Aria noticed something in her shop's door.
A sticky note.
[Kaelira, taped to Aria's shop door]
Closed early today? š
I wanted to surprise you with coffee but you beat me to it š¤
Hope you're not running from me again lol
(Also I miss you even though we just saw each other two nights ago. That's normal right?)
Text me when you see this š
āSolene the clingy one
Aria grinned as she peeled the note off. Kaelira's handwriting was a little chaotic, hearts in place of dots on her i's.
She tucked it in her pocket.
She wasn't running. She was preparing.
ā¤¹ ā
6:12PM ā Flowerdate Setup: In Progress
Aria moved like a quiet storm around the shop, flipping signs, dimming lights, fluffing petals.
She'd never done this for anyone. Ever.
But Kaelira wasn't just anyone. She was banana milk at midnight. The sound of someone saying "I missed you" and actually meaning it. A whirlwind that arrived in her shop that one rainy day and never quite left.
The flower shop looked different tonight.
She'd pushed two tables together near the big front window, laid down a soft plaid blanket, and surrounded it with flower buckets ā lilac, peony, soft marigold, baby's breath. Every flower had been hand-picked for softness and scent.
The shop was closed. But the lights inside were warm.
A tiny speaker played something jazzy. Two mugs waited to be filled. Aria checked her phone.
[Winteršøš¼, 6:18PM]
You free tonight?
Come to the shop. But like, not yet. Give me 10 more mins š³
[Karinaš°š«, 6:19PM]
Wait what
ARE YOU MAKING ME A FLOWER FORT
IS THIS A FLIRTY KIDNAP???
I'm on my way
Aria laughed. Her heart stuttered in her chest.
This was happening.
ā¤¹ ā
6:43PM ā Surprise
The bell above the door jingled softly.
Kaelira stepped in, wearing sweats, her hoodie pulled over a baseball cap. "Iāwhoa."
She froze.
Her eyes swept the scene: flower buckets glowing in golden light, a soft blanket spread out on the floor, petals scattered like lazy confetti. A mini thermos sat beside two mismatched mugs. Quiet jazz curled through the air like smoke.
"Ariaā¦" she whispered.
Aria popped up from behind the counter, cheeks already pink. "Hey. So. Um. Surprise."
Kaelira blinked. "You turned the shop into a dream."
Aria shrugged, trying to be casual. "I figuredā¦ if I'm gonna have a first date with a literal goddess of the stage, it should be flower-themed."
Kaelira's eyes widened. "Wait. Did you just call this our first date?"
Aria froze. "Iāyeah? Unless it's too much. I mean, it doesn't have to be a date, it can just beā"
Kaelira stepped forward, grinning. "It's a date."
Winter's mouth clicked shut.
Kaelira dropped onto the blanket like she belonged there. "Best. Date. Ever."
ā¤¹ ā
7:08PM ā Tea & Petal Trivia
Aria poured hot honey-citrus tea into both mugs. "I was gonna cook but I chickened out. So I brought the next best thing ā store-bought cake and tea my mom used to make."
Kaelira took a sip, eyes wide. "This is so good."
"Right? Secret's in the orange peel."
They sat side by side on the blanket, surrounded by blossoms and breathing slow.
Aria reached into a basket and pulled out a tiny flower. "Pop quiz. What flower is this?"
Kaelira blinked. "It'sā¦ tiny. Purple. Kinda suspicious. Is it edible?"
Aria laughed. "It's lavender. Not suspicious. Calming. Good in tea."
Kaelira took it and twirled it between her fingers. "I like it. Smells like you."
Aria choked on her tea.
Kaelira blinked innocently. "What? You do smell like flowers. I can't help it."
Aria coughed. "Okay. Your turn."
Kaelira looked around. "That yellow one. Is it aā¦ baby sunflower?"
Aria reached over, plucked it gently. "Close. Mini marigold."
Kaelira touched its petals. "They look like sunlight."
"You do too," aria mumbled.
Kaelira turned slowly.
"What?"
Aria's voice cracked a little. "Youā¦ light up rooms. I'm not trying to be cheesy, I justā¦ you do."
Kaelira stared at her. For a moment, the room was too quiet. Too close.
Then: "You're literally the florist here and I'm the one melting."
ā¤¹ ā
7:43PM ā Flower Crowns & Confessions
Aria had pulled out some wire and ribbon. "Wanna try making a flower crown?"
Kaelira's eyes sparkled. "YES. I'd feel like I'm a forest princess."
They worked side by side, threading petals into loops. Kaelira's looked like it had survived a small hurricane. Aria's was practically professional.
Kaelira placed hers on Aria's head. "Behold, Queen Florist."
Aria placed hers on Kaelira's. "Behold, Princess of Petals."
Kaelira giggled. "Do you always flirt like this?"
Aria shrugged, eyes dancing. "Only with you."
Silence.
Kaelira reached out and took Aria's hand, brushing her thumb over her knuckles.
"I haven't been this happy inā¦ a long time," she said softly. "Like, I've had good things. Good people. But thisāthis is simple. And real. You don't want anything from me."
Aria squeezed her hand. "Just your smile. Maybe your attention. A few more nights like this."
Kaelira leaned in. "That sounds dangerously close to falling for someone."
Aria whispered, "Then fall."
And just like thatā
Kaelira kissed her.
It wasn't perfect. Their noses bumped. The flower crown slipped.
But it was warm and slow and tasted like honey tea.
When they pulled back, Kaelira blinked, dazed. "So, uh. That happened."
Aria nodded. "Yup. Confirmed."
Kaelira whispered, "Can we do that again?"
Aria laughed. "Every day, if you want."
ā¤¹ ā
8:22PM ā The Petal Pact
They lay on the blanket, fingers linked, listening to the soft music and the sound of petals brushing against glass.
Kaelira rested her head on Aria's shoulder. "So... are we like... officially?"
Aria smiled. "Want to be?"
Kaelira grinned. "Only if you promise one thing."
"What?"
"That we have more weird, cute dates. And that you never stop telling me flower facts."
Aria kissed her temple. "Deal."
The lights in the shop flickered gently.
And somewhere between the tea, the laughter, the flower crowns, and that kiss that felt too perfect to be real ā they both knew:
This wasn't just petals and play.
This was the start of something that might actually bloom.