Hello all! This is yet another brain child from me and the lovely JarJarBlinx1. Go check out her page too! Soon I'll be posting the first chapter of another one of our stories too.I wanted to get these two intro chapters posted to see if either interest you guys.
I don't want to waste my time editing all these chapters if they're not actually interesting to you all. So please show me your interest by jotting out a quick review. It doesn't have to be anything long. Even a "like it" "more" or "could've been better" are enough to show me that at least someone out there want it continued.
Hope you guys enjoy!
The latest hit in cheesy romantic songs played on the radio, filing the small shop with a catchy beat. The florist swayed in time with the music and hummed along as he worked. His workbench was littered with more flowers than most could even imagine. With Valentine's Day in only a few days, he knew they would fly off the shelves quickly though. Of course he wrapped up the classic red rose bouquets to put right up front; those always sold almost faster than he could make them. With those out of the way, he could finally set about working on his other creations.
Every once in a while a customer would come in and want something a little more atypical. A plain rose bouquet wasn't what they were looking for, and they were his favorite customers. Every flower has a meaning, and they can be used to convey so many emotions. Red roses were a lovely way to say "I love you," but not many people knew that the other colors were just as meaningful. Jack wrapped up one of his favorite bouquets, a bundle of roses in a variety of colors; red for love and longing, pink for admiration and joy, lavender for enchantment and love at first sight, and dark purple for fascination and adoration. So many colors and facets just like love itself.
The bell above the front door chimed. He called out a greeting, "I'll be right with you!"
"Take your time, Jack," a familiar voice called back. "I'll just meander around and look at these, uh...blue flowers."
Jack came out of the back room with a chuckle, wiping his hands on his apron. "You mean the delphiniums? I had no idea you were feeling so interested in something new today." He rifled through some assorted plants and pulled out a small gardenia flower. Jack carefully tucked the flower behind his favorite customer's ear.
"Delphi-" The man waved his hand in the air dismissively. "You know I don't have a good memory when it comes to this stuff. That's why you pick the flowers out and I buy them."
"Even though you typically go with your usually go-to rose bouquet. I don't think I've ever heard of a woman loving roses as much as your mother does," he teased.
"My mother can be very demanding." He smiled at Jack as he pulled out some cash. "She needs some assurance that I still care."
Jack wrapped up the usual bouquet and swapped it with the man for the cash. "Lucky for her she has such a caring son."
"I do whatever it takes to appease her." He pulled the flower from behind his ear and slipped it in with the roses. "Fantastic service, as always."
"I'll see you when those wilt and your mom demands more." Jack handed him the change.
"I'll see you on Friday, as usual. Save some of those roses for me." The man smiled and waved over his shoulder. "See you later, flower child!"
"See you-" Jack leaned over the counter, resting his chin on his palm with a sigh as the door closed. "Tall, dark, and handsome…"
"Staring at your favorite customer?" Jack's co-worker, a very upbeat girl, came over and couldn't resist teasing him. "Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome?"
"Shut it, Fairy. I don't tease you about your crushes." Jack stood up again with another sigh.
"Because none of my crushes look so damn fine." Fairy giggled and grabbed some violets, making a little bouquet. "You should totally give him your number."
"You jealous?" He took the tiny bouquet and bopped her over the head with it before handing it back to her. "Besides, things are way different in the world of the queer. You can't just give your number to a guy; most of the time they're straight."
"Maybe he isn't. He is pretty close to his mom."
"And if he isn't? I don't want to lose my favorite customer."
"You could be texting buddies! Meet up to do whatever it is guys do when they can't bang each other!"
"You mean the same stuff every other normal person does?" He cocked an eyebrow at her and got back to work forming bouquets. "Just because I'm queer doesn't mean I don't do normal things."
"I know that, but you could be doing normal things with your favorite customer."
"Isn't that a breach of proper employee to customer etiquette?"
"I won't tell if you won't."
"I have a better idea." Jack rolled his eyes and started setting out the finished bunches of flowers on the displays. He handed her a big armful to work on as well. "I won't tell Bunny you're too busy gossiping to work if you actually start working again." He playfully bumped her with his hip.
"Don't blame me for shipping you two. That guy is absolutely smokin'!"
"And? Yes, he's hot as hell, but he'd never go for a guy like me. Skinny, albino guy isn't most men's idea of attractive."
"You're not albino, dummy. Albinos have red eyes, and your eyes are blue."
"Everything else about me is albino, smartass."
"I think that makes you uniquely attractive."
"If only I was into girls. Or that men shared your tastes," he laughed.
"You would match him perfectly. He's tall, dark and handsome, and you're short, pale, and also handsome."
"Who's calling who short?" Jack eyed the 4'11' woman from head to toe with a grin. "At least I can reach the big kid shelves."
"Hey!" Fairy stomped her foot like a petulant child. "It's not my fault I'm fun sized!"
"Don't worry. I love your fun size. It makes it so much easier to do stuff like this!" Jack quickly scooped her up in his arms and spun around the empty shop floor.
"Hey, uh-oh." Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome stopped when he saw the two of them. "Looks like I walked in on something."
Jack quickly set his friend down, his cheeks flushing. "N-no! It's not like that."
