Chapter 3 - Flowers

Sebastian sighed as he laid on his bed and looked at the ceiling. Sleep hadn't been easy the night before and thanks to the festival he had been up for almost twenty-four hours. Normally it wasn't unusual for him to wake up late midday and work through to the early hours. Yesterday though, he was obligated to be up much earlier than he would on an average day and the festival ran on till late. His body clock was completely out of sync and he wasn't sure why he couldn't drop off. He would almost always fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow after being forced to be social all day with the rest of the village. He picked up his phone and checked the time. Seven thirty in the morning. There would be no point trying to sleep till later, he needed to at least try to control his sleep pattern.

He sat up and pulled on a pair of trainers and a hoodie, grabbing his cigarettes from the side. Being outside this stuffy room would help. He quietly made his way out of the house and wandered to the lake side. It was a little foggy and chill but in a pleasing way. The day before had been so bright and hot, he was glad of the change. Treacherously his mind wandered back to the festival…

'…Would you want to dance with me?' Rina asked softly with a small smile. Sebastian's cheeks went pink and he looked at her in surprise. He couldn't deny that he wanted to dance with her, she had almost made his mouth drop open with the sweet white dress she was wearing. Her long, slightly curled, dark hair was loose and crowned with a wreath of wild flowers.

'I-I'm sorry,' he said when he finally got a grip on himself.

Rina's face flushed red with embarrassment, 'oh! No! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have… it's fine, really,' she said quickly trying to defuse the feeling of rejection.

He sighed and pulled an apologetic smile. 'It's just that I already promised Abi that I would be her partner,' he explained. Not in a thousand years would he have expected Rina to ask him. That she would even want to be included in the festival.

'I mean, of course,' Rina nodded as she held her arm. 'You two are really sweet together, you probably dance with her every year,' she mumbled. The way she said it was more to herself than to guilt him. He could tell that she was only speaking her mind, nothing malicious. 'I should have been more aware, instead of asking at the last moment and putting you in this awkward position.'

Sebastian wished he could smoke right now, this was painful. 'It's just what's happened since we were young, it doesn't mean anything,' he said honestly. 'I would have danced with you… if I hadn't promised her,' he admitted.

Rina forced a smile and nodded, 'it's okay. Besides, I knew I might not be able to find someone as y'know I've only just moved here. That's just the way it is,' she said brightly and nodded again. 'Vincent wanted to practise so I'll ask him, I'm sure he'll like that,' she smiled.

'Vincent?' Sebastian chuckled.

'Yeah, he wants to ask Penny to marry him when he's older,' Rina laughed. 'I could help him to learn how to dance, it's not like I know the steps properly either.'

Sebastian looked at her carefully, ignoring the fact that his heart picked up as he noticed the light freckles that dusted her cheeks. 'Hey, Tyrell,' he said as he gained her attention. She looked back at him and tilted her head; he reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. 'Next year,' he promised.

Rina laughed and rolled her eyes, playfully knocking his hand away, feeling the tension break. 'I'll hold you to that…'

Sebastian mentally groaned. He could have explained to Abigail and said that it was Rina's first time, that it would have been mean to leave her out. It just didn't sit right with him though; Abigail was one of his best friends and she had asked him first. He wasn't sure why it bothered him so much that he had to refuse Rina, or why he even cared. With a practised hand, he pulled a cigarette out the pack and placed it between his lips while he looked for his lighter.

With a cuss of annoyance, he realised that he had left it inside. 'Damn it,' he muttered. He sighed and turned to walk back to the house when he spotted Rina walking towards him. 'Sebastian,' she said with a grin as she got closer. 'Didn't expect to see you out here,' she said as she looked around at the early morning.

'Ha, yeah, couldn't sleep and so I came out for a quick one and I have just found out that I kinda left my lighter in my room,' he explained.

Rina shook her head and rolled her eyes as she opened her bag. 'I shouldn't be encouraging this habit,' she said as she found the lighter she carried and pulled it out. 'There is a condition,' she said as she held it out. Sebastian raised a brow and reached out to take it, pausing so she would finish her sentence. 'You have to give me one,' she stated simply.

He was surprised but held out the pack, open. Rina took one and lit it easily before passing over the lighter for him to do the same. 'I didn't know you smoked,' he said, trying not to watch her do so. It was strangely attractive to him. Probably because he indulged in the same sin. She inhaled and exhaled deeply, her shoulders relaxing as she did so.

