Raven Thatcher    Carnation, white= sweet and lovely Alstroemeria= devotion

I hate flowers. Ok lie, I hate what they signify. Love, happiness, and thankfulness. I hate it all. Maybe because my life has been the opposite hate, sadness, and resentment. No family or friends, the one person I cared about dead. Yeah I hate flowers. Plus all the girls, eyelashes forcefully bashing together and high pitched giggle whispers like I can't hear them. I count to three to control my annoyance and then go to the back to get more daffodils and iris. I have always had this problem, the girls giggle and flirt at me while the guys glare pissed their girlfriends are flirting with me. It's not like I can say “hey don't worry I'm not interested in them I think your hotter.” 

I walk back into the shop from the back to see a couple standing by the cashier box. Great another thing for me to do. Max put me in charge of the whole shop saying Maudie said I could handle it, and then left me with instructions and a list of things to get done. I gritted my teeth and put up a smile on my face walking to the register. I had also been informed my Maudie when she stopped by to check on me if I didn't smile or speak nicely she would not pay me. Old hag. 

“Did you find everything you need today?” I ask the couple. The girl smiles “yes thank you.” And hands me a bouquet of alstroemeria and white carnations. I wring up her total. “Your total is five thirty seven.” The man hands me a ten. I hand him back the change and we locked eyes. I was pretty sure he had seen through my smile and kind words but he just looked away at the girl. “Let's go.” He puts his arm around the girl leading her to the door. “Have a good day I say.” The man just raises his hand, rude. I glance around the shop two girls stood next to the lilies while a man in a suit stood next to the counter looking at a list of flowers in stock but in the back. Finally he looked at me his eyes sharp and captivating if not for the darkness in them. His black hair neatly greased back and no wrinkles in his suit. He walk over to me. 

“I would like ten Nerium.” His voice was rough but quiet. Not what I was expecting. “The Nerium plant is quite toxic are you sure you would still like to buy it.” Max had informed me on some of the flowers that were more for experimental purposes then to be sold for bouquet, Nerium was one of them. “I am quite aware.” the man stated. I felt like he had just insulted me. I huffed and left the counter to grab them from the back. It took me about two minutes to find them. Although Maudie kept everything in alphabetical order some plants were kept in a different area so they were not mistaken, which I forgot about. I walked out with the Nerium wrapped in plastic so not to touch it. The man was still there tapping his fingers on the counter. He turned to me and took the flowers. “That will be twelve fifty.” I don't bother to smile, this man made me uneasy. The man gave me the exact amount and smirked. “I thought flower shop workers were always happy but you seem different. I'll have to keep an eye on you.” Then he turned around and headed for the door but stopped just before it. I had not noticed before but the other girls had left, we were alone. The man turned again “You should smile more with a face like that i'm sure you could get some more customers. Although you must be careful with a face like that you might draw the attention of some dangerous people.” Then he turned and walked out. With me fuming.

That son of a… How could he just say that with a smirk on his face I wanted to hit him so bad. Ding! The annoying bell that told when someone left or arrived rang. I looked up to see strawberry standing in front of the door. He was wiping his eyes his face flushed. “What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school.” I was confused. The boy looked at me and started to cry. Great now I scared him. I let a exasperated groan and walk around the counter to him. I hate when people cry I never know what to do. I stopped in front of him then reached behind him turning the open sign to closed then step back and look at him. “So… Are you going to tell me what happened.” He just looked at me tears falling down his face. My gut clenched, crap stop feeling pity. “Want to go home or do you just need a place to decompress?” The boy just shook his head still crying. I looked at the ceiling, why me. “Ok.... i'm going to go get Max give me a second.” I left him in the middle of the room and walked to the herb store. 

The store was right next to the flower shop and was connected through the back storage areas. I went through the side door through all the medicinal herbs and oils to the front of the shop. Max was helping a older women at the check out. I waited for him to be done before walking up to him. “Bye have a good day.” Max gave the women a award winning smile. “You too.” Then she turned and left the store. No one else was here which was to my luck. Max turned to me and jumped. “Jeez Raven are you trying to give me a heart attack.” I rolled my eyes. “Whats up?” Max asks turning his head to the side like a dog. “Strawberry… I mean Ansel is in the back and it crying. I can't get him to tell me what's wrong but I think he should go to Maudie's.” Max’s whole demeter completely changes he get serious and rushed past me to the back. I follow him he goes through the same door I had just came through and then goes to the front of the shop. 

When I get to the front Max is already to the boy. “Hey what's wrong? Do you feel sick?” I go and stand next to Max. strawberry boy shakes his head. “Then what's wrong. You are always positive, what's getting you down?” Max pries. Ansel glances at me. “Its nothing i'm sorry for bothering you.” Then he turns around and heads for the door. “Oh hell no.” I beat him to the door and stare right in his eyes. “You can't just come in here crying and then tell me that it's nothing and leave. That is not how it works.” Strawberry looks like he's about to cry again his eyes starting to turn red. “Stop crying. Your almost a adult.” Now he looks angry. Good at least I can deal with angry but crying not so much. “Leave me alone you obviously hate me so just go away.” Well shit I was not expecting that. I mean I know my kind of nature is cold and can come off as being hateful but its not what I intended. At least with him it wasn't. 

