The Flower Will Blossom

The sound of stiletto heels shuffling along the floor, coat hangers clicking as they’re sliding across metal clothes racks, and the cash register drawers ringing with every sale made are all a part of the crescendo of noise distracting me from thinking too hard. I decided that morning the only way to cope with this break up from Adam right now was to go where most girls would go to begin mending a broken heart; the mall. I wasn’t the type of girl to wallow in self pity with a deadly supply of chocolate and marathons of Sex and the City. Instead, I would do anything to save face and maintain my immaculate reputation around town which is why retail therapy seemed the only option. I gravitated towards the glass window arrangements of stores finding the vibrant colours and prints of clothes on glamorously styled mannequins seducing. I knew my wallet would seriously be hurting by the end of this, I just hoped it hurt more than my heart was. I decided it was only right to indulge in impulsive shopping. The lights and buzz of the place distracting enough to put my mind at ease after a rough night thinking of only Adam.

I felt my mobile begin to vibrate, every fibre in my body wishing it was Adam calling. Pulling my phone from my bag I was to be disappointed when Jasmine’s contact picture flashed across the screen.

“Hey Jaz” I placed extra chirpiness into the greeting. Unfortunately my sister wasn’t buying any of my bluff, “Em, how are you?”

“Yeah great thanks!” my voice going an octave too high to seem sincere.

A sigh was heard from the other end of the receiver, “Cut the crap, Em. Gran told me she thinks you had a rough night with Adam. I was told to check up on you so care to tell me what’s going on?”

I groaned into the phone thinking back to the morning. As I was leaving the house, Rosie wore a worried frown that accentuated her wrinkles aging her easily another five years as she watched me carry out my façade of happiness. Although I tried my best to act nonchalant, Rosie had quickly pieced it all together after overhearing my sobs last night and observing Adam’s recent odd behaviour. Tossing Rosie a weak smile over my shoulder before leaving the house without a word I hoped that was enough to reassure her it would all be okay. Although, I knew Gran cared for my wellbeing I couldn't help but still feel guilty for being the cause of Rosie’s worry ulcers and baggy eyes from the restless night. What I hated most when Rosie stressed was she tended to smoke more frequently.

Rubbing at my temple with a free hand I rejoined the conversation, “It hasn’t even been an hour since I’ve left the house and already a check up has been ordered?”

“You know what Gran is like… so, where are you now and what happened last night?” Jasmine pressed.

I sighed, stopping in my tracks letting a flow of people rush around and continue their shopping. My volume lowering, “I’m at the mall and as for what happened, I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Em-“ she began to protest.

“-at least, not over the phone Jaz. There’s a lot to tell and right now I’m still digesting it all myself. So please, drop it for now, yeah? I promise I’ll tell you later.”

Jasmine registered the sombre tone knowing not to press matters any further as it would only upset me. She nodded in understanding to herself, “Sure. Who are you shopping with?”

“No one, I’m by myself.”

Jasmine frowned, confused for a moment as I usually always busied myself with company. “Why aren’t you shopping with Ally?”

I chewed at the inside of my cheek, raking a hand through my blonde hair, “Um we’re not really talking at the moment…”

“What? Why?”

I let my shoulder’s slump realising how out of balance my life was becoming having lost my boyfriend and best friend within the same month. “We just had some stupid fight.”

Jasmine sighed into the phone, suddenly it clicked I was going through a rough patch, “Look I’m at Sam’s right now but how about I meet you at the mall for lunch?”

Although I didn’t really feel like replaying the events from last night, detailing Adam’s scum bag behaviour at Red Moon, I desperately wanted company because being alone was still a strange foreign feeling. I smiled finding comfort knowing her sister always had my back, “That’d be perfect.”

“I kind of feel like Thai, wanna meet there?” my younger sister suggested having no idea of the salt she was adding to my fresh wound.

I cringed, “Ahh no thanks. I um… I had Thai last night.”

“Oh okay, well how does sushi sound??”

“Perfect! Suits me. I’ll see you at 12?” I waited for my younger sister to confirm while twirling a strand of blonde hair.

“Yep, see you then.”

