I let out a light sigh as I walk around the town, doing my best to avoid making eye contact with the strangers around me. I really need to find my dogs. And if not Jett, then at least Jaiden. Jaiden is old and going senile so who knows the trouble he could get into.
"Hierr!" I call, feeling the stranger's uneasy and puzzled gazes directed on my back. I-I shouldn't care what they think. B-But so many people are s-s-staring a-and ... she nervously gulps, running a hand through her hair as her cheeks darken in embarrassment. I was the one who lost them and I need to find them as soon as I can.
"Hierr, Jaiden, Jett!" I cry, hearing the faint trill in my voice. S-Stop, stop I need to stop thinking about it.
Listen to that strange voice.
What language is that?
Why is she shouting in a public area?
Why is she doing that?
Why is she so loud?
Why?
Why?
WhY?
"Hey, who are you calling a 'her'?" A voice calls out. I look over towards the voice, craning my head down at a hooded crouching figure looking up at me. He stood up, pulling off some dirt covered gloves and tossing them onto the flower bed he was working on.
"H-Her? N-N-No, I was s-saying hierr." I sheepishly correct, taking a step back from the man. Oh ... no, boy. He's much younger than I am.
"No, you calling me womanly?" He demands, getting a little huffy as he stands directly between me and the flowerbed, puffing himself up like a pigeon to make himself look bigger. Is ... this a joke? Oh, wait, I caught him doing some 'unmanly' so he's trying to defend his reputation. I-I should say something nice and compliment him.
"U-Um, n-n-no, not at all." I sheepishly say, hands up in a surrendering motion but in a position I can defend and make a fast counter if necessary. "T-Those are some beautiful daffodils you have there." His head darts back, looking at his work before whipping back around, grinding his teeth.
"T-That's enough. Get out of here." He growls, tensing his shoulders under his hood and trying to look bigger as he tries to menacingly approach me.
" ... do not size me up, sir." I politely say, standing tall and looking down to him. "I did not say anything insulting. Your flowers are really beautiful a-and I want to buy some." I stammer, looking over the flowers inside and outside of the flower shop. The concept of a customer shuts him up as he thinks it over. After a moment of mulling over it he slumps over, turning towards the entrance to guide me inside.
"In a pot or wrapped?"
"U-Um, pot please."
"You'll have wrapped." He corrects, looking over the flowers with an experience twisting about on his face.
"O-Ok." I quietly say, looking around at all the beautiful flowers. So beautiful ... I've tried to get into gardening before but I believe I was too rough with them. The stems broke when I tried to gently readjust them and I didn't have the heart to plant more flowers knowing I would more than likely strangle the poor things. The boy takes out an apron and pops it around his shoulders, pulling out a pair of curved cutters.
He lets out a deep sigh, glaring up at me with intense concentration. I stiffen up, suddenly nervous as I look off to the side. N-No, I need to be polite. I force my eyes back to his face, staring into the empty space where his eyes would be if they were there. He hardly moves, becoming like a statue as he studies my every movement, analyzing it to their finest detail.
"Got it." He says out of the blue, heading to the back of the shop. I nervously trot after him, walking past the gorgeous array of vegetation. The flowers, large and small, are arranged in sections of color all over the small shop. My gaze wanders all around, not paying attention as I bump into the young man.
"S-Sorry!" I quickly apologize, jumping back as my heart stutters in beat. He stands up, ignoring my apology and heads towards the front counter. He gently props the cut flowers on its side, ringing them up and flipping out a little card.
"$18.58." He curtly states as he scribbles onto the little card.
"R-Right." I stammer, pulling out my wallet and taking out a twenty. He sticks the card into the flowers and takes the bill, about to set it in the register before taking another look at the money. "I-Is something wrong?" I ask, taking another look at the bill. I handed him the right amount. He stares at it for a little longer before sticking it under the counter and handing me the flowers.
"Take them and get out." He flatly states, handing the flowers to me.
"O-Oh, um, my change?" I ask, watching as he locks the register.
"That's my tip." He claims, walking to the back of the store.
"Tip, r-right, ok?" I say, watching as the steps into the back and shuts the door. Um ... I want my change ... but then again I-I shouldn't make a scene over that little bit. I'll let it go. I shuffle the flowers into one arm, heading out the door with the beautiful bouquet. I pause as the card flutters out of the bouquet and onto the ground. I pluck it off the ground and tuck it into my back pocket, looking around as I try to think of where my dogs might be. Maybe at a park? No, I doubt it. They would more than likely be around other people.
"Jaiden, Jett, heirr!" I call, my voice getting hoarse from shouting too much. Ugh ... how long have I been out today? It feels like I've been walking around and searching for nearly half a day. The dog whistle rolls around in my palm as I blow on it, adjusting the frequency every now and then. When either Jett or Jaiden hears this they will come running. Since they haven't come running yet they are either out of ear shot or ... no, no I don't want to think about that.
My stomach viciously growls as I pass a few venders selling some amazingly smelling delicious food. Oh goodness that smells good ... I pull out my wallet and shuffle everything else into one arm, hopping in line and looking over the menus. Oh goodness I can feel myself drooling.
"Good Afternoon, darlin'. What can I get ya?" He asks with a friendly tone, waving his arms over the hot dogs and soups he has available at his cart.
"U-Um, can I have a regular hot dog with mustard a-and a bottle of water?" I ask, watching as he fishes the hot dog out.
"Sure thing. $6.25." The man smiles, keeping the food out of reach until I give him the money. I slip out ten dollars, handing him the bill and eagerly waiting for the change. He takes it but pauses, flipping the bill over in his hand as his brow scrunches together in confusion. "The hell is this?"
