Xirysa Says: It's André's birthday! So… Something nice and fluffy for him.
Trust in a Rose
She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me. She loves me not…
André Grandier sat behind the stables of the Jarjayes estate, watching the sun turn the sky a bloody red as it set. In his hand was the bud of a small white rose. The pale petals lay scattered around his feet like new snow. It was the eve of his twenty-first birthday.
Sighing, he tilted his head up and pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stop the headache that was threatening to pound his head to pieces. This was getting ridiculous. She was a noble. He was merely a commoner. So what if he had received the education of a noble? It was only because he was her constant companion. Nothing more.
But oh how he wished that were not the case!
So engrossed in his thoughts was he that he did not hear the sound of footsteps behind him until their owner spoke to him.
"I thought I would find you here, André."
André turned to face the person who had approached him. The suspicious expression on his face changed to one of happiness when he realized who it was that had come to see him.
"You know me too well, Oscar." He scooted over to make place for her on the grass beside him, hastily tucking the flower behind him. The movement did not go unnoticed by his companion, however, who narrowed her eyes and looked at him.
"What was that?"
He grinned sheepishly, knowing that he was caught. "Oh well… One of the maids gave this to me today. It was pretty before I… Erm… Before I…"
She completed the sentence for him. "Before you mutilated it?" Eying the petals on the ground, she chuckled. "I didn't know you had such a destructive streak in you, André. Oh, before I forget, here. I got this for you."
Oscar handed him a small box. He looked at her curiously before proceeding to open the gift. When he saw the contents of the box, he smiled.
It was a beautiful pocketknife, the handle of rich mahogany with gold filigree. André picked it up and flicked it open—the blade looked like burnished silver.
"Oh, Oscar… It's wonderful… Thank you so much…" He turned and hugged her, and was pleasantly surprised when she returned the gesture.
"Happy birthday, André." They broke their embrace and looked at each other for a while before she continued. "I had to get something good for you, didn't I? After all, you're my best friend, and I love you."
André felt his breath hitch in his throat when he heard her. Evidently, she did not realize the magnitude of her words, for she simply stared at the setting sun. But still… At least she cared enough to get me something.
He leaned back against the stable wall and watched the sunset with his best friend. It's a start. And who knows? Maybe I can trust a rose after all.
Xirysa Says: xD Sorry if you choked from the amount of sap I stuffed into that 'fic. Anyway… A little deviation from Apple, but… The dude deserves his own little drabble for his birthday. Anyway, the routine with feedback and critique applies here, and I really hope that you enjoy it!