Page 98 of Poetry of Flowers

“It’s rude to bring something up and then not say it.” I hated when someone did that. My father always forgot what he was about to say mid-sentence, and it made me so angry.

“It’s not rude, everyone has secrets,” Theo replied, his voice calm, but his smile felt odd.

“A penny for your thoughts?” I pulled a bronze penny out of my pocket. I had no clue how long it had been in there, but I always used it when Kayden had something on his mind.

“I don’t collect pennies; they are too dirty for my liking.”

“What would you like in exchange for your secret, then?”

“Nothing, it’s a secret for a reason.”

“I hate secrets,” I mumbled and stared at him, maybe that made him tell me, but he nodded…?

“I know.” He smiled and nodded at me.

“There is no secret, but the thought of it distracted you, didn’t it? You’re not squeezing your fingernails into your palm anymore.”

I looked down at my hand, where little crescent red moons showed on the inside of my palm now that my hands had opened a bit. “Thank you, Theo.”

“No problem, I like it when someone does that for me too.”

Theo and I had known one another for years through Kayden, and I always considered him a friend, but we never really were this close before. It was nice of him to help me.

“Are we nearly there yet?” my cousin asked Kayden for the fourth time now.

I knew she had no patience, but was she aiming for a record in impatience or something?

“Still at nine forty,” my best friend answered her.

Was he still my best friend, or had yesterday changed that?

I hadn’t had time to think about that yet, I didn’t want to lose my best friend because I had fallen for him.

“No, I mean how much longer? I need to pee.”

“You have a phone and attended math classes,” Kayden answered her, and I had to stifle a laugh.

“You’re such an asshole,” she cursed at him.

“That’s four and a half hours!”

“Four hours and twenty-seven minutes,” Theo corrected her.

“Can you stop somewhere?”

Kayden sighed, “We had a break two hours ago.”

“Do want me to pee myself?”

“I’m never taking you on a road trip ever again.” He was clearly annoyed, but my cousin smiled.

“You’re the best KayKay,” Autumn giggled and leaned back in her seat.

I looked out of the window; the sky was gray, like the entirety of our tour so far. It seemed like the Grand Lee weather was following us everywhere we went.

* * *

Kaydenand I waited in the car while Autumn went to search for the toilets at the service station, and Theo had to walk around a bit because his feet started to tingle.

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