The door jingled, and for the first time, Cecelia could say she had no explicable reason to come to Smell The Roses-a reason hadn't been given to her by Ruben or a teacher or some other administration.

She must have looked a little lost because when Xerxes waved to her from behind a stack of planters, he didn't bother asking why she'd come.
"Crazy weather we've been having, isn't it?" He asked, getting to his feet to properly greet her.

"Yeah... How are the displays faring?" Cecelia asked, trying to think of a less flower-centric topic. "I can think of one that's doing well." She smiled at him, trying to keep from blushing too heavily from her own words.

"Funny you should say that... I agree, but I'm not sure we're talking about the same display." He smiled back at her, adjusting the collar of his jacket to draw focus away from his red ears. Cecelia noticed them anyways. "How's your mother enjoying the flower wreath?" He asked, professional manner returning to him to some degree.

"She loves it." Her mom had set it up carefully on the mantle of the fireplace, where it stood out brightly against the plain walls and simple decorations. Even her dad, who had no such eye for home decor or flowers, had to admit it was a lovely creation.

"That's great. If you aren't doing anything, I'd love your help with setting up some of these." Xerxes smiled, looking down at the half-finished planters. "It's the same job every year, and I kinda wanna get home early to surprise them for a change."

"Surprise for what?" Cecelia asked, pitch raised, hoping it sounded like a question and not a squeak.

Xerxes rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well... You see, I’m turning seventeen, so..."

Cecelia's face didn't even give her a warning, it just turned red. "I would have gotten you a present."

"I don't really want presents." Xerxes shrugged nonchalantly.

"No one says they want presents." Cecelia rolled her eyes. "But they do."
Xerxes grinned. "Your generosity has been noted. "You being here is a gift enough."

Red, red, red. Cecelia was sure if more blood went to her face, she'd be mistaken for a tomato.

He laughed.

"Seriously, though."

"Well... These plants won't get planted themselves."

Cecelia smiled. "Got it."

According to Xerxes, the planters had never had plants planted in them so promptly.

"Well, I guess you can go home early now," Cecelia said, brushing the dirt off of her pale blue capris. "I'll see you later?" She asked.

"Actually..." Xerxes rubbed the back of his neck. "I was wondering if you maybe... Want to come with? Just... It would be awkward walking back by myself..." He rambled on a bit more, but Cecelia's head had already narrowed in on those particular words.

"I'd love to. Let me text my mom." Cecelia answered. Her mom would be laughing, she was sure. She'd probably ask where to get the flowers for the wedding.

She texted her mom, who replied with a myriad of emojis that she eventually translated into "ok, see you later." More subliminally, it probably meant "tell me everything" in that eager, motherly way.

Cecelia laughed, and Xerxes looked over to see what was so funny, only to furrow his brows in confusion. "I see no vines. What's the joke?"

Cecelia rolled her eyes, teasingly. "My mom says I can go. But that means I'm getting you something later."
"You really don't have t-"

"I'm buying you something," Cecelia stated, and that was that. Xerxes put his hands up in defeat, but he was grinning. "Maybe you can make me a flower crown like the one on your dresser."

"You don't know that it's still up there!" Cecelia replied defensively, arms crossed over her chest.

"Is it?" He raised an eyebrow.

"... Maybe."

They walked from the store in peaceful silence, Cecelia talking about her day while Xerxes listened patiently. At the ever interesting seventh block history class, he finally interrupted her. They were maybe two minutes from his house now.

"Just so you know, my family is a bit... Intense." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "They love to love things."

"You make it sound like a date." She laughed, although she honestly didn't know what it was. She didn't think she would have minded a date. Xerxes didn't say anything, just turned a little red.

They reached the doorway, and Xerxes stepped ahead of her, reaching out to unlock the door. He turned the knob, and Cecelia smiled as it swung open, waiting to see his surprise.
He stepped inside, looking around. The house was abnormally quiet, although the lights were on.

Xerxes turned to Cecelia. "Usually they're in the foyer... I guess it's a game of hide and seek, now."

"I guess..." She trailed off, looking around. Xerxes' house was similar in size to hers, although the many things cluttering the shelves and corners seemed to make it smaller.

As Xerxes turned the corner into another room, Cecelia motioned behind her back. She heard near silent footsteps. Xerxes turned back to look at her, and Cecelia smiled innocently. Nothing to see here, she thought to herself.

"Did you hear something?" Xerxes asked.

"Um... Not really." Cecelia shrugged. "Just us, I guess."

"Mm... Okay." Xerxes shrugged, but Cecelia could see his grin as he turned back around.

They rounded the corner into the kitchen.

"Surprise!" A large group of people, some that Cecelia recognized and some that she didn't, shouted. She smiled at Kalie, Xerxes' friend from the gardening club. She had been the one to plan the surprise party along with Xerxes' family. It had been Kalie's idea to set Cecelia as the decoy.

"You were in on this?" Xerxes asked, turning to Cecelia.

"Maybe." She grinned back at him.
"Guys," Xerxes started, addressing the small group of people in the kitchen. "This is so cool. Where's the cake?"
A boy Cecelia knew from math rolled his eyes, passing $10 to Kalie. "Always in it for the food."

"See, I'm always right." Kalie grinned, slapping her hand on the money and pulling it away.

A woman with warm eyes and short hair came over and hugged Xerxes, who smiled widely. "Thanks, Mom."
Cecelia smiled at the scene, although she felt a pang of guilt. Ruben wasn't there, and she did everything with Ruben. She supposed this one time wouldn't matter.

A little boy jumped onto Xerxes the moment his mom pulled away. "Happy birthday!" He cheered. Xerxes hugged him back, kneeling to put him back on the ground. "Thanks, Alender."

She smiled, looking around at the food on the tables, the friends and family with their faces glowing with happiness. She saw a table for gifts, but looking over at Xerxes' bright face, she had no doubts that he meant it when he said he didn't need anything more than her presence.

She made a mental note to make sure her gift was really, really cool.