When it was time for them to say farewell to the old lady, Vanessa produced a large sum from her jeans’ pocket that Lauren was unaware of, which the old lady declined to take before the work had already been done.

Vanessa told the woman about the venue and all the little details while Lauren held on tightly to the two flowers.

“Take care now, dear.” The old lady waved as Vanessa walked out of the shop with a single rose and forget-me-not in hand, which was free of cost and gifted to her by the old woman.

“Um, if you don’t mind me asking. Then can you please tell me what do these flowers mean?” Lauren asked when she saw that Vanessa was in the car and still dazed from her excited talk with the flower lady.

The old woman smirked which looked almost like a smile as her cheeks skin was hanging slightly. “You should know better since these two can easily explain your state in two words.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Lauren spoke firmly as she held her ground with a frown on her face.

The old woman gave the blonde woman a smile now, as she began, “A hydrangea symbolizes heartfelt emotions and also expresses gratitude for being understood,” The smile on the woman’s face stayed as she saw the blonde’s frown deepen.

“Ah, and the Gardenia represents secret love.”

Lauren’s eyes were unable to open more than they were now open as she stared at the old woman with a scared look. “Don’t worry, dear. Some people need flowers to convey their feelings and that is why, the Hydrangea is just for you and your secret lover.”

The wink sent her way, made Lauren smile slightly as she looked down at the two flowers she held in the palm of her hand. “Thank you.”

“No need, dear. I’m just an old lady that’s obsessed with flowers and feelings.”

.....

The silence in the car was back to being awkward as the two women sat silently, not uttering a single word to one another.

“So, what do these flowers mean?” Vanessa broke the heavy silence as she glanced down at the two flowers that were – now – in Lauren’s lap.

“Uh, they just mean heartfelt emotions.” Lauren half-lied as she nervously chuckled. Vanessa nodded before she glanced at Lauren.

“Then do they represent your feelings for Scarlet?”

Lauren was going to say yes but then she was reminded of who she was talking to and she quickly shook her head. “N-no. They don’t.”

The sudden jerk of the car stopping, scared Lauren more than she was when Scarlet had told her nicely to fuck off.

“Don’t play games with me.” Vanessa’s voice could be identified as a killer’s as she turned herself completely towards the blonde – scared – woman.

“I don’t understand w-what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t like you Lauren.” The blonde was frightened of Vanessa’s behavior as she sat rooted to her seat when all the instructions of her brain was to open the car door and run away from the older woman.

“W-why?” Lauren managed to ask as she looked into Vanessa’s eyes that were blazing. “Because I can see that you’re trying to seduce Scarlet.”

Lauren’s mouth flew open as she stared at Vanessa in disbelief. Yes, Lauren wanted to seduce Scarlet but she wasn’t doing it. Not that she was aware of, anyway.

“What? I’m not trying to seduce anyone.”

“Oh yeah, then why do you two cuddle and steal glances of each other when no one’s watching?” Vanessa’s eyebrows moved up and down and she crossed her arms over her chest.

“What? We don’t do that.” Even Vanessa could tell the lie from Lauren’s face, as the blonde nervously waved her hand dismissively while chuckling. “You and Kevin do that.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes before she suddenly turned serious, “I know that Scarlet used to have crushes on girls but she outgrew that phase. But, now with you, I don’t want her to go through that phase again.”

Lauren wanted to do nothing more than to roll her yes before screaming in Vanessa’s face how wrong she was and how liking girls in a romantic way is never a phase but a sexuality and, there’s a difference between the two.

“I don’t know what you’re saying, but don’t you think that she’s old enough to live her own life her own way.” Lauren tried to keep her voice as neutral as possible but the venom just seeped through.

“I’m her older sister. So, to see, if her decisions are good enough for her, will always be my responsibility.”

This time Lauren did roll her eyes as she stared at Vanessa, “It’s her life!”

“I don’t think you clearly understand how things in our family go, but the older people are always responsible for the younger ones and Scarlet, she’s my sister. My younger sister that I want to protect.”

“From what?”

“From you!” Lauren backed up as she stared in Vanessa’s eyes as they blazed with fury. “From being sick again!”

“Please, take me home.” Lauren crossed her arms as she leaned back in her seat with a frown gracing her lips. “It isn’t your home.” And with that Vanessa started the car again, leaving Lauren with dark thoughts that weren’t helping her current situations.

……………………………….

“What’s crawled up her ass and died?” Blake asked Lauren, who wasn’t in the best mood either. “I don’t know, go ask her yourself.”

“Woah, harsh.” Lauren simply rolled her eyes and went upstairs as well with her flowers, where the other woman had gone off to as well.

