Flowers

Texas was starting to get worried about her customer. Texas has been locked in a staring contest with the maybe lupo (she could practically smell the illusion surrounding the ‘wolf’.) for about 1 minute and 23 seconds now, and it didn’t seem like it would be stopping anytime soon.  

This is getting slightly awkward. Maybe I should say something? 

“Hey, are you ok?” Texas’s words seemed to have snapped the blonde maybe-lupo out of her trance, and the red ribbons in her hair danced as she quickly moved her eyes away from Texas, seemingly intent on now focusing on a bundle of chocolate daisies. 

“Y-yes! I’m fine! S-sorryaboutthat!” her customer’s reply was fast and jumbled together, making her sound nervous. She was constantly shifting on her feet, and seemed like she wanted to look at Texas again. 

Her face is red, and she seems a bit off center right now. She also seems to be sweating. Maybe she has a fever? Should I get her to a hospital?

“I-I’m Sora by the way! It’s n-nice to meet you?” Her customer, now Sora, said imploringly, eyes once again staring into Texas’s. 

“Texas, it's nice to meet you too.”  Texas stretched her right arm over the counter, her red fur brushing past a potted sunflower as she opened up her calloused hand, years of fighting written on them, and grasped one of Sora’s hands in a handshake. 

She definitely has a fever, I better tell her to go to the hospital. Her face looks more like a tomato than a face at this point, and her sweating seems to have gotten worse. Not to mention her hand feels extremely warm.

“Sora, maybe you should go to the hospital. Your fever seems to be really bad.” Were the words Texas said as she retracted her arm, bringing it to rest on the counter. 

“W-what? I don’t have a fever?” 

It must be worse than I thought. She doesn’t even realize that she’s sick. 

“It looks like you do, I mean you’re sweating, your face looks flushed, and your hands are very warm. Go look in the bathroom over there and see for yourself.” Texas pointed at the bathroom, tucked away in the corner of her floral shop and partially obscured from view by some cacti. 

Sora ran to the bathroom with speed that faintly surprised Texas and quickly went in, slamming the door behind her. 

It took about two minutes for Sora to come out, face not as red as before, but still flushed. She began making her way back over to Texas, moving her head to to the left and the right, taking in the many plants that decorated Texas’s store.

Maybe she took some medicine, which would explain why her face is less red. Or maybe it's a medical condition of some kind? Would it be rude to ask her? 

Texas shoved away her thoughts as Sora arrived back at the counter. 

“So, feeling better?” Texas said, eyes roving down to check for any other signs of fever. 

She does seem a bit frail, Texas thought. I think frailness was a sign of fever, though she can still hold herself up. Maybe it really is a medical condition.

“O-oh, ye-eah! I’m feeling better! Thanks for asking Te-Texas!” Sora replied, loud and stuttery. 

Her face is turning redder. I guess it is a medical condition. But then again, she didn’t deny that it wasn’t a fever. I wonder if stuttering is also a sign of a fever. 

“You sure?” 

“Ye-yes! I’m fine! Sorry for worrying you!” was Sora’s confirmation.

I guess I’ll give her the benefit of doubt for now.

“If you say so.” Texas replied, taking her hand out of her pocket and away from her phone. 

Which means I won’t need to call an ambulance. 

“ Anyways, what can I do for you Sora?”  Texas continued. “Are you just looking around or do you plan on buying some flowers?” 

“Oh! Um, I’m planning on buying some flowers for my friend actually. There was an a-accident, and she got injured."

Texas watched as Sora’s smile grew a bit sadder around the edges, and her eyes drooped a bit. The aura surrounding her seemed to flicker from energetic, to somber. Anybody else would have missed it and probably assumed it was a sign of exhaustion, but Texas was not anybody. She sees that same face in the mirror everyday, red fur unable to hide the emotions almost always present on Texas’s face.

Guilt and sorrow. She must blame herself for injuring her friend.

“Really? That must suck. How’s her recovery going?” 

“It’s going okay. The medics said she would be ok.” So good news, Sora no longer had a trace of red painting her face. Bad news, she sounded like the most depressed person in Lungmen, her smile was now a frown, her head seemed to weigh thrice its weight, and her ears looked like they were attempting to fall off her head.

Maybe I should have just asked her what kind of flowers she wanted to buy. Then she wouldn’t have turned into this sad, droopy, animal. Maybe I should cheer her up? What’s something people say to cheer their friends up?  A smile means they’re happy right?

“Hey Sora, look up for a second.” Texas said as gently as she could, and was rewarded for her efforts when Sora lifted her head up. Texas shifted her usually frozen mouth into a smile. “Try smiling like this for me.”

God, it feels like I’m tearing my lips apart. How do people manage to do this all the time? 

Sora’s face seemed to have immediately shifted as soon as Texas smiled, losing it’s depressing features and turning a bright shade of red once more. Her ears became erect and her eyes widened to a scary degree.

And there’s her smile. Texas thought as Sora’s lips turned up once more, lips no longer drooping towards the floor. 

“Keep that smile on your face, you look prettier with it. “ Texas said, eyeing Sora’s now wagging tail. 

Huh, cheering people up is a lot easier than I remember. Maybe I’ve gotten better at it.

“Anyways, now that you seem happier,  what kind of flowers are you looking for?”

_________________________________________________________

Sora exited the flower shop, face still beat red and now clutching two bundles of flowers in her arms. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she felt unbelievably happy. When she had entered the little floral shop plainly titled “Flowers” and sandwiched between a library and an administrative building, her plans were to simply buy flowers for Croissant and leave. Something that should have taken about 5-10 minutes.

But Texas…

Sora was frozen in place by the lupo behind the counter. Her fur was a beautiful shade of red, eyes so deep that Sora wanted to dive deep into their depths and explore every inch of space they encompassed, and a voice so smooth that Sora was questioning her career as a singer. 

And that dreamy smile~

Sora nearly squealed at the memory, and began walking with a visible bounce to her steps and a smile glued to her very red face. 

Texas was so nice to me, and she even gave me extra flowers to ‘keep that nice smile on my face.’ She’s perfect! I can’t wait to tell Croissant all about her! Well, I will once she wakes up at least. 

With that last thought, Sora continued walking to PL headquarters, mood unable to be dampened, and smiling for all the world to see.