'Not for years,' she admitted with a heavy sigh. She looked at the cigarette in her fingers. 'At least you don't smoke a rubbish brand,' she mused. 'Don't let me have anymore, though. This is… just a slip up.'

Sebastian leaned against the nearby tree as they smoked and looked her over. 'So, what has caused you to slip up after years? If you don't mind me asking,' he added, aware that it could be personal and his question could come across as rude.

Rina didn't answer for a couple of moments but then caught his eye. 'My father wrote to me,' she said quietly. 'Except it wasn't him as it was signed, "Dad" and he would have scolded me from here to kingdom come if I ever called him that,' she grumbled. 'More like it was sent from his secretary with some token amount of monies, just to remind me that he's still there. Lurking, watching… criticizing everything I do,' Rina muttered. She finished the cigarette and stubbed it out on a large boulder nearby before putting it into a metal can that she carried with her to put rubbish inside. 'Anyway, I didn't come up to talk about him or ambush you while you're trying to relax,' she said apologetically.

'I don't mind,' he admitted. It didn't seem like there were any bad feelings about the day before so perhaps all the guilt was in his head. That was a little reassuring at least.

Rina waved away his words and then smiled at him, 'actually, I came up to give you something,' she said as she went back into her bag. 'Um, I remembered how you said you liked them and well,' she said as she produced a rather large turnip from the depths of her carrier. 'I know it's silly to give you a vegetable but it's the best one I've grown… also I'm kinda proud of myself for doing so and well, I wouldn't have been able to do it without your help, well, you and your mum, so… yeah,' she babbled as she held out the turnip.

Sebastian gently took it from her and couldn't help but smile. Rina continued to chatter, 'I have more to give your mum, thought she would cook something nice with them. I was just gonna leave one for you so you wouldn't actually have to accept it if you didn't want to, that sort of thing-'

'This… is great,' Sebastian said as he cut off her endless repeated words. 'Really,' he assured. 'I really like turnips,' he smiled. 'Thanks, Tyrell,' he added making a light blush highlight her cheeks.

'Yeah… well… don't think too much of it,' she muttered in a tease, making Sebastian smirk in reply.

'Perish the thought,' he replied making her giggle. 'Come on, might as well have breakfast if we're both up,' Sebastian said with a stretch. She began to refuse but he gave her a look, she had lost weight. He knew it was from working on the farm and also that she hadn't been eating properly, money was a little scarce for her and so she relied on what she gathered. 'Humour me,' he said bluntly making her give in.

'Alright but this is under protest,' she muttered as he walked past her.

'Noted,' he said as he rolled his eyes in humour.

The breakfast was a reasonably comfortable affair and Maru joined them halfway through which eased any other worries that Rina had been subconsciously dwelling on. Sebastian excused himself, stating that he had work to be getting on with if he wasn't going to be able to force himself to sleep. Rina smiled at him as he left and then turned to Maru once she was sure he had gone. 'Can I talk to you?' She asked.

Maru nodded and swallowed her gulp of tea. 'Of course, Rina,' she said simply.

'Can we go to your room?' Rina added.

Maru was a little confused at the sudden need for privacy but didn't say anything and simply picked up her mug and motioned for Rina to follow her. Rina left the produce she had brought for Robin on the kitchen side before joining. Once inside Maru's bedroom Rina sighed heavily. 'What's this about?' Maru asked as she perched on the side of her bed. She patted the quilt for Rina to sit beside her.

Rina sat down heavily and looked at her hands, 'it's… weird. Kinda about Sebastian-'

'Oh Yoba! You like him!' Maru gasped excitedly.

Rina jolted at her sudden interruption and then rapidly shook her head, 'no! No, it's not like that. Do I like Sebastian? Yes, as a friend, a good friend, nothing more,' she clarified. 'It's about… his relationship with Abigail,' she mumbled. 'I don't like talking about people behind their backs, it's rude… but I feel like she's… weird with me.'

Maru nodded, 'oh yeah, she's definitely not feeling your vibe at the moment,' she agreed.

'So, I'm not being paranoid?' Rina asked. 'Are they like dating? Or y'know, the whole friends with benefits sort of thing? I don't want her thinking that I'm trying to get close to him with ulterior motives. We're friends, that's it.'

Sebastian's sister sighed, 'you're not being paranoid and as far as I know, there's nothing romantic or like, sexual between them. They're close. That's about it. They grew up together and are always paired together during festivals. In a town like this, your future is sort of based on whom you grew up with and hung out with. People basically expect those two to marry,' she said simply. 'She was a little weird with you after the whole "asking him to dance" thing with Seb,' she confirmed. 'I kinda heard her talking to him about it.'

