Fragment Of A Dream

Dad's Roses

Waiting. Its a game I seemingly love to play. I somehow think I have the right to play it. I seem to think time is my friend and that she'll wait for me. I am also a fool. I know it all, but I'm a fool. And even after this below underwhelming 'date', I watch him leave. I am left here at the table, alone again, chewing the straw of my milkshake instead of walking out with my foreverboy.

Am I naive for believing there is just one man out there I would not grow old of after fifteen minutes? Where did I get such childish expectations? Ah seriously. It's my fifth date just this weekend. But I'm this fool, with this foolish brain, and I know I will try again. Isn't it time I listen to aunty? I am such a wishy washy girl. A stupid, ignorant girl.

"LILY-MEI GREYHOUSE YOU ARE A WISHY WASHY GIRL! A STUPID AND IGNORANT ONE! Since when did you stop listening to your elders, hm? YOU RUDE GIRL! Ah... will I ever learn." My eyes and my heart suddenly bear the weight of my uncalculated actions. I sink into my folded arms. I want the world to go away.

"Ya! Will you watch what comes out of your gaping mouth, and at what tone? You are scaring customers!"

"Go away. Leave me. I'm tired." I mumble lazily before perking up, "Scaring customers? Hahaha, this rotten sister! I attract customers to this garbag—" I look around to find the customers have migrated to the edges leaving empty tables all around mine. "Why are you all clinging to those walls! Hm? Stop hanging your heads behind the menus! What are they, made of gold? Hm? Do they smell nice? Ah... how rude..." I exclaim with a smirk, everyone giggles as I take my coat and head for the door.

We are a family here, its my father's chain. I would count each of our customers as a friend. As a young girl, I would think of it as having multiple grandparents. The friendships I have made here are unforgettable.

"I wish I could stay with you all for a while longer. But, I'm leaving, before I lose the will to live. My bus is here. Goodbye now!"
"Oh, Lil- don't forget the roses! Dad's roses!"
The bell rings as I shut the door. The warm five o'clock summer breeze touches my face as I take in a deep sigh. Thats right, dad's roses.
"How could I almost forget? This big useless rock!" I sigh with fustration as I hold my head and scrunch up my face. I catch a glimpse of my bus around the corner and slowly smooth out my features before a wave of panic paints over me.

"Lily you are a downright moron! Get it together now, focus! Ahhh this rock! This stupid rock!" I chant while I'm running as fast as my legs will take me before catching up to my bus.

"You are not surprising in the slightest, Greyhouse." My bus driver greets me through laughter.
"Aha, yes. Uh, I'm sorry for being an inconvenience everyone." I quietly remark as I bow my head in respect.
"Yes, me too." A deep, raspy voice behind me uttered, as the sound of attractive footsteps climbed into the bus after me. You know the smart, attractive type of footstep, the one where you can tell the shoes were well paid for, the ones that are slightly heeled and—I stopped in my tracks. 'Lily, you ought to sit down immediately before you lose focus again! What creature are you to stop at the mere sound of a man? To become captivated by the sound of a footstep? Ah, you strange, silly girl.' I told myself before quickly claiming the back seat without looking anywhere but out of the window. 'Dad's roses. Dad's roses. Dad's roses.' I chant to myself.

I dared to let my bad curiosity take over me and I kept to the window. I kept to my chant before the beeping of the bus interrupted them. I leapt from my seat, said my farewell and thanks as fast as possible, and ran down the quaint market street until I got to my family's favourite flower shop, 'Fleur de Lewes'. It was decorated in colourful flowers, and the sign was painted in a fairytale book font.

"Oh my, good afternoon Lil! I haven't seen you since- well, oh nevermind. Let's get you a tea–"
"Thank you Opal, but that won't be necessary. I promise you, I absolutely must pay my visit to dad before the moon goes up! Help me gather his favourite roses quick."
"Oh! Yes, I know just the ones. Wait here."
"Only the freshest, most reddest, most beautifulest!" I called after Opal as she walked out to the stockroom. I noticed the lillies and baby's breath set up in the window display. We always had a shared interest in flowers.

