On the way to the store, Lottie fangirled about her plan. It will be a success! She told herself. "Daddy drive faster before other shoppers get the good decorations!" she ordered her father. "Now Charlotte, I can't drive that fast or I'll get pulled over." her father replied sternly. Lottie folded her arms. "Ok-" she almost coughed. Not now. Not here. Not today. She told herself. She could feel the flowers form a lump inside her throat. How painful it was. It was like she ate knives for breakfast. She had to keep it together. Just only for an hour or 2. If she could last that long.
They arrived at the store that sold decorations for parties and other special occasions. Lottie got out of the car. "C'mon Big Daddy!" she gushed in overwhelming excitement. "There's gonna be competition for the pretty lookin' balloons, tablecloths and such!" She ran into the store. "Charlotte wait for me!" her father called out. "That girl, I swear! What makes her tick?"
Inside, Lottie was picking out whatever decorations that were pink. "Lord! I need all the pink in the world!" she said. Lottie put whatever decorations that were pink in the shopping cart. "Oh my Lord! We should have different themes like Alice in Wonderland! Sailor Moon! Cinderella! Star Wars! How about Homest-" Lottie felt something in her mouth. She took it out. Her worst fear: A single flower petal. The pain in her throat started to swell. "Charlotte!" a voice called her name. She knew that voice. It was her father of course. He wasn't too far away. Now was the time. Lottie left everything where it was without thinking. She found the lady's room. No one was in the other stalls. It was just her. She locked the door just in case someone would come in. There was a trashcan. Lottie felt the flowers coming into her mouth from her throat without control. She had to do it. The bloody flowers left her mouth after every cough. There was a lot. The trashcan was approximately overflowing with blood and Magnolias. Should I flush it? No, that's worst. It might clog. Lottie panicked. She had no choice but to leave it. Maybe they won't notice? She thought. "Screw this! Back to shoppin'!" she said as she left the bathroom.
Lottie found her cart. Her father still had to be looking for her. She didn't dwell on it too much. She took her cart to the dresses section. She picked out a pink-red flapper dress. It was the 1920s after all. Lottie could picture herself in that dress dancing with Rico. He would perhaps wear a tuxedo or whatever fancy stuff cowboys wear to dances. Then a sharp pain in her heart stabbed her like a knife. I'm fine. She told herself. Hanahaki doesn't exist! "Charlotte!" Lottie turned around. Her father stood there unmoved. "Before ya say anythin', I was in the lady's room." Her father turned pink. "You're buyin' all of this?!" he changed the subject, pointing to the cart that was stuffed overflowing with pink decorations and dresses. "We sure are!" Lottie exclaimed. "I gotta look good to impress my certain somebody! A gal needs her cowboy!"
Lottie and her father payed for everything. When they got home, Lottie began to write the invitations. She made sure everyone would get the chance to come. Especially Rico. There was all of people she wanted to not feel left out. She understood if Tiana couldn't come because she was busy living her life long dream with Naveen. The party was almost a week and a few days away. She had to mail the invitations tomorrow or sooner. Lottie took out the dresses she bought. They were perfect for any flapper to wear. Does Rico know anything about flappers or dressin' up? Lottie thought as she held a pink and red dress. What movie is he from anyway? She thought. Then Lottie realised a flaw in her plan. She took the envelope with Rico's name on it. "I don't know where he lives..." she said shamefully. Flowers poured out of Lottie's mouth uncontrollably. When it was over she was too frantic to move. She just stared at the magnolias on the floor. Lottie couldn't take it anymore. She made sure her door was locked. Then she took her secret box from under her bed. She filled it until she couldn't anymore. "Now what do I do?" she said practically in tears. She looked around her room for a trashcan. She found a medium sized one. She put the box (it didn't mean much to her anyway) and the rest of the flowers in it. Then she put the trashcan in the deepest part of her closet (it was very big for a closet).
The light in the room faded fast. The moon could be seen from the window. "Is it that late already?" said Lottie. She got dressed into her PJs. The envelope with Rico's name on it was sitting on Lottie's desk where she left it before "it" happened. She picked up the envelope. I'll give it to him when I see him. She thought sadly as she put the invitation under her pillow for safe keeping; it somehow made her feel safe from her disease.
The next morning.
