Don't Judge A Flower By Its Color

Chapter Twenty-Three 🌼

"Rosie, what are you doing?" Oceana asked as her duffle bag dropped to the kitchen floor. Her eyes growing wide at the sight of the mess before her.

Flour was everywhere. It decorated the blue walls and oversized apron around my neck. How it got on the ceiling that was still unclear.

For once, I was hoping to cook some-thing good without fail. Darien had done so much to amaze me yesterday. He deserved a delicous breakfast.

I released a sigh and put the kettle of tea next to the other dishes.

"I was trying to make pancakes and bacon."

Oceana's face scrunched in confusion. She moved towards the bar and lifted a thick black crisp from the pile of chard meat. It broke in half just by her touch.

"You really should leave the cooking to your other half," she commented while taking a better look at the pancakes, "at least these seem edible."

"The insides are basically mush." I muttered which made her take a huge step back from them as if they were poisonous.

My heart sunk at her actions. I knew they weren't personal and understood why her reaction was so strong but she could have tried to hide her disgust.

She saw a flash of disapointment cross my expression and quickly outreached her arms. She blubbered on about buying me an apology drink. Her strange reasoning that alcohol made things better was worrysome but not enough to make me want to drag her to AA.

"Maybe I should try making him another batch..."

She cut her explaination of bourbon being the best drink short and smirked.

"Aren't you becoming such a perfect little housewife," she sang while sitting down in a stool, "so i'm guessing your date went well?"

My face grew hot.

It went better than well. Somehow I felt like we had grown closer-if that were even possible. The date was just a nice way to interact and remember what we were.

Underneath all our fears, we were still wide eyed fools with big dreams and a long list of promises.

Hopefully this time around we'd be able to keep each one.

I told Oceana everything we had done in detail. She didn't seem surprise by our activities but however wrinkled her nose a couple times. Supposedly, we were too cute.

She had a point. Most couples didn't chase icecream vans nor sing karoke at a bar during the early afternoon without a few drinks in them yet I wouldn't have a thing changed. It was fun being goofy together.

"You want to know something though?" I smiled while leaning closer to her, "he can actually sing really well- like no joke."

Oceana gave a slight laugh at my dumb secret, "you're kidding?"

"No, I'm not!" I announced before quietly muttering, "it was kind of alluring if we're being honest."

She gasped at my words.

"Did... did... did you-" Her stutter was cut short by a knock on the doorway.

There before us stood the man himself, sporting a casual black suit and forest green tie. His hair slick back with gel. He looked so breathtaking.

It was hard to concentrate on anything else but him. His strong features and kind gaze similair to a warm spring day. He could stop a million hearts without even trying.

Didn't he realize how weak the human heart was?

Mine could barely keep a beat. The sight of him made me want jump in his arms and stare at him for days on end until the charm didn't have anymore effect.

He took a step into the kitchen and didn't spare a glance at the mess instead he shared a good morning with me. His lips quick to touch my forehead. It awoke me from my spell.

"Good morning, Darien!"

He chuckled at my eagerness before lifting the kettle, "you make tea?"

"Of course."

He began to pour himself a mug. A smile dancing on his face as he saw it wasn't his usual ginger lemon. Our first promise then becoming a reality.

"The tea taste better somehow."

"Does it?" I asked while grabbing hold of his hand.

He nodded then took another sip.

"So Mr. Dandelion, where are you going looking so sharp?" Oceana questioned in a dry tone.

I could tell she really didn't care. The only reason she was asking was to be in the loop of things. She hated not knowing what was going on whether it had to do with her or not.

Darien shrugged, interlacing our fingers together.

"I'm heading out to visit my father with a few friends- it's kind of a tradition. We go see him after either one of us makes a big accomplishment."

Oceana looked directly at me with slight confusion. I didn't know how to respond. This was my first time hearing about this as well.

He hadn't told me much about his father nor friends. We kind of left that part of his past alone. Occasionally, I got to hear bits and pieces but it wasn't enough to have a clear idea.

All I knew was that he never stopped searching for me.

"Do you think maybe I could join? I would like to pay my respects to your dad. After all, if it weren't for him who knows where we would be right now."

The two stopped what they were doing when they heard the veracity in my tone.

Darien squeezed my hand once before answering, "of course you can come with."

"I'm coming too!" Oceana declared while hopping out of her chair, "have to thank someone for helping you find Rosie."

As she ran away from the scene, Darien's froze in his spot.

He blinked a few times for certainty then shook his head. His jaw falling slightly agape when realizing what actually had happened was for real.

"I think that's one of the nicest thing she has ever said to me."