I gave the customer their change, smiling sweetly at them as I did so. You never know why people are buying flowers, so I always like to be as kind as possible.

"Will you be okay to close up the shop by yourself, Elle?" my grandma asked from behind me. "Your grandpa and I are going to head home."

I nodded my head, "Yes, don't worry."

"Thanks, darling," my grandpa smiled at me.

I watched them exit, and I was a little happy when they did so. When they're here, they keep the radio playing faintly. But when they aren't here, I get to play my own music.

I bend down behind the counter to plug my phone into the speaker. As it connects, I hear the bell ding, making me call out, "One second!"

I look through my playlist. What song would work for a cute little flower shop?

Just What I Am by Kid Cudi of course.

I start to play the song that I probably shouldn't, cheerfully shooting back up and giving the customer across from me a smile.

But my smile slowly dropped seeing that it was Nico. Even though butterflies filled my stomach.

I cleared my throat before speaking, "Here for more daises?"

"No. I'm here to talk to you," he told me, making my eyes widen for a moment.

My voice raised an octave as I asked, "Really?"

He nodded before making a confused face as he raised his face toward the speaker, listening to the lyrics of the song playing.

"Why are you playing this shit?" he asked me, making me purse my lips.

I shrugged, "Cause I need to get high. You should try it sometime."

"Done it, bored of it," he leaned against the counter. "And I know your ass doesn't smoke."

"And how would you know that?" I asked with crossed arms.

The slightest smirk formed on his face as his green eyes looked me up and down, "Can you name a strain?"

".....The green one."

"That's what I thought," he said, making me roll my eyes.

"So, what did you need to talk to me about?" I asked, wondering if maybe he was here to ask me if I wanted to hang out.

"Sin is sick today, so your training session is gonna get changed to tomorrow," he told me, and I felt my heart drop a little.

I tried my best to hide the sadness from my face. I took a deep breath, tapping my painted nails against the counter, "Thanks for letting me know."

He doesn't look busy. So I guess he still doesn't want to.

"Why don't you wanna train me?" I basically blurted.

His eyebrows raised slightly at my question. If I could've sunk back into my skin, I would've.

"I have something to go do after this," he told me.

"Like what?"

"It's not important."

But it is to me. I want to know why he doesn't want to be around me anymore. Maybe I can learn from this to make a friend in the future.

"Elle?" his voice spoke, a hint of softness to it. I hadn't even noticed the tears forming in my eyes slightly, but I quickly blinked them away.

Thankfully, a customer entered. They weren't a regular, but I still smiled at them, "Hello. Need any help?"

His eyes looked me up and down while he licked his bottom lip quickly. He drawled out, "Yea."

I walked from around the counter, going over to him to help. Nico stayed where he was, and I ignored his eyes on me as I walked over and asked, "What kind of flowers were you looking for?"

"Well, what do you recommend?" he smiled sweetly at me.

His voice was the complete opposite of Nicos. Nicos' voice was rough, deep, able to give you chills. But his was smooth and warm, one that was comforting.

I shrugged, "Personally, I like purple carnations."

"Maybe I could get one of those, along with your phone number?" he asked me, the warmth from his smile reaching his blue eyes.

"Shouldn't flirt with people while they're at work," Nicos' voice spoke up.

The guys' eyes moved from mine to Nicos. He looked back at me and asked, "Sorry, is this your boyfriend?"

"N-"

"Yea," Nico cut me off, making my eyes widen.

I stared at him while I watched him approach the guy in front of me. Nicos' eyes looked him up and down, "So why don't you and your black forces go fuck off."

"Nico," I spoke in a warning tone.

He completely ignored me. The guy looked into Nicos' eyes for a second before finally taking a step back. He nodded his head slightly, turning on his heels and exiting the store.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I asked him, pissed that he just lost my grandparents a customer.

He rolled his eyes as if I were missing something obvious, "You're really oblivious, aren't you?"

"To what?" my eyebrows lowered.

