Brian Porter (flowersdontfeel) wrote in supernextdoor, @ 2012-07-10 23:39:00 |
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Entry tags: | 10.17.11, brian, brian and evie, evie |
She's Just a Friend
Who: Brian and Evie
When: 10.17 - Monday morning
What: Love (or lust) makes fools of us all
Where: Armand’s
Warnings: None
Evie wasn’t in the best mood when she opened up the shop on Monday morning. Ty and her had made plans, but he’d had to cancel because of work. She didn’t mind that so much - his job was important, and she knew it was likely to happen again. She was worried, though - while she wasn’t openly supernatural, she knew a lot of people who were. The fact that these attacks were linked to the girl who’d been killed, and the wereowl...yeah, it gave her the shivers just thinking about it. Coming out of her front door, she looked around as she headed for the store, smiling as she saw Brian walking down the street towards her. She unlocked the door, holding it open and waiting for him to catch up. “Morning Brian,” she smiled, waggling a finger at him, holding the door with one hand, and a travel mug of coffee in the other.
Brian was aware of the murders in a passing way, but wasn't terribly concerned about being targeted himself. He would feel better if Evie and Angel didn't go out by themselves, even if he couldn't offer either woman much in the way of protection. It was just a matter of principle. Same with Arabella, although he'd left her at his place, which had an alarm system and was remote enough nobody bothered him much. She'd still been in bed when he'd left for work and he'd told her just to lock up when she left. The sweet woman wouldn't disturb anything. She might try to clean up the place a bit, at worst. She worked until 8pm that evening, so perhaps he'd bring her some flowers and stop by to visit her at her work.
He was daydreaming about Arabella when he realized Evie was speaking to him. "Oh, sorry," he muttered. "Morning," he took over holding the door when he caught up, giving her a sheepish smile. "My head's in the clouds this morning. How're you?"
Evie smiled at him, one eyebrow cocked curiously as she headed for the back room, keys jingling. “Not as good as you, apparently,” she murmured. “Did you have a good weekend?” She took a sip of her coffee, nudging the door open with her butt, her eyes still on Brian. She hadn’t seen him this distracted in a while - and when it had happened before, it had been because of a woman. She just hoped he had more luck this time around. She wanted Brian to be happy, wanted him to find someone and settle down - she knew her mom would worry less, too.
Brian had the modesty to blush at that. "Yes, a very good weekend," he said simply. He started checking over the window displays, pulling out any wilted flowers and rearranging the arrangements until he could get fresh cuttings for them. He hoped he had better luck this time around. Not that he was expecting anything to come of this. It never did and Arabella would need something more than he gave her. They all did. "How was your weekend?"
Evie tossed her bag and jacket into the office, propping the door open with her foot as she opened the safe and pulled out the till float. “Hunh?” She asked, having only half-heard his question. “Oh, it was ok.” She’d been working Saturday, and since they’d made plans to spend Sunday together, she hadn’t seen Ty that night. Of course, then he’d been called in to work, and their plans had been wrecked. Trying not to think about how disappointed she was that she hadn’t gotten to see him, she looked over at Brian. And then grinned, a little. “You’re blushing,” she teased. “So, what’s her name?”
He could sense her disappointment. Tyler was a policeman, perhaps he'd been called into work. Too bad. Even with the raging lust coming off Evie, he'd been pleased she'd felt so happy the last few days. Of course, that feeling was still there, under the curiosity and amusement. He blushed brighter when she pointed it out. "She's just a friend," he dismissed as he distracted himself with rearranging a large display in the window. "Nothing will come of it. It never does." Which was the truth, even if Arabella was different from the others. He'd long ago come to the conclusion women needed more than he could offer them. Or else they wouldn't keep leaving him.
Evie opened the register, shuffling the bills and separating them into the tray, making sure there was enough receipt roll, and checking that the desk had everything set up for the day. She looked up at his words, frowning a little. She hated when Brian dismissed relationships like this - she just wanted to see him happy, see him settled down. “Don’t think like that, Brian,” she scolded him gently. “Of course it won’t come to anything if you go in thinking it’s gonna end in tears.” She sighed, scraping her hair back into a loose bun, out of the way. Opening a new pack of tissue paper, she laid it out on the counter, ready to be used for wrapping bouquets.
Brian sighed. "History speaks for itself, Evie," he reminded her. "It doesn't matter. I've helped her and made her feel better. And made a new friend. She is a painter as well. So we have a bit in common." Which made Arabella more likely to seek his company for more than comfort, unlike the other women before her. "It's fine, Evangeline. I had a good weekend. Can we leave it at that?"
She was tempted to argue - tempted, but not enough to actually say anything. “Yeah, we can,” she said at last, taking another deep gulp of her coffee. Not enough caffeine for a Monday morning, that was for sure. “Do you wanna work through the orders first thing? Or leave it til later on?” They didn’t have many today - and she knew he’d probably like the excuse to hide through in the back when it got busier later in the day.
