3: Little Flower Shop
Pamela sat on her bed wearing only her yellow sunflower pattern pajama shorts and a green tank top, her coppery red hair was braided over her shoulder, surrounded by multiple old pictures while Wisteria purrs soundly on her pillow. Her green eyes scan the pictures taking in details about every one, some were of her garden at different stages, some were of her in stuffy dresses at piano recitals, a couple family pictures where her and her parents dawned fake smiles, then there were a few of her and Selina and some of just Selina.
Reaching out she picked up one of her and her friend where neither of them could have been more than 14 years old standing beside each other Selina's arm was slung around Pam's shoulders and Pam's arm was wrapped around Selina's waist, they were both wearing pajamas with feathers in their hair and smiling, though Pam's was a little sheepish and Selina's was bold as always, the room behind them was painted a shade of purple somewhere between lilac and periwinkle with cherry hardwood floors and a large dark wood four poster bed. Pam took a deep breath a small blush covering her cheeks as she pulled her knees to her chest looking at the picture, hearing that her soul mate had been standing just outside the shop not hours ago had brought up memories of a simpler, easier, time.
Back when she and Selina were newly 14 they had a combined birthday party/slumber party at the Kyle house. After a few too many sodas and maybe a bit too much sugar the girls had gotten into a pillow fight on Selina's bed and like always Pam was overpowered by the dark haired girl ending up pinned on her back by Selina sitting on her hips smirking victoriously holding Pam's mint green pillow behind her head ready to bring it down in a seconds notice. Then something changed, Selina's smile slowly turned into biting her lip as she dropped the pillow taking in how Pam's face was flushed from their fight and sugar rush, her red hair scattered across the pale purple pillows, green eyes catching the light like emeralds...she leaned forward and kissed the redhead taking her by surprise.
It hadn't been anything elaborate or deep just a little peck on the lips but it was enough to make Pam freeze up then curl up in the corner of the bed when Selina moved off her. Selina asked if she was mad and after a minute Pam had shook her head and they dropped the issue like it had never happened, since like all young teens they'd tried to see if their necklaces fit and they never did, but it made Pam realize something life changing and a little scary, she found herself hoping her soul mate ended up being a girl not that she'd ever tell anyone besides Selina that.
Pam set the picture down shaking her head with a small smile, years after that had happened she and Selina had both figured out it may as well have been normal and that other girls their age had 'experimented' with each other at sleepovers but a lot of them took it farther, something Pam was glad they hadn't done, so they were able to look back at it and laugh especially now that Selina had found Bruce. Reaching for her phone Pam pulled up the picture of the billionaire playboy her friend had sent her, he wasn't bad looking with a strong jaw, broad shoulders and chest, dark hair and grey-blue eyes, his necklace looked almost like a bat silhouette against a full moon that was missing a shape exactly like Selina's cat silhouette at its heart.
She'd only met him once or twice but from what Pam could gather he was a nice enough guy and he treated Selina right which was all she could want for her friend. Her mind wandered back to earlier when she'd asked Selina to describe the girl that had stood frozen outside the shop.
"She had light blonde hair that was put up in pigtails, her eyes were blue and I mean blue like the pictures of the water on beaches in the Bahamas, her skin was pale but that's not new for people that have lived here forever, she was a little shorter than you maybe her chin reached your shoulder, she was wearing a pair of acid washed blue jeans, a red flannel button up and a black leather jacket covered in pins. Kinda had that deer in the headlights look when I turned around, speaking of you're gonna want to straighten out the fact I wasn't looking because I felt my necklace I looked because I felt her staring."
Pam looked out the window going over the description in her head as she watched the rain pour over the city her hand moving to lightly stroke Wisteria who woke up and gave a small meow.
"I wonder who she is Wisteria."
In response Wisteria stood up and moved to rub against Pam's ankle purring again making the redhead smile and carefully pick the kitten up laying back against the pillows and setting the white fluffball on her chest.
"You're right we'll find out in time won't we?"
