Realized I never said what happened with all the roses and thought this would be a fun way to explain it.

Enjoy!

I pulled out of the kiss, licking my lips as my eyes scanned the flower bursting room. Reid did the same and I was happy toe not the chagrined blush spread over his cheeks again. He should feel bad! He had completely shanghaied my room and part of my hall with all these roses. I pushed myself into a sitting position, the mattress shifting as Reid moved to accommodate me.

"What am I supposed to do with all these roses?" I mumbled to myself, worrying my bottom lip. Reid cleared his throat suddenly and when I turned to him he was twisted away. My brows furrowed.

"You could just toss them," he shrugged, scratching the back of his neck which was facing me. I fought down the surprising urge to smack him. How thoughtless could you be!

"No I can't!" I bristled, fists clenching in my lap now. "You spent way too much money and it'd be a waste of perfectly good flowers!"

"Who cares about wasting flowers?" He finally turned back to me with one pale eyebrow raised. This time I didn't hold back as I smacked his knee lightly. He jumped in what I could only assume was extreme surprise.

"We're not throwing them away," I grumbled, turning away as I tried to think of the best solution. I didn't elaborate on my use of the term 'we' but I figured my meaning was obvious. He'd gotten me into this mess; he was going to help me out of it. "We just need to…"

"Get rid of them?"

"Before Lily gets back," I clarified, sighing as I sat back. I was just leaning back on my elbows when an idea came to mind. I perked up visibly, making the springs bounce as I became thoughtful. Reid watched as I stood and let my eyes sweep the area. "How many roses are there?"

"Umm 6,000," he coughed sheepishly. My heart clenched in my ribcage and I squeezed my eyes shut trying to remind myself of the warm, happy feeling that had made a home for itself inside my chest since we'd sat down on the bed.

"So that's what, 500 vases?" He nodded. Another clench. 500 crystal vases. "Ok…how many dorms are in the boarding houses?" Surprisingly enough he didn't seem to have caught onto my plan yet as he did a quick mental count.

"They're separated by grade," he reasoned slowly. "The junior ones alone have 210 rooms each."

I let myself take a moment to be awed by the sheer number of students in Spencer Academy. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised since I myself resided in room 203. It was good news though since that meant fewer trips out of my own building. Though of course there was the feeling of guilt of knowing I'd eventually run out. I worried my lip again finally deciding I would just have to pray for some vacant rooms.

"Ok," I said at last, turning to Reid [careful not to knock over any of the vases. "I have an idea, but it's going to take a while and we'll need one of the maintenance carts." A blush rose to my cheeks as the young man looked at me skeptically. I expected him to simply turn me down, but instead he signed and began to step through the mine field of roses to the door.

"I'll get the cart," he offered. "I'm not sure where this is going but I'm sure I won't like it."

I nodded eagerly, smiling, just thankful he was willing to help. He slipped out the door and I turned to face the room again. I deep sigh escaped my lips but I still managed a smile. This had been a sweet if not completely insane idea of Reid's. I knew there was still a lot he had to learn about me from this alone. I wasn't one for grand gestures or showiness, but I decided I wouldn't begrudge him this one display of affection. The relationship was still new after all.

"Maxi, come out here," came a muffled cry from outside of the room. I quirked an eyebrow in confusion. That had been incredibly fast. Picking my way through the vases, I slipped out of the door and was surprised to see not only Reid there, but the other Sons of Ipswich as well, each pushing an empty maintenance cart. I blushed, fighting the need to cower back into my dorm as the boys all smiled at me fondly.

"Found these guys and decided they could probably help too," Reid explained, grinning at my cherry red face cheekily.

"Not that Reid told us your plan of course," Tyler teased, leaning forward on his cart and scrunching his nose.

"Probably doesn't even know what it is," Pogue guessed, nudging his shoulder with Caleb whose laugh was deep and thundering as it rolled over me. I shivered and looked down at my feet.

"Thank you," I all but whispered, wringing my hands. I hadn't expected Reid to force his friends to help as-

"Aw don't be that way, Max," Tyler laughed easily. "We're not going to eat you or anything." Pogue laughed. Oh god.

"What's the plan, boss?" I looked up at Caleb and was slightly calmed by his steady, but not intrusive gaze. I could see why he was the leader of their group. He had a comforting authority about him that made others –myself included- lean on him.

"Well," I began, clearing my throat as I glanced at Reid who gave me a reassuring nod. "I w-wanted to load as many vases as possible onto one cart and…" I waved my hands in a vague, round about fashion. "Kind of…deliver them…t-to the other girls in the dorm."

