The morning after learning the mysterious boy's name felt like punishment. Joseph was once again slumped over his counter, his face buried in his arms, groaning about the train wreck of yesterday.
"I called his name cute… who does that?!" he muttered into the wood, voice muffled by shame. "So embarrassing…"
It felt like reality had smacked him across the face with a frying pan. Yesterday replayed in his mind the way hangovers replay blurry nights, you don't remember every detail, but the humiliation of everything you did sits in your bones. The little plant on the counter swayed as if mocking him, leaves trembling with silent laughter.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Joseph snapped, glaring at the pot, before hiding his face in his hands.
The bell over the shop door jingled, cutting him off. He didn't bother lifting his head when a voice boomed across the room:
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead!" Joseph groaned like a dying man.
Of course.
The intruder strode in with blinding blond hair that practically reflected sunlight, a grin wide enough to show every shiny bracket on his teeth. His dark brown eyes were already sparkling with mischief.
"Chase," Joseph muttered, dragging himself upright. "Why are you shouting so early in the morning?"
Chase bounded over with the grace of a golden retriever, grabbed Joseph by the collar, and hauled him up. Before Joseph could escape, Chase had draped one muscular arm around his shoulder, pinning him like a vice.
"I've decided something," Chase announced, tone as dramatic as a prophet revealing a vision. "You've been locked up in here way too long. You need air. Sunlight. A jog. Food. Literally anything outside this flower dungeon."
Joseph grimaced. "Just because you're obsessed with running around for reasons only God understands doesn't mean I have to."
But Chase wasn't listening. He never did. With a laugh, he steered Joseph toward the door, ignoring every ounce of resistance.
"Come on! Close up! Your precious flowers will survive one day without you hovering over them."
Joseph exhaled in defeat. He could already feel profits slipping from his fingers as he reached back to flip the sign to "Closed".
"This better be worth it," he grumbled. "I'm losing money here."
Chase's answer was to grind his knuckles into Joseph's hair, giving him a noogie so brutal it nearly rattled his skull. Joseph swatted uselessly at Chase's arm, hissing like an angry cat, but Chase only laughed louder, dragging him along like it was the easiest thing in the world.
By the time Joseph managed to straighten himself, they were already outside, the morning air cool against his face. The streets were wet from last night's rain, the scent of damp earth clinging to the air like a stubborn perfume. Chase, of course, was already striding ahead, practically glowing under the overcast sky, while Joseph shuffled behind him like a prisoner being marched to execution.
"This is kidnapping," Joseph muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Chase just glanced back with that blinding grin, the kind that made it impossible to stay mad for long. "Nah. This is called saving your sad life."
"I hate you."
"Love you too, dude."
As they made their way to goodness knows where, Joseph slowly started to warm up to the idea of going outside. It was impossible to stay mad at Chase for long anyway. The guy had sunshine practically injected into his bloodstream.
However, after a few minutes, Joseph realized where they were heading.
"The park?"
Chase grinned like a kid who'd just revealed a surprise. "Well, what better place to be with a florist than the park, a place filled with the flowers you love fussing over?"
Joseph snorted. "Yeah, but it's not the only place with flowers. There's that greenhouse near your school, or the public garden opposite the park. They even give free tours. You know, real educational stuff."
Chase groaned dramatically. "Joseph. Are you trying to have fun or put me to sleep?"
Joseph rolled his eyes and muttered something about having better taste, but he still followed Chase through the park gates, which were rusted and squeaked like they hadn't been oiled since the dawn of time.
The park wasn't huge, maybe the size of two football fields, but it was buzzing with life. Flowers grew along the fences, trees dotted the open fields, and kids darted recklessly around a jungle gym in the far corner. A cluster of couples picnicked beneath a massive oak, whispering sweet nothings between bites of sandwiches, while further off, a group of cheerleaders giggled too loudly at some jocks throwing a football around.
Joseph felt his soul shrivel at the display.
Chase, unfazed, immediately got distracted by a flock of pigeons fighting over crumbs. He profoundly draped an arm over Joseph's shoulder and bellowed in the booming tone of an MC at a boxing match.
"Look at them, Joseph. Warriors. True athletes."
Joseph groaned, peeling Chase's arm off. "They're just fighting over bread."
"Exactly!" Chase declared. "Survival of the fittest. A tale as old as time. You should be honored to witness it."
Joseph ignored him and sank onto the grass near the flowers, letting himself admire the way sunlight streamed through the trees in the distance. He hated to admit it, but maybe he did need this. Between stressing over orders and obsessing over the mystery boy, Castillo, a break wasn't the worst idea.
That was until he realized something.
The grass beneath him felt cool. Very cool.
And damp.
Joseph froze. Slowly, he looked down at himself. His worst fear was confirmed. A giant, ugly brown stain was already spreading across the back of his pants.