Wisteria gave another meow before laying down and purring as Pam stroked her head until they both fell asleep the pouring rain like a lullaby outside. Harley sat in the glow of her tv as she deftly flipped through channels for anything interesting to watch, but found nothing so she settled for letting some cooking show be background noise as she looked down at her necklace still a warmth that reminded her of when a kitten curled up on her chest, her mind drifting back to earlier outside that new shop.
She'd finally reasoned with herself that the dark haired woman hadn't been the cause of her necklace heating up simply because she had been missing the wide eyed and open mouthed gape most people dawned when faced with their soulmate, instead she looked curious and careful, Harley snorted a laugh, like a cat so much so that the blonde swore if she'd had a tail it would have been sleek and black curling behind her back in that way cats make it do when they are watching something new. She also remembered catching a glimpse of coppery red through the doorway as the woman slunk into the back room, but she couldn't have been sure it was another person from just that. Getting to her feet she stretched, turned off the tv, made her way to her bedroom, crawled under the covers and looked at the ceiling.
"I'm gonna go there again, maybe this time I'll see someone else or at least talk to that little kitty."
The next day Harley woke bright and early, for a change, and quickly dressed in a pair of tight black skinny jeans that were ripped at the knees, a black tank top, her red and black flannel left open from just under her chest down, a pair of well worn black converses, a little bit of grey eyeshadow, cherry lip gloss, and this time she left her platinum locks loose around her shoulders but pinned her bangs back braided and fastened with clips that were shaped like red diamonds. Looking at her reflection a final time she nodded then left the bathroom, grabbing her wallet from the kitchen counter, and left the apartment heading for the coffee shop.
Pam had been up at dawn, as always, and after re-braiding her hair pulled on an emerald green and white flannel with the sleeves buttoned up to her elbows, a pair of jeans that had old dirt stains covering the knees and back pockets (what can she say she has a habit of wiping her hands on the backs of her pants after repotting flowers), and her favorite lime green Chuck Taylor low cuts before heading to the shop to finish up the finishing touches and rearranging the plants since her and Selina had managed to clean the place from top to bottom and found there hadn't been as much damage as everyone thought.
That's where the redhead was currently in the shop alone, deciding to give Selina a break to be with Bruce, carrying in the last of the potted beauties to be displayed as she waited for the morning to pass enough to open. She was in the process of placing a pot of lovely yellow daffodils in the window display between a juvenile Bleeding Hearts plant (a very pretty flower go look it up!), and snowy white daisies. She smiled when she felt they were positioned perfectly before leaning down and taking in the scent of the vibrant yellow blossoms closing her eyes and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Harley was approaching the shop her heart fluttering wildly like a bird against her ribs as with every step closer her necklace warmed until it felt like it should have been burning her making her stop outside the shop and pull it out of her shirt holding it by the tips of her fingers, this was a first it had ever gotten this hot before but that meant...she swallowed thickly and slowly turns her head to look into the large display window of the shop which now read 'Ivy's Garden' in flowing emerald letters that were made to look like ivy vines, just beyond the glass stood the most beautiful woman Harley had ever seen.
Her copper red hair was braided over her shoulder contrasting beautifully with her lightly tanned skin and the green and white flannel as wore, her necklace hanging in the air between her neck and the flowers she was leaning forward smelling was shaped like a vine of climbing ivy. It felt like time stood still as the redhead opened her eyes and found Harley standing outside looking under some kind of spell, those eyes were the richest forest green the blonde had ever seen and she wanted to get lost in their depths.
Pam felt eyes on her making her look up from smelling the sweet daffodils her eyes meeting eyes so blue the bluest Caribbean oceans would look dull and just as deep making her feel like drowning in them, her heart skipped a beat as she took in the red flannel that hugged the other woman's body but was left open at the waist showing off a form fitting black tank top, the ripped black skinny jeans that allowed peeks of creamy pale skin to show through, her light blonde hair was loose revealing soft curls that hugged her shoulders and framed her doll like face. Pam slowly straightened up then jumped when her necklace hit her skin like a hot iron forcing her to look away long enough to lift the charm off her skin before looking back at the other woman only to find her gone from her spot and now standing outside the shop door looking in almost like a lost puppy leaving the redhead unable to stop the smile that tugged at the corner of her lips as she moved to the door and after a deep breath unlocked the door opening it.
