The bright sun hit my face as I walked through the door. Even though for a moment I was blinded by the light I couldn't help but feel soothed by it. The cold winter was finally over.

I agreed to meet up with Jules to work on our assignment together. Since spring was beginning it was the perfect time to record some freshly blooming flowers in town. At least that's what Jules thought.

We met up in the town centre after school. Jules was still wearing their old poncho, but that time their hair was tied into a half ponytail making less hair fall in their face. It was warm enough that day for me to finally only wear by jacket without Philip's hoodie. Although I kind of felt stupid for judging Jules on their clothes before. Even though it wasn't my style at least that day they were all cleaned up, unlike me. I still wore the same old dirty jeans, since it was the only ones I owned.

Immediately as I walked up to Jules they started talking: "Ready? It should take 20 minutes for us to get to the town border-"

"Have you been to the local cafe yet?", I wondered while looking around.

They didn't answer me at first, but after a moment their mouth finally opened: "Uh, no?"

I waved at them to followed me. Who the hell liked to work while hungry? Not me. We went to the cafe and ordered some food before making our way to the town border, of course on the way I stopped to talk to some people I recognised and oh, I also couldn't help myself but sometimes take some short breaks. The more and more I stalled the more Jules got annoyed at my antics.

Hours later we made it to the outskirts of town, we had to walk through the forest to get to the empty fields. Looking out it looked… weird. From the little conversations I had with Lyana she told me that spring the fields were usually filled with flowers but now… they were almost empty besides some tiny flowers and tall grass.

I looked at Jules nervously taking notes. Yeah, they thought it was weird too.

Thinking there may have been something hiding in the tall grass I started slowly walking through it. The fresh wind suddenly waved through the fields, sending cold chills down my spine. Seeing Jules just standing there next to me I couldn't help but notice something shift in them when we were all alone surrounded by only nature. I didn't know why but it felt like they… belonged.

Seeing nothing else in the grass it became clear that no flowers were even beginning to bloom there. "Well, no flowers, no need for recording.", I said, "I think we worked enough for today."

As I was about to turn around and leave Jules tapped me on the shoulder with the pen they borrowed from me. I turned around and saw their unconvinced look. 

They stared directly at me. "You bought yourself a croissant, waffles, a coffee and we spend most of the time wondering around while you took pictures on your new phone."

I shrugged. "You're psychic you should have known I would do this."

Just as we were already beginning to walk away Jules still wouldn't let it go. "You weren't that hungry and energetic yesterday."

"Well, today is not yesterday.", I said.

When we entered the forest again Jules picked up their pace and started walking backwards in front of me. They pointed the pen at me like it would stop me from walking, it did not.

"Okay, we may be hot but we aren't that hot. We need to actually work to get a good grade.", they explained with a smile.

I thought for a moment. They had a point. Nathalie may have had a soft spot for me but there was no way she would leave me off the hook for not finishing an assignment. But stalling to do it was probably way more fun than doing it.

I shrugged again and suggested: "I got a few really hot friends we can convince her with."

Jules gave me an unimpressed look. Okay, they were not a fan of that plan. Either because they didn't believe I had hot friends or because it was a stupid plan. Probably both.

My mind started to wonder to other possibilities that were less boring than doing the assignment, which lead me back to the empty fields. "Or we can tell her we want to report on the missing flowers. The locals will definitely want to jap about it and it's definitely more interesting than spring decorations."

Jules look at me for a moment. They didn't say anything just looked. Almost like they were either figuring out a way to deny my great idea again or they were actually contemplating doing it.

Their response told me which one it was.

"Spring is a little late this year, so what? That doesn't mean we have to interrogate the whole town over it.", they explained.

Just as I was about to push back Jules suddenly stumbled over something. I quickly managed to grab onto their poncho and preventing them from falling. When I pulled them in and back onto their feet I took a step back.

"Is that interview worthy?", I asked while looking at the thing that caused them to stumble.

