iii.

The next day, I found myself in my shop as usual, tending to a pot of globe amaranths that had fully bloomed over the past two days. I was pulling some out, watering the rest, and planting new seeds for new ones.

I stared at the flowers in my hand for a second before deciding to make a new bouquet to sit on the desk. I snipped the ends of the flowers and placed them inside a vase that would fit them best, a tall slim one that opened a bit more at the top. I opened my book of flower meanings and slowly read over the ones I planned to get to make sure I remembered them correctly.

During my senior year of high school, I had taken to memorizing the meanings of flowers so I would always know, but sometimes the meanings were a bit fuzzy to me. I easily made a small checklist in my head and spun around the shop, grabbing the needed flowers, dancing a bit to the song on the radio, one by Bon Jovi, though I didn't remember the name.

I swayed my hips to the beat and snipped some more flowers before placing them in the vase as well, the colors blending together seamlessly. I smiled a bit, placing a soft yellow marigold in the middle, the larger flower bringing it all together. I filled it with water, sprinkling a bit of food in to keep it alive.

I placed the vase beside the register and looked around the shop, making note of things I needed to buy, more seeds or bigger pots for certain flowers. I moved and watered a few plants that looked like they needed it, swapping plants that needed more sun than others. I made the shop look just a bit better.

I hummed a bit to myself, trying to figure out what to do next before coming to the realization that I still had the dreamcatcher in my purse. I hadn't found a place for it near my bed that would be good for it, so I kept it in my bag so I wouldn't lose it.

I gasped happily and skipped across the room, grabbing my purse quickly. I opened my purse and grabbed the dreamcatcher easily, making sure to be a little careful with it so nothing would break. I then grabbed some floral tape that matched the string close enough and taped the feathers down so I knew they wouldn't fall. I smiled at the large hoop and looked around, deciding to place it on the wall behind the register where there was a small space open from the flowers surrounding the other walls.

I grabbed a nail and a book since I didn't have a hammer and hit the nail into the wall, smiling as I hooked the string on top of the dreamcatcher to the nail. It hung perfectly, like it was made to sit right there on the wall. I grinned at it a second longer before turning as I heard the bell to my shop door ring.

It was him, the curly-haired boy from before. He was standing in my shop, looking around at everything as if he was searching for something specific. Maybe he was, and I just didn't know.

I was scared to talk, afraid that he might be as rude as he looked, but I plastered a fake smile on my face and stepped to where I normally stood behind the counter. "Hello, how may I help you?"

The boy was obviously caught off guard as if he hadn't expected me to talk to him. "Nah, I'm just looking." I nodded and sent him a smaller smile as he looked over his shoulder toward me. He was staring at one of my pots of flowers. He turned a bit to look at me, pointing at them. "What are those?"

I stepped around the counter, walking over to where he was, my bare feet barely making sound against the flooring. I recognized the flowers almost immediately. "Anemone. They're used to symbolize being forsaken, undying love, or anticipation depending on what culture you're looking at. They're put in a lot of my funeral bouquets."

He nodded a bit. "She put them on my grave," he mumbled quietly to himself as if he hadn't meant for me to hear it. I raised my eyebrows a bit but ignored it, moving towards my radio as I talked.

"Are you looking for something for a specific occasion?" I fiddled with the stations, listening as his boots clunked against the flooring. "Normally people come to get flowers for someone specific."

"Got anything for vampires?" I turned my head to see him standing near me, a grin cracked across his face as if he was telling a joke I didn't understand.

I laughed a bit. "Actually, I do." He tilted his head a bit, and I motioned my head toward the bouquet sitting beside my cash register. "I just made that earlier. Maybe I knew you were coming in." My voice was teasing a bit as I relaxed just a bit. He didn't seem as bad as I originally thought. I turned away from the radio as a Queen song began playing. I stepped back to the counter and smiled as he met my eyes.

"What do they mean?" He crossed his arms and motioned to the flowers with his head.

I pointed to each flower easily as I spoke. "Globe Amaranth represents immortal love. Begonias meant to beware. Lobelia means malevolence. Marigold is pain and grief. Black roses mean death but also rebirth."

"Kinda dark, don't you think?"

I shrugged a bit. "Vampires literally live in the dark."

"Do you believe in vampires?"

I shrugged again. "I don't have reason not to believe in them."

He smirked at that. "How much would it be to buy these?"

I hummed and looked at them. "Thirty and your name." I was tired of calling him 'the curly-haired boy.'

He laughed at that, a small chuckle, but a laugh nonetheless. "Does your name also come with the purchase?"

"Maybe," I teased, smirking. I could flirt with him. It didn't matter. It wasn't like I was with someone.

"Well, then I guess I better pay up." He pulled a wallet from his back pocket and pulled out two twenties. "You can keep the change. My name is Marko."

I smiled, taking the money and placing it in my register. "My name is Evangeline."

"Well, Evangeline," he dragged out. God, I loved how he said my name. "How would you like to close up shop and come hang out with me and my friends for a little bit?"

This was a huge no-no in my book. This goes against my entire schedule to stay safe. What was I doing? If I kept this up, I could end up getting hurt, and yet, somehow, I didn't care. I was tired of living life like I was, constantly worried. Maybe I should do this. Marigold would be proud. I would have finally done something spontaneous. But, maybe this first time being spontaneous would be the jump that killed me.

I wanted to say yes. The worst that happened would be that I died, but really, is that so bad? What does this world even have for me? I run a flower shop, and I'm in love with a girl that doesn't love me back. I could just be another missing poster on the board walk that disappeared within days after being covered with hundreds of others.

