#my friend was like ‘wow all your plants are blooming!’ yeah that’s stress flowering they think they’re dying 😬

[mylittleredgirl]

I hope you start feeling better 💖

this is so cute 🥹 and so perfect actually!!

the vertigo i’m having gets worse when lying down, which is encouraging me to stay vertical longer once i make it to standing… so it may actually be making me more productive than when i was just exhausted without the vertigo. i’m making small progress at reviving my plants 🪴 which makes me feel more like myself.

[dayseternal-blog]

i think im running out of naruhina fluff/smut. T-T. Can you help me out? hihi

 🔍

you think you can hide behind anonymous 🧐  I’m quite certain I know who this is haha 😘

And for you, dearest anon, have three completely unfinished, barely started wips (EVIL CACKLES BECAUSE THESE GO NOWHERE)

But actually, if any of these one-shot ideas catch your interest, please let me know and maybe I’ll actually try to finish one of them?

Smutty Soulmate AU, where you meet your soulmate in your dreams each night upon turning 20.

When her alarm jars her from sleep, she’s always only left with a feeling and flashes of color.  Today...she desperately tries to focus, to reach back, to remember…

Excitement.  Red.  Dark.

Her heart beats faster for reasons unknown to her, and there’s no point in trying any harder to slide the experiences of the soul into her brain.  After pointless meditation sessions, longer naps, and all manners of effort with dream diaries and online tips, she’s been resigned to the fact that only her other half can unlock that translation of dreams to memories.  She has yet to meet her soulmate in person.

Ever since her 20th birthday a few months ago, since that nerve wracking night of meeting her soulmate for the first time, going out has been a secret manhunt.  Eyes peeled to every single passersby over the age of 20.  Any one of them could be the person she’s spent the last 200 or so nights with.

So she dresses carefully for a day out with Sakura, Tenten, and Ino.  They’ll be going to the restaurant where Sakura’s fiance works his part-time job.  For all she knows, her soulmate might be there, too.

A guy?  A girl?  Her age?  Much older?  She has no idea what she’ll say to her soulmate, either.  But she imagines that when she sees them, it’ll be like a homecoming.  Planning is unnecessary, right?  When it’s someone you actually see every night?  If they didn’t like her, she can’t imagine why she would wake up every morning with so much residual happiness and longing.

-------------------------------------THAT’S IT @bunny-hoodlum

Ghost-Hunting (Obake Hunt) Comedy Modern AU, Naruto & co. visit a college at night for some scares that take an unexpected turn...

A shadowed driveway leads up the mountain toward the private college.

“Is this it?” Sasuke asks, peering out the car window.

“Yeah, turn here,” Ino instructs.  

“Okay, but why is the place even open at this time of night,” Sakura states, arms crossed with a skeptical expression as Sasuke drives the minivan through the gates, up the grand driveway.  The dorms for the college were built at a separate location down the main thoroughfare.

Ino shrugs.  “They have all kinds of events that go on at night.  I don’t know.”

“At least we know we’re not trespassing if the school’s open.”  Hinata’s soft voice comes over the back seat.  

“I still can’t believe we actually talked you into coming with us!” Ino teases.

Sakura laughs, “We’re having a bad influence on her!”

Hinata shakes her head.  “Actually, I’m amazed that Naruto-kun is here,” she shyly replies.

Sasuke lets out a quiet laugh.  “Doesn’t mean he won’t shit himself if we find a ghost.” 

“Okay!, no!, I won’t shit myself, alright?” he immediately defends.  “...I might just scream a little, but I won’t poop my pants…”  He’s already in a protective stance, arms crossed, back hunched a little.  

Everyone laughs at him, but Hinata takes his hand, smiling half-amusedly, half to comfort him.  “I’ll protect you, Naruto-kun.”

That only makes everyone laugh harder as Naruto sinks into himself in embarrassment.

Despite Ino’s school being open, the parking lot is somewhat empty save for a few cars.  The buildings are magnificent in design, echoing back to an era when arched entryways and stucco were favored over walls of glass.  The hum of cicadas pierce through the still, late summer air.  

The small group of friends silently follow Ino back toward the driveway of the school with only yellowed street lamps lighting the dark sidewalks.  They cross into the street, stopping right in the middle at the fancy traffic meridian.  It’s an odd decorative aspect of the driveway they passed on the way up.  It’s right in the middle of the street, separating the in and out lanes, somewhat built-up and rounded with a grassy patch and flowering bushes planted high on top.  It really only serves to make the school look expensive.

