Lavender Kisses✔ (Johnmark)

1

The sun beamed through the lightly dusty windowpanes. A warm glow bouncing off various glass vessels littered around the small shop. Morning dew coated the surface of the windows causing droplets to run down the smooth surface until it dripped to the grass below. Johnny Suh walked through the back door, a tiredness in his deep eyes but a content smile resting upon his face. He tied his blue apron around his waist, knotting the thin blue fabric into a messy bow at the front of his waist, the tails hanging loosely at different lengths. He took in a breath of air, the scent of the several types of flowers filling his nose. He pushed his hair back out of his face, the sun bouncing off the reddish-brown locks making them glow. He began preparing bouquets and other arrangements for the customers, placing delicate petals gently into various vases and paper wrappings, some being tied up with ribbons of various patterns and textures, and some being carefully placed into Styrofoam covers to protect the glass from damage during transport.

Johnny walked around the shop, a plastic spray bottle in his hand as he sprayed down the plants smiling at the small droplets that lingered on top of the soft petals. He heard the bell of the front door chime indicating that someone had entered the shop.

"I'm sorry but we don't open until 9." Johnny's voice was gentle and kind as he turned to face the person he had spoken to. He turned only to see a short boy with a nervous looking expression. The boy turned to look johnny in the eyes, johnny paused. The boy's eyes sparkled in the sunlight. Small, bright speckles of white and gold littered the boy's dark, mesmerizing eyes. His eyes were big and innocent looking, almost as if this male was nothing but a young child who had wandered off from his parents, the intrigue, the curiosity, the doubt, it was all there within his eyes.

"I'm sorry sir, I'm not a customer... I was supposed to start working here today, but I got a bit lost on the way here." The boy reached up to scratch the back of his neck, a nervous chuckle coming from his thin lips. Johnny walked towards the smaller, a friendly smile curling on his lips.

"oh, don't worry about it, you aren't that late, besides." Johnny bent down changing his voice to a whisper. "our boss isn't even here yet." Johnny winked playfully at the nervous boy before him. The shorter smiled nodding at johnny with that same glint in his eyes.

"alright newbie, so what's your name?" johnny said nudging him with his elbow as he led him behind the counter.

"Mark..." the boy was quiet johnny noted.

"well it's great to meet you Mark! My name's johnny." Johnny welcomed him shaking his small hand with a grin.

Mark looked around the shop admiring the atmosphere. He took in the colors of the flowers, the scents filling the room. He smiled to himself before turning back around to face johnny, an unsure look on his face that was quickly noticed by the taller.

"hey man, don't be nervous, it's a piece of cake." Johnny reassured tossing a blue apron into mark's arms. Mark caught the cloth unfolding it gently. He clipped the straps over his shoulder's, noticing they were slightly too loose on him. He fiddled with the clasp, sticking his tongue out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. His wide eyes glimmering once again in the sunlight. Once mark finished adjusting his straps, his tied the fabric around his thin waist, tying a neat, symmetrical bow at the middle of his lower back. He stepped forward slightly, his foot catching on the end of the apron as it was a tad bit long on him. He stumbled forwards only to be caught by johnny. He looked up into johnny's brown eyes for a minute before standing himself back up.

"you okay?" johnny asked simply.

Mark nodded hiding his face in embarrassment. "yeah, yeah, I'm good, sorry." Mark said awkwardly, his cheeks flushing a deep rose color.