Lottie woke up with the sunshine on her face. Her vision was blurred and her PJs and blanket were wet? Did I wet the bed?! I'm to old for that! She panicked in embarrassment. It took a while for her vision to regain. She didn't wet the bed. It was worst. Magnolias and blood soaked sheets were surrounding her. "I must have coughed in my sleep." said Lottie. Lottie got out of bed and cleaned her mess up. She took off her bloody PJs and put on an fuchsia colored dress. She took everything off of her bed and quietly carried it into the laundry room. She noticed her father was gone. She figured he out doing whatever it was he did. It was 9:56 am. The post office was open. Lottie took her purse and stuffed the invitations in it. There was no room for Rico's. She had no choice but to put in her bra. That didn't bother her because she was used to putting napkins in it whenever she was sweating like a sinner in church.
Lottie walked out of her mansion, carrying her purse in one hand and a trashbag in the other. She shoved the trashbag in the trashcan that stood outside the front yard. "Out of sight out of mine." she said in disgust. The chills rushed through her body again. "If I can't cure it now, I can at least treat these flu-like symptoms." On her walk, Lottie found a mailbox near a pharmacy. "How convenient!" she extolled. She mailed the invitations. Then went inside the pharmacy. There was barely anyone inside. At least she didn't have to wait in a long line. Lottie looked in the medicine section for colds and flu. There were pills, vitamins and other medications. To Lottie's surprise, there was someone she never thought she would see (especially at a place like this). It was Rico! He had his back turned. He seemed busy looking at cough syrup? Lottie rushed quietly behind him. "Well cowboy, what brings you into these parts?"
Rico turned around. Lottie couldn't help but smile and trying to control herself at the same time. It was hard. "What the hell?" he said. "Howdy Rico darlin'!" Lottie greeted, trying to be like a cowgirl to impress him. "Funny to see you here."
"Hi Charlotte," Rico greeted back. Lottie could almost faint hearing Rico's mysterious voice. It was deep and fit his personality very well, even though Lottie may not know him too well. "Why are ya lookin' at medicine? Are ya sick?" Lottie asked with panic in her voice. "I'm just here to get medicine for a partner of mine."
"I'm here for that too! There been a cold goin' around here." she lied a bit so Rico won't know the truth. He probably wouldn't want to be around her if she said she was a little under the weather. She was MORE than just "a little under the weather". "I thought it would be a good idea if I got some cough syrup just in case." Rico gave her a look of suspicion. He could tell she looked a little pale from last time he saw her. He didn't really care. Lottie could feel a cold sweat about to break from her forehead. She reached her hand in her bra. She pulled out Rico's invitation. "This is for you!" She gave it to him. Rico turned a little pink. Then he put it in his coat. Damn! He didn't read it right away! Maybe he'll read it later? Lottie thought with hope in her heart. Lottie grabbed a bottle of cough syrup. "Why don't you come and vist me sometime?" she advised. "Maybe." Rico replied like it was just a normal question. Lottie's heart ached. Not only because of Rico's reply of "maybe", because of her hanahaki. "How about I pay for both of us?" Rico recommended. Lottie could feel her excitement rise. "You're a gentleman!" She hugged him. "Do you mind?!" Rico said in a strict and bothered tone. Lottie controlled herself. She gave a cringey giggle in embarrassment. Rico gave her a hateful glare. He took her hand and walked her to the checkout. He payed for the medicine. They both walked out of the store together.
Lottie tried to grab his hand. The thought of it comforted her and caused her to almost fall. Rico noticed and caught her just in time. "I'm taking you home." he said. His horse was tied to a lamppost. Rico helped Charlotte up on his horse. He untied the horse's reins and helped himself on. "Hang on." he ordered her. Lottie put her arms around him tightly. She couldn't really grasp onto him even if she wanted. She was so weak. They dashed along the streets leaving clouds of dust behind. Lottie loved this. The dust made her cough. Flower petals left her mouth. Rico was too busy to notice. Thank God! She thought. They arrived at the mansion. Rico helped Lottie off his horse. "Thank y-" Rico put a finger on her mouth. "Sssshhhhh!" She was silent and her mind was left in his trance. He gave her the medicine. "You need rest." he whispered. "You'll still come see me again, right?" Lottie whispered back. Rico said no other words. He left her alone again like last time. It was like she wasn't ever there. Could he forget about her in such little time? Lottie found her room. Her father was still out. Lottie took her medicine to prevent her flower dilemma. She almost overdosed! It was enough to make her pass out again! Lottie found her book from the library. She re-read the page about hanahaki until she dozed off by accident.