Kleo knocked on the door with the nameplate, “Dr. Sean Lake,” and waited for a response before heading inside. A man with short, blonde hair was sat behind his computer, typing away. A pair of glasses perched on his nose, the lenses small as they rested against his cheeks. The man looked up with a smile when he saw him and he stood to greet him.

“There’s the birthday boy,” he walked around the desk to hug Kleo. He patted his shoulder as he took a step back. “So, how’s it going? Settling in well I hope? Do you need anything? Do you have any plans for today?” Sean launched each question, one after the other without a break and Kleo chuckled.

“I’m fine, yeah I am, no I don’t, and sort of? I’m hanging with Alexei later,” he answered, leaning against one of the chairs that sat before Sean’s desk.

“That’s good to hear,” Sean nodded. “You be sure to let me know if you come to need anything, alright? I’m just a phone call away, no matter what it is, even if its just a leaky faucet or something. On second thought, do contact me if that happens because those pipes are new. I’d be pretty darn concerned if something was wrong with them already.”

Kleo couldn’t help but smile and nod. Sean was a close friend of his mom’s and has been the closest thing to a dad for Kleo, especially for the past four years. He could be a bit quirky and spoke as if he was racing against a clock but Kleo appreciated him greatly. “I promise, if a faucet starts leaking even the smallest bit, you’ll be the first to know,” Kleo assured him.

“Good,” Sean said, leaning back against the front of his desk. The two of them spoke a bit about how Kleo’s classes were going and how things were at the Apothecary. “You’re not working today, are you?”

Kleo shook his head, “No, I have the next few days off.” He explained. “Oh, speaking of the place and all that, it looks like Alexei is going to be moving in soon. He’ll probably pick up a few shifts too to help out.”

“Yeah?” Sean raised an eyebrow and Kleo shrugged.

“Yeah, he hates the dorms.”

“Hmm,” Sean nodded, “He’s a responsible kid, plus, I’m sure he’ll keep you in check with your biology assignments.”

“I know how to do my assignments.”

“Yeah? Do you know how to stay awake in class though?”

Kleo nearly cursed to himself. Words sure do travel fast amongst faculty, huh? “Yeah… You heard about that?” Kleo asked, a bit embarrassed.

“Are you sleeping okay?” Sean asked with a look that screamed concerned dad and Kleo knew he wouldn’t be getting out of talking about it.

“I’ve just been having this nightmare,” Kleo explained, “but overall, I’m okay. I’m sure it’s just sleeping in a new place and whatnot.” 

Sean didn’t look too convinced but if he didn’t believe him, he didn’t say anything about it. “Alright, just, you be sure to let me know if things aren’t ok?”

“I promise,” Kleo assured and Sean seemed to ease up a bit.

“Oh, right! I almost forgot about your birthday gift,” Sean said, lifting himself from his spot and moving back behind his desk to grab a gift bag. “I was rummaging through some old stuff and came across it. I thought you’d appreciate it,” he explained as he handed it to Kleo.

Curious, Kleo carefully dug through the tissue paper to find a framed image of a younger him and his mom. A lump formed in his throat as he looked the image over. He must have been around 7 or 8 years old if he could remember correctly. It was a picture of the two of them tending to some of the flowers in the Apothecary. His mom loved teaching him about all the flowers, their meanings, and how to care for them. He still remembered a lot of it even now. She loved the Apothecary. It was somehow part flower shop, part book store, a combination of her two favorite things. Now, those elements were still there, but it’s become basically a coffee shop for local college students to study and relax.

Kleo smiled a somewhat sad smile as he thought about her. Part of him hoped she’d be happy about how her shop has changed and just, of him in general.

“You know,” Sean began, “she’d be proud of the man you’ve grown to be.” 

Kleo swallowed the lump in his throat. Things were getting a bit too emotional for him at that moment and the last thing he wanted to do was cry in Sean’s office. Instead, he took a breath to compose himself and smiled. “Thank you, Sean. I do appreciate it.”

Sean gave him another pat on the back with a loving smile, “Anytime.”

***

Kleo let Sean’s office door closed behind him and he stood there for a moment, looking at the framed photograph again. To say that Kleo missed his mother would be an understatement. It was just the two of them for so long and his mother was the world to him. She was his best friend and greatest support through whatever troubles life brought onto that of a child. 

