Flowers In Her Hair

Hey watch your back! That’s [Florence Hart]. People say [she] has lived in [Sunnyvale] for [21 years]. I heard they are a [21] year old [student at Sunnyvale University]. Don’t you think they look like [Madelyn Cline]? They remind me of [a cheerful smile hiding pain underneath, the smell of freshly bloomed roses, flowers snuggly tucked into the strands of a loose braid, sand covered sun kissed skin, and believing in love at first sight.]

Amanté wasn’t surprised to see Florence at the door. In fact, he’d been expecting it at some time. It’s why he’d been trying to stay out the house and dorm as long as possible. “keep it. donate it. throw it out. i don’t care.” he answered her, exhaustion filling his voice. He never wanted to see that sweater again.

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          “Okay,” she replied without a fight. Florence didn’t want to cause him any more issues if she could avoid it. Arguing with him wouldn’t have solved anything, anyway. He always beat her in a game of who was more stubborn. “Well, how is she?” The blonde asked, clearly referring to his girlfriend who had been among the injured. It was just an excuse to keep up the conversation, not ready to walk away.

          Knocking on Amanté’s door again, she had a flashback to the day she had returned to Sunnyvale. Just like before, she expected he wouldn’t be as happy to see her as she was to see him. In reality, returning his sweater to him was just a ploy to see how he was doing. Everything that happened the night of the bonfire had affected him, and she wanted to make sure he was okay. Hearing the knob of the door jiggle, she looked up to meet his gaze. “Hey, sorry for coming over without texting. I just wanted to give you this.” The blonde held the sweater out to him.

Calvin was grateful that classes had been cancelled after what had happened at the bonfire yet all he seemed to do was check in on Jin and Savanna they had gotten critically hurt to the point he was sure without Dr Park maybe they wouldn’t have made it. He was tired as he walked up to his house only to see Florence sitting on his front step, great he wasn’t about to have this conversation. “Careful someone may get the idea you’re turning into a bit of a stalker Flo.”

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         Florence went for a walk, trying to clear her mind of the previous night. She hadn’t slept because she was scared of the nightmares she would have if she did. Her legs moved without a set path, her thoughts preoccupied. Finding herself outside of Calvin’s house, she remembered their agreement to talk about the kiss later. Now was later. But was it the right time after everything had happened? Maybe it meant nothing now. Sitting on the steps to his house, she tried working up the courage to knock on his door when she heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, her eyes met Calvin’s. “Is that someone you?” The blonde asked, a smile managing to break through before it was gone. 

Calvin had some free time before the game was set to begin so he wanted to check out Vendor’s Row, it was nice and warm there as he took in all the smells and people. “Hey Florence, I see you’ve picked up something nice here, is it any good? Should I give it a try before getting tackled out on the field” He joked, with his smile never leaving his face.

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       Florence spotted Calvin in the crowd and waved at him. He was one of the only sources of light in life as of late, and his company was always welcomed. “Hi, Cal. Want some?” She offered him some of the food she had picked up in an attempt to keep her hands and stomach warm. You’re not gonna get tackled on the field.” She fully believed in his team, especially since Amanté and Sawyer would be on the same team.

Sat near the bonfire, Nina was eating something she had bought in the vendors row, and she was not enjoying it. She was also cold and completely unused to being around this many people, so everything added up to a mildly ill-humored Nina (though a little less now that she was warming up near the fire). She did this every year, the being pissed until the meteor shower started part. In the end she was thought it was worth it. She heard as someone sat next to her, and turned around excitedly, trying to start some conversation.  “Hey!” She took a bite for her food, immediately making a face. “Is this your first time here?”

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        Florence rubbed her hand together, blowing on them to try and warm them up. She felt like they might fall off if she didn’t find a way to get them warm again soon. Walking towards the giant fire, she sat down next to someone else. Nina spoke from beside her, and she turned to look at her. It almost felt as if it was her first time there because it was her first time with Amanté. They had gone together every year, and without his large figure to keep her warm, it felt like an entirely new experience. “Kind of.” She nodded, eyes moving to the bonfire as she tried to regain some of the warmth she had lost. “What about you?”

