Charly dropped Hal off at Fleurs de Challoner, after promising to pick him up in one and a half hour's time for the day's showdown. With a ching the door opened and the smell of a hundred different species of flowers bombarded Hal's nostrils as he stepped into his favorite flower shop in the neighborhood. He worked there after school most of the days, when he wasn't working alongside his mother at their local café, Caffeinated. 

Jean Challoner's smiling face greeted him. "Ah, 'Al. Maybe we will 'ave some customers aferall," he said with his thick French accent.

Hal smiled sweetly at him. "Bonjour, Jean."

He beamed at Hal as he walked over to the apron hanger to take one. "You're accent is improving."

"Merci," Hal chimed as he tied the last knot of his apron. He placed his phone on his counter.

"'Ow was your day?" He asked, his eyes not leaving Hal's as he took his place behind his counter. Hal shrugged in reply. Jean's eyes lit up. "Ah, I see. Grumpy today, are we?" He stepped outside his place at the cash register and bent down to pick a flower from a basket of assorted flowers, and came back up with a lovely blue hydrangea. He walked over to Hal and placed it affectionately in his hair, making him flush. Hal honestly hasn't yet figured out if Jean was flirtatious by nature or if he was just like that around him. And he didn't know which of those two he'd like it to be.

"There," Jean said, his grey eyes twinkling. "C'est parfait."

There was the familiar ching at the door and Hal and Jean both turned their heads toward the door to see a seventeen year old Indian boy enter and place a twenty dollar bill next to the cash register. Jean's face fell at the sight of the boy. "Oh. It's just you."

The Indian boy smirked, his dark eyes finding Hal's immediately. "It's just me," he said. Then nodding to the twenty dollar bill, he said, "I want whatever this can get me." He locked eyes with Jean. "Jean, please?"

Jean stepped away, frowning, from Hal who was blushing even deeper, feeling like they were caught. "Oui, of course," Jean said curtly.

"Abin," Hal hissed, trying to get his color back to normal, "I thought we were meeting at the park during the showdown. Later."

Abin shrugged, walking straight to Hal's counter, his eyes dead straight on Hal and unwavering. "So, I dropped in a little early. Does it bother you?"

"But-" Hal started, but decided to let it drop, blinking uncomfortably. "Okay, it's alright..."

Jean rolled his eyes. "Do you need a little privacy?"

Hal was quickly reduced to a spluttering mess. He took a step back, widening his distance from Abin, who was practically leaning forward towards him on the counter. He was sure his face was sweltering. "Jean, shut up," Hal squeaked.

Jean knew how flustered they both can make Hal, and yet they both did everything they could to see him squirm. Abin more than Jean. And it was really unfair when they knew he was attracted to boys and they apparently weren't. At least Abin wasn't, Hal wasn't sure about Jean, who never denied it nor confirm it.

Jean tut-tutted, handing Abin a bouquet of assorted flowers. "I'm sorry, Joyson," he told Abin, placing one hand on Hal's counter, "but it seems you are making my employee 'ighly uncomfortable. So, wiz all due respect, I'd like you to get ze 'ell out of my store with what you came for."

Abin regarded Jean for a second and turned to face Hal. "Hal, please step out of your counter," Abin said calmly.

Hal blinked at him. "Huh?"

"I said, get out of your counter."

"I heard you the first time," Hal mumbled, as he did what he was told and stood in front of the two boys uncertainly. To his surprise, Abin grabbed his wrist and started pulling him towards the door. "Abin, what-?"

Jean rushed to stop the boy. "Abin, stop! What are you doing?"

Abin halted in his tracks, forcing Hal to slam into him, who took a small step to steady himself. Abin raised his eyebrows in an unimpressed manner. "I thought you told me to leave with what I came for."

Jean closed his eyes and raised his head to the heavens, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Mon Dieu!" He sighed. He opened one eye and fixed Hal with a frown. "God, you boy, just leave already." He held his hand out.

Hal stared at it. "You want me to leave? Just like that? With him?" He said, while removing his apron with one hand, all the while aware of Abin's fingers wrapped around his wrist, sending shoots of electricity up his arm. He lowered his voice, "he might be kidnapping me and you are going to just let it happen?"

Jean nodded understandingly, shoving a bouquet of blue star flowers and rose periwinkles into Abin’s hand. "I am aware of the dangers I am putting you in, but I believe if he wanted to kidnap you, he'd already have." Abin shrugged, agreeing. Jean grabbed the apron Hal held out to him reluctantly. "But see, right now, I have a customer walking up to this door at this moment and she requires my immediate attention."

Abin smiled coyly and tugged at Hal's hand. Hal took a desperate look at Jean. "You need me. Is this all I mean to you?"

"Au revoir!"

Abin opened the door as a smiling woman entered the shop. "You're one staff short!" Hal called back. As much as he was thrilled at the prospect of spending time with Abin, after the day's events, maybe he didn't want to. And Abin wouldn't know what happened and would instead just go around making him uncomfortable.

"I'll manage," Jean called back right before Abin pulled Hal outside and closed the door.

Hal yanked his wrist away and placed his hands on his hips, swiveling around to glare at Abin. "You just made me lose the day's pay."

Abin smirked, stuffing his hands into his jeans pocket, gazing at the restaurant in front of them, his eyes lightly dazed. "He'll pay it to you on some excuse." 

Abin held out the bouquet to Hal, who stared at it for a moment before slowly accepting it. He brought it up to his face and took a small breath in, a smile forcing into his lips. He glanced up.

That was Abin Joyson, who knew just about everything about Hal. The boy Hal knew nothing about despite hanging out for the last three years ever since they met in the park.