Ino smiles, then whispers, “Put your hand here on the wall.”

“Why?” Sakura asks, also in a whisper.  

“Just feel it.”  

They do, all of them placing their hands on the wall, waiting for something to happen.

“You see how the plaster is kind of rough over there?” she asks.

They nod, their fingers dragging over the rushed job.

“...This is an ancient burial ground,” Ino explains in a hushed tone.

Their hands spring off of the wall, their fingers wide in stress at what they were just touching.

“Ino, what the fuck?!” Naruto hisses, barely containing his volume, his legs already carrying him away from the meridian and onto the side of the street. 

Sakura stares at her hand wide-eyed.  “Oh my gosh, we’re all cursed,” she laments.  She can practically feel the spiritual energy twisting around her fingers. 

Ino snickers.  “That’s what my course major senpais did to me.”

Sasuke and Hinata are silently trailing after Naruto with abject horror on their faces.  Hinata fists her hand uncomfortably against her skirt.  

Once they’re all gathered safely away from the meridian, Ino continues to explain.  “When they were constructing, they found the remains of the ancient natives.”

“So they just built that random thing in the middle of the street to house the bones and then continued on their merry way?” Naruto asks for clarification.

Ino nods.  “After they found them, they built that wall around the burial ground, and apparently they were in a hurry to cover it back up.  They just made the driveway go around it.”

They stand there, staring at the burial ground, picturing the bones just on the other side of the wall they touched, below the grass and bushes.  

“Did you have to make us touch it, though,” Hinata asks, regretfully, with a really sad frown.

“The spirits of the ancient warriors are going to find me and kill me in the dead of the night,” Naruto states, as if it’s already fact.

Ino brushes his paranoia off.  “We’ll, I’m still here, aren’t I?”  

“Note to all of us--don’t do anything Ino tells us to do,” Sasuke says.

Ino gives him a very evil smile.  “That’s not all there is to this place.”

“Why...why am I doing this…” Naruto asks to no one in particular.

She leads them deeper into the center of the school, where a large tree spreads its thick limbs over a beautiful cobbled courtyard.  A simple fountain beneath the tree spouts water, and pennies shine beneath the surface of the circular pool.  The gurgle of the water as it falls is relaxing, serene in the quiet of the night.

“Wow, this is nice,” Sakura says, looking around at the manicured gardens surrounding the courtyard.  

Ino nods.  “A girl hung herself here.”

They turn their attention to the blonde.  Suddenly, the peace of the courtyard feels like an ill omen.

She tilts her head at the large tree.  “They say that when this used to be a mental hospital, a girl got away from her caretakers.  She was found hanging from this tree.”  

They frown at the branches, wondering which one the girl chose.

Ino gestures to steps that lead to an academic building.  “They said that at night, you could see her ghost walking and talking to herself in the corridors, always bringing herself to this tree.  Someone suggested to the school that they build this fountain here to give rest to her spirit.”

“So no one sees her ghost anymore?” Sakura asks. 

Ino shrugs.  “I guess we’ll find out…”

“What?”  Naruto scrunches a face of distaste.

“Let’s go,” Ino invites.  

“Go where…” he whines quietly.

Ino takes the disturbed group down the steps to the building.  “Hm, I wonder if it’s open…”  She pulls the handle.

The door opens.

“Whyyyy is it open…” Naruto groans.

“But actually, though, why,” Sakura states.

“Maybe the teachers are still here?” Hinata suggests.

Ino laughs.  “Psh, what college professor cares that much about their job?”  She holds the door open, inviting them into the building.  “Welcome to the language arts hall.”  

The corridor lights are all on, assuring them that the building is, indeed, open.

They enter the hallway.  Naruto lags behind.  When the door shuts, he opens it again.  “I’m just making sure…”  He tests the handle a couple more times before closing it.  Then he tests it once more for good measure.

“You satisfied?” Sasuke asks.

“I’m just making sure,” he repeats.  

Hinata frowns, imagining the door locking them in while they’re inside the building.  

Naruto’s paranoia is only making things worse.

Ino starts ahead of them, and Naruto has to rush to catch up.  “Wait for me!”

“SHHHH!!” Sakura scolds, finger to her lips.

They stand there, noticing how her shush seems to echo in the hallway.

“This place is really creepy,” Hinata comments quietly.

Ino shrugs.  “Only at night.  I had classes in this building in my first year.” 

“So this place used to be part of the mental hospital?” Sasuke asks.  

“Yeah,” Ino affirms.  She brings them to a classroom.  “You see how there’s this little window that you can use to look inside?”  