He shot up so fast he nearly tripped over himself, frantically swiping at the fabric like he could magically erase it. But it was too late, the damage was done. The stain was there. Mocking him.
Behind him came a thunderous laugh.
"Damn, dude!" Chase was nearly choking on air. "You really don't think, do you?"
Joseph spun, face burning. "Not funny, dude! How am I supposed to get this out?! I look like I… well, you know!"
"Like you crapped yourself?" Chase supplied helpfully, wheezing with laughter.
"Shut up!" Joseph aimed a half-hearted punch at his arm, which only made Chase double over harder, clutching his stomach like he was about to pass out. His laugh rang through the park so loud that even the pigeons scattered.
"You're absolutely no help right now," Joseph grumbled, tugging at his shirt in a desperate attempt to cover the stain.
Suddenly, in the distance, Joseph's entire world tilted sideways.
The worst possible person to show up right now, of all times.
Castillo.
He was sitting there like he had materialized out of Joseph's daydreams, sprawled lazily across a bench under the shade of an old oak tree. A notebook rested in his lap, a pencil twirling carelessly between his fingers. He chewed gum with that kind of infuriating calmness only mysterious boys in novels were allowed to have. His hair fell into his eyes, and yet he didn't even bother to push it away.
"Crap!" Joseph hissed under his breath, panic flooding every nerve in his body.
In a blur of movement, he darted behind Chase, practically plastering himself to his friend's back. His hands flew to the giant wet stain on his pants, swiping at it like he could magically erase it with sheer desperation.
Chase froze mid-step, blinking slowly, like his brain needed a full minute to process the sudden ambush. "Uh… dude?" he asked, voice flat. "Why are you hiding behind me? Did you suddenly remember you owe somebody money or something?"
"Shut up!" Joseph whispered harshly, gripping the back of Chase's shirt. "Just help me hide from that guy over there!"
Chase looked straight across the park, completely ignoring Joseph's frantic flailing.
Joseph smacked his arm lightly. "Stop looking, you're making it obvious!"
"Making what obvious? That you're lurking behind me like a stalker?" Chase deadpanned.
Joseph groaned, face burning. He peeked over Chase's shoulder for just a split second, only to nearly combust when he saw Castillo scribbling something into his notebook, jawline sharp even when chewing gum. He quickly ducked.
If Castillo so much as glanced in his direction and saw him like this, Joseph would have no choice but to fake his own death and move to another country.
"You mean that guy over there on the bench?" Chase asked at full volume, arm shooting out like a neon sign as he pointed directly at Castillo.
Joseph nearly strangled him on the spot. "Shut your face! And don't point, you idiot!" he hissed, yanking Chase's arm down so hard he almost pulled it out of its socket.
He glanced down at Joseph, catching the furious blush that had spread across his cheeks. Joseph, of course, knew it was the direct result of sheer, bone-crushing humiliation. But Chase, being Chase, immediately twisted it into something else entirely.
"Ohhh…" A slow, mischievous grin spread across his face, sharp as a cat who just found a mouse. "I see what's going on here."
Joseph froze. "No. Don't. Whatever's happening in that pea-sized brain of yours, shut it down right now."
But Chase only leaned in closer, voice dropping to a loud, obnoxious stage whisper. "You've got a crush."
Joseph nearly choked on air. "What! No! Shut up, Chase!" He shoved at his friend's back, but Chase just laughed.
"So… you wanna hide from him?" Chase asked, his grin already spelling out trouble.
"Yes!" Joseph whisper-shouted, every nerve in his body screaming do not make a scene.
Chase nodded solemnly, like a general agreeing to a secret battle plan. For one blissful second, Joseph thought maybe, just maybe, his friend would actually be useful.
Then Chase's hand clamped around his arm.
"Wait. Wait, wait! what are you-"
Before Joseph could wriggle free, Chase was already dragging him across the grass with the subtlety of a parade float. His grin only widened, downright villainous now.
"Stop! What are you doing?!" Joseph hissed, tripping over his own feet. His heart thudded so loud he swore everyone could hear it.
Chase only laughed.
"You said you wanted to hide. And the best way to hide," he shoved Joseph right in front of the bench.
"Is in plain sight."
Joseph almost screamed. There he was. Castillo. Up close. Notebook in hand, pencil tapping against the paper, eyes flicking up just long enough to pin Joseph in place like a butterfly in a museum case.
"Uhm… Hi." Joseph's voice cracked so badly he considered faking a coughing fit and running.
Behind him, Chase clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. "This is Joseph. He's been dying to meet you."
Joseph wanted the earth to split open and swallow him whole. Castillo only raised an eyebrow before smacking his lips, gum cracking sharp in the quiet.
"You look familiar. Do I know you?"
Joseph froze. His stomach dropped. Of course Castillo still remembered the incident, the one where he'd been caught staring for way too long, like some creep with no self-control.