He carefully stuffed the frame back into the gift bag before sticking his headphones into his ears. His music drowned out the world around him as he started the trek home. Kleo never thought too much about his future, if he were being honest. He knew he wanted to study literature and thought that becoming a professor would be the most logical step after that. Sean was one and he enjoyed it plenty. Hell, his literature classes were the only thing he held any genuine interest in, and keeping up with all of those readings was far from a problem for him. Kleo grew up surrounded by books and he had no qualms about reading chapters upon chapters each night for assignments. He knew he’d also be the one to eventually run the Apothecary. He liked where it was now, but still, it wasn’t like he had a lot of responsibility for it. He should probably take some business classes as an elective or something to get a better understanding for when that time would come. Maybe he could talk to an advisor to figure out an ideal option?

But past that, Kleo didn’t think too much about his future simply because it felt like he didn’t have to. His path was planned out and he would follow it. He liked his life this way, predictable and expected. The only sudden change he could deal with was the color of his hair. With that thought, he tugs at the ends of his fringe, the color looking more grey now that the color had faded and the length was getting a bit longer than his usual.

Maybe I can get Alexei to color it for me again…

He shot the boy a text as he walked through the glass doors of the Apothecary. It was just around noon and probably the busiest time of the day for the shop. The seats both outside and in were filled with students on the break between classes, either chatting it up with friends or working on some sort of assignments. Kleo excused himself through a group that was crowded near the front and gave a short wave to the girl behind the counter. Flora gave him a nod and a look that said, one second, before finishing up with her current customer. Kleo made his way behind the counter and leaned against it as he waited. He looked Flora over for a second, her curly dark hair pinned up and back into a long ponytail.

“How’s it going?” She asked and turned to face him once the customer was gone. Kleo shrugged and looked around at the storefront. It was packed in here, maybe more than usual.

“S’fine,” he said before looking back at her. “Is it busier than usual or is it just me?”

Flora let out a breath, moving a stray strand of her bangs off of her shoulder.

“It’s busier. I think someone said the cafe on campus was closed or something?” She explained and he nodded. That made sense.

“Are you fine dealing with this on your own? I don’t have much homework and I don’t have any plans until Alexei comes over later so I could help out a bit,” he offered. Flora looked a bit tired and in need of a few extra hands. 

“Isn’t it your birthday? I figured work would be the last thing you’d want to do,” she asked and he shrugged again.

“As I said, I don’t have any plans until later,” He pushed himself off of the counter and adjusted his backpack strap. “But I mean, if you don’t want the help, I can just go upstairs.” He could tell by the look on her face that she was seriously considering his offer. It didn’t take long before she caved.

“Alright, yes, if you’re sure,” she said with a sigh. “But just until this rush is over. I feel bad for making you help on your day off.”

“It’s fine,” he smiled. “I’m gonna go put my stuff away and change but I’ll be right back down.” 

Flora nodded and waved him off as he quickly went upstairs. He dumped his bag near the coat rack and placed the gift bag on the kitchen bar so he could find a spot for the Frame later. He traded his jacket for a light cardigan and his work apron before heading back down.

***

The brunt of the rush lasted for maybe another few hours before everything became quiet enough for you to hear the music playing through the store’s stereo. Kleo folded his arms behind his head as he sat back on a stool.

“Easy peasy.”

“Yeah, thanks again for the help,” Flora said, taking a seat of her own as she rearranged her hair in her ponytail. “Hopefully whatever’s going on with the cafe on campus lightens up soon.”

Kleo hummed, “Yeah, but the business probably isn’t bad to have.” He said and she rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know much about finances or whatnot for a business, but I’m pretty sure the Apothecary makes enough.” 

“Still, it’s nice to have. Plus, more money could mean better pay for employees such as yourself.”

“I guess, if that’s even how that works,” Flora said and the doorbell chimed as someone walked in.

“Yo,” Alexei said with a wave and held up a plastic shopping bag. “Let’s get your hair colored so we can watch some movies.” Without another word, he turned and walked past the counter to go upstairs.

“Look’s like that’s my cue to go,” he said to Flora and she gave a single wave before turning to look at her phone.