'Oh Yoba,' Rina cursed. 'Is this gossip or do you really think I should know it? If it's not really vital I'd rather be ignorant about it,' she said honestly.

Maru bit her lip and then took a sip of her tea, 'hmm, hard to say. It's not gossip as in it's not like being said maliciously or mean, though I do think you should know,' she said. Rina sighed again and nodded, prompting Maru to continue in her story…

'At least the worst bit is over and done with and I can get out this damn, stupid outfit,' Sebastian muttered as they all began to disperse and wander around the field. He smiled softly as he spotted Rina dancing with Vincent to the music that was still gently playing. She spun around, causing her dress to flare out and then pretended to swoon much to Vincent's joy. He chuckled and walked over to Sam who was holding a drink out to him. 'So, you danced with Penny this year?' Sebastian said conversationally.

'I… contemplated asking Rina but… she was already playfully dancing with Vincent,' Sam said honestly. 'Thought it might be weird for her, she admitted she didn't know the steps to Abi and well, I didn't want her to feel embarrassed.'

'She spoke to Abi?' Sebastian inquired before his brain caught up.

'Yeah, they were chatting about clothes and Rina was asking if her dress was appropriate seeing as she doesn't match the rest of them. Then Rina asked if it would be weird if she asked someone to dance and Abi said that she should. I walked over and Rina said she was gonna go chat to someone else, and so I chatted with Abi until the dance,' he said with a shrug of his shoulder. 'Why?'

'She… asked me to dance,' Sebastian admitted quietly. 'I had to tell her no and I feel like a jerk,' he sighed.

Sam nodded, though Sebastian could tell it was heavy with bitterness. 'Sucks, man. Maybe next year though,' he added and both of them smiled the tension broken.

Abigail walked over and crossed her arms in front of Sebastian, 'Sam? Can I have a minute?'

He raised a brow and shared a look with Sebastian, 'uh, sure thing, Abi. I'll go talk to… anyone else,' he said as he clinked glasses with Sebastian in brotherly solidarity and wandered off. He was used to Abigail wanting to have a little chat with his best friend every now and then.

Sebastian gave Abigail a look and then waited for her to speak. She didn't look happy but he couldn't see why it was his fault. 'Spit it out, I'm not going to wait all day for whatever you want to say to me,' he said bluntly. Annoyed that she had been off colour towards him for what felt like weeks.

'You like Rina,' Abigail snapped. 'I heard she asked you to dance and that you promised her next year,' she said simply. 'You said you were moving next year and that this was more than likely going to be the last flower dance you attend.'

'Okay?' Sebastian said with a shrugged shoulder. 'I am planning to move to the city and if per chance I am still here during the festival and she still wants me as a partner, I'll dance with her. It doesn't mean anything Abi, why are you getting so wound up about her? I thought you two were friends,' he said before sipping his drink. 'Actually, I'm getting really tired of all this whinging in regards to her.'

'So, you don't deny it-'

'Oh, my Yoba, Abi,' Sebastian sighed. 'You're not my girlfriend. You're not the girl I'm seeing, you're a friend, and I considered you a good one at that. Lately though, you've been acting… I don't know territorial towards me and honestly, it's boring. I like Tyrell. She's sweet and kind, she's going to be a good friend, we can have a laugh around each other but I'm not looking for a relationship. Neither is she. What you think the first thing she's going to do after she moves to a new life is hook up with someone? Come on. Stop acting like this, it's not you,' he said as he finished his drink.

'I just feel… that you're gonna forget about me now that she's around,' Abigail said quietly as she looked at the grass.

'Then that's your problem, Abi. You know me better than that and honestly? Perhaps you should be asking yourself why you're so threatened by her. Maybe it's not because I'm hanging out with her, maybe it's because you're not,' he said simply. 'If you can't be nice to her or civil, do her a favour and leave her be. She doesn't need this when she's only just moved here.'

Maru sighed and looked at Rina. 'Seb pretty much ignored her for the rest of the day and boy, she wasn't happy,' she explained. 'So, when you tried to talk to her and she ignored you… wasn't your fault. Sounds like she's going through something.'

Rina exhaled and stuck out her tongue in a gesture of exasperation. 'Talk about a clusterfuck,' she muttered, making Maru laugh. 'Well, she can have a problem with me if she wants, I'm not in school anymore. I'm gonna crack on and do what I'm doing. If she wants to talk about it, fine. I'm not dealing with petty shit.'