A Flower Thief

It was a bright, cloudless day. The sun was shining, the flowers were practically glowing; it was a perfect spring day. The entire world was smiling.

But I sure wasn't.

I was strolling down the sidewalk, as somber as always on occasions like this. I wasn't particularly depressed, but it was difficult to be truly happy considering my objective. If any smile were to be elicited from me, it would probably be paired with tears of bittersweet memories and longing.

As I had many times before, I snuck my way down the driveway of a certain house to the edge of the front yard. I reached down to pluck a few flowers, but then straightened and glanced around. Having a better idea, I ignored the more basic tulips and carnations and such present in the front lawn and crept around to the backyard.

In the past I'd only taken a couple flowers from the front, but today was different, so I checked behind the house to see if there were any better flowers I could possibly take. Sure enough, there were a few other types in the backyard – including irises, blue ones. Surely nothing could be more perfect? I carefully plucked a few, trying not to disturb the dirt and surrounding flowers, and started walking back down to the sidewalk.

I was able to get most of the way, when suddenly a hand appeared on my shoulder and pulled, and I heard a voice floating over from behind me. "And just what, exactly, do you think you're doing?"

I turned as the hand pulled me, and winced as I saw a girl with a bit of a haughty expression, one hand on her hip, glaring at me. I clutched the flowers to my chest and bit my lip, averting my gaze away from her. She leaned forward and stared harder at me, reiterating what she'd said. "I asked, boy, what do you think you're doing?"

I sighed and looked back over to her. She appeared to be only a year or so older than me, no older than 17. I straightened my back as much as I could, but even so only had an inch of height on her – I wasn't winning the intimidation game. Trying not to mutter under my breath, I said "Well, uhm, I'm... stealing flowers to give to someone, I guess."

She snorted and flipped her hair. "Well, at least you're honest about it. You've been doing this for a while now, haven't you? I've noticed flowers missing from the front garden for a few months now. This seems to be first time you've taken from the back, though. Why do you keep doing this? What for?"

I bit my lip, not quite willing to say the real reason as it was a little bit embarrassing. "Well, obviously they're for someone. And today's a... special anniversary. So I wanted to take better flowers... I'm sorry for the theft. I just... needed them." I spoke a bit haltingly, slowly, trying to be vague. She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, looking at me. "Alright then; I'm coming with you."

"Wait, what?"

"I said I'm coming with you. I want to make sure this girl is pretty enough to warrant stealing flowers from my garden."

I opened my mouth to correct her, but opted against it and merely turned around, biting my cheek. Should I tell her? How would I even break it to her? I had no choice to but to shrug and, still clutching the flowers, start walking. "I guess I can't stop you..." I heard her snort again, and I was sure she'd be thinking something like "Damn right you can't!" but she stayed quiet and simply started following.

As I turned onto the sidewalk, my mind was still in turmoil. Should I really go there? I had no girl to go throw them at, so it was either tell to her leave or do what I wanted to do... but should I inform her first? She'd be certainly surprised if we arrive at my destination still thinking I was giving these to some crush or girlfriend of mine. But I couldn't think of any non-awkward way of correcting her assumption.