He was thankful for change of subject. "Later," he said. Brian paused before asking. "Are the daffodils fresh?" Yes, they'd just dropped the topic, but he also couldn't deny he hoped Evie was right about Arabella. "Arabella likes daffodils. She says because they're odd looking." There, she'd gotten what she wanted out him. Maybe now she'd be willing to let the topic go.
She smiled, just a little, picking up a pot of daffodils, growing well out of season thanks to her elemental gifts. She brushed her fingers gently over the leaves, willing the flowers to last longer, to stay vibrant and fresh far beyond their time. “What’s her favorite color?” She asked, turning to look at the rail of different colored ribbons behind her. No harm in wrapping her up a nice present, after all. If it would help persuade Arabella to put up with Brian’s little quirks, to give him a chance - and make him happy - Evie would be happy to part with as many flowers as were necessary.
Brian smiled, then shook his head. "I didn't ask," he said. "Blue should be fine. It'll contrast with the flowers and make both stand out." He was waiting for it. "I meant for after work. And I'm going to pay for them. I just figured I'd take them to her to cheer her up. She's had a hard time in her life lately."
Evie pulled off a length of deep blue ribbon, tying it in a pretty bow around the pot. “You can put it in the back, they should be fine,” she said, holding the pot out to Brian. “And nope, you’re not paying. Boss’ prerogative.” After all, she could spare the cost of a daffodil bulb or two, for all the hard work Brian put in.
He took the flowers, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "Thank you," he said softly. "I'm sure she'll love them." Brian headed into the back room, hoping that Evie would be satisfied now. He didn't expect her to be, since she was so frustrated with the fact he'd given up before he'd even tried. Arabella didn't need that kind of pressure right now. It was easier to blame his own bad luck with relationships than explain that he'd basically taken advantage of a vulnerable woman because she'd asked him to to prove to herself she was attractive. He likely shouldn't have indulged the way they had, but Arabella seemed so happy and he certainly didn't regret it. He was just concerned for both of them because of the fact she was on the rebound from an abusive relationship and he never had any luck in love.
Smiling happily, Evie watched him go, heading to the front door and flicking the sign to ‘Open’. They likely wouldn’t be particularly busy, but she might as well, considering all that needed done were the large pots of bouquets that could stand the cool morning air being wheeled outside into the sunshine. She hoped that things worked out for Brian and Arabella - she thought that’s what he’d said her name was. She was tempted to interfere, making him a luck charm. But not without checking with him first. “You want any help?” She asked him, once he reappeared from the back room. “Lady Evangeline fix you up somethin’ good?” Her accent grew thick as molasses as she spoke, Creole lilt rounding her words as she grinned at him. Yeah, she played up on her roots - why the hell not?
Brian rolled his eyes and shook his head. "No, I don't need any help," he told her. "As much as I appreciate the offer, if this goes like the others, that's what will be. I don't want a woman who doesn't want me on her own. Besides, she just got away from a bad relationship. The last thing she needs now is to be pressured into another one. She's been through enough."
“It won’t pressure her into anything,” she said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. If any of her charms were that powerful, did Brian really think she’d still be running Armand’s? The answer, of course, was yes. Yes she would. She might make money as Lady Evangeline, but the flower shop was where her heart lay. “All it’ll do is lower her inhibitions a little. Make her more open to possibility.” And another piece of the puzzle fell into place, with his mention of her bad relationship. “Maybe ease her heart, a little?” She was tempted to make a charm for that alone.
Brian nearly double took at 'lowering her inhibitions'. Arabella's inhibitions were low enough, thanks. Especially considering how they had spent the weekend. "She just needs time, Evie," he said. "And patience. Two things I have plenty of. She's been badly hurt. The pain is always there, underneath. That takes time and care to heal. Then after that, who knows?" Brian had picked up more than woman from the same low and it ended the same way. But he'd also begun to believe it was his fate. "I appreciate the offer, but really, some things have to be allowed to run their course and heal in their own time."
“Very well,” Evie murmured, tying a green apron around her waist, sliding a pair of shears and a couple of pens into the pockets. There, now she was ready to start the day. And whether Brian agreed or not, she’d be working on a charm that night. To help Arabella heal, if nothing else. “But you let me know if there’s anything I can do to help, okay?” She looked at him sternly, or tried to.
He shook his head. "You already have," he assured her. "By not letting me give up on the idea completely. I'd love to be the one for her. She's a sweet girl who's had a hard life. I'd like nothing more than to make sure she never feels a moment more of pain or doubt. But-" Brian sighed. "That isn't how it has ever gone. In the meantime, though, the flowers and support will help I'm sure. So thank you. Again."
“No problem, sugar.” She smiled at Brian, relieved that at least he hadn’t given up hope entirely of things working out between him and this girl. She’d found a guy who made her happy, who seemed to be different from all the other assholes she’d dated - she wanted Brian to have the same thing. Wanted him to be happy. He was a sweet guy, and he deserved someone who realised that.