The idea to do this wasn't such a mastermind plan. I just didn't want to waste Reid's thoughtful gesture. I had just had that thought when it hit me. Why not share it? Receiving all 6000 roses as once had been overwhelming and thrown me a bit, but if he had just given me one vase or even one rose, it would have brightened my entire day. People like receiving thoughtful gifts. I just wanted to give other girls the chance at the warm, happy feeling.

Looking up from under my curtain of chocolate brown hair, I found each Son smiling at me.

"That sounds like a great idea," Caleb stated, nodding approvingly, "As long as I can take a vase to Sarah." He flashed me a bright smile.

"Of course," I sputtered, eyes wide in shock. They liked my idea? "Pogue you can take one for Kate too…if you want."

The rugged boy smirked at me, chuckling low in his chest as he nodded. "Thanks, Max."

"Well let's get started!" Tyler said enthusiastically, leaning down to start pile vases from the hall into his cart. I walked over and helped, hearing the others to start filling their carts.

"We'll eventually have to spread to the sophomore or senior dorm," I informed them ashamedly, "There's more flowers then there are dorms." Reid coughed.

"How many vases?" Pogue asked, putting another into the bottom row of his cart. Each cart could fit twelve vases.

"Five-hundred," I said, straitening and looking at each of them in turn, "Two to each room. Oh! Be sure to take out all the cards from Reid before you drop them off." They all nodded their understanding, thankfully ignoring my blush, as they began to turn and push off down the hall towards the stairs. I watched them go, a different sort of warm feeling washing over me as Reid motioned me to follow him.

"Wanna start at the end of the hall?" he questioned. I nodded, smiling shyly up at him before something occurred to me. I gasped, turning on the spot and staring after his friends.

"I forgot to think about how they'll get down the stairs," I explained quickly to Reid's confused look. He blinked, but just laughed, pushing forward again.

"They can handle it," he assured, still chuckling as we made our way down the hall.

"I don't want them to get hurt," I mumbled, fiddling with the end of my skirt. Reid bumped his shoulder against mine, making the cart swivel.

"Don't worry about it," he comforted, eyes cast down as we reached the last door of the hall. Reaching over, I plucked off the two cards from the two first vases of the cart and knocked on the door.

The girl that opened was around Lily's height and build, with skin a bit lighter than Kate's. She saw Reid standing behind me before she glanced down and noticed me, dark eyes wide in surprise beneath her bangs. "Hi," she greeted kindly, managing a sincere looking smile. I blushed, smiling as well. I was only now just realizing that my plan would entail meeting almost every girl in my grade and the next.

"Hello, I'm Maxine Dillard, I live down the hall." I gestured down the hall. She glanced in that direction briefly as if unable to help herself before smiling down at me again.

"I'm Tanya Valdez." She reached out and shook my hand briefly. "I live here." I chuckled.

"I was just –um…" I picked up a vase. "Wondering if you and your roommate would like some roses. They're free," I added quickly when I saw her squint at the crystal vases. She looked back at me skeptically but not unkindly as she turned behind her and gestured for someone to come forward.

Another girl stepped into the doorway, an inch or two shorter than her roommate with similar skin and eyes but hair flowing down to her rear. "Hi, I'm Anna," she said brightly, looking at the roses in appreciative interest.

"Maxine's giving us roses," Tanya informed her, inclining her head in my direction. I blushed darker as the raven haired girl beamed at me in excitement.

"Aw thank you so much! Are you running for prom queen or something?" She took the vase from me as I sputtered.

"N-No, I'm not," I said in shock, moving aside as Reid handed a vase to Tanya. She took it still looking puzzled but not suspicious as she glanced at her roommate that was hugging her flowers. Both girls smiled.

"That's a shame," Tanya said, leaning into the room and out of site as she placed her vase down. "You're pretty, I'm sure you'd win." My mouth hung open in shock as Anna bid me farewell and retreated into her room. Tanya nodded at me and Reid in turn before doing the same. The door closed.

"Well that was interesting," my newfound boyfriend teased, tugging on the end of my hair lightly. I sputtered again, slapping him away as I felt my cheeks grow hot. Me? Pretty? Unheard of!

"Next room," I squeaked, pulling the cards off of the next two vases. He chuckled, pushing on behind me as I stomped to the next door and knocked. It was going to be a long night.

Hope everyone liked this! Tanya and Anna are two characters I made up a few years ago [based on myself and my best friend] that I enjoy writing into some of my stories just for fun no matter the category. They have story all there own of course ;]

Thanks for reading!
~monie