They nod, taking turns peeking into one of the dark classrooms.  It’s a normal room with normal desks.

“All of the rooms have this hallway window, you see?  It was so that the nurses could check on the patients.”

“Oh gods,” Naruto mutters.

-------------------------------------THAT’S IT

College Ballet AU, Naruto sees a different side of his quietly reserved friend.

It wasn’t a trick. 

Winter had dragged its sharp claws across the ground as long as it could, but finally, finally, three seasonal false-starts and numerous wilted, early-blooming daffodils later, 

Spring had finally decided to stay for good.

Trees bloomed pastel pinks instead of icy white.  New hopefuls popped out of the wet dirt, ready to face the sun.  Birds were suddenly a real thing again.  

Students strolled across the college campus in shorts and light sweaters, eager to shed the winter coats they had worn for six straight months.

And most importantly…

“The forecast is in the high 50s all week!” Ino announced as she pranced into the room, swinging her dance bag to the floor.

“Oh!!  Remember last spring we had class outside?” Sakura asked, turning her attention to their ballet instructor.

“Can we have class outside, Kurenai?” Ino pleaded, eyes wide in hope.

“Hm, the weather is nice today.  I suppose it is a shame to stay indoors on an afternoon like this,” she considered aloud.

Hinata listened with alarm.  She had never danced outside before, never in her 14 years of dancing.  Yes, she had danced on stage before, had performed in front of many strangers before, but still...  Everyone will see us, she worried.  

“I didn’t bring my speakers today, though,” Kurenai continued.

Before Hinata could feel any relief, Tenten pulled out her tech from her bag.  “You can bluetooth your phone to mine!”  

“Awesome, Tenten!” Sakura exclaimed.

“Oh, please, Kurenai?  Can we have class outside?” the other girls begged.

Hinata already knew her fate.  She was going to have to wear her body-conforming leotard and tights in front of the entire student body.  Nevermind the fact that the last time she had gone barefoot on grass was in elementary school.

They all picked up their belongings and made the quick trip to the center lawn.

As she predicted, many students who were already finished with their classes for the day were enjoying the afternoon weather, laying out in the grass reading or playing frisbee.  

And here they were, in their leotards and tights, about to have their whole ballet practice for all to see.  

“There’s so many people,” she whispered in embarrassment to Sakura.  

The pinkette looked at Hinata in confusion, then sympathy.  “Don’t worry.  Just relax and enjoy the sunshine!  It’s a lot of fun to dance outside.  It feels like…”  Sakura glanced up in thought.  “...Like freedom.  Or like...nature!”

Hinata took a deep breath and nodded.  She slipped off her sandals and lined up with everyone to begin their barre exercises...without a barre.  She spread her toes open to first position and settled her arms and hands into en bas.  

Already she could see curious onlookers watching them, and she could only thank the god above that they were having class in a corner of the field, and not front and center.  

Kurenai glanced over her dancers, noting their prepared positions.  She rattled off the instructions for their plie routine before setting up the speaker and scrolling through her phone’s music menu.

Familiar piano music rose into the air.  

More students glanced around.

Hinata tried not to think that all of their eyes were on her.  Because she knew, logically, that they weren’t all watching only her, but her heart just hadn’t been prepared for this sudden public display.

Eventually, with the right side completed and the combination repeated on the left side, Hinata began to feel less tense.

The students lazing on the lawn returned to their own devices, and only passersby watched as they headed to their destinations.  

She fell into the muscle memory of the exercises, and her focus turned inward on the flow of her arms with the music, of the dart of her toes with the beat, and the alignment of her body.  

It was like Sakura said.  There was a certain freedom she had never felt before in dancing barefoot in the grass under the Spring sun, turning, leaping, and reaching into the fresh air.  

[whatif-animagineblog]

Summary: On your way to Chicago to search out new opportunities. Your car breaks down outside of a small town nestled near the mountains. Trapped for more than a week, you almost seamlessly fall into place. Which makes it even harder when you have to leave.

Pairing: Scotty/Reader (But it’s a slow burn so hold your horses)

Warnings: Helpess pining

A/N: sorry I’ve been gone so long. I hope I can get some writing done on the five-hour band trip I’m taking on Friday. Also you meet Sulu! yea!!! Also not beta’d or revised that much, you might find errors.

Word Count: 1436

PART 1 PART 2

You fumbled with your jacket in the small mirror. You were nervous, why were you nervous? Mr. Scott, no, Scotty, was a nice man who just wanted to show you around town. Nothing more. There was a soft knock on your door, “yes?”

