how to say ‘fuck you’ in flowers.
a/n: based of this au that i thought was super cute and also super fit for connor :-) sorry if it’s not that good,, im a sucky writer who’s trying their best :’)
The flower shop had been in your family for decades. Some of your earliest took place with your parents carrying you down the aisles of flowers and succulents, telling you strange facts about them and each of their meanings–most of which have engraved themselves into your brain.
As time went on, your parents found other sources of income (since the flower shop just wasn’t enough), which left you to take care of the store by yourself. Not that you minded, of course, to you the shop was the only thing right about this broken world.
You opened today and most days with the intentions of it being a relatively slow day. There wasn’t any holiday coming up and Valentine’s day was a month ago. You figured you might get the odd husband getting flowers for an anniversary or someone getting flowers for a birthday. But for the most part, you knew today was going to be boring.
You stood behind the counter, absentmindedly watering the bouquets with the bright yellow can, staring out the window in the front of your shop watching people stroll by. Your attention was drawn to a brown-haired teenager, a look of irritation written all over his face. Maybe it was the frown etched into his face. Maybe it was how beautiful he was. But you could just about recognise the light eyes paired with the long hair, you just couldn’t put your finger on it.
The last thing you expected was for the man to enter your shop. But he did. The bell above the door rang and he stomped towards the counter, approaching you. He slammed 40 dollars onto the counter, “How do I passively-aggressively say fuck you in flowers?”
You eyebrows shot up in surprise, your mouth trying to form some sort of response but you didn’t expect those words to come out of his mouth. But you had to admit, the expletive that dripped from his mouth couldn’t have sounded sexier.
“I–um. Excuse me?” you asked, slightly confused. The man, who must have realised what just came out of his mouth, sighed. He relaxed his tense shoulders and looked you in the eye. And you couldn’t help but notice how his blue eyes had a few hints of brown in them. Quite beautiful really.
“Sorry. That-that came out wrong.” the man said with the smallest of laughs. You shook your head.
“No. You’re fine, I just…” you trailed off, trying to think of the right thing to say. “I just wasn’t sure if I heard you correctly. It isn’t everyday that someone comes in with a request like that.” you replied with a sheepish smile, that was returned but the beautiful boy in front of you. You could practically feel the multiple shades of red and pink creep onto your cheeks.
“Sorry,” he repeated. “It’s a long story–”
“I’ve got time. That is, if you want to talk about it.” you smiled lightly with a shrug. You really weren’t expecting him to take the offer; who would want to share something seemingly pretty personal with someone they hardly knew? But a part of you was secretly hoping he’d confide in you because who wouldn’t want to converse with a beautiful human being?
He pulled up one of the metal barstools and leaned his elbows on the counter, running his hands through his hair. “Well, I just started high school, just a few blocks from here actually–“
You jaw dropped slightly and that’s when you realised who you were talking to. Connor Murphy was sitting just opposite you. Obviously you heard a lot of talk about him through school, most people thought his was a freak but you weren’t so quick to believe that. If you were totally honest you found him quite cute.
“Your Connor Murphy, yeah? I know your sister.”
“Uh, yeah,” he sighed. “And don’t even get me started on my sister. That’s who the flowers are for.”
You nodded understandingly, though there was a twinge of surprise in your face.
“Anyway, I just started high school and it feels like my entire life is falling apart. My parents fucking hate me and their entire lives revolve around my sister, like they couldn’t give less of a shit about me. So I’m being forced to buy a present for Zoe’s birthday.” Connor laments. “I figured a nice passive-aggressive bouquet of flowers would be the perfect present.”
You laughed a bit. “That certainly is an odd request, but I think I can help you!”
“You can help me?” Connor asked, his face lighting up and you nodded.
“Of course! That’s my job.” you stood up, motion of the boy to follow you. He trailed behind you, shadowing you around the aisles of flowers, watching as you picked out a flowers.
“First geraniums which symbolise stupidity,” you say motioning to the orange-red flower. “Then foxglove for insincerity and meadowsweet for uselessness. Yellow carnations say ‘you have disappointed me’ and orange lilies for hatred.”
He watched as you effortlessly tied a white bow around the bundle of flowers and wrapped the stems in plastic.
“You know, if I hadn’t just heard all those meanings, I would’ve thought these flowers meant something beautiful,” Connor said, resting his hand on his head once you were back at the counter. You giggled.
