Grand Finale || r.r. + b.u.

One

(hey it's the author i'm jus doing some polishing up bc i suddenly decided to finish this story)
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It all started when I was about fourteen I think, or that was when I started realizing it.  Small flowers- blues, pinks, yellows, behind my ears and in my hair.  When I had seen them, I remember being horrified, as any sensible person would be.  I mean, there were flowers growing in my hair and on my skin, who wouldn't be horrified by that?

I remember pulling at one when I saw it and feeling an immense amount of pain.  I disregarded it though, not paying attention to the fact it hurt like hell- as if I was pulling at my own skin or something.  When I had pulled the flower out, I watched blood drip from the top of my head and two more flowers grow in the previous one's place.

I realized then, that these flowers were apart of me.  It was so strange to think that flowers were growing from my body, disregarding science and a million different ways someone could say "there's no way this could be possible!".

They were almost completely unnoticeable though.  Nobody could see the flowers hidden in my long, unkempt hair unless they were truly looking.  I had always kept it to myself, not telling anyone in fear they'd think I'm insane or they'd do something completely stupid.

Then they suddenly stopped appearing.  The ones that were there previously had never left of course, but they just seemed to have stopped. I was just a bit relieved that they had suddenly stopped, not thinking anything of it.

That was about three years ago. I'm seventeen now. Just a few months ago the flowers started appearing again. Bigger, slightly more apparent flowers screaming for attention on my arms, in my hair, everything quickly becoming more noticeable.

It wasn't soon after that that people began to catch on and make comments. It wasn't anything I've never dealt with before though. Someone calling me names, or sending empty threats that they'll beat me up for no reason wasn't anything I didn't know how to deal with.

What I didn't know how to deal with though, was a boy called Brendon who suddenly stared talking to me. It was weird that someone came to talk to me with nothing but good intentions, or at least acting like they had nothing but good intentions. He just seemed to enjoy my presence and we could just sort of talk. It was the first time in a while someone has stopped to care about me.

It's embarrassing how he found me though. After some idiot had had their fill with tormenting me, they found it necessary to pick at one of the exposed flowers peeking from my sleeve. It was a larger one too, placed near my wrist. It was much more painful than any small little flower in my hair could compare to. It was as if this asshole ripped the thing from my arm, ruining my white sweater. But Brendon saw me curled up in a bathroom stall bleeding and crying like an idiot.

Instead of giving me mindless pity or treating me like crap, he decided to be a decent person and act like he cared. Maybe he did care, or even still does today.

"Holy shit," he whispers to himself, running over to me. "I'm going to skip the 'are you okay' because it's obvious you're not. I'm Brendon by the way." He adds quickly, helping me up carefully, as if I might crumble to his feet if he used too much force.

"I can take you to the health office if you'd like, but all they'll really do if give you an ice pack and tell you to walk it off," he says quietly. "I could bring you to my house and clean you up myself, if that doesn't make me sound creepy," he adds. "Or your house, even the hospital if you think it's that bad." He continues to say. The idea of going to my house or the hospital makes me feel violently sick to my stomach.

"I guess if it's no trouble we can head to your house." I reply quietly. My head hurts and the bleeding from my arm seems to refuse to stop. It's weird that it doesn't stop, last time a flower was forcefully ripped from my skin two more had grown in it's place, this time it just sits there and bleeds endlessly.

It went normal from there, he didn't comment on the flowers, but I could tell he had seen them. When he was done cleaning me up, he looked at me for a second.

"I'm only going to ask this because I'm a little bit concerned, but are you doing alright? You seem to be together and everything but I wanna make sure that you're okay. Does that make me weird? I hope it doesn't make me sound weird or something." He says, rambling on for a little bit. I don't mind it though, I think his voice is pretty, just like his eyes.

"I'm pretty sure I'm fine." I say in reply, not entirely sure if I am. I guess the shakiness in my voice is enough to give away that I'm not, because Brendon gives me an unsure look- the type of look where his eyes pierce into your soul like he can see very little thing you're made of, but it's all out of care, like you're the best thing in the world- before giving me a small "okay" in response.

So he quickly changes the subject, not pressing on the matter.  We continue to talk as if we've known each other for ages.  All I know about him is his name.  It then occurs to me that I never told him my name. He told me his, but I was to out of it to speak.

"I'm Ryan by the way." I say quietly, fidgeting with my hands.

"Cool," he says, looking at me with those eyes again.  Like he's giving your soul a giant hug.  "I like that name."  He adds a little quieter.  And with that I can feel my cheeks heating up, I quickly look down to hide the fact that I'm blushing like a madman.  I hear him giggle, coaxing me to laugh as well. 

It was at that time I realized we were going to be friends, and since that day we were.  Every day we would talk for hours.  It's been so long since I've ever been so close to anyone.

I find it weird that he never mentioned the flowers, but I sort of like it.  I feel weird or crazy when I try to explain it.  It's good to know he's not just talking to me because I look kinda dumb.

But the flowers keep popping up.  Quicker and more apparent now.  It sort of scares me, not knowing what these flowers will do.  I keep worrying they'll kill me or something.  I'd never admit that I'm scared of them though, being scared isn't something i like being.