“Uh, Scotty is out front,” Pavel’s voice cut through the door.

YOu walked to the door opening it, “Good, I just got done getting ready.” You followed him down the steps and right out onto the small porch. “Scotty!”

“Y/N,” he responded smiling, his eyes flitting across you. “You look nice.”

“Thank you,” you gushed, “You clean up well too.” You shared a long look at one another, just enjoying the silence that hung between you, even though it got heavier by the second.

“So um, I uh promised yeh flowers and trees, dinne I?” Scotty rubbed the back of his neck as he gestured with his other hand up the street. “I hope this town isn’t borin’ ya lass.”

You laughed as you walked side by side, you hands behind your back. “No, not yet. In fact it’s giving me ideas for a story. I’m a Journalist, by the way. With the silly dream of becoming a novelist.”

Scotty looked over at you with a wide grin, “a journalist? Well, that is fascinating! That must keep you on your toes.”

You nodded, brushing your hair back, “Yeah, it usually does, and I love it, I do.  But, I really want to just write stories. And that’s silly, only the lucky ever really make it.” You sighed looking at the ground.

“Hey now,” Scotty called, coming to a stop, forcing you to look back at him. “There is no harm in dreamin’. Now I know I don’t know ya very well but, I think ya’ll make it.” You felt your cheeks turning pink. His were too, “So you write,” he lead on again, prodding you for more information.

“Yeah, yeah, I do. I was always the kid in the back using all her loose-leaf paper to write stories. A friend of mine used to illustrate. She still does that now, illustrates for children’s stories. But anyone can write, you fix machines. Like that’s really cool,” you sighed looking at him.

He guffawed, “No I know you are just blowing smoke up my arse,” he teased. “But, cars and really all machines are my whole life. It sounds silly but it’s like they talk to me you know? I’ve always understood them more than people.”

“Kinda how like my muse whispers to me,” said looking ahead this time, even though you were finding you really like looking at Scotty. “Well, without you Scotty, I don’t think any amount of journalistic or creative writing talent would get me home. So thank you.”

He groaned this time, “Will ya quit thanking me? It’s my pleasure! Plus, Atticus hasn’t bitten me yet, so we are all good.”

It was your turn to laugh, “He’s been good then? Usually, all my mechanics end up with a cut from him. Gosh, he must like you!”  Scotty beamed at you before he came to a stop in front of a shop.

“He must. Ah, anyway, here we are. For the flower bit at least!” You glanced up at the older withered sign that simply read “Florist.” “Hikaru and his husband grow the most beautiful flowers. And one of the lads that helps out times to time is gifted with orchids.” He lead you inside and you were greeted by two brilliant smiles.

“Scotty! And you must be y/n,” one of the men beamed reaching for your hand. When you gave them a puzzled look, he laughed. “I’m Hikaru Sulu, and it’s a small town, and Jim is a bit of a gossip.

“Ah. Yeah, I am Y/n. Scotty is giving me an official tour.” you looked around the small shop, the bright and fragrant flowers covering the walls. You wandered off to another part of the shop as Scotty stepped up to talk to Hikaru.

“So, that’s her,” Sulu mused. “She seems sweet.”

Scotty leaned on the counter, watching you walk around. “Yeah”, he sighed, “She’s really sweet. I wish she was staying.”

Sulu snapped his head towards the other man, “Oh, so you do like her.”

“I’m tryin’ really hard not ta’! But we were talkin’ on the way here and,” Scotty sighed heavily. “I can’t afford to like her. She’s gonna leave.”

“You can’t help who you love, Scotty,” Sulu chastised half heartedly.

Scotty stood up with a huff,  “Ach, It’s not like that! She’s just...just. OH, you know what? I don’t got to go explain’ myself to you!” Scotty walked away to where you were in the store as Ben Sulu came up to stand next to his husband.

“So, he does have a crush on her,” Sulu sighed as he looked over at his partner.

“Not you too. Ben, we shouldn’t meddle.”

“If he buys flowers for her you owe me a twenty,” Ben said simply, kissing the other’s cheek.

“Deal.”

When Scotty caught up to you he saw your fingers brushing over the petals of the promised orchids. “Ah, I see you’ve found them!”

“Yeah, they’re beautiful,” you whispered. “It’s just so gorgeous. I could never keep something like this alive.”

“Actually, I’ve learned they aren’t that hard to care for. I’m sure the Sulus would be happy to teach you,” Scotty stepped closer to your side, looking at the brightly colored petals.