Killing time waiting to meet up with Jasmine was too easy. I wandered along browsing all the shops and spoiling myself with purchases I usually wouldn’t bother with. As more time past, more money was wasted. I found my collection of shopping bags, growing heavier and more difficult to carry with each store visited. Only a mere three hours of shopping and I had purchased a few new causal and party dresses, a pair of fitted jeans, two summer skirts, a cute little clutch bag, pretty pieces of jewellery, a set of pretty feminine lingerie, bright, bold nail polish, a pair of sandals and an outrageously high pair of heels. It seems the retail therapy was pretty good at distracting me because my once dull mood was now an elated high from the thrill of all my impulsive purchases.

The balls of my feet were throbbing and arm’s worn out, aching from lugging the bags around. I decided it was time for a quick caffeine fix before I would make way to the sushi train to meet Jaz. Taking a place on the que I noticed how popular the small café was; this only reassured me I was about to order a real decent coffee. With the que moving rather quickly I found myself at the front counter to be greeted by the young, attractive barista in no time.

“Hey there, how you going?”

‘Oh,’ was all I could think to myself with a smirk, ‘so that’s why this place is popular…’ Standing before me with a pen in hand ready to scribble my coffee order down was a young guy with beautiful olive skin and celery green eyes smiling at me. I could've melted, I was looking at a Jesse Metcalfe's replica…this guy was a babe.

“I’m good thanks.” I beamed, maintaining eye contact and flashing him a wide smile to show off my dimples.

He matched my smile revealing a perfect set of straight pearly whites before he ruffled his dark hair, pushing it out of his face. “Great. What can I get for you?”

I couldn’t deny feeling nervous with butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I hadn’t flirted with a guy for so long that I'd lost confidence and doubted I even knew how to flirt properly anymore. This attention from such a cute guy was creating a subtle rosy blush on my neck and tinting my cheeks. ‘Just order the coffee’ I instructed myself silently fearing I'd do something embarrassing.

Taking in a deep breath, I followed suit and ordered a small caramel latte.

“Sure, I just need a name for the coffee?”

“Emily” I smiled again.

“Emily” he repeated with a nod, scribbling on the cup.

“Um…nevermind.” he hesitated before shutting his mouth rethinking what he wanted to say. My blue eyes had widened excitedly before I shrugged it off trying not to get too hopeful. He probably was just going to reconfirm the coffee order.

I grinned having being pleasantly surprised to find the love heart delicately swirled from hot milk in my coffee but I was even more flattered to find the napkin the cute 'Jesse Metcalfe' barista had slid over the counter with the hot drink. In thick block letters on the napkin read, “Emily, please call me for coffee sometime?” Followed by his digits before he signed the letter off as “Tyler” with a smiley face.

I looked up to find Tyler was preoccupied with the many coffee orders that followed but he stole a glance my way. My internal dialogue was just a team of cheerleaders right now, inflating my ego with compliments and mental high fives at how well I'd scored. I smiled biting my lip feeling completely flattered this cute guy was taking an interest in me; it was refreshing after so many years of dating Adam. Tyler gave me a cheeky grin before shooting a quick wink fuelling me with an adrenaline rush.

I turned on my heel completely dazed as I began making way to the sushi train; I was over the moon I scored Tyler’s number. ‘So this is the single life’ I psyched myself up still wearing a goofy grin while I re-read the words scrawled in black ink. With my blue eyes fixed to the napkin I had accidentally managed to bump into someone passing by, almost bowling them over with all the shopping bags I carried. “Sorry!” I exclaimed looking up to find Eric smugly smirking, “Well if it isn’t my mate Em!”

“Eric…” I laughed uncomfortably while subtly cringing that I had failed to avoid the boy. Truth be told, I still felt embarrassed for scabbing a lift and throwing a hissy fit in front of him. Not only did the embarrassment disturb me, now I felt like I owed Eric a favour in return. I'm not sure if Eric believed in the payback system and idea of favours. If he did, this concerned me as Eric was known to only want one thing…and he had no chance of getting that!

Standing behind Eric in all his tall and lanky pride was John furrowing his brow appearing unaware plus confused by Eric’s and my ‘friendship’. His curiosity got the better of him, “You guys know each other?”

