My Light

Zayn's POV

I returned to my hotel room, showering one more time, even though I just showered this morning, I want to smell nice. I never realized how terrible I smelled when I smoked until a friend took me out one night and we had to walk past people who were smoking, my clothes smelled terrible, I had no idea I was a walking cigarette until that night. I'm surprised my friends could even stand to be around me.

My hair always dried rather quickly so I had to style that first, using tricks Lou had taught me I carefully combed it, used minimal product and just let it fall where the blow dryer wanted it to. Styling my hair makes me think about Lou, I should call her, check up on Lux, call Caroline. It's crazy how you can let time get away from you, you don't call someone for one day, that one day turns into two, then a week, then a month. Someone you used to speak with every day, it just falls by the wayside.

I decided to take a taxi instead, it's a bit faster as you don't have all the constant stops. Well you think it will be faster but with the traffic it probably would have been faster to just take the train. My feet are tapping to the stupid music my driver is playing, I don't pay that much attention to it, looking out the pedestrians walking about the city. They breath life into this place. You can't go down the street without seeing someone. Always something to do on the weekends, all though I've taken to just sitting in my hotel room and enjoying not having things to do all the time.

We arrive at the flower shop and I pay the driver. He hasn't asked me a million questions so I give him a generous tip, I know people know who I am but I respect when they don't ask a ton of questions. I did sign something for him; his daughter is apparently a big fan. I wipe the palms of my hand on my thighs as I inch closer to the door. I take note at the flowers and balloons that are displayed along the front window. I open the door and a little bell goes off to announce my arrival, my nose is instantly assaulted with the smell of fresh flowers. I'm not good at identifying them but they always smell amazing.

I walk around, storage coolers filled with arranged flowers, flowers in buckets, random teddy bears and glass vases.

“I'll be with you in a minute!” Someone shouts out from the back. I look toward the desk and don't see anyone.

“All right.” I speak back to the voice. Is this my mystery woman? Her voice is not how I remember it, all though when she did “speak” to me on the train she wasn't shouting.

I hear a few steps creaking and a woman sigh, coming into view. It's her. She wipes the stray hairs away from her face, her hair all pulled up into a bun since I saw her this morning. Will she recognize me? Will she dislike me?

“Sorry about that sir, I was on the phone with a customer, what can I help you with today?” I lean over just a tad and see her ankles crossed as she leans against the counter, her toe pointed. She's wearing skinny jeans, black flats and a plain red shirt.

“Um, yes, I need some flowers.” I don't really know what to say, after I say it I mentally face palm, I probably sound like an idiot.

She giggles a little bit, tucking another loose strand behind her ear. She's got diamond studs in, small studs, nothing flashy. “Well you've come to the right place then.” She smiles. “May I ask who they are for? Might give me an idea with where to go from here.”

I'd like to believe I think quickly on my feet but that's not the case. I just stare at her for a while before she clears her throat and I snap my attention back. “Right, sorry, my mum.” Lies. If I was going to send my mum flowers I'd just call one of the shops in Bradford and have them sent to her. But Lucia doesn't know that. If she knows who I am, she hasn't said it yet. I do look a little different as my hair has grown out, it's a little disheveled, and I've filled out a little bit, not so skinny.

“How sweet.” She has a genuine smile, shows her bright white, straight teeth. “Do you know what her favorite flower is?” She ask as she starts digging through the drawers, I watch as she pulls out a pencil and a note pad and leans against the counter to take notes on my thoughts.

“Honestly, I have no idea.” I laugh. This might be harder than I thought.

“That's okay, does she have a favorite color?” This is all hitting me at once. The sound of her voice, how tranquil it is, it almost makes my insides at peace. Makes me calm. Her slow and sultry voice, she's not even trying to speak like that, I can tell it's just natural.

“Um, she likes pink, and red.” I look around and see a variety of different flowers, I know what roses and daises are, but that's about it.

“Okay, well do you want them delivered or are you going to take them to her today?” She asks, tapping the end of her pencil on the note pad. She doesn't act irritated with my idiocy.