Harley had managed to make herself move from her spot by going over introducing herself to this garden goddess, her soul mate, but it all went to hell as the redhead opened the door and the scent of soil, flowers, and honey washed over her leaving her dumbstruck and unable to form a full sentence.
"H-Hi."
Harley flinched inwardly at how shaky and soft her voice was but to her surprise the other woman gave a small smile, something Harley knew at once she wanted to see more of, and a light giggle that reminded the blonde of a wind chime.
"Hello."
Harley was amazed she was still standing as the woman's voice shot through her, soft and warm like a summer breeze but there was a firm and proper undertone. Mentally shaking her head Harley opened her mouth to introduce herself but no sound came out electing another giggle that sent her heart into a sprint, was it wrong she'd just met this woman and already she wanted to kiss her? Seeing the blonde was tongue tied Pam gathered her confidence and smiled softly giving her time to get the words out while taking in this girl's features. She was beautiful like a china doll with her big blue eyes and flushed cheeks, soft full lips and gentle features, Selina had been right about her height she stood a few inches shorter than Pam her chin just about level with her shoulder something the right pair of heels could fix but Pam found it adorably old school that the blonde was wearing worn out black converses.
"I'm..uhh..my name's Harleen, Harleen Quinzel but you can call me Harley if ya want, everyone else does."
Pam felt her heart nearly burst at the sound of her bell like voice, she could have sworn some vain inside her broke open as she felt her cheeks heat up and her knees shake a little before she got a grip on herself.
"I'm Pamela Isley, it's nice to meet you Harley finally."
Suddenly registering what she'd said Pam's whole face turned red to the tips of her ears but her green eyes widened hearing a sudden giggle that made her racing heart skip a beat, Harley's giggle was possibly the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard. Harley bit her lip offering a shy smile slowly gathering her courage.
"I-I was just heading to the coffee shop down at the end of the block, would you..would you like to join me?"
Pam looked at the clock then smiled, screw it opening her flower shop for the first time could wait after all it's only once you meet your soulmate for the first time. She looked back at Harley taking in her rosy cheeks and crystal blue eyes that didn't seem to know where to look unless they were on her own green eyes.
"I'd like that Harley, thank you."
Harley broke into a large grin watching as the redhead moved among the rows of flowers to a counter in the back and leaned over it, a task that Harley couldn't help but notice made her backside look even more amazing in her jeans, then straightening back up holding a small green clutch returning to the blonde's side smiling softly. A few minutes later the pair were sitting inside the coffee shop across from each other at a table, Ivy was wiping tears from her eyes as she laughed from a joke Harley had told her and the blonde had to admit she really was enamored by the redhead's laugh and dazzled by her smile. Once the redhead's laughs dissolved into just that breathtaking smile Harley took a sip of her caramel mocha with an extra shot of espresso, and whipped cream topped with a chocolate drizzle and mini chocolate chips before speaking again.
"Why Ivy's?"
Pam looked confused for a moment as she took a sip of her green tea and honey making Harley smile gesturing to the flower shop up the street.
"Your shop, why's it called 'Ivy's Garden' if your name's Pamela?"
Pam's lips formed a small 'o' in understanding then a blush colored her cheeks making her light dusting of freckles stand out a bit.
"Well my necklace is a climbing ivy vine and when we were kids my best friend Selina seen it and learned I love anything having to do with plants so she gave me the nickname Ivy, and Ivy's Garden just sounds better than Pamela's Garden."
Harley nodded her agreement then paused raising a brow.
"Selina? Was she that dark haired woman I saw in the shop yesterday? Dressed from head to toe in black, moved kinda like a cat?"
Pam giggled again making Harley bite her lip a little worried she'd said something.