"M-Money ... i-i-it's money." I stammer, flinching at the rage blazing over his face. W-What's wrong with it? I-It's money! It's not fake!
"This ain't no currency I accept here! Give me real money." He growls, ripping the bill in half right in front of me. Gah! No! My moneyyy!
"Wait! Wait! W-Why did you rip it?!" I shout, mortified. Who goes around ripping up money?!
"This here is fake money! You! Out! Get out! I don't accept no cons here, Bermuda or Dupre alike!" He angrily shouts, reaching across the counter and shoving me back into another customer.
"B-Bermuda?" I stutter, tripping over the ground as someone shoves me from behind. I fall right on top of the flowers, crushing the delicate petals under my weight. O-Oh no, I crushed the flowers! I push myself up to my knees and quickly try to salvage the remains but a sharp blow to the back of my head knocks the fake glasses right off my face. I roll onto my hands and instinctively kick towards the threat to make him back off, spying the employee leap back and barely avoid it. H-He just hit me?!
"Get lost! Your kind ain't wanted here!" He spat, bringing his fist back. My heart jerks with fear as the other customers take hesitant steps back, unwilling to come forward and stop him. I leap back, snatching my glasses up off the ground and leaving the poor crumpled flowers on the ground.
I get some distance between us, watching as he stomps on the flowers the kind boy from before gave me. W-Why ... why is this man being so cruel? I haven't done anything wrong. The blood drains from my face in sheer horror of his treatment towards me. Unable to turn my head away I watch his foot grind the flowers into the ground.
Everyone is staring.
No one is saying anything.
Everyone is watching.
No one is stepping forward.
But this ... this is not right.
"Get out! Right now!" He spat, raising his arm in a show of dominance. I feel the emotion drain from my face as my heart hardens. This man cannot be allowed to do this. He refused my service though I paid him. I would be fine with that. But the second he raised his fist against me, a woman, smaller than him and assumingly weaker than him,
It's on mother ... whoops, no bad words allowed.
"You stepped on my flowers. Get off." I order, staring at his shoulders. Hot tempered. Anger issues. Can't think through things clearly when angry. Yes, his type is too easy to beat and predict. He raised a fist to me, a woman, which indicates low morals. Basically, city scum. Though the punch was full of power it was messy and sloppily executed.
"What, these? Oh f*** off, Bermuda!" He angrily spits, grinding the sole into the flowers. The normal pangs of self consciousness that would strike me have no effect on my stiff heart as I step towards him.
"That's enough. I am a Fernandez, Avery Fernandez from Chicago. This is the last time I ask nicely. Get. Off. Those. Flowers. A nice young man gave them to me." I order, feeling anger flare up. How dare he do this to me. To anyone. This is not acceptable common behavior.
"What, you gonna shoot me dead? Go ahead, you son of a b**** Bermuda!" He spits, "I ain't no coward to use a weapon-"
"But you're cowardly enough to fight a woman?" I cut in, putting my fists up. "Oh, wait, bump my knuckles." I say, holding out my fists towards him.
"Bump your- the f***, Bermuda, you screwing with me?!" He growls, getting angry as he moves to shove my shoulders back. My eyes angrily flash as I step into him, giving his jaw a strong uppercut. His head bobbles back with a powerful whiplash as I dig my fist into his gut and force him back. He grips his chin and glares at me as I kneel down, picking up the pieces of the flowers.
"You, what are you doin'? What she doin'?" He demands before asking a bystander. I pick up what pieces I could, noticing a single flower had made it through the man's angry rage. I separate the Gladiolus from the others, giving the petals a small kiss. At least one got away from his foot.
"Sorry for causing a scene, s-sir." I stammer, feeling a frightened tear fall down my cheek. I-I'm so confused ... why would no one say anything and why would he crush my flowers? I didn't do anything wrong.
"H-Hey, hey." The employee weakly barks, obviously losing confidence in his right to hit me. I listen intently, making sure he isn't going to chase after me as I walk away. Forget it. I ... what should I do? I didn't want to fight him and I fought him. My gosh ... why am I so wishy washy? But, h-he learned his lesson, I'm sure, and I need to go find my dogs.
I weakly blow into the whistle, heading back to the Train Station. Ugh, I'm just exhausted at this point and I haven't seen either of my dogs. With each long exhale I blow into the dog whistle, praying that either Jaiden or Jett will hear it and come up running. My heart stutters as I hear paws scampering across a hard surface. Jaiden, Jett-?! I whip around, spying a tiny, dirt clad dog trot up to me. Oh ... it's a ... what kind of dog is that?
"Are you hurt?" I ask, getting to my knees as the friendly dog trots right up to me. Oh~ the dog is limping a little bit. Oh, girl, definitely a girl. She cheerfully licks my finger, her tail wagging as she leans up against my leg. Cute~
"Are you lost?" I ask aloud, slipping my hand up under the little dog's belly and chest. She lets me pick her up, offering another friendly lick right under my chin. So cute. I tap her nose with my finger, noticing how dry it is. She's dehydrated and dirty. The least I can do is clean her up and give her some water.
"It's alright, little girl, I got you." I smile, gently cradling her and heading to the Train Station. My fingers comb through her fur, feeling for a collar under her long dirty fur. She doesn't have a collar on. Is she a stray then? I look around the area, searching for an owner who could be looking for her. No one seems to be looking for her. Awe ... poor girl. I'll just take her home and clean her up a bit. I smile at the thought, tempted to give her a kiss on the forehead but have second thoughts. Yuck ... a kiss after the bath, definitely.
Awe poor Avery :( well, next chapter should be fun. 10 REVIEWS for the next chapter~! :D