Zinna

🌸 Evolet 🌸

Clya presses her forehead against my arm and groans. I pull the blanket over my face and inhale a deep breath. It doesn't soothe the regret churning in my stomach or the aching in my feet.

"Why do I always drink too much?" I ponder.

"Because alcohol prevents us from making good choices." Clya giggles.

"I had so much fun last night. I forgot what it's like to go dancing and not care about coming home at a certain time or drinking too much."

Clya snuggles into my side.

"We should do this more."

"Drinking?" I gasp. "I don't know if my body can handle it."

"Just hangout like old times."

"Are you going to nag me about Adam?"

"Probably, but only because I love you."

A phone pings and we both wince at the loud noise. I reach from under the blanket and past the side table until my fingertips slide over something cool and sleek. I pull the phone under the cover and squint at the bright screen.

There's a random number with, 'Hey, how are you holding up this morning?'

The blanket lifts as Clya pokes her nose into my business.

"Is this the random man you gave your number to?"

"Actually, we've met before. I met him when I brought the peace lily."

"So he followed you to a club? What a creep."

"You're only saying that because of Adam, and I still don't understand the obsession with it."

"Because that man genuinely loves you. Love like that and men like him don't just wander into your life every day."

"Just because something doesn't happen every day, doesn't mean it's worth holding onto every day." I sigh.

"I don't trust this man. You don't know who he is, or what he could be hiding."

"Well, it's a good thing I've already met him." I chuckle.

I push the blanket aside and haul myself out of my comfortable bed. I stretch my arms above my head and yawn.

'I'm holding up, how about yourself?' I message back.

Staring at the messages makes my stomach erupt with butterflies. I lock the device and wander to the kitchen for water.

Clya appears in the kitchen and places her forehead against the cold marble bench.

"Water?"

"With ice, please."

She downs two cups of water before throwing herself onto the couch. My phone pings and I swipe it from the bench.

'I'm good, are you free today?'

I squeal with excitement and Clya peers over the couch.

"What happened?"

I bite my lip and contemplate my options.

"Caelum asked if I was free today."

"So the stalker has a name, hey."

"Clya, he's not a stalker." I frown.

"I feel like hanging out with him is a bad idea."

When Clya lays back down, I roll my eyes.

I open the messaging app and reply.

'Yes, I'm free if you want to grab coffee today?'

I dash to my wardrobe and flick through my clothes. I haven't done this in awhile; what does one wear to a coffee date?

Clya appears in the doorway, hand on hip.

"You can disapprove all you want but can you help me find something to wear?"

"What do you have in your wardrobe?" She sighs.

Clya digs through my drawers and finds something safe and practical, which is very Clya.

"Thank you for the help." I smile.

Caelum messages a time and the address of the cafe.

I take the clothes to the bathroom and change into a white singlet, blue washed jeans and a cozy grey knit cardigan. I keep the shoes sensible and light makeup to cover the dark circles under my eyes.

Once dressed, I twirl around for Clya and she snaps a picture.

"It's just in case you go missing and I need a reference photo."

"He's not a stranger, we've met twice before."

Clya crawls under the covers and fluffs the pillows behind her.

"Message when you get there and while you're on the date. Should we pick a code word in case you get kidnapped and thrown into the boot of his car?"

"If I get kidnapped, I doubt I'll have a phone to text you the code word." I sigh.

"Maybe I should come with you?"

"Don't worry, I'll message you."

Clya snuggles under the blanket while I head to the car. My heart races with each footstep. I hope I don't end up in a boot this afternoon.

🍂 Caelum 🍂

Evolet grips the strap on her bag as she treks up the hill. I shove my hand into my pocket and wander onto the gravel pathway.

Her green eyes shine and the wind ruffles her black hair. As she comes closer, her intoxicating sweet floral perfume fills my senses.

"Hi, Evolet."

She's so beautiful.

She frowns but smiles.

"Please call me Eve, everyone does."

"I guess you can call me Cael."

"But does everyone call you that?" She raises an eyebrow.

"No, but I'm usually in trouble." I chuckle.

"Do you come here often?" She peers around, a hopeful smile still lingering on her lips.

"Sometimes I come with my grandmother."

"Aw." She smiles.

"Can I show you around before we go to the cafe? There's a koi pond just over there."

"Oh, I love koi fish." She beams with excitement.

We cross the pathway and to the pond which is large. There's a deck and some old railing which does not look safe to lean on. Evolet hangs over the side and reaches for the bond despite the distance.

I lean against the railing and watch the fish swarm below us.

"There's something so calming about watching fish swim."

"I love the way they glide through the water."

She twirls towards me with a bright grin.

"Where to next?"

"There's a garden we can look at."

"Sounds good." She smiles.

We travel further up the hill and stop at the garden beside the cafe. There's a maze created from an assortment of hedges, a water fountain, and stunning white roses in full bloom.

Evolet enters the maze and trails her fingers across the leaves. She stops beside a decorative hedge which is trimmed as a heart. She flips her hair over her shoulder and wanders away.

"It's beautiful, very Alice in Wonderland vibes if we paint the roses red." She chuckles.

"Yes, should we grab food now?"

We enter the small cafe which opens to a deck with a beautiful view of the surrounding bushland. There's metal furnishing and plants covering any and every inch of the cafe.

Evolet joins the line and investigates the menu and the cake fridge.

Once we reach the counter, her eyes meet mine and I smile.

"Can I please have an iced coffee and a slice of mud cake?"

The lady inputs the order and glances at me.

"Green tea and a slice of lemon cheesecake."

"No worries, that'll be fourteen dollars."

I grab my wallet and frown at the flower squished between it. Evolet fixates on the flower until I shove it back into my pocket. I pay the woman and take the number to a spare table outside.

"Do you carry dead flowers around in your pocket for fun or?" She raises her eyebrow.

I dig the flower out and place it on the table.

"It's something my mother does, actually. It's called calluna vulgaris and my mother believes it'll bring me protection, so she puts them in my pocket with the hope it'll protect me."

"That's adorable." She smiles.

"Sometimes it's very annoying."

Evolet turns back to the view and gasps.

"It's really beautiful here."

A waitress delivers our order and Evolet devours the chocolate cake. I sample the cheesecake and the tea which both have beautiful flavours.

"What are your thoughts on the tea?"

"It's delicious," I comment.

"You look like a tea snob, are you?"

"Um." I feel my cheeks reddening at the comment. "I've grown up around plants and my grandmother makes tea from plants she grows. It's hard not to be a snob, I guess."

"So you're close with your grandmother then?"

"Yes, she owns Rosemary's Blossom Shop."

"So you work for the family business?"

"I only help because she's getting too old for it. I have another job in a research facility for plants."

"Aw, that's nice."

"What do you do for work?"

"Mainly payroll and rostering, sometimes I act as a personal assistant."

"Do you enjoy it."

"I just do it?" She laughs.

"So you're really knowledgeable about plants?"

"Yes, maybe." I wince.

"We are complete opposites. I basically have a graveyard in my backyard."

"Perhaps I could help you?"

"You would?" She smiles.

"Yes."

"Perhaps agree after you see my garden." She laughs.

"Give me a time and a date."

"Thanks."

"It'll cost you drinks and dinner though."

"Any allergies I should know about?"

"No."

"Okay." She nods.

Evolet swipes her drink from the table and smiles. The wind ruffles through her hair and the light make her green eyes glister.

I'm a goner.