He shook his head as if he couldn't believe what I had just said. He took a step toward me, closing the small gap between us, "Guy comes into a flower shop wearing full black when a small girl is working. Doesn't know what fucking flowers he wants, and has a goddam pocket knife sticking out of his pocket. Something tells me he wasn't here to buy his mommy some roses for her birthday."

Shock ran through me hearing that he had a knife. I didn't even notice.

"You need to be more observant, Elle," he spoke sternly. "You never know people's true intentions."

I stared up at him, swallowing my saliva. I kept my eyes on his despite how intense his gaze is, and his eyes darted around my face.

"What are yours?" I asked him.

His dark eyebrows lowered. I continued, "You help me with my back pain, you go get coffee with me, you show up at my work. But then you refuse to train me as if I'm the worse person to be around."

His face was stern and never changed while I talked. I fought back the tears that wanted to form in my eyes but I didn't allow, "So if you aren't here to be my friend, Nico, then leave."

He stayed exactly where he was for a moment. His jaw remained tight as his eyes kept scanning around my face, and I held my gaze. I wasn't going to shrink back in fear.

He took a step back and turned around without a word. My eyes turned glossy as I watched him leave, not giving me a second look.

-----------

I sat on my bathroom counter, pulling my brown hair back into a braid. I was in need of a pick me up, and the only thing that I could think of was icecream.

Once my braid was done, I pulled out two strands at the front of my hair. I hopped off of my counter, changing into a skirt and t-shirt. I grabbed my phone, tapping it to make sure that my debit card was still in there.

Once I felt that it was, I walked over to Rio's room. Romeo was working late tonight, so he wasn't home with his car.

I knocked before entering, seeing him sleeping in bed. I let out a small sigh, debating on if I should slap him to wake him up.

I decided not to because I'm the nicest person in the world.

I headed down the stairs, closing the front door behind me quietly so that I didn't wake him up. I walked down the sidewalk, the streetlamps above my head shining down on me. I hummed while I walked, wishing that I had a friend to do this with.

That's it. I'm going to make a friend at this ice cream shop so that I stop pouting.

The ice cream shop comes into my view, the lights from the inside seeming brighter than usual since the sky was dark from it both being nighttime and the clouds covering the sky.

I got two scoops of cookie dough ice cream in a cup and paid using my debit card.

I sat alone at a table, looking around at all of the people around me. There were families with their children, people on dates, and some groups of friends. I was the only person alone.

My eyes went to two girls that sat together at a table for four. I had already eaten one of my two soops before I finally worked up the courage to go over and talk to them.

I stood in front of one of the empty chairs, giving them both smiles. I asked nicely, "Hey! I know this might be a little weird, but my name's Elle. Could I sit with you guys?"

"Sure," one of the girls replied, making my heart lift in my chest.

I sat down, and she introduced herself, "I'm Winter."

"Melina," the other girl introduced, a little bit of rudeness in her tone.

"Nice to meet you guys," I smiled. "Do you guys live in Boston?"

"Yea, we both go to Boston University," Winter told me while tucking some of her black hair behind her ears. "Do you go there?"

"I might be in September," I told her while eating my second scoop of icecream.

Winter opened her mouth to respond to me when Melina cut her off, "I invited Josh and Ric to come."

Winter nodded while eating her bubblegum-flavored ice cream. I hate that flavor, but she might become my first best friend, so I won't judge.

I listened to Melina and Winter talk while I ate my ice cream. The door dinged, and two guys entered. It was clear they were twins, and they even had the same hair length. They both took a seat at the table and Melina smiled at them, "Hey guys."

"Hey," the one on the left replied. "Who's this?"

"I'm-"

Melina cut me off, "Some random girl looking for friends. Are you guys going to Sabrina's party this weekend?"

Her words made a pain form in my heart, and Winter shot her a glare. I looked down at my empty ice cream container, feeling embarrassed while biting my bottom lip.

He replied to her, "Maybe. Nice to meet you, I'm Josh and this is my brother Ric."

I became less embarrassed hearing him not having a problem with me being here. I smiled at him, "I'm Elle."

Melina rolled her eyes. Her eyebrows lowered as she asked me, "Do you go places alone often?"