It was a dead bush. No, not just a dead bush. A whole area of dead plants. The grass was so dry if you stepped on it it would crack under your feet. The area couldn't be bigger than a few meters, but it still look pretty ominous. The most interesting part were the flowers, they weren't just dead, they were black. Like their life was sucked right out of them.

"Probably a fungus.", Jules mumbled.

"Fungus, really?"

We stared at each other for a moment. Just as I thought I won the argument they added: "You know, Clubroot, Honey fungus, Verticillium Wilt and even white mold."

I stared at them, then blinked.

"How do you know so much about funguses?", I chuckled in surprise.

They shrugged: "My parents are gardeners."

I looked back at the decaying plants. Yeah, I wasn't going to argue with a gardener kid on what exactly caused that, but it still didn't explain the sudden empty fields.

We looked at each other again. Jules seemed to realise what I was thinking. I couldn't help but smile when I saw them shaking their head in disbelief. Yeah, I wasn't letting this go.

"Hello Mr James, we're here to ask you a few questions about the local flowers.", I smiled.

He looked at me, then at Jules holding their notebook. We probably looked like wannabe detectives or something. My fake smile still stayed on my face as he scratched his beard while probably thinking about if he wanted to waste his time with us or not.

He sighed: "What questions?"

Jules immediately perked up: "Have you noticed any changes in the recent flower growth this season?"

Although Jules didn't really want to be there I had to give it to them, they were really good at asking clear questions.

Mr Smith leaned on his doorway as he thought for a moment looking out into the street as if he remembered a distant memory.

"I always put up a freshly picked Bouquet of Daffodils on our dinning table, but this year they're a little late.", he explained.

"I made floral wreaths for my nan, but there aren't enough Primroses yet.", Mrs Jones squeaked.

"Hanging flower baskets of mostly forget-me-nots.", Mrs Jones smiled.

"Flower Garlands.", Mr James blankly stated.

"A whole floral chandelier!", Miss Emily gleed.

"Huh, I guess now that you mention it there were usually a ton of Snowdrops in my garden at this time of year…", Mr Francis scratched his chin.

After all the interviews one thing was clear; for the first time spring was running late. Wouldn't seem like that weird of a thing but when you fight against vampires you kind of throw logic out the window and start assuming the worst.

Maybe it was nothing, but what if it was something? It's been a while since I got to solve a mystery-

I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts. "Fifi, do you realise we just finished our assignment?"

"Huh?"

They smiled: "I can write it all up and we can hand it in next week."

"Oh, great. Thanks.", I mumbled, still a bit lost in my thoughts.

They probably noticed it, or sensed it with their psychic voodoo, since they quickly tried to snap me back into reality. "Have you heard of something called global warming? It usually messes with the seasons."

"But that suddenly?", I questioned.

They sighed while giving me my pen back. "…You really need to read up more if you want to pass environmental studies.", they mumbled, "I'm going home now. See ya."

For a moment I thought about many running after them and or at least following them to see where they lived or something, but then just as I turned to the middle of the town square I noticed a bike I recognised. It was Rudoslav's new bike. Just as I walked a few steps and looked passed the crowd I saw Rudoslav dragging it along while eating something, alone.

Whenever he was with Philip he found a way to sneak away from talking to me… but this time he was alone. Prefect time for me to try and get on his good side.

"Rudoslav! Hi!", I smiled as wide as I possibly could.

He turned his head towards me. I immediately began walking to him as he scratched his temple, making it clear he wasn't too pleased about seeing me. Nevertheless he took his bike and walked up to me.

"Oh, hey.", his voice broke a little.

There it was. The awkward silence. Pretty similar to the one I had with Lola, just more… resentful. By the way he looked at me I could tell he felt annoyed at me just breathing near him. There was no way I could make small talk with him like I intended.

"Did someone finally rip Philip away from you?", I joked. Desperately trying to ease the tension that was between us.

He blinked and then blinked again.

"He told me he was with you."