Author's Note: I am almost done with the last chapter of Out Of Reach. It should be out within the next couple of days. I doubt anyone really cares, but there you have it.
This is a one shot and very short, lol. Please enjoy reading and review if you would!
Fragrance
He was sitting half off the porch, slumped back against one of the pillars and seemingly not looking at anything at all. The expression on his face was unreadable and he looked lost inside. He hadn't heard her approach.
She kept her eyes trained on his face, stepping close cautiously, a bundle of flowers lying prostrate in her arms. When she came but two feet from him, his eyes instantly met hers and she froze. He then gazed away, down towards the earth and she suddenly felt unheeded or an unwanted disturbance. She decided it didn't matter after all of the pain she had witnessed him go through, and took a seat next to him. He didn't acknowledge her but he didn't get up or move away either, which she took as a fairly good sign. His persona consisted of secrets and loneliness, but he was normally gentle about them. So, it wasn't too unusual for him to act like this.
She let loose a breath she had been holding and looked down at her flowers.
"Jasmine." His voice sounded unfamiliar and distant. She turned her face to regard him. He wasn't looking at her nor her flowers. She didn't understand at all.
"And ... irises." She added quietly, looking in the direction he was facing. But, he turned then and observed the flowers in her arms with curious eyes. She watched, unable to look anywhere else as he shifted closer and gently took a jasmine flower from her bundle. She studied his face and then took in his hair as he leaned in towards her, pulling the flower free of its constraints. She briefly smelled only cedar...and then it was gone as he sat back and the scent of jasmine mixed with iris greeted her nose again.
She stared at his hands, his fingers lightly appreciating the smooth texture of the petals and silently wondering. His hands suddenly grasped the stem and snapped it off, her eyes widened as a result. He threw the broken stem away and she watched as it hit the ground and blended with the green of the grass. It was then she felt a soft whisper of a touch grace her head near her ear and her eyes flitted to met warm amethyst as he tucked the flower in her ear. A quaint smile full of wonderment spread across her face and she looked down in a bashful way. He looked away again and sighed before standing up.
Bewildered, she watched him stand up and turn to her.
"I didn't smell the flowers... I didn't know you had them," he whispered softly before entering the house and leaving her there to register his words. A warm feeling took place in her being and she felt for the flower tucked in her ear.