Ch. 9 Orlando's first lesson

I am with Orlando at the shop in the back leaving Sheela to the customers in the front.

"Orlando, calm down." I say.

"How can I?" He says.

"Sheela is waiting for you to learn these lessons so, now listen to me." I say.

"Fine!" He says.

"First don't talk about the past." I say.

"And second don't go talking about the gang." I say.

"Is this really going to help?" He says.

"These things are uncomfortable for her to hear about." I say.

"Alright, but is there any thing else?" He says growing impatient.

I sigh. "And three, try hanging out with her. But don't say anything about it being a date."

"Will she go for it?" He questions.

"I know she will." I say with a smile.

"Now go and talk to her." I said and left to work at the counter.

I talk to a customer and steal glances at Orlando attempting to talk to Sheela. She ignores him and continues to check the flowers. I hear the bell ring singling a customer coming in. I still watch Orlando trying to get Sheela to hang out with him. I was too busy watching them that I didn't notice someone in front of the counter.

"Didn't think you would try and set them up." A man's voice says full of amusement.

"Vance! When did you get here?" I say.

"You sure look pretty in your work clothes." He says.

A light blush envelopes my cheeks. "You. I like to see you in these clothes." I yell at him, gaining Sheela and Orlando's attention.

"Why, think I would look as pretty as you." He says teasingly.

"No, I would think you look like Orlando." I say.

"Hey!" Orlando shouts.

"That hurts." Vance says as he puts a hand over his heart.

"Your just saying that." I say.

"So, what if I am." Vance says.

"Looks like boss is trying to flirt with her?" Orlando says confused.

"Boss?" Sheela questions.

"Yeah, he's my boss." Orlando says.

"Like a boss of a gang." Sheela says.

"Yeah." Orlando admits.

Sheela looks frightened. "He won't hurt you." I say diverting my attention from Vance.

"Vance this is Sheela, and Sheela this is Vance." I say introducing them.

"Hi." Sheela says nervously.

"So, this is Sheela. Seems you really are beautiful like Orlando said." Vance says.

Sheela blushes and shyly says, "You said that?"

"Haha, yeah." He says smiling awkwardly, then there's awkward silence.

"How about we finish working and talk later. There's only a couple hours left." I say breaking the silence.

"I'll stay and wait." Vance said.

"Mine as well help out?" I suggest.

He agrees and we get back to work. The customer's were waiting and I finish checking them out their flowers. Sheela was flustered when Orlando got close to her, their cute. Vance did help out didn't quite get why he was here.

"And there we go." Vance said, putting a box away.

"Vance why did you come to the shop?" I say.

"Well I just wanted to see you." He says smoothly.

"Very funny." I said.

We walk out and there's rain pouring down. Sheela and Orlando already left leaving me with Vance.

"This is nice." I say sarcastically.

"Hey, would you like to eat with me tomorrow?" He says.

"Well I am free, just pick me up." I said before running to my car in the pouring rain.

I am soaked when I get in my apartment. I immediately take a bath and lay in the warm water.

I walk through the streets of Coupeville and breathe in the air. As I'm walking the streets are gone replaced by blood red soaking the floor of the flower shop. Sheela lays there with Orlando lying next to her. Then I see him the one that killed my parents. I charged at him trying to kill him.

I sit up breathing in and out, trying to understand the dream. And I wonder how I got here on my bed.

I think about my bath and I must of then went to bed. I think back to Sheela and Orlando and how cute they are. My thoughts drift to Vance and the dream with him. It makes my heart beat faster. I think of his lips that I could kiss and how his body would feel against mine. I shake the thoughts away and regain my breathing. Leaving thoughts of how to take this gang higher. To make my goal come true. I still need to make this gang stronger and get this apartment looking better. Some furniture would be nice, along with a bed. And to finally buy new clothes. In order to do that I need money.

"I would love to make this place really my own." I say laughing.