More Than Just a Wallflower

by Nordryd

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Wallflower Blush, Romance, Original Character, Second Person, Equestria Girls
Length: 18372

You bump into a girl you’ve never met before, but when you introduce yourself, she claims you’ve met before. Chillingly, she also says she’s used to being forgotten. Who is she? And why can’t you stop thinking about her?

After a highly successful solo at the CHS musical showcase, you experience a burst of popularity. Maybe you can use this opportunity to find yourself a new girlfriend? Maybe "the one"?

However, you forget all about that when you accidentally bump into a random, green-haired girl. She gives you no compliments. Her cold, distant demeanor catches you completely off guard. She claims you've met before, but you don't recognize her. But chillingly, she also says she's used to being forgotten.

Who was she? What's caused her to be so walled off? More importantly... why couldn't you stop thinking about her?

This a redo of a previous oneshot of the same name I did a while back. I thought I could do better.

Published 2025-02-07 00:00:02 UTC
Last updated 2025-02-17 18:22:13 UTC

Ch.1. Who Are You?

"Hey, great job this weekend!"

"Dude, you nailed that solo!"

"Loved your solo, heehee!”

The end of the school day. You stood next to your best friends Flash Sentry and Brawly Beats as the latter got things out of his locker. All the while, it seemed every other student that passed by was throwing you a compliment. You were usually a familiar face to everyone, being in one of the more well-known bands at school, but now you were getting with more compliments than ever! Normally after a Monday you’d be exhausted, but all the love was making it feel like a Friday.

You’re usually just the bassist, taking a backset to Flash and Brawly—the lead singer/guitarist and drummer respectively—but during last weekend’s Musical Showcase, you were given a bass solo! By the end of it, everyone was screaming their heads off for you!

"I guess we did pretty well this weekend," Flash said.

"Can you blame them?" Brawly said. "We had a killer set."

"I think we even out-applauded the Rainbooms,” you said. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Hey, don’t take all the credit,” Flash said. “Although, you did crush that solo.”

“Oh, no need to remind me,” you said. “Plenty of girls have waved at me in the last few minutes. Trust me, I already know.”

“Really?” Brawly said. “You’re not trying to scope out a new girlfriend, are you?”

“Why not?” you said. “Now that I’m on everyone’s radar, it’s the perfect time to look for someone! And this time, I wanna get serious!”

“Okay, let’s slow down for sec,” Flash said. “I know you really wanted a new girlfriend, but is this really the best way? Especially if you want something more serious?”

“CHS has tons of cute girls,” you said. “I can basically take my pick, right?”

“Hold on,” Brawly said. “I’m with Flash. Your last girlfriend dated you just because you were in a band, remember?”

“And the one before that you dated just because she was hot,” Flash said.

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Brawly said, “but I don’t think either of those relationships ended well.”

“Well... th-those don’t matter anymore,” you said. “I have momentum right now. I can’t just let it die.”

“We just don’t want you to end up in a bad relationship again,” Flash said. “Trust me, I know what that’s like. Sunset Shimmer used me for popularity too. Then things with Twilight Sparkle didn’t work out... and got really complicated with the different dimension stuff... b-but the point is, I get it, and because of that, I don’t wanna rush into anything. For now, I’m hoping to meet my dreamgirl by chance. Like... I won’t even realize she’s the one at first.”

“Listen to you, sounding like a hopeless romantic,” you teased.

“Takes one to know one,” Flash retorted.

“Well, I hope that works out for you,” you said. “Me? I’ve got so much love to give that I don’t feel like waiting. Fresh off my solo, I’ll find the perfect girl for me!”

Flash and Brawly exchanged a look.

“...it was one solo, man,” Brawly asked.

“Yeah, maybe take it down a notch?” Flash said.

“Oh come on, let me enjoy this,” you said. “I’ll use my new popularly to find my dreamgirl and treat her like the princess she is. I already know I’m a great boyfriend, so there’ll be nothing to worry about. Just wait and see, my dudes.”

They rolled their eyes.