“I killed a cactus once,” you deadpanned without looking over at him. “I forgot to water it over like half a year. The dirt dried up and the roots shriveled up and it fell out of the pot onto the floor. My cactus committed suicide.”

You were surprised that you didn’t hear laughter, then you heard a snort. You looked over at the mechanic you had a hand over his mouth, eyes closed as he started laughing out loud. He started trying to take gasps of air, trying to stop laughing but inevitably breaking into more giggles. “Sorry, sorry,” He gasped waving his hand in the air. Watching this man, you felt affection blooming in your chest.  The way the lines around his eyes crinkled up and how wide his smile grew was so handsome.

You discovered you like the way his eyes snapped and sparkled with laughter-induced tears, as he wiped them away. You needed to do that again, you wanted to see him laugh that hard again. You liked his laugh too, it was bright, full and so unapologetically loud. “Sorry, lass,” his voice pulled you out of your thoughts. “I just got this image. And, woo, It just got me.” Oh, no. He was blushing, was he really embarrassed over that?

“No, no! That’s okay! It’s actually pretty funny. But yeah, I don’t trust myself with plants. So,” you bit your lip, “You also promised me some orchards, Scotty.”

He started to grin widely, “That I did, follow me you’ll love it.”

As you reached the outside of the orchard you gasped as you could see the trees littered with almost ripened apples. “Oh, wow! You didn’t tell me it was an apple orchard! I love apples.”

“It was a surprise. Our town’s export is apples, well, mostly apples. We have a little festival every year before the annual picking. It’s actually in like a week and a half, hopefully, you’ll still be around. The O'Reilly’s hold a dance in their barn. It’s really nice, they hang lights up and it’s just nice,” Scotty trailed, placing his hands into his pockets.

“Well, by your projected schedule, yeah. I’d love to go, as long as there are apples involved,” you laughed, looking around.

“Does fresh-pressed apple juice sound good?”

“Very,” you sighed.

You walked around in relative silence, it was nice. You forgot your stresses, your worries that your recent predicament caused. And just let yourself be.

You don’t really know how long passed but you heard a clearing of a throat and looked over. “Are ye hungry? We could go down to the diner an’,” you didn’t let him finish.

“I have food in my car I can eat, I really should save my money for the trip out of here.” It hurt to say it, but it was what needed to be done.

“I didne ask that, lass. I asked if ye were hungry,” Scotty put his hands on his hip, puffing his chest in playful defiance.

“Scotty, I can’t ask you to do that,” you tired.

“Good thing I’m not askin ye then.”

Tags: @feelmyroarrrr @outside-the-government @kaitymccoy123 @starshiphufflebadger @mccoymostly @answer-the-sirens @imaginestartrek @wificrazymisfit @athena1138 @buckyy3s @malindacath @bkwrm523 @goodnightwife @jefferson-in-the-tardis @starfleetorbust  @youre-on-a-starship  @yourtropegirl  @thequeenofthehobbits  @awhitewyvern  @daytimemaniac  @dreaming-about-starfleet  @sparkedupsilver @goddessqueenloki  @anotherotter  @romansinsparta

[dreamsofpilots]

A Boy and a Flower

Josh Dun x Reader fic.

I had the idea for this with the intention of turning it into something happy…and now this…oops. 

Might make it a series, don’t know how many parts yet. Enjoy. 

Warnings: Panic attacks, anxiety, little bit of depression. 

There are happy bits, I promise. I’m not sure about it so let me know what you think! 

My pulse thrummed in my ears. 

Ba bum

Ba bum

I couldn’t seem to catch my breath, my lungs straining with the effort. The world tilted and I had to catch myself against the wall.

Ba bum

I bent over, placing my hands on my knees while trying to take deep breaths. 

“I have to get out of here.” Lifting my head I glanced around. The throng of people rushing around me was suffocating. Everything was just a little too bright and just a little too loud. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be, I was supposed to have control of this. I hadn’t had an episode in months, and yet here I was, fire in my lungs and cold sweat on my skin. 

I sprinted from the academic building, dodging strange glances and backpack wearing bodies. 

Ba bum

Clamping my jaw down tight, unwilling to let the nausea take over, I stumbled through campus, blind as to what my direction was. A few passerby’s asked after my well-being, clearly reading the distress on my face, but I shrank away from them, the human contact making my panic worse. 

When I finally found a quiet place with a lack of people, I found that I was in the botanical gardens. The blooms were full and dewy, reaching for the midmorning sun. I planted myself next to a bed of pink flowers, not sure what kind they were, and forced myself to breath. In and out, in and out. I reminded myself of the advice my therapist had given me, trying to turn my negative thoughts into positive ones, all the while taking deep breaths. 