“I'll take them to her.” I smile as she does.

“All right then!” She drops the pencil and comes around to the front of the desk, mere feet from me. “Lets build a bouquet.” She walks towards the coolers and I follow her. “How much are you looking to spend?” She pauses and turns to me.

“Um, it doesn't really matter, maybe fifty bucks?” I ask her because I have no idea how much flowers are.

“We can work with that.” She smiles and turns back to the coolers, looking up and down at the fresh cut flowers in their black buckets. “Okay.” She opens the first one and looks closer. “How about pink carnations? They signify gratitude and they're simple, pretty.” She looks over her shoulder at me and I nod my head, I had no idea that every flower had something it stood for, I just thought they were for rose colors. She grabs a handful of stems and closes the door. “Then how about some forget-me-nots, obviously for remembering her son.” They're really pretty flowers, she seems to have a knack for this. “And then a few hibiscus flowers, for delicate beauty. I can only assume you're mother is beautiful, as all mothers are.” She pulls a few in her hand and arranges them, making some of them shorter, some of them taller. It's creating depth. She's a true artist. “I'll just add some baby's breath and a few leafy greens and you should be good to go!”

She walks away from me as I'm in awe of her quick creation. Her effortless creation. As she walks she's pulling things around and adding more. I watch as she takes it behind the counter and pulls from under it, a triangle like contraption, dropping the flower bundle inside and placing them on the counter. She turns and touches all the ribbons, finally selecting a pink one, white one, and a mixture of both, cutting them all to the same size and wrapping the stems of the bouquet together, pulling at the ends on the scissors to make them curl. It's gorgeous.

“How does that look?” She turns it towards me and smiles at her creation.

“It's beautiful.” I say about the bouquet as well as her, but I try to not make it as obvious. “Have you worked here long?” I ask her.

“Um, you could say that, this used to be my grandparent's shop, I came here when I was little after school, I've always loved flowers. So when I was old enough I started working here and now here I am.” She blushes a little bit. “I'm sorry, I'm sure you didn't ask for all that.” She shy’s away and tucks her hair behind her ear. That might be her nervous habit, she's done it a few times since I've been here. It's nothing majorly noticeable but I notice it.

“No, I love to hear stories like that.” So this is her grandparents shop. Her grandparents are florists too, this is a skill she's inherited and perfected. “So your name is Conti? Is that where the shop name comes from?” I ask, trying to sound like it's not something I've been searching for. She seems nice enough not to be freaked out with my conversation, you just never know how people will respond to you.

“Oh, no, that's our last name. I'm Nora.” She extends her hand out to me across the counter and I shake it. It's smaller than mine but as strange as it sounds, it seems like it fit perfectly with mine.

“I'm Zayn.” I smile at her, squeezing her hand just slightly.

“Nice to meet you Zayn.” I stare at her for a little bit and am a bit startled when the front door chimes.

“Traffic was a nightmare! Jesus!” Someone practically yells from behind me. I turn to see her, a petite woman with long blonde hair. “Shit. Sorry.” She covers her mouth and makes a face quickly; I turn back to Nora. Nora, such a fitting name, it's a beautiful name.

“It's okay Shelby. We have a wedding appointment at noon when I'm on lunch, but I'll be here to help.” She smiles at Shelby as she comes behind the counter and disappears down the steps. “Sorry about her, Shelby usually doesn't have a filter. Let me know if your mom likes the flowers.” She smiles at me again and I nod.

“Yes, I'm sure she'll love them, thank you Nora.” I say her name as if I could forget it. I tap the counter with my hand, not quite ready to say goodbye but I must. I take the flowers, grasping her creation and head out the door. I'll be back tomorrow.

Notes

So she has a name, Nora. Hopefully you all like it, it took me seriously forever just to come up with a name for this woman.

I hope you are all liking it so far, it always takes a little bit to get going so stick with me and enjoy! :)

Happy Monday, hope everyone is adjusting to the new time, I'm not. hahah.

xoxoxox