"Yeah that's her, I call her Kitty because she acts like a cat even her necklace is shaped like one. She's a couple months older than me but I've known her most of my life, she's a little rough around the edges and a free spirit but she's nice."
Harley smiled at the other woman's nickname taking another drink of her sugar overloaded drink.
"What about you, why Harley?"
Now Harley flushed again giving a small chuckle not knowing she had a whipped cream mustache.
"My dad used to call me his little harlequin when I was a kid because I was in gymnastics from the time I was practically old enough to walk and the Gotham High colors are black and red so our leotards were shiny red with matte black diamonds on them and he said with my hair in pigtails I looked like a little clown."
Pam chuckled at the tale grabbing a napkin and before she could think leaned across the table gently wiping away the foam mustache from the blonde's upper lip, realizing what she was doing she pulled away flushing as red as her hair unable to look at Harley.
"I-I'm sorry."
Harley took a second to mentally register the honey and floral scent that came from the redhead but quickly recovered giving a smile.
"It's okay. So you're not from around here are ya?"
Pam shook her head her blush slowly fading until it was just her cheeks.
"No I was born in Texas, we moved to Seattle when I was 3 then when I turned 18 I came here to Gotham when Selina invited me."
Harley smiled leaning forward.
"I thought I caught a bit of twang under that stuffy tone."
Pam blushed again, true she'd learned to speak in Texas but neither of her parents had accents they made sure to sound proper and stiff so Pam had learned to do the same but she slipped now and again. Harley had evidently taken the blush the wrong way making her smile fall and she reached out gently touching Pam's arm.
"I'm sorry sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my brain and I say stupid things, I didn't mean to offend you."
Pam looked at her hand on her arm and biting the inside of her cheek moved her arm taking Harley's hand in her own smiling softly at how soft they were against her own calloused fingers, rewards from spending days in her garden over the years.
"No it's not that at all, it's just that even though I slip people don't always hear my accent because I don't make it obvious I've got one."
Harley blushed this time but her heart melted at the feeling of her hand in Pam's.
"It's there under the surface if I listen right, you shouldn't be ashamed of your accent look at me I got one and I'll tell ya a secret, I ain't even from New York!"
Pam's eyes widened and a smile spread over her lips.
"You're kidding!"
Harley shook her head her smile widening.
"Nope, never even set foot in the place! My parents are from New York but I was born and bred her in Gotham."
Pam gently squeezed her hand still smiling.
"Wow you could have fooled me honeybee, but I like the accent it's charming and cute."
Harley smiled wide at the slipped nickname before looking at the closest clock.
"Uhh what time were ya gonna open that shop of yours?"
Pam looked at the clock biting her lip against a giggle.
"An hour ago."
Hearing that Harley nearly spit out the last of her drink.
"Why didn't ya say so sooner Red?!"
Pam smiled at the nickname then shrugged.
"I found something a bit more important."
Harley flushed wildly making Pam smile and get to her feet still holding her hand.
"If you wanna stop by whenever feel free and the same goes for messaging me or calling."
Harley raised her eyebrows confused as Pam slowly pulled her hand away winking before pulling her hand completely away and exiting the shop. Harley's brows knitted together in confusion until she felt something in her hand making her look down and find a phone number written on a strip of paper making her smile and shake her head. Later that night Pam was just getting out of the shower singing to herself and giggling as Wisteria followed her around meowing now and then, as she entered the bedroom her attention was pulled away from finding pajamas by her phone buzzing on the night stand. Humming softly she went to the bed and sat on the edge opening the text from an unknown number.
'Hey Red, its Harley! Smooth move with the number passing.'
Pam smiled lifting Wisteria onto the bed as she laid down putting off getting dressed for now.
'Well thank you honeysuckle. I really had a great time this morning.'
Setting the phone aside Pam sat up enough to dry her hair.
'It was my pleasure. Hey you should send me a pic of yourself for you picture ID.'
Pam smiled at the request and gently stroked Wisteria's head chuckling as the kitten climbed onto her chest before giving a small groan, she wasn't a fan of selfies, but pushed it aside holding the phone up and snapping a picture sending it. Harley's response didn't come as fast as the others making her worry she'd overdone it, she was about to send an apology when Harley's message came through.
