Pink Peonies & Rocket Fuel

Birdie had known of Tim’s womanising ways for most of their high school life, and going into their senior year, she tried her absolute hardest to ignore him and endeavoured to never conversing or being in the same room as him. No matter the circumstances. But, he seemed to catch on to her master plan, and every class that she attended, he was there, sitting next to the only vacant space she could occupy at the desk.

Although he was extremely kind and attractive, he had a type, she knew that. Tall athletic girls would fall to his feet after one glance their way. Throw themselves at him with such velocity and power that it would only end in their own turmoil. Birdie would do no such thing, well, physically she couldn’t and figuratively she wouldn’t. She refused to allow herself to be trapped under his thumb, she much preferred open spaces, but he seemed to have it out for her. She would catch his gaze when she entered their shared classes or felt his eyes upon her while she was travelling to her next class. He had no business stalking her like he was, but she didn’t have the confidence to confront him, instead opting to leave a handwritten note on his locker that explained her distaste for his constant presence.

But that only seemed to warrant more of it.

Her next class, one she had without him, she got herself settled and prepared for the seminar when a pair of calloused hands met her bare shoulders and made her shiver. She saw his grinning face in the reflection of her laptop screen and inwardly cursed. “Little Miss Birdie,” he drawled, his voice dropping lower. “I have a question for you.”

She tried her best to ignore him, but the feel of his hot breath hitting her cold ears made her shiver, and he took it only as a sign to continue. “Wanna make a deal?”

She barely looked at him, merely tilting her head to the side so he could see the confusion in her eyes. “If you allow me to take you out on a date this Friday you won’t have to deal with me for the rest of the year. I’ll leave you completely alone in a Tim-less world.”

She pondered for only a moment. “Deal.”

~

Tim arrived in front of Birdie’s house not a moment after they had agreed. He was casually dressed, with a grin plastered on his face, and those devilishly blue eyes were alight with mischief, though, he respected her request by staying with his car so she could get her wheelchair out independently, not wanting his help.

The drive was quiet, music filling the confined space of the car, until the pair arrived at the Gardens. Birdie inwardly groaned, frustrated that she had even for a moment thought that he would take her somewhere where the two would barely need to speak. But alas, he aided her in getting out of the car, and ushered her to a part of the garden that was completely secluded. A brilliant array of pink flowers were in bloom around them as she got settled on the grass.

Finally she built up the courage to speak. “So, why here?” She asked, glancing around at the silent garden. Silent save for the crickets playing their music from all around.

He only shrugged. “Because,” he began, playing with the petals around him. “I wanted to just talk.”

“About what?”

“You.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not that easy, Timothy.”

“I know.”

She looked at him without her usual hate filled lense, and realised that perhaps she had been wrong. Tim wasn’t a typical popular guy, he was enthusiastic and charismatic, sure, but he never displayed any arrogance towards her or anyone she knew. She sighed but he chuckled.

“You know how hard it is to plant pink peonies?” He asked, looking up at her. “They’re very picky.”

“It seems you like that about things, huh?”

He smiled at her, no trace of that quirky grin. “It seems I do.”