“No your wrong I don't hate you. Just because I don't go around with smiles and rainbows does not mean that I hate you. Actually I find you interesting.” Well that's not a lie it still baffles me how he gets himself into so much trouble he must have the worst luck in the world. I glance at him and am surprised to see his face flushed. Oh interesting. “I just want to go home.” Strawberry boy’s voice breaks and his eyes plead with mine. I look at Max as he gets out a pair of keys and tosses them to me I catch them in the air and give him a slight nod of thanks. Then unlock the front door and gently pull the boy with me. I walk to a blue Chevy corolla and unlock it with a click. I get in the driver seat while Strawberry gets in the passenger side. Once he is buckled I pull onto the road. One thing about small towns the traffic is not that bad and that's probably for the best considering my licence is fake. Don't get me wrong i'm not a bad driver but it's also kind of hard to get good at driving if you don't have a car. But that's not the point right now, keeping my eyes on the road I start to talk to Strawberry. 

“It was that bully again wasn't it.” He does not need to answer the tears start to come again which is enough of a answer. I grind my teeth damn those bastards can't they give this kid a break there's only so much someone can take. “What did they do this time.” He looks away from me like he's embarrassed but he answers. “They put signs on my locker saying I was gay along with some drawings.” I had a feeling that it was more than just some drawings and a sign saying he was gay. Geez the worst thing you can do is out someone when they aren't ready. I glance at Strawberry his cheeks still flushed, and he was not ready. 

At this point i'm driving on the gravel road and will probably be at Maudie's in a minute or two. The rest of the drive was silent except for a few sniffles from Strawberry boy. When I pulled out of the trees I noticed something was not right there was multiple cars parked in front of the house along with a ambulance. I felt the boy stiffen his crying ceased. “Mom.” He whispered. “Stop the car!” “What?” I was thoroughly confused. “Pull over right now!” The boy was panicking. “Ok, ok.” I normally hated people telling me what to do but for some reason if it was him it don't bother me. I pulled over behind the house. The boy shot out of the car sprinting to the house. I followed not to far behind. The door opens right before Strawberry can open it and the women, Lyria, rushes out to him. I only hear snippets as I walk up to them. “She's being hospitalized. Go to Maudie. Paperwork.” Strawberry looks more and more frantic the moment something comes out of the women's mouth. I put my hand on his shoulder. “Calm down. Let's go talk to Maudie before you start freaking out.” He looks like he's going to disagree but then just nods. I look at the women who gives me a nod of thanks before walking by climbing into police car waiting for her. The car then speeds off. We were alone. 

I noticed that the boy was trembling my heart kind of twinged seeing him that way. Wait fuck, stop feelings Maudie's right I will only hurt him. “Come on.” I open the back door and hold it for him as he walks in the house. I walk with him to Maudie's office and knock. Tap tap tap. “Come in.” Maudie's voice sounds from the other side of the door. The boy pushes the door open and walks into the room with me following behind him. The moment Maudie sees him she out of her chair and wrapping him in a hug. Then she pull back and looks at him with slight confusion. “What are you doing here I haven't called the school yet.” The boy just looks away and kind of stutters. “I… I don't-want to.” Ugg his lack of self confidence is so annoying sometimes. “He came to the flower shop earlier crying. Apparently those people that were bullying him did something again.” I say flatly. Maudie looks at me then to Strawberry. “Ansel... “ “I don't want to talk about it right now, ok! I promise i'll tell you later but right now I need to know about mom.” Ansel is almost frantic. Maudie takes a deep breath then motions to the chair in front of her desk. I let Ansel take it and stand beside it leaning on the arm of the chair. There is a moment of complete silence before Maudie speaks. 

"I noticed about a hour ago that Mira was acting different her breathing had become erratic and that had me worried. So I called up the doctor to ask what to do and he said to call the hospital so I did. The moment the paramedics saw her they told me she needed emergence treatment, that her body was shutting down.” Ansel let out a small whine. I looked over and saw that he had started to cry again. I stood up and grabbed the Kleenex box on Maudie's desk. Her eyes flicked to me but she said nothing. I tossed the box to the boy and then went back to leaning on the chair as Maudie continued. “Just before you came in I got a text from the doctor saying Mira was stable but she did need a breathing tube for now. He also said that you might want to start thinking who you would like for a legal guardian in case anything happens.” Ansel started to shake his head like he couldn't believe it but Maudie held up a hand for him to wait. “I know you will almost be eighteen in a couple months but you should still have a guardian even after that. I know you love your mother but you also must know that she is not going to last much longer she has been unresponsive for almost a year for unknown reasons. I want you to have a person you trust be your guardian after. I would be honored if you picked me but I also understand if you pick Lyria or Eric. I have contacted them both and they both have agreed to be your guardian if you will it.” Maudie slides forward some papers. “These are some papers telling what you might look for in a legal guardian I would like for you to look them over. I also want you to have someone picked by the end of this week all though sooner would be better.” Than she stood up and walked to Strawberry and gave him a hug. “I know this is hard and you don't want to make these decisions but they are important. I trust you and whatever decision you make but I also want you to know that everyone in this house loves you and supports you.” With that she pulls back I know she can see the look of annoyance on my face for her assuming I care for him but she ignores it. 

“I know you probably want to go visit her right away but I think you should wait till tomorrow. I'll let you not go to school for tomorrow so you can rest and go see her but don't think your off the hook for skipping today young man. I expect all the details later understand.” Strawberries head bobs up and down, in all honesty I think he is still in shock. “I'll take him to his room.” I tell Maudie who just nods then grab his arm and haul him upright. He just looks at me in a daze which makes me feel even more pity. God this kid is ruining me, I haven't felt feelings like this in a long time and it hella confusing but of course I don't say that and instead just lead him to his room.