“I mean, the bouquet itself is quite beautiful, though, if you wanted a passive way of telling someone off, this it it!” you said cheerfully arranging the flowers nicely.
“Well thanks for the help, (Y/N),” he said sincerely. You brushed it off, though you blushed at his first use of your name.
“It was no problem. It’s not everyday that I get to make an arrangement that means anything less than ‘I love you’ or ‘happy birthday’ or whatever holiday it happens to be. So the pleasure is all mine.” Connor nodded with a smile. You could see that he was wanting to ask something else, but you didn’t pry.
“That would be $25 dollars.” you said as he slid you the forty dollars he previously slammed on the counter not ever fifteen minutes ago.
You proceeded to make out his change before his voice stopped you. “No, no. You can keep the change.”
You looked up in surprise, wondering why he’d just give away fifteen dollars. “Are you sure? Why would you just give me money?”
“Will that fifteen dollars get you to show me what flower someone would buy to ask someone on a date?” he said with a shy smile not able to look you in the eye any longer.
Your heart sank slightly. There was a small sliver of you was hoping he was wanting to ask you on a date, but the chances of that happening where very minuscule. You knew you shouldn’t feel so down, you hardly knew the guy after all.
“I guess roses would be the way to do that. But I think roses are a little over done. I’d either go for their favourite flower if you know. Or a pink carnation which means deep love or affection.” you perched your lips to the side, trying to think of something else. “Oh! Or tulips! Those represent declaration of love.” you said making eye contact with Connor, suddenly losing all the words you were going to say. “Those are my favourite for an occasion like that.” you said quietly a light blush covering your cheeks.
You handed him the bouquet of flowers he initially bought, his hands brushing against yours for a long period of time. Not that you were complaining.
“Thank you for the help, (Y/N).” Connor said with a small smile. You nodded appreciatively as you watched Connor Murphy walk out of her shop, regret filling you to the brim, wishing you’d stopped him.
It had been a couple of days since the encounter with Connor and you couldn’t seem to get the boy out of your head. You knew it was silly. It was just a stupid little crush and you’d get over it in a few days. In school, the two of you never talked and if you happened to walk by each other in the halls the two of you would send friendly smiles to the other. You were secretly wishing he’d come up and talk to you and try to make a move, but you knew not to get your hopes up.
Thankfully, your days at the shop had been pretty busy so your mind was occupied with something other the Connor. Apparently a lot of people really wanted to get married this month for some reason.
But now it was near closing time and you decided to close-up a bit earlier than normal, not really feeling up for staying late. You turned the sign to closed and began watering some of the plants that needed it. You’d only just started when you heard a light knock on the door.
You were prepared to turn around and explain to the person, who clearly didn’t read the sign, that you were closed, but the words caught in your throat when you saw Connor Murphy. You set down the watering can and went to open the door.
“Connor, hi!” you said, not bothering to hide the surprise in your voice. “Surprise visit?” Connor shrugged and you noticed he had one hand behind his back, but you didn’t want to give it to much though, although you felt your anxiety rising.
“The flowers work out okay?” you asked and he nodded.
“They obviously didn’t know the meaning and now they’re actually acknowledging me for doing something good for once; well, my mom is, my dad still hates me. But, whatever, it did the trick.” Connor responded, ending his sentence with a small smile.
“That’s… good. But uh, what are you doing here?” you said not thinking about the words until you saw Connor’s face dim. “Not that I’m not happy to see you!” you follow up quickly.
The boy looked down at his feet momentarily shuffling, then looking back up at you. “I, um,” he started. “You remember how I asked you about flower meanings for asking someone out the other day?”
You nodded slowly. You really hoped Connor wasn’t about to tell you about that flower working out too.
“Yeah?” you said cautiously, wondering where he was going with this. You questions was answered when Connor brought his hand out from behind his back, presenting you with a bouquet of pink, yellow, and purple tulips.
Your eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“I was… sort of hoping that–well…” he struggled with his words. You reached out and hesitantly took the flowers from his hand. You inspected and a small smile appeared on your face.
“I was hoping you might join me for ice cream or something tonight? I mean–Only if you want to! I know it’s kinda short notice but I really liked talking to you the other day. If you don’t like ice cream–“
You smiled at his rambling before cutting him off. “For your information, I love ice cream. Let me finish closing up here?” you asked.
Connor grinned and nodded.
“Feel free to sit at the counter. I shouldn’t be long.” The two of you shared a smile and your heart fluttered as you set the tulips in a pale blue vase on the counter.
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