I shifted weight between feet from the uncomfortable social awkwardness I felt. Nodding my head, I hoped that’d answer John’s question sufficiently and dismiss this gathering. I'd never been a great fan of the two boys and now I was stuck talking to them in the middle of a shopping centre, all the while angering other people walking around us for disrupting the flow of pedestrian traffic.

“Yeah, of course I know Em!” Eric looked at John as if his question was as dumb as a fish’s IQ. “I gave her a ride home just last night actually.” Eric gloated.

John cocked his eyebrow again wearing an amused expression. Using his deep, husky tone he joked, “You were game riding Big Red with Halvo.”

My body stiffened and I was ready to jump into defensive mode when I realised what his words were implying, "It was just a car ride home, nothing hap-"

"Trust me, I believe you." John cut me off, appearing genuinely sincere while he sent a wink my way.

"Hey! I could have my way and it could happen if we want it too" Halvo interjected desperate to reinforce his masculinity and desirable charm.

I chuckled lightly before shrugging my shoulders and joking again with John, “Well it was my only option home…" I turned to Halvo shifting to a more sincere tone "but I really appreciated it-saved the walk. Which reminds me,” my eyes sliding from John’s to Eric’s, “thanks again for the lift!”

“Anytime” He brushed off.

I was surprised at the genuine nature present in Halvo, maybe he didn’t abide by the payback system. I studied him, spacing out while debating whether to ask the question that both bugged and ‘weirded’ me out since I woke this morning.

John laughed, waving a hand across my face to capture my attention, “Earth to Emily?”

My long lashes flickered up and down quickly as I blinked to refocus back to reality. I chuckled awkwardly, squirming that I had dazed out mid conversation with the boys. Shaking my head I made a snap decision carefully selecting words so I don't offend him “Ah Eric, just out of curiosity, how do you know where I live? I don’t remember telling you my address is all…”

Eric’s cheeks flushed pink and he scratched the back of his neck uneasily, “Oh umm well…” he stumbled. John narrowed his hazel eyes at Eric, knitting his eyebrows together in confusion before finishing the sentence slowly, “because of Jaz, right?” He searched Eric’s expression for confirmation his words were true.

Instead Eric shot him a pointed look, narrowing his eyes and clenching his jaw looking just about ready to smack John in the face. The two exchanged looks having an exclusive silent conversation just by reading each others facial expressions. Finally, realisation dawned on John, “Ohh shit.” He drew the words out slowly, cringing.

“MMMM” Eric nodded, eyebrows raised and mouth knotted appearing certainly unimpressed. His arms were crossed tightly across his chest.

I involved myself in the conversation they clearly wanted to exclude me from. I wanted an answer, “Wait. You know Jaz?”

“Sort of.” Eric’s voice squeaked. I was learning real quick that Eric was a terrible liar. I planned to take advantage of his honesty.

“How?” I quizzed, hungry for information I knew little about. My gaze fixed on Eric firmly in attempt to make him squirm.

John stepped in, helping his mate out by trying to divert or dismiss the conversation. I wasn’t having any of it, there was something suss going on which I found unsettling considering I'd never been overly familiar or friendly with the pair until now.

“Look maybe you should ask your sister this.” John challenged refusing to cower away from my intense stare. He towered over me easily, his hazel eyes didn’t falter once from my now icy blue ones. 'What the hell is going on….' I wondered.

Eric sent a hard nudge of his elbow into John’s side hoping the force was enough to wind him and shut him up. John yelped, “Ouch man, what was that for?!” placing a hand to his side wincing John was shocked by the elbow jab to the ribs.

“Look, we really gotta go Emily. I think I met Jaz at a party. Gave her a ride once is all…but ah yeah. Anyway, take care and we’ll catch you later!” Eric’s words were rushed before he pulled John by the arm dragging him away from the girl, making sure his escape plan was a success.

I frowned watching the boys disappear into the sea of people. John’s head sticking out and bobbing away smaller into the distance the further they walked. Tucking loose strands of blonde hair behind my ear, I skulled the now lukewarm coffee before hastily walking to the sushi train with a few questions for Jaz already lined up to fire.

