Red Roses
Thursday couldn’t come soon enough. Lynn drifted through the entire week, dreaming about the date while also trying her best not to think about it. She didn’t want to set her expectations so high that it wouldn’t come out right no matter what.
When the day finally did arrive, the seconds passed agonizingly slowly until 3 o’clock, the time they were set to meet. Lynn walked to the flower shop to meet Ashley after her shift, and then they took the subway downtown. The subways were actually very nice, although anyone who could actually afford a car would never admit it. Ashley sat close to Lynn, and Lynn could smell the scent of flowers on her. They talked about music, and Ashley, claiming it was “the best album ever written, holy shit,” played Lynn part of a vaudeville-inspired record, not caring that they were in a full train of people. Lynn actually kind of liked it, as strange as it was.
Once they got off the train, they started walking towards the main park in the city. There was a zoo/aquarium combination that only cost a few dollars’ admission, and they decided to go in and look at the animals. Ashley was enthralled with the aquarium tanks. She stood in front of them, holding Lynn’s hand and pointing to the fish she liked, her blue hair blending into the water in a dreamlike haze. Lynn wanted to take a picture of her and draw her later because she just looked so beautiful, but that was probably weird for a first date, so she just snuck glances at her between getting excited about the marine creatures they saw.
The train on the way home was less crowded than the way there had been. Lynn told Ashley about her art, and Ashley asked if Lynn could bring some drawings in next time she came by the store. Lynn was so happy that someone wanted to see her art. She was used to her art and music being of little interest to people who weren’t working on it with her. And besides, Ashley was an artist too. Lynn shyly asked her if she could see her work, and Ashley agreed. It was, to put it simply, a wonderful day. Lynn wanted it to last forever, but eventually the train stopped and they walked back to the store.
“Wait a minute,” Ashley said, running into the store. She came back with a dozen classic red roses. “It’s cliché, I know. But cliché’s alright sometimes, y’know?” Lynn nodded. She leaned in and kissed Ashley, who exhaled a little before sinking into the kiss. Lynn’s hand found the back of her neck, and Ashley pulled Lynn closer. They pulled apart and Ashley handed the roses to Lynn.
“We should do this again. Really soon,” Ashley said, walking backwards towards the store.
“Definitely.” This was probably the best day of Lynn’s life. Definitely.