“Right… whatever you say, man,” Brawly said. “Anyway, I got what I need. Let’s head out.”

“You two go ahead,” you said. “I need to go to my locker really quick.”

“You just wanna soak in more attention, don’t you?” Flash said.

“Hey, don’t judge,” you said. “Let me ride this high, alright?”

“Fine, fine,” Flash said. “Just be careful and don’t do anything stupid, alright? See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you,” you said.

You watched as Flash and Brawly disappeared into the crowded after-school hallways. You stood still and pretended to be on your phone, but you had your ears on alert for the slightest hint of a compliment. Sure enough, a few students gave you exactly that. You even spotted some girls waving at you again. Is this what it felt like to be a celebrity?

And you didn’t actually need to go to your locker. That was just an excuse. Now you could just stay put and soak up all the attention the world was willing to give!

Before long, the hallways started to empty. You felt like you just had a four-course meal of praise. But even celebrities have to take a break from the spotlight. Time to go home.

You turned and started walking—

OOF!

A sudden impact sent you falling back on the ground. The person you ran into fell back as well, causing papers to fall everywhere.

When your vision cleared, you saw a petite girl sitting in front of you rubbing her head. She had long, somewhat unkempt green hair, light brown eyes, light cool green skin, and freckled cheeks. She wore a brown striped sweater that matched her eyes, blue jeans, and gray striped loafers.

...and you didn’t recognize her at all.

When she looked at you, she looked annoyed. She spoke in a quiet, shy voice.

"Excuse me…" she said, rubbing her head.

"Sorry… I didn't see you,” you said.

"I've been here for a while" she said.

"Really?” you said. “Huh... never noticed.”

“I’ve been trying to get your attention,” she said.

You felt a rush of adrenaline. Just when you thought the praise wave had ended...

You quickly stood up, fixed your hair, and leaned against the locker, putting on your “charm” face.

“Well, you have my attention now,” you said. “My apologies. The compliments have just been nonstop today, so I guess I was bound to miss one. So hit me with it. You loved my solo, right? Highlight the entire musical showcase, if I do say so myself.”

You waited for the compliment...

...but it never came. She’d been gathering up her papers the whole time you were talking.

“Um... did you hear me?” you asked.

No answer. She kept going like you weren’t there. Once she’d gathered everything, she stood up and finally made eye contact with you again. Though, she didn’t look happy.

“...are you done?” she asked.

With those three words, your confidence came to a screeching halt.

“Um... wh-what do you mean?” you stammered.

She looked at you quizzically before rolling her eyes.

“You’re standing in front of my locker.”

There was a sudden catch in your throat. That all she wanted? And you thought she was here to compliment you? How embarrassing.

“O-Oh!” you said. “Crap... um... s-sorry...”

You stepped aside. She didn’t say a word, and didn’t need to. Her icy cold glare said everything and more.

But it wasn’t too late to recover, right? So what if this random girl’s shattered your mojo? You’re the most popular guy in school now. You can do anything!

As she opened her locker and organized her things, you gathered up any shred of fortitude you had left before attempting to talk to her again. An introduction would be a good place to start.

“So...” you said, trying to fight the lump in your throat. “What’s your name?”

She gave you a puzzled look.

"I'm Wallflower Blush…?"

"Nice to meet you, Wallflower!" you said.

She raised an eyebrow.

“We met in chemistry...?” she said.

“Um... we did?” you asked.

"We were lab partners for that entire semester," she said.

You could feel your cheeks heating up. Despite her soft voice, she looked mad. Really mad.

"Uh… um… hm…" you stammered, desperately trying to say something. Anything.

Wallflower let out a long sigh.

“Why am I even surprised anymore?” she said.

“Huh?” you asked. “What do you mean?”

“Why should I tell you?” Wallflower sneered. “You probably won’t remember me after today anyway.”

"What? That's not true," you said. "I like to think I know everyone at CHS."

You flinched as she shut her locker.