"Hey, it's alright." He walked over to them, giving Fairy a teasing smile and gently flicking her nose. "I get it when there's such a cutie in front of you," he purred. Fairy giggled and scurried off behind the shelves, focusing more on the flowers she should have been working on. He scoffed and leaned against the counter, turning that same teasing look on Jack. "You busy?"
"With Valentine's Day in two days? No, not at all," Jack teased sarcastically. "Why? What's up?"
"I have a pretty big order I want to place."
"Oh. Of course I can help with that. Anything for one of my favorite customers." He stood up tall and took out the order form and a pen. "What is it you need? A hundred roses for your mom?"
"More."
Blue eyes widened in shock. "More? Just how many do you need?"
"How many do you have in stock?"
"Uhhhhhh…" Jack crunched the numbers in his head. "Probably close to two thousand. We made sure we're well prepared for Valentine's Day."
"I'll take them."
"What?" If anyone asked, he would deny the squeak that snuck its way into his voice. Jack cleared his throat. "Are you serious? I can't sell all of them to you with the holiday so close. We usually take orders that big weeks in advance. This is a bit...sudden."
"Okay, okay, I'll make it easy on you. You have around one hundred sixty-six dozen to sell. I'll take a hundred."
"I…" He glanced back at Fairy with wide eyes. "I guess I could do that. When do you need them by?"
"As soon as possible." He took one of the store's cards and scribbled something down on the back. "My address and number. I'll pay you extra if you deliver them in person."
"Alright." Jack stared down at the card and gulped, internally panicking at how much work he had ahead of him. "Do you want them in individual bouquets?"
"Yes please. A dozen roses in each bouquet." He smiled and leaned closer. "Tell me honestly, is it too much work?"
"My business brain is saying 'yes but hooray for the sale.' My emotional brain is too busy adoring you for adoring your mother so much."
"You adore me?" he teased.
"Who wouldn't? It's not often a grown man cares for his mother so much." Jack turned away with another blush to talk to Fairy but saw she was already heading to the back to get to work.
"Are you always so trusting of people?"
"I try to be. If everyone in the world was distrustful then no one could ever be happy."
"I can see now why you surround yourself with flowers. You see the beauty in this world, and I imagine this is a profession of beauty whether you make a bouquet for a lover or a funeral."
Jack shrugged with an embarrassed smile. "Flowers have a beauty that is completely unique to anything else. So...that'll be a butt load of money, sir." He typed in the prices on the register. "Twenty-three fifty-four aaaaaand seventeen cents to be exact."
"I'll take fifty bouquets for now." He reached into his wallet and pulled out a credit card, handing it to Jack. "Do the rest when you have time."
"No, no. You're one of our best customers. You want one hundred so that's what you'll get. Don't worry. We'll get it done. Fairy had a triple shot of espresso before she started. On caffeine, she's the fastest hands we've got." He gave the man a reassuring smile.
"Are you sure? I know I'm asking a lot."
"Of course. We could probably have it all ready by tomorrow morning I think."
"I would like for you to deliver it personally."
"Of course. I'm the only one licensed to drive the van anyway so you'd be stuck with me no matter what."
"Perfect. When may I expect you?"
"Between eight and nine to be safe."
"Great, I'll see you then." Pitch took his card back and winked. "Behave yourself now."
"Bye, Kozmotis. See you in the morning!" Jack waved as he walked out the door. His shoulders fell with a groan, and he turned to the back room. "How many have you done so far?"
"Twelve! Get me another coffee and I'll probably finish before closing time!"
Jack chuckled. "I'll grab you one as soon as Bunny gets here for my break." He gathered up a few buckets of roses and the wrappings he would need. "In the meantime, I'll see how many I can make at the register."
"So, you gonna dress up tomorrow?"
"For a delivery? I'm just going to be getting flower water all over me anyway."
"Yeah, but you're also gonna be meeting your major crush tomorrow outside of the shop!"
"I'll still be working, Fairy." He rolled his eyes. "I can't show up dressed like it's a date or something."
"I'm not saying it's a date! But how will you ever get him to ask you out on one if you're always dressed like a hobo?"
"I am not dressed like a hobo!" Jack tugged self consciously at his buttoned shirt and jeans.
"You're totally dressed like a hobo! That guy dresses like the model of some European runway, and you look like you've just rolled out of bed!" Fairy stuck her head out and smiled. "No offense. You know I love you."
Jack tossed a roll of ribbon at her head. "Way to help a guy feel confident, Fairy."
"Seriously though. Dress up a little. Show yourself off. I think the guy is majorly into you."
"I think a guy that hot has got to be straight and covered in women."
"Maybe, but he totally checks you out whenever he comes in."
"You're lying," Jack gasped.
"Am not! He's always looking at your butt or staring at you when you're not looking."
"I think you're reading into this too much because you 'ship' us."
She shrugged. "Fine, dress like a hobo. See if that makes him ask you out."
"You're insufferable sometimes, you know that?" Jack finished up another bouquet with a perfectly tied red satin ribbon. "How many have you finished?"
"Seventeen! Woo, I'm on a roll!"
"Eighteen! Suck it!"
"I guess thoughts of Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome are your caffeine," she teased.
"Keep talking like that and I won't go get you coffee on my break after all."
What do you think?
Don't forget to shoot a quick review if you want me to edit and post more.