I wasn’t sure what had caused this one. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, or the stress of midterm exams coming up. I hadn’t been eating properly lately, maybe that was it. Maybe I was dehydrated. I wasn’t really sure, but then again, I never really was in this situation. Sometimes they just happened, coming over me like a sudden storm. 

My pulse began to slow as I sat there with my face cupped in my hands. Breathing became easier, the nausea subsided. When I felt as if the worst of it was over, I allowed myself to take in my surroundings. I had rushed into the gardens without taking anything in. The place was vibrant with color and the perfumed air was sweet and inviting. How had I managed to go through half the school year without meandering through?  It was full and lush and absolutely stunning. The kind of garden that would bring about whimsical daydreams. 

Cobblestoned paths traversed lazily through the oasis. Small tufts of grass poking up between the stones waved hello. I wandered along, taking in the scenery, glad that I could finally breathe deeply. I allowed myself to run my hand along the blooms as I walked, the dew from their morning watering wetting my fingers. 

When I stopped to sniff a rose, I became aware of the sound of rhythmic beating. Confused, I followed my ears to the sound, going deeper into the maze of flowers by doing so. 

Turning a corner by a patch of sunflowers, I saw a guy sitting on a wooden box, slapping his palms and tapping his fingers against the sides, creating a deep and rhythmic beat. I wasn’t entirely surprised to see him, with his piercings and tattoos, this school was full of artists and creative types, but I did find it a little strange that he was playing his box-drum-thing in the middle of a garden. 

He didn’t notice me at first, not glancing up until I was standing in front of him. He was lost in his music, bouncing his legs and head along with it. Watching him was mesmerizing. He gave off such a happy energy while he drummed that it made me want to move too. So, while he continued playing, I began to dance. 

I had come to this school as a dance major, finding that I was able to forget about everything else when I focused on my fluid movements. Dancing was an escape, a vacation from the everyday. Like going south for the winter. I was no longer the timid anxious girl chilled to the bone with fear. Instead, I was warm beaches and lazy waves. I was a gentle breeze or a bubbling brook. Dancing brought out my true self, the person that I was when I wasn’t so insecure. 

The colorful boy continued to drum, keeping me in time while he watched me. He didn’t seem to mind me joining him, and I was grateful for a reason to dance. 

It felt good to move my limbs, shrugging off the tightness that had occurred during my attack. I twirled and leapt and glided in front of him, the yellow from the sunflowers filling my vision, the beat of his drum resounding in my ears. A light feeling in my chest made me feel like I could take flight. A fairy in a garden of sunshine.  

When my muscles began to burn, and sweat slicked my skin, and my heart was filled with joy, the boy brought the song to an end. 

I posed, completing my dance, panting, but smiling a mile wide. When I turned to look at him, a huge grin was spread across his face, mirroring mine. “That was amazing,” was all he said. 

“Thank you.” I took a few more gulps of air. “I really needed that. I’m glad I heard you drumming.” 

He stood from his box, lifting his backwards facing cap for a moment to run a hand through his hair. My eyes widened at the sight of the brightly colored strands, but I didn’t comment on it. The color suited him somehow. He was as unique as the flowers that surrounded us.  

“Yeah I normally try and find places away from people so that my playing doesn’t disturb their class or their studying. Plus I really like flowers, so I tend to come here.” He waved a hand, acknowledging their surroundings. 

 I liked that he wasn’t afraid to admit that he enjoyed flowers, secure in his masculinity. Why shouldn’t boys like flowers? “This is my first time here actually. I just needed to get away and I somehow ended up here.” 

“Oh, are you alright?” his voice full of concern. 

I turned to him in surprise, “What?”

“Are you okay? You said you needed to get away, and when I feel like that…” he trailed off. 

“Oh..” I shuffled nervously, “Yeah, I’m alright. I managed.”

He gave me a tight lipped smile and a sympathetic look. He knew what I was talking about.

I held my hand out towards him, wanting to change the subject, “I’m Y/N.”

“Josh,” he said, grasping my hand. His hand was warm and large, the hint of callouses scratched against my skin. They must have formed from practicing his art. 

“Nice to meet you, Josh. I like your box-drum. It sounded really nice.” 

He chortled, rubbing a hand against the back of his neck, displaying the colorful tattoos along his arm. “Hey thanks. It’s a cajon. Easier than carrying a kit around.” He punctuated that with another small laugh.  