"Melina," Winter scolded, and Melina just rolled her green eyes.

"I usually come here with my brothers," I told her.

She made a face of pity, "But never with friends? That's a little sad, Elle."

"Stop being mean," Winter told her.

Melina put her hands up, "I'm not being mean! I'm just saying, it must be sad to not have any friends. How come people don't like you, Elle?"

My heart felt completely empty. I looked a second before answering quietly while looking down, "I don't know."

I could feel a lump form in my throat, so I stood up. Winter told me, "You don't have to leave, Elle."

"It's okay, I should get home," I forced a smile at her, watching a smirk form on Melinas face.

I should wipe it off of her face.

I threw my garbage out before exiting the shop, holding in my tears as I walked down the sidewalk.

I crossed my arms while I walked. I knew that the second I closed my bedroom door, I'd cry until I physically couldn't anymore.

Why don't people like me?

Droplets of water started hitting my head slightly as the sound of thunder erupted in the sky. I let out a sigh, of course it had to start raining. I rushed over to a bench that had an overhead cover, sitting down just in time before the rain started pouring.

I brought my knees to my chest as the wooden bench hurt my butt and back, but I was too upset to care. The air smelt like rain as it poured down, the streetlights being the only thing lighting up the dark sky.

I watched the rain hit the cement, puddles starting to form quickly. I listened to the sound of the thunder, watching cars drive by, their tires splashing the puddles they drove through.

I'd call Romeo, but he's still at work. I need my own car. But unfourtnetly, the salary from my grandparents' shop isn't enough for me to be able to afford anything other than food and clothes.

My parents bought Romeo a car once he graduated college. Maybe they'd do the same for me one day, if I ever go to college. But I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't.

A dark car driving suddenly slowed down and pulled over in front of me before coming to a complete stop.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket quickly, ready to call 911 if somebody were about to try and kidnap me. Their tall frame stepped out of the car, looking at me over the top of it.

Nico.

"What are you doing out here, Elle?" he asked me over the sound of the rain.

I held my phone in my hand, but didn't move. Seeing him just reminded me of how he had walked away from me earlier.

"Nothing. You should get home," I replied, slipping my phone back into my pocket.

"Why don't I give you a ride?" he offered, and I shook my head weakly.

He just stared at me. He wore a black sweater, with the hood pulled up so that his hair and face didn't get wet from the rain. He suddenly shut his car door, walked around his car, and sat down with me on the bench.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"If you won't let me drive you home, then I'll sit here with you," he shrugged.

He looked out in front of us at the rainy night. I stared at his side profile, rain and thunder filling the silence while I thought to myself.

"Why?"

"Does everything need a reason?" he asked, moving his dark green eyes to meet mine.

I nodded, "Yes."

"I disagree," he crossed his arms.

"Well, you just like to disagree with me."

"True."

I rolled my eyes. Goosebumps formed on my skin from the chilly wind, and I used my hands to rub some heat into my arms. He sat up, pulling his black sweater off of him.

He pulled it over top of me before I could ask what he was doing. His cologne on it filled my nose as my body now warmed, the sweater going down to my midthigh and warming some of my legs.

"Let me drive you home," he said, and I played with the strings on the sweater.

I didn't feel like going home. I knew that if I did, I would just cry myself to sleep. I shook my head, "I don't want to go home."

Rain once again filled the silence between us.

"You wanna come back to the tattoo parlor with me?" he asked.

"Really?"

He nodded.

I wanted to ask why he was willing to spend time with me, but I bit my tongue since I knew I wouldn't cry if I wasn't alone. I nodded my head slightly, "Okay."

He stood up, pulling the hood over my head before helping me up. We both rushed into his car, and once the doors were shut, the sound of rain hitting the car intensified.

He started driving, the heat from his car getting rid of my goosebumps.

"Do you have a client to tattoo?" I asked, and he nodded in response.

"You can hang out in the backroom. There's a recliner with pillows and blankets," he told me.

I looked out of my window, watching the raindrops roll down my window.

I wonder what has made him okay with hanging out with me.