IN BLOOM
At the cusp of spring, once the flowers started blooming, young people lost all reason in favor of hormonal desire. That had been true since the beginning of time.
"I have no idea what to choose for my essay," coolly complained Azula. She, her girlfriend, and her best friend all sat in the campus greenhouse studying. Well, Azul and Mai were studying, Ty Lee was wandering the rows of plants and admiring the flowers and foliage they produced.
Mai tapped her pencil on the glass table. "Well, uh, you know history better than me. I guess…
What historical event are you still salty about?"
"The burning of the Library of Alexandria," said Azula swiftly. Mai did not even know what to think about the speed of the answer. "Not only was such knowledge lost, but Julius Caesar took no responsibility. What madness is that? If you're going to destroy your enemy in war, you ought to at least take credit."
"He probably didn't want people to think he did something so horrible."
"How else would his subjects and enemies fear him? Such a fool. No wonder they stabbed him to death." Azula caught sight of Ty Lee picking bunches of red flowers. She ground her teeth as she realized what would come next. "Mai, while I prepare my thesis, fetch me as many violets as you can."
Mai blinked. "What are the magic words?"
"Go fuck yourself." Azula made a rather obscene gesture in her best friend's direction.
Mai just sighed and got up to do as Azula asked. It was the path of least resistance and Mai had always loved the path of least resistance.
She gathered violets as Azula did homework. Ty Lee had just finished making her giant bouquet for Azula when the violets reached Azula's hands.
Azula choked, "Thank you," those words she loathed but ones she knew she needed to use if she wanted to continue ordering people around and getting all she desired from others.
Mai just waved her hand. Azula found it sickening.
Ty Lee interrupted, "I got you flowers. All the red ones I could find because I know you love red."
"I got you violets," said Azula with a sly smirk. "Historically they symbolize lesbian love. Sappho of Lesbos wrote a poem about she and her lover wearing them. So women in history exchanged violets to prove romantic love."
Ty Lee set her bouquet down and threw herself into Azula's arms, giving her a sloppy but passionate kiss. Azula smirked into it, crushing her lips one more time against Ty Lee's before pulling away.
"You're so smart, Princess!" exclaimed Ty Lee as she tucked one of the violets behind her ear. "I love that about you!"
Azula smiled and returned to her seat before anyone could see her blushing.