“I can imagine,” I giggled. Josh looked at me then, his hooded brown eyes alight with something I couldn’t quite place. Excitement maybe? The rush from playing still running through him? I smiled back at him with my own version of excitement. 

“Hey, you’re a really great dancer.” Josh told me with a blush. 

“Oh, thank you,” I could feel my own cheeks beginning to burn. “I’m sorry for barging in on your little pow wow for one, there.”

Josh shook his head, “Oh, no don’t worry. I mean, that’s what music is for right? For people to feel something?”  

I nodded in agreement. I liked Josh, he seemed easygoing and relatable. Not to mention, he was easy on the eyes. 

“Well, I better get to class.” I stated abruptly, feeling suddenly nervous. “I’ve probably missed some of it already…” I didn’t feel like bringing up my incident, knowing that was the reason that I was late. He seemed to be aware of it anyway.

“Oh, yeah, sure.” he nodded. “Thanks for the dance session. I’ll see you around?”

“Sure,” I agreed, giving him a little wave goodbye.

I headed to the academic buildings after finding my way out of the garden, feeling more comfortable that I had when I entered. 

The next couple of days were uneventful. I slipped into my easy routine of classes, eating, and sleeping. I kept to myself mostly, finding it hard to open up to my peers. There were times when I saw Josh while walking around campus. He was always with a group of guys, either skateboarding or playing music together. Sometimes I saw him with just one other guy who had short brown hair and black band tattoos on his arm. They seemed to spend the most time together. It must be nice, having a best friend. 

Whenever I saw Josh, I would wave, and he would always wave and give me a huge smile back. His buddies would laugh and jostle him around when they saw the interaction. I didn’t really know why.

I passed my dancing midterms, the teacher telling me that I was one of her top students. When I called my mom about it, she showered me with support to the point that I was drunk on happiness. But after I hung up, the feeling faded and I began to instead feel gloomy, not having anyone else to share my accomplishment with. I wondered that, if I told Josh about it, he would get as excited as I had been. 

My gloom seemed to settle in more and more as the days dragged by. Dancing didn’t even seem to hold the same amount of appeal. I wondered what was wrong with me, but my therapist just suggested that I try and make some friends. Get out more. Try. The thought terrified me. How do you just walk up to people and create a friendship? Is that how people do it? “Hey I’m so and so, let’s be friends?” “Oh sweet, come sit new buddy.”

I don’t think so. 

So instead, I let myself slip further and further into this isolation until it all bubbled up again in another attack. 

I had been fine. I was just walking to dance class, like I do every day. But then I started to notice all the happy faces, all the friends that laughed and walked together, and I started getting hot, my stomach twisting into knots. I tried to just breathe, to calm down, but I couldn’t. So I ran. 

Ba bum

Unlike last time though, I had a destination in mind. 

[ask-lilywood]

Kacey tugged on the handle of her little wagon, the saplings inside moving slightly as she did. What a beautiful day it was for Nature Day, the sun was shining high in the sky, perfect for what she wanted to do. “Where are we even going anyway?” Sunny, who didn’t seem to get the concept of Nature Day, said from behind her, a handful of saplings in her arms. “We’re going in the forest! There’s a clearing there, and we’re gonna fill it up with trees!” Kacey explained, a smile appearing on her face as she thought about it. “We’ll get to watch these trees grow along with us through the years! Won’t that be great?” she asked Sunny, who now walked alongside her. “I don’t wanna think about being older, come on Kacey,” she muttered. “Okay, then just look at how adorable they are now!” Kacey insisted, running her finger along the leaves of one of Sunny’s saplings. “They just look like plants to me. I’m gonna get my outfit all dirty!” she complained.

“That’s just part of the fun!” Kacey said in a sing song voice. Sunny sighed, looking down at her flashy gold dress. “Maybe you should’ve worn something more practical,” Miranda said dryly. “Oh please! This is totally practical!” Sunny told her. Kacey sighed, looking back at her plants while they continued to jab at each other. “You know,” Brandy, who was also walking alongside her, whispered, “it’s kinda funny how they act like they don’t care about each other. It’s definitely clear,” she giggled. Kacey smiled and laughed, it was true! The only reason she was able to deal with them fighting is that it was just the way they showed affection for each other. “I think this was a great idea, Kacey. We all need to show a little love for our planet,” Brandy smiled. Kacey nodded in agreement. She loved nature so much, it was important to support it!