Amanté listened to her, a frown forming on his face. Regret? Was that the jealousy talking or? “Look I don’t want this to be hard for either of us Flo. You’re my best friend. I just..I don’t know what you want from me? I tried to be your friend and you pushed me away. You told me a hundred times how this couldn’t work anymore. I finally move on and now you’re mad at me? It’s like not matter what I do you’re pissed at me. So just tell me what you want me to do Florence. Tell me and I’ll do it….except let you finish walking home alone. not doing that while there’s a possibility of a murderer out here.”

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        Florence didn’t want it to be hard for them either, but it was going to be hard for her. Just when she thought she was ready to be with Amanté again, she learned that he had moved on with another girl. She was happy for him, truly. It was hard not to be jealous, though. They had always been together, and now he was with someone new, someone that wasn’t her. "I don't want anything from you." It was a blatant lie. She wanted him.  "I'm not mad at you. You're not going to do what I want you to do." And he shouldn't have to because if he was happy that would be enough for her even if it stung now.

“And I already told you I’m not letting you walk home alone.It’s not who I am. So this is what you get. Now shut up and just walk.” Amanté sighed growing frustrated. His jaw clenched as she mentioned how he tended to be the golden boy for his parents. “You know green isn’t a very good shade on you. Why do you care anyway? You broke up with me and then just went completely ghost on me. I didn’t even get a thumbs up text. I’ll call her when im finished making sure you get home ok.”

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        Ignoring him, she continued to walk. “Yeah, well, green always looked better on you.” She replied with a sigh. Florence didn’t want to be jealous. She wanted Amanté to be happy, but she couldn’t help the way she felt knowing that he was with someone else. He asked why she cared, and instead of answering she sighed. Stopping where she stood, Florence turned around to face him. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry that I broke up with you and I'm sorry that I didn't call you while I was gone. I'm sorry that I didn't send you a thumbs up text. I'm sorry that I needed time, but that's a regret I have to live with. Don't make that harder for me than it already is."

Sam smiled softly at the familiar face in front of her. She had a soft spot for the girl, still, despite the fact that she and Amante weren’t dating anymore. Which still felt new enough to be disappointing, “I’m alright,” she assured Florence, smiling softly as she reached out to give the younger woman a squeeze on the shoulder. “You know what, you want to split a brownie with me? We can catch up.”

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        Florence’s smile reflected the one written across Sam’s lips. “Good,” she nodded, fighting the urge to pull the woman into an embrace. It wasn’t her place anymore. “I would like that. A lot, actually.” The blonde had missed her like a mother while she was gone. It would be nice to catch up and hear about everything she had missed while she was away.

“You’re the one who started sniping at me first Florence, i’m only matching your attitude.” Savannah could be quick to get emotional and that sometimes made her volatile. She acted before she thought. “Thought you had somewhere to be.”

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         “Whatever,” she sighed. “I do and I actually have someone waiting on me so good luck. I hope it gets fixed soon.” Florence told her, turning around and heading back to where she had left Calvin. This walk to her father’s house had been more eventful than she had expected it to be. 

            he took the cup of tea to his pale lips, his first sip. it was still warm in his hand. every time he heard josiah’s name it felt like someone stabbing him in his chest, but a smile bloomed at the corner of his lips this time. some good memories flashing in his head. “ he will be remembered. ” he said, shaking his head. “ did you…go to his funeral? ”

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      Florence nodded in agreement. They wouldn’t let him be forgotten - not the people who actually knew him and knew that the action he was accused of was so out of his character. It was as if something had taken him over. “Did it already happen?” She asked, shock clear in her tone. His death had just occurred, she couldn’t imagine that they had planned his funeral so quickly. 

Azalia had her practice in Shadyside, but occasionally she found herself at the university, working as an adjunct professor, thanks to a friend of hers who had recommended her for the position. She had ended up falling asleep on the couch in her borrowed office, waking with a start, glad that Lucas was with her parents for the night. She heard rustling and muttering ahead of her, and she quickly pulled out her phone, turning on the flashlight and discovering a young blonde woman in front of her. “It looks like you lost your key,” she said, with a faint smile. “Or at the very least, they locked you out. Do you need to borrow my phone to call someone?”

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       Florence sighed in relief when the woman told her that it looked like she lost her key. That was much better than looking like she was trying to break into the library to get her diary back. The woman offered her cell phone, and Florence shook her head, pulling her phone out of her pocket. "No, thank you. I just forgot I had mine. 3 am brain." She pointed to her head. "Sorry about that."