Hal scouted for a place to hide in, somewhere where her Nancy Drew-worthy friend who was playing the role of seeking wouldn't find him. Trees. Trees everywhere. Behind them, Cat will easily find her. Too easy.

"Ten. Nine. Eight-"

Hal panicked, and without giving it much further thought, dived behind the nearest clump of bushes. 

"Ready or not, here I come!" Cat yelled out.

Hal grinned to himself. Lucky for him, he was something of a plant expert. Or so to speak. He willed the bushes to grow thicker at the speed of a snail so that it wouldn't alarm anybody. He was still grinning to himself when he spotted a boy, around his age, lying still next to him. 

Hal gasped in surprise. The boy blinked once, his eyes which were focused on the sky moved lazily to Hal. Then they lazily returned to watching the sky.

Hal frowned. "Sorry about taking your bush."

The boy simply shrugged. His features, the brown eyes, and the color of his skin reminded him of himself. A person with Indian roots. 

"I'm Hal," he blurted out, surprising himself. It wasn't that he was a shy kid, but he mostly kept to himself, the weight of the big secret he held always weighing on him, afraid he might let it slip by mistake.

The boy's eyes returned to him, regarding him indifferently. "Abin."

"Are you from around here?" Hal asked, wondering what had gotten into him. Trying to strike up a conversation with a random boy? Oh, will Cat be proud.

The boy-Abin-shook his head. "Not really. The say I'm from India."

"They?"

"They. The people who take care of me."

Hal nodded, unsatisfied with his answer. "I'm part Indian, too."

Abin eyed him warily. "Yeah, okay."

Hal couldn't help himself. "Do you live nearby?"

"Are you always this nosy?"

Hal felt himself going red. "I didn't mean to pry." What else did you mean then, weirdo? He thought, trying to get himself to shut up.

The boy sighed deeply. "I'm Abin, from nowhere around here. Don't ask me about my parents, I never knew them. I'm thirteen," he paused, looking back at the sky. "And I can't tell you anymore."

"Oh," Hal mumbled, "I'm twelve."

Abin rolled his eyes. Hal mentally rammed his head into a wall. Why can't he just shut up?

"Do you live around here?" The boy asked suddenly.

"Huh? I mean-" Hal cleared her throat. "Yeah. Usually. Sort of?" Is he doing something wrong by giving him information about himself? Technically he's a stranger. But he's a kid. And two seconds ago, Hal was the one who was prying.

Abin pursed his lips, his eyebrows furrowed. "Haven't seen you around here before."

"Maybe you would if you get out of your bush," Hal mumbled. "Why can't you tell me anymore?" Oh, great. There he goes again.

Abin propped himself up with his elbow. "I can't talk to strangers. Besides, I haven't asked anything about you, have I? And if you haven't noticed, I'm not eager to talk."

Hal turned his head to the direction where he heard Cat scream in delight. "Delta, you're next." Then after a groan, she heard, "help me find Hal." He whipped his head back to the boy, who wasn't there anymore.

He had simply vanished.

Hal could tell at once that Abin wasn't in a good mood. He didn't come searching for him because he just wanted to say hi, Abin came because he needed him. Hal couldn't help but feel a little pride in that.

Abin stared at the restaurant without actually looking at it. "Do you want something to eat?" Hal asked. Abin shook his head mutely. "Do you want to walk?"

Abin turned his face towards him, his dark brown eyes soft, grateful. He nodded. "That'll be nice." Without hesitation, he entwined his hands and fingers with Hal's, waiting for him to lead the way.

Hal struggled to hide his blissful smile for his sake. He whipped out his phone and typed a quick message to Charly: Don't bother picking me up.

He smiled warmly at Abin once he stuffed his phone in her jeans pocket. "Let's go."

There were already children and parents milling around, watching their toddlers play and mix with other kids. The carnival area was still starting up, but people were already huddled together there, waiting around. Whenever the showdown took place, the carnival goes up, attracting the maximum amount of people. 

Students participating in the Fashion Showdown for the day were busy putting up their work, trying to interest the present parents in their work, walk them through it, tell them to vote for it. Ten students with the highest votes will get internships at different fashion brands, while the one with the highest vote can move onto internationals. During the fashion show later, judges and agents from different brands will be there to witness it, picking out students they deem are what the brands are looking for. It's Cat's hope to either get the highest vote, or get the golden ticket by getting chosen by a brand to represent her.

"So, tell me," Abin started, swinging their arms as they walked around the park, their eyes wandering around the people.

"Tell you what?" Hal hummed.

"Stuff."

Hal thought for a second before replying. "Well, today Cat's there for the showdown against Ruby for Evemore. I hope she wins. Tomorrow, there's Delta for Physics and Lou for Biology, you know, for the science one. Lou's project is amazing, except I get nothing, what with all his big words. I get what Delta's saying but--I seriously have nothing for you, Abin." Hal ended, laughing.

Abin smiled, sighing through his nose. "What about the twins' talent show next Friday?"

"Oh," Hal frowned, "I forgot. I can't believe you remembered."

"Well, its easy to remember other's stuff when you have nothing to remember for your own."

Hal's frown deepened at his words. He figured Abin wasn't completely aware of what he was saying. He could tell, because Abin never revealed much about his personal life. And yet, Hal still trusted Abin to jump in front of a car to save him.

They walked in silence for the next few minutes, lost in their own thoughts. Hal soaked up every second of their closeness. He had strong feelings for him, he just didn't know if it was requited. Abin's always been so touchy feely so Hal could never be sure. And the fact that Hal barely knew anything about him frightened him sometimes, even though he didn't know why exactly. But from their conversations, he had an inkling of an idea.