Work Text:
The smell of roses very prominent at this time of year. The colour of red everyone as people rush to buy chocolate and flowers and the occasional stuffed bear. This little shopping mall isn't normally this busy, usually there's more workers then customers, the music from each store wafting out to create an odd tune at the centre of the mall. Yet now there are people flooding the mall, all frantically being pulled by an invisible force. A look of determination etched on their faces like what they are doing now is the most important thing.
Apparently buying dying flowers as a gift is meant to mean something. Like a promise of some sorts, although the flowers will be dead in a few weeks so what does that mean for the promise. That it will wilt and die too?
"Ember!" A voice behind me shouts, "Less daydreaming more stocking."
I turn away from the mall and back to the half full shelves and a crate full of products. Little red hearts made out of soap, something else that people have bought, though there is most definitely much better soap here. A clock chimes on the wall behind me, letting me know my shift is over. I finish stacking the last of the soaps, give a wave to my co-worker and head out back, before gathering my stuff and preparing myself for the walk home. Though somehow I have to get out of this mall, through the crowd and the no doubt busy carpark to get the bus stop.
Leaving the mall to the sound of car horns, I see that there is a traffic jam somehow. And that every few cars there's a head out the window yelling, many complaining about the already fading light. I don’t see why that matters, it's six o'clock, the sun is normally setting at this time. This doesn’t stop the continued yelling as I walk, though flowers and the flower shop are heard a lot. Just because it's the only one in the area doesn't mean people have to fight over it, yet for some reason they do.
There's a picture of a couple on the bus stop advertisement, they're holding wine and chocolate but it's not clear what the add is for. People are probably too wrapped up in the picture of the couple to actually care. Something about these images seem to catch people's attention, some smile sweetly while other look at it with a sense of longing. It's not even that good of a picture and the people are clearly faking it, they just both seem too tense.
Then orange in the sky is almost gone when the bus pulls up. I hop on the bus, pay mt fare and walk down to my usual seat. Placing me bag beside me to prevent anyone from trying to sit there, at least while there are other free seats. A tap on the shoulder notifies me to the person sat behind me. I turn, knowing from past experience that ignoring this person only makes them more annoying. Yet, today rather than turning around to meet his face, I'm met with a bouquet of flowers. He pushes them over the seat towards my hands.
"To the lovely lady, who may surely grant me the honour of a date." He speaks, loudly enough that everyone on the bus hears but quiet enough that it seems unintentional.
And of course he did that. Set it up so I'm the one in the wrong. So I can't reject him without seeming like the jerk, even though he's the one pushing himself on me despite my protests. The eyes of everyone on the bus are on us, and well today I don’t exactly have the energy to be polite.
"First of all," I snap, "I'm not a lady, I'm non-binary. Second, I've told you before that I'm not interested. I'm aromantic. And I want you to leave you alone." I push the flowers back towards him and turn around to face the front of the bus.
He tries to grab my arm to turn me to face him again, "You can lie all you want. Make up fake identities to avoid me. Stop playing hard to get, I know you like me, just admit to it."
"I think you should get off the bus." A voice says.
I realise that the bus had stopped moving and the bus driver was stood behind me. Eyes looking at the guy behind me and pointing to the open door. He gets up, grabs his bouquet and storms off the bus.
"Are you okay?" The bus driver asks.
I reply with a nod and before I know it the bus starts moving. I stare out the window and watch the world roll by. Of course he was going to try something like that. Why did I not see that coming, I would have waited for the next bus if I had.
I get off the bus and walk down the street. Keeping my eyes focused on the road. Listening to the love songs on the radio as I walk.