Ever, ever so softly it fell. She could hear it outside her window, knocking gently upon her window. A shiver, a sigh. Clouded light dimly lit her room, setting a gloomy scene. Pounce de Leon huddled closer into her side from under the covers. August was ending, September bringing its bitter chill. But it was only the twentieth, it shouldn't have been this cold yet. Oh well, maybe it had something to do with global warming? She didn't really care right now.
She was awake, but not quite. In a futile resistance against waking, she had turned her back to the dim light, hugging her pillow closely. Maybe if she sat here long enough, her eyes would become heavy lidded, sleep would stroke her cheek and reprieve her from her sudden depression. Her phone vibrated suddenly, desperate for attention. It was plainly ignored with a groan. It buzzed again, once again, three times more, before curiosity got the best of her and she reached over to pluck it out of her open pillow case. Drowsily, she held it to her face.
TZ: H3Y! H34RD YOUR F33L1ING UND3R TH3 W34TH3R! WHY DON'T YOU T3LL M3 WH4T'S UP?
A scowl. Oooh, so she came in to rub the salt into the stinging wound, eh? Well!
Me: :33 *AC rises her mighty paw to wash her face* I'm f33ling purrfectly fine, Terezi. Absoulutely peachy.
TZ: GOOD. 1 THOUGHT MY ONLY ROL3PL4Y P4RTN3R W4S TRY1NG TO WR1GGL3 H3R W4Y OUT OF A W1LDY AW3SOM3 ROL3PL4Y, H3H3H3 : ]
"Aaaaaaaugh…." She couldn't do it. She couldn't bring herself to hate Terezi, no matter how many times she paraded around on her heart. It's not like she would know, anyway! Even though Terezi was winning Karkat over, Nepeta had to remain their friends no matter what! If they both forgot about her she'd… Never ever find anyone else quite like them.
Me: :33 Yes! We cannot jeopardize our fantastic storytelling! To leave such tales alone for this long is pawfully terrible! *AC mewls in fake desperation, to emphasize the drama h33h33!*
TZ: *TH3 M1GHTY DR4GON HOWLS ALONG* OH Y3S 3V3R SO DR34DFUL! TH4T'S WHY TON1GHT W1LL B3 TH3 NIGHT W3 L3T OUR AW3SOM3LY POW3RFUL IM4G1N4T1ONS RUN W1LD! H3H3H3!
She let the phone slip through her fingers and clung to her pastel green pillow cover.
I don't hate you.
I hate this.
I hate that we love him so.
Drops of chilled rain bounced off her green rain poncho and her eggshell blue umbrella. Whenever her yellow rain boots met with the damp concrete, mist would swirl around them, attempting to keep its depths hidden. Sort of like her feelings now. Besides the drowsy weather, Maine was as busy as ever. Cars were running slowly on the asphalt, and she stood away from the cluttered road to avoid any unfortunate splashes. The air smelled of salt and rain, mixing together to create a lovely aroma. People passed, by carrying umbrellas of their own. Though scarce they were there, hurrying down the streets to their jobs, families, chores… Lovers. She sighed, vapor spiraling from her mouth like cigarette smoke. Why did it always go back to the same topic she tried so hard to avoid? It was like trying to run out of the range of a machine gun; No matter how fast you ran, it's automatic fire eventually hit you, pelting you with bullets until you roll over and give up. Well, that's how she described it. It was no fun at all.
Eventually she heard exactly what she was looking for; and something she wasn't quite as much. Besides he gentle chime of the bell hung above the door to Folly's tea house, from across the street she heard the loud, sharp rings of a badly played flute. Nepeta paused, listening closely (but not too close, whoever the flutist was they were terrible) and tracked the sound across the street. It was strongest near…
"This is the flower shop," Nepeta pointed out, brow scrunched in confusion. Yep, same as always. The flowers that hung on the light and dark green striped canopy were bursting with vitality, as where the pots and caskets placed on the ground and on stands. There was one thing out of the ordinary, however. The emerald framed door was open, and a huge (good golly HUGE ) Samoyed was tethered to a generous leash. He was laying down, his paws wrapped amusingly over his ears. However when he noticed that She had paused to look at him he sat up immediately, ears perked and tail wagging. A grin pulled at her lips and she closed her umbrella. A visit wouldn't hurt anything. Well… maybe my hearing. She ran her hands through the dog's fur, playing with his face for a second before entering the shop. She'd never exactly been inside. She… wasn't really interested in plants to be honest.
