⤷ SHE WAS SKINNIER THAN he remembered, although he was discombobulated last time. her eyes were sunken, her fingers more nimble and bony than before. her collarbones were far more visible, her entire body being swallowed up by the large green sweater that adorned her body. flora still looked beautiful, however, she never could not look absolutely magnificent. blake's breath hitched as her perfume filled his senses.
"hey." he said lowly as flora took a seat across from the boy. she tried to look her best, but somehow the tiredness underneath her eyes was still visible. it had been nine days since their last physical interaction, but it seemed like it had still been a year. blake shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, wiping his palms on his pants. "what did you need to talk about?" she asked him, not wanting to meet his eyes. the boy cleared his throat, searching for the words to say. "listen, flora." he started, "i'm sorry for what i did. i thought you deserved to hear it in person, rather than over text. i owe you this much. i'm not sure what was going through my head, but i can't fix it- no matter how much i want to. i am the only one responsible for my actions and i am so deeply sorry for how much i hurt you. you deserve the absolute world, and it sucks that i can't be the one to give it to you." blake sighed, quieting himself as the waitress brought the two their coffees. she rushed away, noticing the thick tension between the customers. "i love you, like crazy. and i mean that. these past months have been absolute hell for me, although i'm sure it's been worse for you. and i'm sorry. i really am. i keep apologizing but i feel like i have to. you don't deserve that, and i hate myself for doing it. i just wanted to tell you this, in person, before i go on tour again. i want us to be okay, you know?" he finished, taking a sip from the cappuccino that had been placed in front of him. flora stared down into her cup. he knew she wasn't much of a coffee person, right when he looked at the menu he knew she'd opt for the hibiscus berry iced tea. "blake, whether you know it or not, everything you do is for a reason. you say you were drunk, but is that really a valid reason? you consciously kissed another girl, and you did it for a reason. i don't know what it is, and you might not know now. but maybe it's for the better that we aren't together. maybe you realized that you don't really love me like you thought. but i will always love you, always and forever. it's going to take some time for me to get over it, but i think i'll be strong enough to be friends." she rushed out, holding back the need to choke on the lump in her throat. friends, god blake hated that word. he knew it was the best for them both, but his heart still broke. "yeah, okay." he smiled, masking the hole in his chest. flora smiled, taking a sip from the iced beverage. the small act somehow still made him giddy. blake's phone rang, him instantly answering the call. "yeah, okay, i'm almost done, yeah, love you, bye." he said, looking to flora when asked if he was just about finished with the meet up. "was that george?" she questioned, stirring the tea with the biodegradable straw. blake nodded, putting his phone in his pocket. "i miss him, and reece. but george more." she laughed, shaking her head as blake chuckled. they sit in silence for a couple more seconds before each got up to leave. "i'll see you around, richardson." flora said, just as she did back in high school. "yeah, you too."