The moment the two had entered the house, after Blake had opened the door, they only glared at each other. Vanessa, who was – as she said – tired, went up to her room to rest, while Lauren stayed only for a minute and in that minute, Blake managed to drive her away to the guest room as well.

Entering the room, Lauren noticed many things, like how the window was open and how the only person in the room was a sad looking Scarlet, and the empty glass bottles sat by her feet as she looked out of the window sitting on its pane.

Lauren wanted to leave without getting noticed but she couldn’t do so when Scarlet brought all of her attention to the blonde.

“I’m sorry. I’ll just leave.” Lauren muttered quietly as she tried to not look into Scarlet’s eyes because she knew that she would just break down if she looked into those eyes now. Her head was already filled with haunting thoughts of how she didn’t belong here.

When she heard nothing back, she turned around and was about to walk out of the door again when she felt her hand being pulled back. “No, stay.”

And Lauren did, without looking back, that is.

The silence was deafening as Lauren shifted her feet while her hand was still held by Scarlet’s, while the other woman just stood staring at the ground.

“I’m sorry, I’m such a bitch.” Scarlet spoke in a whisper as the silence surrounded them. “No, you’re not.”

“I am.” Scarlet spoke firmly as she gripped Lauren’s hand a bit tightly.

Lauren only winced whilst shaking her head frantically. “You’re not.”

“Why don’t you look at me and say that, then?”

Scarlet’s voice was low and ashamed as her hand began to shake before it dropped from Lauren’s, but the blonde held it back as she turned around and looked up into the brown-haired woman’s eyes.

“You’re not.”

Scarlet’s eyes watered as she dropped her head onto Lauren’s shoulder, “You’re just saying that. I know, I hurt you.”

“Yes, you hurt me but I hurt you too.” Lauren pointed out as she brought her hand up to Scarlet’s hair before she began to stroke her there. “I’m sorry for that.”

“You shouldn’t be. I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“Lauren,” Scarlet groaned as she brought her head up to look at her in her green eyes, “I am sorry.”

“Shut up.” Lauren rolled her eyes before pushing her back. “You’re still mad at me.” Scarlet’s face turned sad again as she stared at the blonde.

“No, no. I was only joking.” Lauren embraced the older woman as she nuzzled into her shoulder while Scarlet sighed heavily.

As if remembering the flowers in her hands now, Lauren excitedly gave the Hydrangea to Scarlet. “Here, this is for you.”

“I thought about how to give it to you and all I could think of was to place it on your pillow but you were already here.” Lauren rambled animatedly before taking a deep breath, making Scarlet chuckle at her.

“Oh, a beautiful flower.” Scarlet studied the blue colored flower.

“Ask me what it means.” Lauren giggled when Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “What does it mean?”

“I won’t tell you.” Lauren laughed in Scarlet’s face before bringing her index finger to her lips, “It’s a secret.”

“Then why’d you make me ask you?” Scarlet groaned as she rolled her eyes. “Because.”

“Yes, because?” Scarlet groaned once again in annoyance, “Because this flower represents my feelings.”

“And what are they?” Raising a single eyebrow, Scarlet crossed her arms while holding on to the flower that Lauren had just handed her.

“How about this?” Lauren spoke as a mischievous smirk played on her lips, “I’ll tell you what it means if you kiss me.”

Scarlet was more than okay with kissing the blonde as she pulled the woman closer to her by her waist before planting her lips onto the blonde’s.

“It represents my heartfelt emotions.” It was a whisper against her lips as Lauren closed her eyes to feel the moment, instead of just seeing it.

“And they are?” An involuntary eyebrow rose as Scarlet stared at the younger woman in front of her.

“You already know.”

“I do, but you say it so sweetly.” Lauren’s lips curved as an involuntary smile came on to her face, while her dark thoughts faded away from her mind.

“I like you.” Scarlet smirked when Lauren opened her eyes to look into her own. “Those are not your heartfelt emotions for me.”

Lauren frowned as she stepped backwards to stare at Scarlet with confusion, “Yes, they are.”

“No, you feel something much deeper for me than that.” The way Lauren’s face turned dark red made it obvious that it was the truth.

“I-I…” But before Lauren could stutter her way out of the current holds of Scarlet, she found herself being embraced in a hug, as Scarlet kissed under her ear. “No matter, you can say it when you’re ready.”

“The same way I’ll say it when I’m ready.” Lauren knew that Scarlet’s words were truthful since she could feel the wildly beating heart of the older woman against her own, which was beating in the same way. Fast and wild.

Both, with a flower each in one hand, embraced each other for a good amount of time. Just wanting to feel each other’s hearts and body warmth, after staying away from each other for more than 16 hours.

One can’t stay away from someone they love for too long.