I heard a rustle and jumped backwards. 'Seriously, what is wrong with me today?' I thought as I stood patiently holding my elbows. There was a giggle.
"WHO IS IT?" I bellowed as I got into karate formation and pinched my eyebrows together. "I'm warning you." I mumbled through pursed lips and my eyes firmly squinted. I hear footsteps... familar footsteps. "YA! Come out while I'm still being nice! Why would I surrender to someone who chooses to rob a flower shop! Hm? Is your brain an accessory?"

The footsteps are louder. My eyes widen as I hear them getting closer behind me. I turn at the speed of light while practicing a full roundhouse kick into the face.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" I scream, as the deliquent fell to the floor in a flurrish of sobs. "YESSS! AHA! Honestly, why aren't I Batwoman in my spare time? Look at me, saving this town a robb-"
"Hey. Little girl. Are you going to help me up or what? I think my rib is broken."

My eyes widen. Who is that... Mr. Deep Voice from the bus? I turn around slowly and stare in amazement. Amazing. How can a man be this enchanting? With his long silvery locks and sharp facial bone structure. How can a man have the prettiest eyeballs I have ever seen? Who is this man, to be in this position right now?
"Oh my. I'm so sorry. I thought you were trying to inflict a crime. Who are y- what are you doing here like that? Are you wearing a suit? Where are you from?" I ask dilligently.
"Do I owe you answers after almost seeing the light? Is that important right now? I should be suspicious of you being some kind of murderer!"
"Wah... You're right... I'm sorry. What can I do?" I say while biting my lip nervously.
He perked up and tilted his head with a weird smirk.
"What?" I say with a frown. "Why is your face like that."
"Take me to the hospital, first." He states while looking down on me with folded arms.
"First? Ah, seriously, I am in disbelief. What is that attitude?" I sigh. "Alright, I'll do it. Since I'm going there anyway." I mumble with my hands perched upon my hips. There is silence for a minute, while shooting frowns at eachother.
"OPAL! ROSES, QUICKLY." I shout, while maintaining my frown and sighing loudly. The frowns get frownier and frownier.

"Oh! A custome- Lil, do you know this man?"
He turns around swiftly,
"Does she know me? Does she know me? I almost met grim reaper thanks to this girl. Look!" He points to his bloody nose and darkened eye. I roll my eyes.
"Lily-Mei! You bad girl! Do you know what manners are? Can I leave you for ten minutes without all of hell unfolding in my shop at once?" Opal exclaims in horror.
"But I thoug-" Opal cuts me off with a few beatings.
"How dare you, what are you, some thug? you must apologise to this young gentleman." She smooths down his hair and suit, while he smirks at me annoyingly.
"Ha! Gentleman!" I exclaim.
Opal raises her hand and chases me around the shop, "Fine! Fine. I mean I already apologised but fine... I'm sorry once more... Now let's go."
"It is only proper to treat this young man to some dinner. You must be starving dear, you poor boy."
"Ah, this is really a joke. Opal, didnt I tell you where I was headed just then? Did you forget? Besides, I already ate."
"Thats fine. Im not hungry either. But we'll definitely be hungry again by tomorrow." He replies, smiling bright. My mouth has dropped in shock. The attitude of this man is making me crazy.
"You want to go to the hospital or not? I'm leaving." I say with a frown as I cradle my dad's roses carefully down the road. I giggle with pity as I hear him running after me panting and yelling.
"Wait! Lily- I think! You! Wait, I am injured. Lets go together! Are you going to ignore me right now?"

~ end of chapter one.
Feedback or even a vote would cheer me on absolutely! I would appreciate it a lot, I already envision the direction of this story and I think it means a lot to me, so I hope a bunch of other people will enjoy it as much as me and people will continue to read. Thank you ~