Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2020 20:24:30 GMT -7
March, 15th, 2025
Phil was attempting to stay out of the greenhouses as much as possible. Yet with the many projects he had to keep up with that still meant at least an hour or so each day. He couldn’t just stop and work on getting back in the world. If he had many plants would die and he couldn’t have that. Also the sheer fact that he enjoyed much of his time in the greenhouses and with plants. It was one of his favorite activities after all. He had just promised to himself he would be more open than he had been. After school was over and the many attacks that followed, his father still ill and breaking up with Andy. Phil had just locked himself up keeping busy with plants rather than with friends or seeing the world around him. It was safer that way and for sometime that’s just what he thought he wanted.
Today Phil had decided to go further out of his comfort zone. He had always been interested in the lives and workings of muggles. Not as much as plants but it was up there so he left Diagon alley into muggle London and proceeded to explore a little on his own. It was a sight to see how muggles got through life missing the things he found most essential at times. Still they had cars to get around. Electricity for lighting and to power their lights, TV's and phones. Walking along a street he found himself drawn to the smell of fresh flowers, he could have sworn it must be some garden but instead he neared a flower shop. It didn’t seem too busy and anything with plants caught Phil’s curiosity.
Opening the door he was met with a ring of the bell followed by a friendly sounding voice. “Come in and looking around, I’ll be out front in a bit!” Phil couldn’t even see where the voice was coming from so he just proceeded to walk around. It was surprising just how fresh everything looked and how nicely decorated it all was. He was never one for the decoration of plants. He just grew and observed them while attempting to find new uses. Still sometimes just being pretty to look at was enough. He was currently looking at an assortment of roses when the voice spoke again this time right behind him and he hadn’t noticed. “Finding everything okay?” It caused a slight jump from Phil out of shock. Which was met with a giggle as Phil looked over to see a girl around his age laughing. “Y-yeah everything in here is very pretty.” He got out as he blushed slightly from embarrassment, the giggling didn’t help either. “Everything, huh?” She replied in an almost teasing tone, something Phil didn’t catch on to. “Yeah.” Was his only reply as he finally calmed down enough to actually look at the girl and realize she was very pretty as well.
“So what are you looking for? roses for your girlfriend?” The girl asked curiously as he noticed her looking him over. “No, I was just..” Phil trailed off as he didn’t really know what to say. He just came in here to look around. “No to looking for roses or no to having a girlfriend?” The flower girl asked tilting her head slightly and Phil nodded slightly. “No to both I suppose.” It was hard to say but of course he didn’t have a girlfriend. He hadn’t been with Andy for sometime. It was just that everyone he typically talked to already knew this. He never had to be asked about it. “Well if you’re lucky maybe that can change. I’m Marigold by the way and you?” The flower girl answered back with a smile. “Phil, well Phillip but everyone calls me Phil.” He answered, he never normally gave his full name. “Phil it is.”
Soon she looked toward the door, moments later Phil heard the bell ring and he turned and looked over in curiosity. In doing so he knocked over a vase. He did his best to catch it but it was no use, it slipped out of his hands and shattered on the ground. “I’m so sorry, I can fix this I promise, I just need..” Phil stopped himself, he was almost dumb enough to say his wand. Almost dumb enough to blow the magic worlds cover over a vase. He truly was stupid he thought as he looked to Marigold and she just giggled. “It’s in a million pieces silly, you can’t fix that.” She just giggled, it was cute in a way just like she was. It just would have been better if it wasn’t because he was an idiot. “I can pay for it... again, I’m sorry.” He replied with sigh as this was why he just stayed at home.
“Hold on.” Marigold said and went to the shops counter returning with a piece of paper. Phil expected a bill but it was a longer string of numbers. The vase couldn’t possibly cost this much. “How about you just call me tomorrow and you can buy me dinner?” She offered as Phil now realized that it was her number and her name was above it, Marigold. She didn’t even give him a chance to reply before speaking again. "I’ll be waiting okay? Now get out of here handsome before you break another vase I have a mess to clean and some other people to help.” Marigold smiled once more putting hand on his arm. “S-sure, that sounds good.” He was too embarrassed to argue but if he was honest he didn’t really want to argue either as Phil exited the store and Marigold returned back to work. He kept walking away from the store once he was sure he was far enough away he pulled out the paper looking over her name, the number and even the handwritten. He just smiled to himself, put it back and proceeded home.