"No! I don't think you remember me from anywhere. Nope. Definitely never met you before. You must be imagining things!" he blurted out in one breath, hands flailing like he could wave the memory away.
Castillo just exhaled through his nose, slow, thoughtful.
"Oh yeah! You own that flower shop down the street, right?"
Joseph sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Yeah… But I wasn't staring at you! I was… uh… admiring the fence. Riveting fence. Very… wood-y."
Castillo chuckled, low and warm, and Joseph nearly melted into the grass.
"First of all, I don't really care. Second, why don't you and Chase sit down?"
Joseph made a beeline for the far end of the bench, but Chase plopped down first, smug as ever, forcing him right beside Castillo.
"By the way," Chase spoke up, "how do you know my name? I swear we've never met before!"
Castillo rolled his eyes.
"I'm in your science class. Have you seriously not noticed me since school started?"
Silence.
"…I don't think I ever focus on school in general," Chase muttered, crossing his arms thoughtfully. Joseph only drummed his fingers frantically against his knee, body stiff as stone. Chase, of course, had noticed and quickly swooped in.
"You know, Joseph here can name seventy-eight types of flowers in one go."
Joseph's eyes widened in horror. "Well yeah, but that doesn't make me a nerd."
"You kinda are. A flower nerd," Chase teased, earning himself a vicious pinch.
While Chase whined dramatically, Joseph decided it was safer to take control before his friend ruined him further.
"So… Castillo. What are your interests?"
Castillo blinked, confused.
"Castillo? That's not my name."
Joseph's face burned. "Well, uh… some lady came into my shop, said you were named Castillo! Called you emo or whatever-"
Castillo laughed, the sound rich and unguarded.
"Classic Martha. She lives next door. Says my vibe 'depresses' her plants."
Joseph chuckled. "Well, to be fair, you do look like that kind of person."
He earned a light slap on the arm. Small, playful, but Joseph swore he'd remember it forever.
"So… what's your actual name?"
"Asher. Castillo's my last name."
Joseph's chest fluttered. Asher, huh? That's even cuter than Castillo.
By the time Asher had to head home, the sky had already melted into shades of orange and pink, time slipping through Joseph's fingers faster than he wanted. Chase was snoring beside him on the bench, head tilted back, mouth wide open like he was auditioning to catch flies.
Asher stood, brushing his hair out of his eyes with a lazy flick of his wrist.
"We should talk more often, Joseph. You're pretty funny."
Joseph's heart nearly stopped.
He thinks I'm funny?
His cheeks hurt from holding back a grin, but it still slipped through anyway.
"You should come by the shop when you're free. I… don't get many customers, so it'd be nice."
Asher chuckled, soft but warm, and gave a small wave. "Then I'll see you tomorrow."
Joseph froze in place, every nerve in his body buzzing like he'd just been electrocuted. He managed a wave back, though it was probably too frantic to look normal. As soon as Asher was out of sight, he exploded.
As soon as Asher was out of sight, Joseph let out a noise somewhere between a squeal and a dying kettle, flailing so violently he smacked Chase, who jolted awake with a loud snort.
"What? What happened? You getting murdered or something?"
Joseph ignored him entirely, pacing in small circles like a trapped cat. "Did you see that?! We actually had a conversation! He laughed at something I said! He's coming to the shop!"
Before Chase could blink, Joseph grabbed his shoulders and shook him with surprising strength for a florist who spent most of his life around soil and roses. "Chase, this is history!"
The blond rubbed his eyes, still groggy, but already smirking. "Well, who do you thank?"
Joseph stopped mid-shake.
"…Thank? What do you mean?"
Chase leaned back, smug grin spreading across his face. "Who's the genius that dragged you here in the first place? Who's the best wingman alive?"
Joseph rolled his eyes so hard they nearly fell out. "Oh, please. That was all me. With my courage. My natural charm. My magnetic presence. I practically ooze charisma"
Chase snorted.
"Yeah, sure. The only charm you had was the wet patch on your pants. Real classy."
Joseph smacked his arm, but Chase only laughed louder, throwing an arm around his shoulders as they started the walk home.
If Joseph thought the squealing was embarrassing, the return trip was actual torture. Chase would not shut up, humming wedding marches, loudly announcing "Joseph and Asher sitting in a tree!" to strangers they passed, and insisting he was the "Cupid of the century."
Joseph grumbled and shoved him a dozen times, but nothing could erase the glow buzzing in his chest. Not even Chase's relentless teasing. Because no matter what, Joseph kept hearing the same thing over and over again in his head.
We should talk more often, Joseph. You're pretty funny.
Lying in bed, Joseph replayed Asher's words until they blurred into a lullaby. His grin wouldn't leave. For once, the world felt kind.
Maybe a little drama wasn't the end of the world… maybe it was exactly I needed.
He fell asleep smiling like an idiot, and for once, he didn't mind.