alex squint thoughtfully. 

"So... what's her name?"

"Sophie." 

"Who is she?"

"Uhh, Sophie... Oberlin?"

"Not what I meant, Al." Alex was about to continue his interrogation, until he saw the look on Alistair's face. 

"Okay fine," Alex huffed, shimmying his way around the table, grabbing his leather jacket and heading towards the door, "It's complicated. I'll just ask her then!"

"ALEX, DON'T YOU DARE -"  Before he could be stopped, Alex hurriedly slipped through the door, hearing faint shouts from Alistair.

"I'M SO FIRING YOU!"

"You don't have the power to do that!"

 And with that, the door gently closed, and Alistair turned back to the table. He had so much to do today, but his head seemed to be floating above the clouds, and he didn't quite know how to bring it down. 

  I don't have the power, huh? Well, not now, but in a couple years... 

Alistair heard the door open, and suddenly his brain snapped shut as his daily script rolled off his tongue.

"Hello, and welcome to Parade Des Fleurs..."