“Well, you clearly didn’t remember me from an entire semester we spent working together,” Wallflower said. “I bet you also didn’t know that we sit next to each other in pre-calc. Y’know... this semester?”

You opened your mouth to retort... but no words came out. Your mouth just stupidly hung open as Wallflower’s words and ice-cold eyes gutted any remaining confidence you might’ve had.

Wallflower sighed. Suddenly, she didn’t look mad anymore. Rather... she looked dejected. Hurt.

“Thanks for proving my point,” Wallflower said before walking away. Not another word. Not even a glance back.

In her wake, you were left speechless, only able to stare as she walked away. When she turned the corner and left your sight, you were only able to mutter two words...

"Wallflower Blush…"

...what the hell did she do to you? You’re usually great at talking to girls. You’ve had two girlfriends, after all. But Wallflower seemed totally immune to you. Furthermore, it was like she took away your ability to speak or even think rationally. Was it her cold stare chilling you to the bone? Her point-blank words cutting through you like butter? Either way, what a trainwreck of a conversation.

"Wallflower Blush…"

Questions rattled your brain, but the biggest one by far was... how did you forget about her? By this point, you thought you knew everyone at CHS on a first-name basis. How did she slip under the radar, especially if you’ve interacted with her as much as she claimed?

"Wallflower Blush…"

You sighed. With the hallways emptied and your confidence cut down to size, there was no reason to stay. Time to go home.

You started walking. On the way out, a couple of students passed by and complimented you. That would’ve been nice a while ago, but with no bravado left, all you could manage was a meek thank you before continuing. Along the way, all you thought of was...

...Wallflower Blush... Wallflower Blush...

Author's Note

I did a Wallflower oneshot back in the day, and I wanted to redo it because I've always liked Wallflower (even if she wasn't handled well in her featured movie). I thought I could tell a better story. This will not be a oneshot. It was going to be, but it ended up being way too long, so I'm splitting it up into chapters. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and what's to come. Thanks for reading!

Ch.2. Crossing Paths

A new day. School had come to an end once again. Sitting in a practice room with Flash and Brawly, you were gearing up to rehearse.

At least, that’s what you would’ve been doing had it not been for one thought dominating your mind.

Wallflower Blush... Wallflower Blush...

That name hadn’t left your mind for even a second. At home, in your dreams, during the day… Wallflower Blush.

Earlier, you confirmed something she said yesterday. When pre-calculus came around, you kept a sharp eye out for Wallflower. And sure enough, just like she said, there she was sitting at the desk right next to you. Unsurprisingly, she never looked at you, and you didn’t dare to try to talk to her again.

She’s been that close to you all semester? How have you never noticed?

Normally you’d be talking to Flash and Brawly while you set up, but today you didn't feel like it. Too busy thinking about Wallflower... Wallflower... Wallflower…

“...ey... hey!”

“H-Huh?”

You were snapped out of your thoughts by Flash shaking your shoulder.

“H-Hey, Flash,” you said. “Wh-What’s up?”

“You okay?” he asked. “You’ve just been sitting there staring off into space.”

“I-I have?” you asked.

You blinked, trying to reorient yourself. You were sitting in a random chair with your bass guitar. You’ve been so caught up in your own head that you couldn’t remember how you got there.

“Um... I-I'm fine!” you insisted. “Wh-Why wouldn’t I be? Heh... heheh...”

Your nervous laughter didn’t help your case. Flash and Brawly didn’t look convinced.

“You’ve been quiet all day,” Brawly said. “Something going on?”

“No! N-Nothing happened!” you said. “J-Just a normal day, y’know?”

Flash shook his head.

“We’ve known you for years, dude. We can tell something’s up.”

You pursed your lips. You should’ve known that you can’t hide from your best friends.

“...well... I kinda... met a girl yesterday,” you said.

Flash and Brawly both perked up.

“Oh, did you now?” Flash said, raising an eyebrow.

“No no, not like that,” you said. “I... I think she hates me.”

"Wait… hates?" Brawly asked. “You just met her, right? Who are we talking about here?”