Calvin smiled he’d skip just to check on his family he needed too “That would be great otherwise I’ll be worrying about you walking these streets alone” He mused walking with the other nodding his head “I’m sure it will be solved Mrs Johnson is the best after all I have no doubt she can take of this.” He replied honestly he believed that if anyone could get to the bottom of it, it was Amanté’s mother.  He felt himself crack at her fake pout “Fine fine you win, I wont pout anymore” He teased before nodding his head “Sure I mean if it’s okay? I can wait outside so I don’t upset him or anything.” He offered after all he’d only offered to walk with her not meet her dad.

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       “You do know I can defend myself, right?” She asked, raising a brow. It was a sweet thought, but Amanté had insisted on going to self-defense classes with her as soon as he could convince her, and she just never stopped going. It seemed like the smart move considering who her father’s clients were. “Yeah, she is.” Her features dropped at the thought of Deena, but Calvin was right. If anyone could figure this out it was her. “It’s okay, but don’t be offended if my dad doesn’t acknowledge you. He can get a little lost in his work. Sometimes he doesn’t even notice when I walk into a room.” She explained. “He’s not gonna be offended as I said: he probably won’t even notice you.”

    – murphy shined her phone flashlight around, trying not to stumble around in the dark. which was exactly what the woman was doing anyhow. looking about, murphy saw another person in a compromising position. “ it looks like you’re entering, not breaking, “  murphy replied in a sing song voice. “ do you need help? “  the redhead asked, head tilting.

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        “Correct.” She pointed at the redhead, letting her other hand fall to her side. “Entering, not breaking. I just need to get my diary back but the library is locked and I don’t know what to do.” Florence replied, a desperation hidden behind her words. “Any ideas?”

“I just said he was at practice, why would I bother him, he wouldn’t even have his phone on him.” Savannah could tell this wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation. “If you’re jealous Florence just say so.” Savannah’s blonde pony whipped around when she did back to the car. 

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          Florence rolled her eyes, sighing at the accusation. She was tired of dealing with Savannah. She wasn’t worth it. “I don’t have anything to be jealous of, Savannah. I’m the one who ended things with him. You don’t have to be so stuck up all the time. Maybe people would be more willing to help you if you didn’t try to make jabs at them.”

“Yes – yes, of course I heard – ” Sam stood in line at the coffee shop, phone to her ear. She wasn’t surprised that the journalist had managed to get her phone number, nor was she surprised that they had called her already. She was a detective’s wife, and she had been in the middle of everything back in 1994. “Of course, I’m sure Deena can – you absolutely can quote me on that, go ahead. No, I really have no desire to talk about what hap – Deena isn’t going to want to talk about it, eith – you will leave our son alone unless you want my wife to–” She huffed as the journalist just hung up on her, looking around. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to hold you up, you can go ahead of me, if you want.” 

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       Florence was minding her own business, standing in line at the coffee shop when she heard Sam’s familiar voice a few people ahead of her. She sounded upset and understandably so. The media was likely hounding her for some sort of statement. The person ahead of her walked in front of Sam, leaving Florence behind her. “You okay?” She asked softly, chewing her lip nervously. It was the first time she had seen Sam since she left for the summer and with Amanté having a new girlfriend, she didn’t know where it left their relationship. 

Deena sighed. Sometimes she forgot not everyone had to grow up as fast as she did. “No, it’s fine Florence. Come in.” she said letting the girl into her office. She wrapped her arms around the blonde, giving her a firm hug. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure the murderer is already dead. We’re just doing this to cover our bases.” Deena tried to comfort her. “Does Amanté know you’re here?” 

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     Florence walked into the office and immediately a sense of relief washed over her. She had never been as close to Deena as she had to Sam, but she saw her as another mother. Hugging her back, she held her a little closer than normal. All the death brought up old wounds from her mother, but she tried to be strong. She had just started to feel like herself again and didn’t want to go back to that place. “Do you really think Josiah did it?” She asked, brows pulling together. “He knows I’m back in Sunnyvale, but not that I’m in your office. I saw him and-” the blonde stopped herself. She wasn’t ready to talk about it. “and then I went to my dad’s house.”