As she walked, Kacey looked around her, noticing how the forest had come alive since her last visit here, in winter. It was so green, and she could see flower buds preparing to burst into bloom. It would look even more beautiful once that happened! After a few more minutes of walking, they were at their destination. “Here it is!” she pointed to a side path. “Oh man, in all those branches?! I’m gonna get scratched!” Sunny said in a panic. “All you have to do is push past them. Like this.” Brandy took the lead, nudging aside the bushes and branches as she made it to the other side. Kacey came soon after her, and Miranda was right behind Kacey. 

She turned around, waiting for Sunny to come through. “It’s okay Sunny! It’ll be fine!” Kacey encouraged. “By the time she comes, it won’t even be Nature Day anymore,” Miranda remarked. At that, Sunny quickly came, forcefully pushing aside the branches, breaking a few. “There, how’s that, Miranda!? Pretty good right!?” she boasted. “I think you missed the meaning of Nature Day,” Miranda replied, picking up one of the branches that Sunny broke. “That’s okay! They’ll grow back!” Kacey pointed out as she pulled her wagon of plants toward the center of the clearing. 

“Now here comes the fun part!” she declared, taking out her shovel and digging a tiny hole. She then took a sapling from her collection, carefully pulling it out of the pot and placing it in the hole. “There we go! Welcome to your new home, little buddy!” Kacey smiled as she patted it gently into the ground. “Does anyone want me to teach-- oh!” Kacey noticed Brandy had already planted three trees in the time it had taken her to plant one. “Wow Brandy! You’re a natural!” she smiled. Brandy chuckled, blushing a little. “Yeah, well, I’ve done it a lot before,” she explained as she moved onto her fourth tree. “I think Sunny needs a little help, though,” she pointed out.

“Right!” Kacey nodded, standing back up, looking toward Sunny. “Why do you point me out!? I don’t see Miranda-- oh,” Sunny’s voice dropped off as she noticed Miranda planting trees too. “It’s okay! You’ll be planting trees in no time!” Kacey assured her, gently putting one of the four shovels she had brought into her hands. Sunny took it, looking at it as if she had never seen one before. “Okay, now first we kneel on the ground, like this,” Kacey demonstrated by kneeling by a patch of the clearing that hadn’t been planted yet. Sunny didn’t seem to be impressed by the idea of being on the ground, but she carefully copied Kacey’s actions.

“Good! You’re doing great!” Kacey smiled. Sunny smiled back, relaxing. “Did ya hear that Miranda! I’m doing great!” she called over. “That’s because you have a good teacher,” Miranda replied, smiling at Kacey. “Aww, thank you!” Kacey replied, waving at Miranda before turning back to Sunny. “Now, the next thing is to dig a hole! Like this!” Kacey dug a small hole in the dirt, and watched Sunny do the same. She noticed it was a little too big for such a small plant, so while Sunny wasn’t looking, she quickly pushed some of the extra soil into the hole. “Okay, that’s great! You did perfect!” Kacey nodded. “Now all you have to do is pull the sapling out of its pot!” she went on, grabbing two of them for her and Sunny. She then pulled it out, and placed it beside the hole for now.

“Alright! This’ll be easy!” Sunny declared, yanking it out of its pot, dirt flying everywhere. Both Kacey and Sunny screamed, earning a glance from Brandy and a worried look from Miranda. “Oh man! It’s everywhere! Even in my hair!” Sunny complained, picking pieces of soil out of her hair. Kacey quickly caught the tree that Sunny had dropped, breathing a sigh of relief. All of the roots were there, which was what really mattered. “It’s okay!” she said quickly. “Tiny mistakes like that happen! It can still be planted!” she insisted, setting the tree down near Sunny, who was still busy cleaning herself off. “Phew, my outfit’s okay! And the tree, of course,” she laughed, picking it back up again. Kacey’s eyes lit up, she actually cared about the tree! It was a Nature Day miracle!

“Okay!” Kacey went on, excitement filling her voice. “We’re almost done! Now all you have to do is place it in the hole! Like this!” Kacey lifted her own sapling, placing it down gently. “Then you take the extra soil and cover any open spots, and give it a gentle pat!” she said, making sure to stress the word ‘gentle’. Kacey surrounded her own tree with soil, patting it down. “There you go!” she told it happily. Sunny watched Kacey, and then did it herself, patting the soil around the sapling. Kacey let out a cheer, clapping. “Yeah, I did it! Ya hear that Miranda! Look at my tree!” she said proudly, pointing down to it. Kacey laughed, beaming at her friend. She seemed to be having a great time, even after she had gotten dirt on her outfit! Maybe that’s what Nature Day was all about, giving people a love of nature they never knew they had.