byler // white roses and chrysanthemum

red and green bouquet

"And there's this guy who doesn't stop sneezing," Max started as they were heading home, her on her skate, Mike on his bike with Eleven holding on to him. "Sneezing?" interrupted Mike, not understanding how this could be such a big problem. "Well, yes," added Max, "he sneezes like three times per period, this is insane. He's driving me insane. But this means he does it what... if he's up sixteen hours a day, this makes a grand total of..."

"48 sneezes a day," said Eleven, calculating fast. The three of them laughed. "Poor guy. He must have a problem and you're just hating on him." added the girl, as they slowed down for the red stop.

A silence started between the teenagers before Mike asked: "Oh, by the way, how is your history work? Have you finished Max?" She took a few seconds to think before answering, "the one on Versailles? Yes, of course I finished it! The deadline was today. I know you wanted to read it, but I couldn't find you before seeing Mrs Gate." Mike furrowed his brows. This couldn't be possible - she had to give it in on the 25th, and they were only the 24th September. Or was he in the wrong? "Wait. What day are we?"

"Wednesday." responded Eleven, as quickly as when she calculated. Her breath was cold on Mike's skin and he shivered a second. Then connections were made in his brain - Wednesday meant it was the 25th, which meant it was his grandmother's birthday.

And he forgot to buy a gift.

"Oh fuck me," he whispered, "Thanks but no thanks." laughed Max before adding, "What are you swearing at?" They were getting closer to their homes when he answered that he forgot a gift for his grandma's birthday, which was a problem.

"We could get flowers, you know, it's not that expensive if the bouquet is not too big and there's a florist in the center of the town. I won't mind going there with you if you want!" Said Eleven with a kind tone. Mike wondered if it was a good idea - well, it was the only idea and he would hate to come home to his grandmother without something in his hands. Anyway, the weather was nice on that day and he could spend more time with El before his dinner with his entire family.

"Yeah sure, that's a good idea. Max, you're in?" He asked with a smile. "I'm sorry to say no, but I have tasks to do at home and you know my relatives..." Max said, a bit sad, wanting to go with them. "Oh okay. Good luck with that..." He stopped, sad to leave Max alone and then turned around to their new destination.

Once they arrived, Mike wondered why he never noticed this shop. The fairly big shop was decorated with so many flowers - inside and outside. They were all put color by color, in a giant harmony, making the whole street smell like a parc in the middle of spring. Mike smiled without acknowledging it when El opened the door of the shop, and was forced out of his own bubble when she asked "Who in the world forgets their grandmother's birthday?" Her soft voice seemed to awake everyone around them, which were two boys. One was in a adjacent room, he was fairly small and had a bowl cut. He was not looking at them, the only hint that he listened to them was that when El talked he stopped doing what he was doing before starting again - writing things on a paper and counting flowers.

The other one was behind the counter, waiting for the two to ask about the flowers. He was way taller than the other one, and this time they could see his face, a very angular one with piercing eyes. His hair weren't at all like the smaller boy, which meant that they weren't neat. He looked great, a weird great thought Mike. "I didn't forget it," he said to Eleven, "I just... I forgot to buy a gift. Not the same."

A small laughter, so light that Mike asked himself if it was his imagination working, came from the other room. Eleven turned around and showed an orange tulip to Mike. "This is nice. Grandmas always like orange!" He rolled his eyes. "Like all grandmas had the same taste in flowers... I think it's better if I take more than a simple..." he looked at the flower, not knowing the special name, and made a gesture to show it, "...this." The boy behind the counter spoke to them to help: