❛ SUPERMARKET FLOWERS ♪ ❜ - z. herron

twenty: we are gonna cook a meal together.

"Kira, what are you doing here?" Emerson says, coming down from laughing.

I gape at her. As I look around the room, I notice 5 familiar faces. A little black dog runs to me, jumping on my legs. I crouch down to pet it, it's nametag shining. Kobe, it reads.

"Hi Kobe," I whisper to him.

Emerson doesn't have a dog. She's wanted one forever but never got one.

I stand back up, "What is why don't we doing here?"

"Jonah dm'd me asking if I was free to hangout. Everyone else is just kind of piggyback." She says, taking a sip from her white claw.

"Oh."

"We are baking, do you want some?" Jack says, gesturing to the oven. I laugh, "Which one of y'all convinced Emerson to bake?" I walk towards the island they are surrounding to join the conversation. The little black dog follows me but runs towards Daniel.

He reaches down to grab the dog holding it in his hand. "We found out this kitchen is untouched by her, so Jack and I made brownies."  Daniel says. Corbyn walks over to the fridge, grabbing a white claw can and sliding it over to me. I nod, thanking him.

"So, what are you doing here Kir?" Emerson asks me, leaning against her counter. 

I open my can, "I came here to tell you that natetoldmehelovedme," I mumble into my can.

"What?" She says.

"I came here to tell you that natetoldmehelovedme." I mumble again.

"Kira Jade, if you do not speak up." Emerson says, snatching my can from across the counter.

I sigh, "Nate told me he loved me. That's why I came here so late."

"Apologies for intruding but it's like 11:30," Jack states.

"It's 11:50. She goes to bed by 10:30 at the latest every night." I say, looking at him.

"We've been here for that long?" he asks.

"I just checked the time so yeah I'm guessing." 

"Do you really?" Jonah whispers to her. She nods, "I was fully in bed when you texted me." she whispers back to him. She looks back at me, handing me back the can, "BUT WHAT THE FUCK?"

"He ended the call with an "I love you." I continue, "I don't think he realized he said it but I realized. When I did, I hopped in the car and drove here. I would have dressed nicer if you had company."

"Apologies for intrusion again, but do you think he meant it?" Daniel said.

"We've got to work on y'alls nosiness." I say to him.

"I mean, you did say it out in the open." Zach says, panning his hands at all of us.

"Well clearly, I didn't think y'all would be here." I counter. 

"You say y'all a lot." Jonah interjects.

"She picked it up from my mom. My mom grew up in this small town in Georgia so she has the accent. Kira used it so much when she was over that certain southern words she will just say." Emerson explains.

"Yup, Moms is a southern belle. But to answer Daniel's question, honestly, I hope so. It'd suck if he just let it slip but I'd understand, you know. You get so used to saying I love you to your friends, you might not mean it romantically." I say.