Endlessly

Incentive

Insecurity snuck up on me as I entered the floral shop. Was getting a girl flowers outdated? The notion felt cheesy to me, like something done in a bad romantic comedy. For a second, I felt like turning around to run back out to the Jeep. But the friendly low voice of an older man called out to me as I began to leave.

"Hello there, young man. Can I help you with something?"

He was around his late sixties, with clearly marked smile lines beneath warm brown eyes. Though his appearance was harmless enough, I felt like I had been caught between crosshairs. The older man seemed to stare at me knowingly, cutting past all the fluff and peering directly into my soul with undeniable wisdom. It took a second for me to clear my throat and respond.

"Oh. I um, was just going." I attempted, pushing my hands into the pocket of my navy sweatshirt. The man chuckled, motioning for me to come closer to where he stood behind the counter.

"Is that right? The girl you're trying to impress is allergic to pollen?" He asked with a teasing smirk. I scratched the back of my head, laughing, before moving towards the counter. The greying man's name tag read Jerry.

"Is my purpose here that obvious?"

Jerry barked out a snicker, shaking his head. "You know kid, you're not the first man in the world to offend a woman. And you're not the first to make up for it with flowers, either."

My eyebrows raised, and a comfortable smile spread across my cheeks. Jerry's intuition was spot on. He noticed my admiration, and turned away to collect three different bouquets from a hidden room in the back. When he returned, I was impressed with each selection.

"Okay kid, how bad did you screw up?"

I let out a big exhale, now leaning over the counter on my elbows. My eyes took in the gorgeous spectrum of colors the flowers provided, as the vibrant floral scent mingled in the air. I was thoughtful for a moment, trying to decide which words would sufficiently explain the scenario.

"Well, I think I found the most beautiful woman in the universe." Jerry didn't look surprised. Suddenly the words were just pouring out of me. "And we've only just met, but I feel like I've known her forever. I've never experienced anything like it in my entire life. I don't know, I probably sound insane, but... I can't imagine not knowing her now. And she has these eyes... These incredible, breathtaking eyes... Needless to say I kind of messed it up at the end, though, and I'm not sure if I'll get to see them sparkle for me the way they did before."

For a moment, the florist was still. His misty eyes appraised me like a doctor inspecting a fresh wound. I felt a blush creep across my face. But then Jerry smiled again, picking up the bouquet furthest to the right.

Simpler than the other two, the flowers had a more distinct color palette. It was mainly composed of lush green leaves, with small purplish blue flowers poking out through the brush. They were embedded in the bouquet like crown jewels, almost glowing under the fluorescent lights. It was a stunning arrangement for its simplicity. Instantly I knew, it was perfect.

"Here, take it. This is exactly what you need." Jerry said with utmost certainty. I reached out to collect it, breathing in the floral sweetness. He paused, nostalgia radiating in his expression.

"I recognize that look in your eyes. I felt that way once, myself." He reached out to the arrangement in my hands, gently stroking one of the cerulean petals. "When you find that person, it doesn't matter how long you've known them or how you met. All that matters is that somehow, in this terribly confusing world, you found each other."

I grinned, looking down at the flowers myself. Appreciation and bliss filled me as I thought of Juliet. "So what are these flowers called? You know, just in case she asks."

Jerry laughed now, breaking out of his daydreaming haze. He pulled his withering hand back to set it firmly on the counter. Like the old man was enjoying some private joke to himself, he muffled a chuckle.

"Well they're blue hyacinth and myosotis." I paused, trying to find the humor. Jerry noticed my efforts and finally admitted. "They're forget-me-nots, son."

This time I was the one to laugh.

"Wow. I guess you really do know your flowers. That's... exactly what I needed."

The florist threw his hands out softly, with the knowing smile returning to his features. "Just as I said."

For the second time today, I was cut off before I could take out my billfold to pay. Jerry reached out, halting the action, causing my brow to furrow.

"Flowers weren't enough for my girl to forgive me- I won't let that be the case for you." He revealed. My heart broke for him, now noticing the faded ring line around his fourth finger. "You take her to dinner with that money now, okay kid? Treat her right."

"Of course, of course I will. I can't thank you enough, sir." My voice was laced with stunned gratitude. His brown orbs bore into mine with the impossible mixture of faith and sadness.

"You can thank me by coming back for your anniversary. Now go get her before it's too late."

It was only 3:45 when I finally made it to the famous opera house, meaning I had some time to kill before Juliet's rehearsal started. The parking lot of the Academy of Music was full of cars belonging to Pennsylvania Ballet company members. As the tiny, graceful ballerinas made their way into the building, I was shocked by how strong each of them looked. With their confident strides, muscular builds, and stoic expressions, I felt like I was watching a military troop heading into battle. I played a game in my head as I looked on- trying to guess which ones might be the principals amongst the rest.

None of the girls, though pretty and elegant, could compare to her. They were missing her passion and wildness- the spark of excitement she brought to a room with her fearlessness. They couldn't possibly compete with her beauty either. There was something so distinctly inhuman about Juliet Cassidy, like she was carved from marble over the course of a hundred years. Every feature, from the slope of her nose to the constellation of freckles that dotted it, looked like it had been meticulously crafted by the hands of Michelangelo himself.

A text notification suddenly rang out from my pocket, drawing me out of my thoughts. I pulled the iPhone out, growling when I saw the content of my unread messages.

DANNY:

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY NOT GONNA HIT UP THAT JULIET CHICK? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I CAN TAKE ANOTHER DAY OF SIERRA'S YELLING.

JARED:

HEY. IDK IF DANNY ASKED YOU YET, BUT HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DANCER EVER SINCE WE LEFT THE TAV. BEN TOO. DO YOU HAVE HER #?

As if those two texts weren't aggravating enough, the last one was what really got to me. I felt my mood darken instantly.

BOONE:

LOWKEY- JULIET WAS SMOKING HOT. I'M NOT TRYING TO START A WAR HERE, SO I'LL PLAY NICE... FOR NOW- LOL. SEE YOU SOON BRO.

That was all the incentive I needed to finally make my move. The clock on my phone now read 4:05 PM, and the lot was completely devoid of people. The dancers would already be on stage, the distraction of their work probably making it harder for me to be caught.

Collecting the forget-me-not bouquet from the passenger seat carefully, I exited the Jeep. Jealousy fueled my feet as I walked, giving me an edge as I trudged through the sticky snow. The plan was to sneak into the theater somehow, wait for Juliet to appear in rehearsal, and apologize. Beyond that, I had no clue what I was doing. What was I even going to say to her?

Feeling possessive, nervous, and a bit like a stalker, I hustled into the old brick building.