Marko was watching me have my internal debate, a stupid smirk on his face like he knew what I was thinking. He was a complete stranger, a hot stranger, but a stranger that had been watching me for the past two days. He was going to kill me, and I wouldn't even get to say goodbye to Marigold. I sighed and shrugged.

"Yeah, why not." I already had the question answered before I even thought through everything. My fate was sealed.

Marko grinned a broad grin and watched as I took the flowers from the vase, wrapping them in black paper and tying a white bow around it. "I think you'll like our group."

I hummed a bit, thinking back to when I had seen the four of them together. "I hope so. I would be pretty disappointed if you invited me somewhere that isn't fun."

Marko chuckled again and leaned forward, placing his elbow on the counter so he could place his chin in his hand. "Then, we'll try not to disappoint."

I nodded and slid the flowers toward him. He grabbed them and smiled another toothy grin. I grabbed all the money from the register and stuffed it in my purse. I looked over the shop to make sure everything was okay before turning back to Marko who was watching my movements like he had been doing for the past few nights.

"Why are you always watching me," I questioned, raising my eyebrows a bit as I moved around the counter, trying not to get my shorter skirt caught on the marble.

I was clad in an unusual outfit for me, but I had been feeling particularly pretty tonight. I was dressed in a black high-waisted skirt that only reached mid-thigh at most. For a shirt, I had on a dark red crop top that ended just below my breasts, exposing most of my stomach and most of my black lacey bra when I lifted my arms. I was also wearing red fishnet tights and a pair of black flats on my feet. I grabbed my radio and turned it off.

Marko hummed, sitting back up again, but this time, he leaned against the counter as he watched me put my radio back in its spot in a drawer. "What do you mean?"

"The past two days. You've been watching me."

Marko hummed, and I heard his boots clang on the ground as he walked towards me. Then, I felt his breath right against my neck. His hands slowly slid to the uncovered curve of my waist, and I silently regretted my choice of attire for the evening. I froze, just taking in his oddly cold hands grab my waist in a way that I knew was wrong yet somehow felt right. My mind was chaos at the moment. Marko's breath fanned over my neck and shoulder, making me shiver a bit at the cold feeling. "Well, you are quite beautiful, and I like looking at beautiful people."

I blushed a soft red, not too noticeably unless you looked, but I felt my face heating up just enough. It had been a while since I was called beautiful by someone. Marigold took to the harsher words that made me feel good, but it wasn't the same. "I can't say I agree with your observation, but I'll take the compliment." My voice was breathless as I felt Marko inching closer to my face, and I was overcome with a sudden urge to turn my face and kiss him. It was a feverish feeling that I hadn't felt in a long time. It was foreign. I was so utterly attracted to him.

"Baby, you're the prettiest girl I've seen on this boardwalk. I was simply captivated." I giggled a bit at that, feeling like a schoolgirl with her first crush as warmth filled my chest.

I tilted my head back a bit, laying it on his shoulder so I could see him a bit more. "We shouldn't keep your friends waiting, Marko."

Marko grinned before leaning in a bit more and pressing his lips against my throat making my suck in a breath. He was feather-like. It was almost as if he wasn't even there. "I'm sure they could wait, Evangeline."

I hummed and closed my eyes for a second. "We shouldn't do that."

"Do what, Angel?" Oh, god, that was perfect coming from him.

"I just met you, Marko. We shouldn't be doing this."

Marko chuckled, pressed another kiss, though this one was on the juncture between my neck and shoulder. "I don't see anything wrong with this. We're just enjoying our time. You only live once. Make it last."

I hummed lightly and rolled my head to the side, giving him more access. "And how many girls have you done this to?"

"You're the only one."

"Somehow, I really don't believe that."

Marko growled teasingly and nipped at my neck softly. I giggled and pulled away, turning so I was facing him. "We do need to stop, and you told me you were going to introduce me to your friends!"

"Now, I don't want to. I just want you all to myself." His tone was hinting at something else, something I didn't understand.

I raised an eyebrow, wrapping my arms around his neck. "What do you mean? What are you hiding?"

Marko smiled a bit at my action and shook his head, wrapping his arms back around my waist. "It's nothing you need to know about right now."

"Then, what are you worried about? You're the one who invited me. I can go back behind the counter, if you don't want to take me." I didn't want for that to happen. I wanted a night of adventure for once. I wanted to disappear for a few days and have nobody question where I went but Marigold when she saw I was gone. Maybe it was spite on how she was always gone, but I didn't care. I was living for once. I was letting a boy I just met kiss my neck and hold me and call me names she never had. Why should I care about her one bit?

"I just don't want them to steal you from me, Angel."

I smiled a bit. "And why would they do that?"

"Because you're beautiful, and they're way better looking than me." I could tell he believed that. Insecurity laced his voice, and it hurt me just a bit.

I shook my head and kissed his cheek. "Now, I'm not sure if that's possible. You're possibly the cutest boy I've ever seen."

Marko gasped. "I'm not cute, I'm hot and irresistible."

I laughed loudly as he rose his voice to imitate a girl talking about him. "Do you tell yourself that every night to help with self-confidence or something?"

Marko gasped again, a fake frown plastered across his face, though he seemed to have a hard time keeping a smile off of his face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, yeah, loverboy. I won't spill your secret." I laughed loudly again, and he looked at me in awe as my face twisted in giggles. His eyes seemed to hold such emotion for a few seconds before they were guarded again, and his usual smirk was plastered across his face.

"Yeah, they're gonna like you."

I moved back and slung my purse over my shoulder, leading him out of the store. I turned off the lights and locked up the doors many locks. "Let's hope so."

"You're a very likeable girl, Evangeline," Marko stated, slinging his arm over my shoulder as I pulled away from the door after a few seconds of fiddling with the last lock.

"I like to think so."

"Well, let's see what they think."