Plants were everywhere. All over the black and white checkered floor, there were plants that ranged from multicolored orchids to enormous lotuses and even lush pink roses. But not only did the store display beautiful floral plants, but also other greens like fuzzy looking ferns and peculiar looking fig trees. An ivy plant's vine stretched at least seven feet in the air to curl around a pole and a light wooden shelf decorated with bonsai trees and little trinkets. Pumpkins and squash the ranged from incredible sizes littered the floor haphazardly. It was a cute shop; decorated nicely, plants full in health, and little paintings on the walls that accompanied the plants. But what really caught her attention was the flailing female perched on the desk, kicking her feet wildly while playing a silver flute.
What in the world…
The word, "Fun" would drastically underestimate what this girl was having. Well… besides seizure or conniption. Her long, black hair spilled out around her like ink. Her large circle glasses were lopsided on her pretty face, big looking eyes scrunched shut as her pink lips curled around the flute's mouthpiece. The Samoyed that was laying by the door had trotted over next to Nepeta, and she nearly jumped out of her skin through the roof when it let out a LOUD bark for attention. The girl thrashing around on the desk sat up with so much speed, a nascar racing vehicle would be put to shame. Her hair flung forward and into her face, glasses even more askew.
"BEC!" She screeched, throwing her arms into the air. Good gosh, she looked funny! Like some sort fluffy monster with glasses. "Whozzat Bec! What is it!" She moved her hair from her face and stared at her visitor with wide green eyes . She fixed her glasses with a sniff. "Hi there. Can I help you?"
"What..? OH!" Nepeta tried to find something on her body to distract her from nervousness, and settles with the ends of her olive green rain poncho. "I-I uh, was just stopping by because I heard you, uh, playing your flute and I was, erm, curious." Great explanation. Absolutely fantastic. "I mean, I've never heard much noise come from this shop… and I didn't know that the owner had a dog." The girl swept her legs over the desk and landed on her sneakered feet, long jean skit billowing into place. She started to take apart the flute.
"That's cause we just moved here," She said cheerily. "I saw this cute little flower shop and I thought it'd be fun to run."
"That's cool," Nepeta replied, rubbing the dog's- Bec's- big fluffy ears. "So, do you go to college?"
"Oh I did! I studied botany. But… I kinda got kicked out."
"Kicked out? Why?"
"I kept falling asleep."
"Was it that boring?"
"Hey," She snipped, aiming a finger at the suddenly wary guest. "It's a medical condition!"
"I-I'm sorry!"
"It's fine." She placed the pieces of the instrument into its black case and snapped it shut. "Since falling asleep in class is SUCH A CRIME—" Nepeta flinched. Good god this girl was crazy! It made her want to giggle. "—I started reading up on botany. I mean, why go to a school and pay millions when you can just pick up a book? I mean, it's that simple."
"But then you'd never get your degree!"
"True." The shop owner placed the suitcase neatly next to the oak desk and moved a piece of hair out of her face before extending a hand. "Anyway, I'm Jade! Jade Harley." She smiled, a slight overbite exposed. Nepeta grinned back, shaking her hand enthusiastically.
"Hee, my name's Nepeta Leijon. I'm trying to get a degree in photography."
"Hey, that's cool! So you're a photographer?"
"Yep! I've always been really fond of it." Jade beckoned Nepeta over to the shop window and offered her a seat on an old looking bench. Morning glories had wrapped their vines into the seat's every crevice, giving it a sort of spooky yet magical look. It groaned in protest when she sat down on its splintery surface. She laid her umbrella across her lap. Jade gathered up her skirt and sat next to her, leaning against the corner. She gazed out the window, transfixed by whatever she saw. Bec laid down at their feet, placing his head on his forepaws.
She wouldn't exactly call the silence awkward—Actually it was really soothing. The shop floral fragrance mixed in with the smell of sea salt and fresh rain. The breeze outside tickled the wind chimes, producing a delicate tune that would soothe any restless soul. Even though she wasn't facing the window, Nepeta could imagine the scene outside; Cars rolling down the street slowly, keeping an eye out for jaywalkers. People walking down the street, hefting multicolored umbrellas on their shoulders and moving forward, eyes transfixed on the dirty concrete beneath their feet. The grey sky darkening with the age of the storm. She was sure that if she looked closely into the distance, she could see the ocean and the lighthouse's light. This peaceful atmosphere…
It was exactly what she needed.
"Y'know," Jade said suddenly. Nepeta nearly toppled off the bench. "Even though I don't get a lot of customers, I really like living here. I'm closer to my friends."
"You have friends here?"
"Yeah. I used to live on an island in a jungle. After my grandpa's… Um, accident, I lived by myself. Oh, well not really by myself. Sorry Bec. But then I got a ticket to Maine for a college, and well, here I am."
"That's cool." Nepeta looked down at her hand with a small smile. "I've lived here all my life. I… I really love it here. Everyone here is really nice." Well. Almost everyone.
