Michael’s POV
I felt guilt run over me as I watched my Sophie roll around the bus bed, groaning as the loud music from last night’s show rings through her mind and large stomach aches stab her over and over creating the sharp pains within her. I had been surrounded by the busy world or work that my beautiful girl had to suffer alone, every chance I had to be with her, to comfort her through the illness she seems to carry, was soaked up by my lazy ass which decided it needed to rest whenever possible.
I almost dived out of the bus as soon as I noticed it pulling up beside a small Off-Licence store, my eyes quickly scanning the bright colours that covered the building. From hanging baskets full of dying flowers to deep red roses that showed too much emotion that it would fill someone with sorrow or love in an instant, I made my decision on a small handful of bright yellows and greens that were accompanied by sweet purples, the familiar scent that travelled from them lit a spark in my memory as I recognise the smell. Images of Sophie and I looking for flowers for her mother before me, her showing me a similar bunch of petals, shoving the whole thing in my face and begging me to take in the beautiful aroma.
“Who are they for?” An Irish accent called out on me holding Sophie’s gift.
“Sophie. I’ve felt like a shit boyfriend recently for never having the time to comfort her. She always brushes it off saying work is more important and that’s the whole point of the tour, to work but she’s ill and whenever the time comes to comfort her I seem to steel it for myself to rest. It’s selfish and I needed to show her that I do care.”
“Wow man. Rebecca hates gifts so I’m glad I don’t have your problem.” He laughs but I stay serious. “On the lines of gifts, Rebecca did mention Sophie had been obsessing over some perfume thing, Marc Jacks? Marley Justin?”
“You need to pay more attention to her rather than staring at her breasts mate. It’s probably that Marc Jacobs Daisy, it’s the only damn perfume she’ll ever wear if brought by someone else.” I notice the flush rise on the boy beside me’s cheeks and can’t help but mentally high-five myself. After minutes of studying the fragrance section in the small store, I almost give up but a small child from down the short aisle seems to answer my question of where the perfume could be.
“Mum pleaseeee! It’s been out for over a month now and it smells gorgeous.”
“It’s nearly 30 dollars, no way.”
“But Mum! It’s Marc Jacobs Daisy! Everyone has it apart from me.” By then I had stop listening and followed the teenager’s gaze towards the box that I was searching all over for. The bottle was in my hand, the flowers in the other, as I reached the counter, paying for the items quickly and jumping on the bus before I was left behind. Sophie was still asleep at this time but it didn’t bother me.
Stirring and the sweet voice of my girlfriend made excitement bubble within me as I tried to keep calm. Her sleepy figure appeared as it fell to my side, I sat waiting for her tiredness to wear off before I gave her the gifts.
“Babe?”
“Yeah?” She smiled, her drained face contrasted with the chirpiness in her tone.
“I got you something. Well not something I got you two things but. Ugh. I just wanted to make it up to you for not being there for you.” The gifts that my tall back was hiding were revealed, her eyes widening and filling with gleam.
“You didn’t-” She cut herself off when she inhaled the flowers. I waited and watched in anticipation, wondering if she’d remember the memory we shared what felt like years ago. The crinkle of her nose and the outstretch of her arms, pushing the flowers away from her, made the burn in my throat feel more prominent than before.
“What’s wrong? I swear these were those flower from…”
“They are. But they just don’t smell right. They stink” My lip was taken between my teeth, a sharp breath being inhaled, as I try to soften the tension by handing her the second gift, in hope this will lighten the falling mood.
Many gasps escaped her as the golden bottle was taken in her hands, the box lying open on her lap. My eyes followed her fingers as she released the daisy top, the liquid aroma spraying effortlessly onto her tired skin. The crinkle of the nose returned as she inhaled the perfume’s creation.
“It doesn’t smell like I remembered? I’m so sorry Michael; this must have cost a fortune! I sound so ungrateful! It’s just there’s something wrong with my nostrils or they don’t smell right.”
“Oh…” I forced myself not to look away but the force was weak and my head bowed, the skin around my finger nails being picked. Liquorice battled the perfume and flower’s strong scents as it filled the room, Ashton being the source of the new scent.
“Mmm now that’s what I call a beautiful smell”
“You hate the smell of liquorice?”
“Is that really liquorice? It smells gorgeous give me a piece!” A piece of liquorice that was formed into a shape to resemble a twig was thrown her way and I couldn’t help but let the anger get to me.
What the hell?