'Holy guacamole Red! Way to give a girl a nose bleed!'
Pam chuckled relieved the other girl didn't seem mad.
'I can send a different one if you would like.'
Now Harley's response was almost instantaneous.
'NO! I mean no it's okay.'
Pam laughed at that making Wisteria look up at her slightly annoyed.
"What don't look at me like that, she's being cute."
The kitten just blinked at her then curled back up making Pam roll her eyes but smiled when Harley sent a picture of herself wearing her hair in pigtails, wearing a powder blue romper biting her thumb in a pinup style pose. Pam felt a rush of warmth through her whole body and she swore she could feel a trickle of blood from her nose but when she wiped it she relaxed seeing it was just water from her hair.
'Now who's the one giving a girl a nosebleed?! You do look adorable though.'
Harley sent back a heart then a second message.
'Aww thank you Red, you would give a Victoria's Secret model a run for her money.'
Pam flushed again.
'My word Harleen if I didn't know better I'd say you were flirting with me.'
She waited for Harley's response but after a few minutes it didn't come making her sigh and close her eyes a feeling of embarrassment growing in her stomach until her phone buzzed making her look down expecting a message but her eyes widened seeing the blonde was calling. Swallowing deeply Pam answered the phone but she didn't even get a word out before Harley's laugh rang through the line.
"You actually managed to send that adorable accent in a text?!"
Pam smirked running a hand through her hair.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She heard Harley giggle and the shuffle of bed sheets.
"Oh really you don't? So your phone just sent me a message on its own with a southern drawl?"
Pam giggled and she could hear Harley doing the same.
"Yep it did."
She could practically hear Harley's playful eye roll then the sound of a bottle opening.
"You know Pammy I've been thinking."
Pam crossed her arm over her chest being careful of Wisteria.
"Oh? Should I be worried?"
Harley snorted a laugh sounding like she'd nearly spit something out.
"Hey come on at least get to know me better Red! But anyway I been thinkin' how's about we have a real date?"
Pam made a humming sound so it sounded like she was thinking as she smirked.
"What today didn't count?"
Harley sighed but it was a content sigh.
"Of course it did but I wanna chance to treat ya to a real dinner not some tea bag in a plastic cup with fake honey, I mean a real nice place with candles and stakes."
Pam made a small groan making Harley pause.
"Something wrong?"
Pam shook her head but remembered the blonde couldn't see.
"Just something small."
She heard Harley shift in bed again probably sitting up in concern.
"What is it? Not into romantic dinners?"
Pam gave a halfhearted chuckle.
"No that's not it at all honeybee I'm a sucker for cheesy romantic gestures it's just that steak isn't really my thing...I'm a vegan."
Harley made a small squeak that Pam couldn't help but smile at.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I didn't know!"
Pam chuckled again letting out a small sigh.
"It's okay really as long as you're happy and want to go in okay with it."
Harley let out a sigh that sounded more relieved she hadn't screwed up but then the smile was back in her voice.
"I'll find a place if you pick a date."
Pam chuckled thinking carefully.
"Next Wednesday after the shop closes?"
Harley gave another squeal of joy.
"Sounds perfect! I'll text ya the place when I find it!"
Pam smiled softly closing her eyes as she leaned her head back against the headboard.
"Sounds good, I can't wait to see what you find."
Harley shifted again and stifled a yawn which made Pam yawn in return gaining a giggle from the blonde.
"I think we should hit the hay for tonight."
Pam moved so she was laying against her pillows her eyes drooping.
"I think so too, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
Harley yawned again.
"Goodnight Red."
Pam smiled.
"Goodnight sweet pea."
Pam waited until the line went dead before moving her phone from her ear and plugging it back in then laying against the pillows letting her eyes close her dreams filled with the sounds of Harley's giggle and voice and all the other cute sounds she made, her necklace pulsed warmly against her collarbone making her smile softly as she slipped off to sleep.
