Short Stories

Flower Thief

Daniel watched as the rain slowed to a stop and a smile came across his face. Excitement coursed through him as he began to do what he does every Saturday. He put on a white button up and black slacks. His dad hollered at him from the livingroom.

"Don't you dare go anywhere, Daniel!" His drunken slur came. Daniel flinched and quietly made his way to his room. Last month, his mom was in a serious car accident. It had to be miracle of she survived. She didn't. Two days later, she passed away. She told him the day before to take care of his dad because he'll act out. She was right, but not only that. Drinking off his ass every night. Sleeping with any willing woman. Disgust washed through him. He hated his father. Grief was a horrible thing, Daniel knew that. But there were better ways than what his father is doing. Daniel paced in his room, thinking of a plan to go to the cemetery, to pay his grief and apologize to his mother for not doing as she had asked.

Daniel looked at his window and he smiled. He can climb out and go without being caught. Changing clothes to something more suitable, he grabbed his keys again and slipped out his window. He sneaked over to his neighbor's yard to where she had beautiful flowers littering her yard. As always, he felt a twinge of guilt for taking flowers, but he did it for a good reason. What he didn't know, was the girl watching him through an upstairs window, anger and fury racing through her. She snapped as he took a bunch of her magnolias. She marched outside.

"SIR, YOU DON'T STEAL PEOPLE'S FLOWERS." She yelled, pissed. Daniel looked up startled and sheepishly grinned. He looked cute with that boyish look, but she was too pissed to care. "Take me with you so I can see if this girl is pretty enough to warrant flower theft." She growled. He shook his head wordlessly. "Yes." She demanded. She smirked. "Or I'll call police on trespassing." Daniel scowled and realize he couldn't get out of this.

They piled into his car, flowers in hand. The girl mutter gibberish, but he knew it was all aimed at him. He sighed.

"Sometimes I steal flowers from your garden on my way to the cemetery, but today you've caught me and have demanded to come with me to make sure the 'girl is pretty enough to warrant flower theft' and I'm trying to figure out how to break it to you that we're on our way to a graveyard." Daniel replied.

The girl froze and didn't say anything. She relaxed and looked upset. "I'm sorry."

He gave a nod of appreciation and didn't say anything the whole ride there. She didn't get out when they got there. She let him go to the grave and he began to talk. She couldn't here the words, just murmurs.

As Daniel drove them home, he noticed that the girl wasn't looking at him. She still looked upset and he guessed probably at herself. As he pulled into his drive way, he turned to her.

"My name is Daniel." He said, putting his hand out.

"Mine is Layla." She replied softly and shook his hand. He smiled.

"Want to grab a pizza?" He asked.

She smiled, her face lighting up. "I would like that."