"I really like it here too. It's pretty. My plants flourish here too. Ooh! One sec!" The gardener lept off the bench and rushed over to a storage closet ( Where the heck did that door come from? ) and returned with a cool looking bass. Nepeta twitched.
Oh lord not again.
"Sometimes," Jade said, plucking the strings. She must be tuning it. "I like to play music for my plants. It helps them grow."
"Is that what you were doing with the flute?"
"Yeah! I need a little more practice though." Jade plopped down onto the bench next to Nepeta and began to strum.
The melody wasn't bad in the slightest. It sounded brilliant, beautiful, professional. It made her feel like there wasn't really anything wrong in her life. But of course that wasn't true.
Sigh. Life was just difficult. This flower shop was filled to the brim with some sort of peaceful atmosphere.
There was no way this would be Nepeta's last visit.
The alluring smell of hot chocolate and coffee melded together to make a mouthwatering aroma. Clouded light leaked through the slightly dirty glass panes to assist the lamp's job of illuminating the quiet teahouse. Nepeta caressed her mug of chai thoughtfully as she gazed out the window. She watched as the rain filled breeze gently nudged Jade's flowers, making them dance to the sounds of nature and industrialization. It was these days she was supposed to love most: Sheltered from the light drizzle, safely in the confines of Folly's, a warm drink in her hands. The only thing she lacked was someone to share this moment with.
Someone special.
I really am hopeless. If I can't go one day without think about him, then I must have serious issues. Granted, many people fell like this towards someone. But the pain just felt so personal. It was hard to imagine that other humans felt like this. Were bodies supposed to house this much pain? Well, yeah. I mean, it's human nature right?
Heh. Not so fair. All the people in this shop seem to be acting normal. Going on with their daily lives. With a scoff, Nepeta brought her chai to her lips and blew on it carefully, steam rolling away in delicate waves.
The front door opened suddenly, the bell rattling like crazy. Nepeta looked up to observe the newcomer and nearly choked on her drink. Well… Actually she did. None too graceful either. Dammit!
Karkat was soaked. His grey sweatshirt was dark, dripping excessively whenever he moved. His hair was plastered to his face, a frown deeper set upon his features. He must have forgotten to put his contacts in, for his eyes were a dark amber red instead of a chocolate brown. He must have been freezing. To Nepeta's shock, Karkat was parted from his camera bag and gray backpack. Instead he had ( Oh noooooo ) drenched paper bags tucked under his damp sweater. The bags were on the verge of falling apart. A side began to fall apart, causing him ( And nepeta – She had lept to the rescue, ) to curse furiously, catching the groceries as they tumbled out from within the paper bag. After three minutes of, 'you got that?' 'shit Nepeta, catch that quick, OH GOD THAT'S GLASS GET IT!' and 'FUCK NO NO NO THIS ONE IS BREAKING TOO', they had settled everything into the blue booths, and Karkat had collapsed on Nepeta's side, breathing heavily. He pushed his hair out of his face and exhaled sharply, shakily.
"God DAMMIT! I should have brought my fucking car I KNEW it would rain, but noooo, I was a dumbfuck and walked instead, cause HEY! It's probably just cloudy! This is fucking MAINE, Vantas, think clearer, don't be an idiot GOD DAMMIT!" People turned their heads, thinking the raging newcomer was most likely going to throw something at anyone staring. Which was actually possible. Aheehee.
"At least you didn't bring your photography stuff," Nepeta said shyly, reaching for her messenger bag. Karkat handed it to her.
"My camera bag would protect the camera, but my notes would have been screwed."
"That's an upside, right?" Karkat looked at her as if she had grown a fourth eye. "Okay, maybe not in your opinion, but hey!" he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah yeah, what the fuck ever." He stared out the window, ( well, glared ) silently cursing out the rain. Sure, she had wanted to see him. But not with this mood. He looked absolutely miserable. Something hit her, a realization.
"Um!" He turned to look at her. "Um, I have some clothes you might be able to use!" Karkat watched her carefully while she dug through her bag. She pulled out a white and some decent looking gray capris.
"… Why the hell do you have clothes for guys?"
"These are Equius's—"
"KEEP THEM."
"—He left them at the Cleaners, so the lady that works there gave them to me, because she knew we were friends. Don't worry, they're clean! I just…" She looked away, hoping that the dim lighting would hide her blush. "I don't want you getting sick or something. Y-You'd miss you're, um, classes." She could of sworn his expression had softened. Scratch that, she would.
"Yeah, well fine." He took them from her and got up, taking off his own hoodie. "But I swear to fuckng god, if I smell even a small whiff of sweat, this is ending up back in your face."
As soon as he had vanished behind the bathroom door, she rummaged through her raincoat, retrieved her wallet, and collected a coffee for him. It's better to be warm on the inside too, afterall.