As I approached closer with the sushi train entrance in view I could finally spot my younger sister; the same long honeycomb blonde hair and piercing blue eyes amongst a smooth milky, white complexion. While Jasmine had a tall, slender physique, I still stood an inch taller than her with a more defined, toned body. Jasmine was blessed more curvaceous with a small waistline, prominent hips and a bigger bust; features she knew to accentuate tastefully. Jasmine perfected the balance between sexy and classy effortlessly, wearing a strapless coral maxi dress that hugged her figure nicely. I suddenly felt underdressed in old baggy, ripped denim jeans and a striped black and white singlet top… I could do classy sure, but sexy is something I'd never seem to master like Jasmine.

A smile graced Jasmine’s face when she me weaving through casual strollers towards the sushi train she was currently waiting at. Upon my arrival Jasmine embraced me in a half hug to avoid crushing all the shopping bags I was lugging around.

“Oh my god Em, surely you didn’t shop all this for you? Please tell me there’s an occasion?” Jasmine commented on all the bags with incredulous eyes as wide as dinner plates.

“Does ‘my long term boyfriend broke up with me after he cheated on me’ count as an occasion?” sarcasm dripping in my voice.

Now Jasmine’s eyes bulged and her jaw dropped, rendering her speechless momentarily. “Fuck. I’m so sorry, Em.” Shaking her head in disgust, “What an asshole.”

Feeling tears prickle at the brim of my eyes I took in a deep breath to calm myself before agreeing, “You got that right. I haven’t told Gran yet though. I’m still trying to let it sink in.”

“How are you holding up?” Jasmine placed an arm over my shoulder giving me her undivided attention.

We entered the sushi train pulling up a stool beside each other while various plates of sushi rolls circled in front of us. “Let’s just say I’ve been better but I’m too stubborn to fall to pieces over this. It’ll take a bit of time but I know I’ll be fine. Right now though…I’m just… shocked…so so shocked.” I felt my voice quiver, “What really sucks is I still love him and miss him like crazy.” I swallowed the dry lump in my throat, trying my hardest not to cry.

Jasmine’s hand rubbed circles on my back trying to comfort me a little while she nodded to let me know she was listening. I sniffled, “He’s not the old Adam I fell for right now. It just felt like he didn’t even give a shit when he told me, Jaz.” Anger boiled “I ended up rushing out of the restaurant and he didn’t even chase after me, just left me to walk home!”

Jasmine’s face contorted in horror, “He made you walk home?!” Venom dripping in her voice and outrage written all over the protective sibling.

“No, in the end after witnessing a massive tantrum Eric drove me home.” I rubbed at my now throbbing temples, the stress was all too much.

Jasmine’s forehead creased from the puzzled frown she wore, “Eric drove you?”
“Yeah, Eric Halvo.” I looked up to face my sister, “Which is what I have to ask you, how do you know Eric?”

Moving her hand from my back, Jasmine now cupped it over her cheek as a poor attempt to disguise the sheer pink tainting her pale complexion. I cocked my head to the side waiting for an answer.

“Um…” she breathed, “Halvo and I go way back.”

“What do you mean?” I quizzed delving further into the investigation for answers.

Aiming to distract and cover up the non-verbal clues, Jasmine turned away from me to grab a plate of sushi. I did not move, instead studying every move and picking it apart for some sort of hint.

“We have history...” Jasmine tried to shrug it off with her shoulders but her voice was squeaky and she appeared on edge.

I leaned back on my chair, watching the sushi plates pass by. I thought hard, assessing all the information I'd had gained today. A possible answer came to me but I just couldn't bring myself to believe it, I leaned forward, close towards Jaz while shaking my head incredulously. Licking my lips I went to speak though hesitated, unsure if I asked the question that I really wanted to hear the answer. “Nooo. No No No No No. You slept with Halvo?!”

Finishing swallowing her salmon and avocado sushi roll before letting her eyes reach mine, Jasmine simply bit her lip with a slight cringe on her face. All Jasmine could do was shrug again, letting me know my suspicion was true.