“Um... does the name Wallflower Blush ring a bell for either of you?” you asked.

Flash and Brawly looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Never heard of her," Flash said.

"Same,” Brawly said. “Is she new?”

“That’s what I thought, but she’s not,” you said. “Apparently, we were lab partners back in chemistry. And get this, she sits right next to me in pre-calc. I never noticed until today.”

“So... you think she hates you because you didn’t remember her?” Flash asked.

“Y-Yeah,” you said. “When I introduced myself, she looked at me like I was crazy. Then she explained how we already knew each other, and I couldn’t remember any of it.”

“Wait, back up a sec,” Flash said. “Did you walk up to her and introduce yourself, or how did this start?”

“Well... I was about to leave,” you said, “and when I turned, I accidentally bumped into her. She said she was trying to get my attention, and I thought she was going to compliment me. Turns out, I was just standing in front of her locker.”

You heard Flash and Brawly stifle a laugh.

“Hey, what’s so funny?” you asked.

“Oh, come on,” Brawly said. “After the way you were acting yesterday, that’s hilarious.”

“The way I was acting?” you asked. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s not important,” Flash said, smiling. “Continue your story.”

You rolled your eyes.

“Anyway... she was in a bad mood at that point, so I thought introducing myself would lighten things up. But then she started explaining how we knew each other already and... she got so mad. Softspoken as she is, I could still tell how mad she was. Y’know what else? She stopped the conversation because she assumed I’d forget about her the next day, so what’s the point?”

“And then what?” Brawly asked.

“That was it,” you said. “She just left me like that. I... I felt awful. She had these icy cold eyes like you wouldn’t believe. I’ll admit... I was too scared to talk to her in pre-calc. She didn’t even look at me.”

“Jeez,” Flash said. "Well… you obviously haven't forgotten about her."

“That’s the most confusing thing,” you said. “Ever since then, I can’t stop thinking about her.”

“So that’s why you’ve been so quiet today,” Brawly said. “I guess she’s off the table as a new girlfriend, then?”

“I mean... I guess,” you said. “I wasn’t even thinking about that. Doesn’t even matter now.”

Suddenly, you noticed Flash and Brawly exchanging grins.

“What?”

They chuckled.

“What?!” you demanded.

“Go figure, the girl who hates your guts is also the girl you like,” Flash said.

“The girl I... w-wait, you think I...?! N-No, that’s not true!”

“Your face is beet red, dude,” Brawly said.

“N-No, you’re wrong!” you protested. “Wh-Why would I like someone like her? She was so cold and quiet.”

“Is she cute?” Flash asked.

“...kinda,” you said.

“Interesting...” Brawly said.

“Agreed...” Flash said.

“L-Look, I just met her!” you said. “Ergh... I mean... I met her again... wh-whatever! C-Can we just rehearse already? I wanna her off my mind.”

“Here, we need someone to take our band photos down to the Yearbook Committee,” Flash said, handing you a flash drive. “How about you go and clear your mind for a bit?”

“Well... I guess that’s not a bad idea,” you said. “Alright, be right back.”

You walked out, en route to the Yearbook Committee’s room. But now you were more confused than ever.

A crush? On Wallflower? That's crazy... right? You just felt bad, that’s all. There’s nothing more to it.

At least... that’s what you tried to tell yourself.

You took a deep breath. Your mind had to be clear by the time you got back to the rehearsal room. That’s the priority right now. Well... that and the yearbook photos.

You reached the Yearbook Committee’s room, and the door was open. Peering inside, nobody was there. Not even their president, Sunset Shimmer. They’re supposed to meet today, right?

“Crap... I guess I missed them,” you said.

"Not everyone’s gone, y'know."

You flinched at the eerily familiar voice, coming seemingly from nowhere. Turning your head towards its source, sitting at a computer in a corner of the room you somehow overlooked, was a familiar green-haired girl.

"…W-Wallflower?"

Ch.3. A Beautiful Breakthrough

“Oh... it’s you,” she said, furling her eyebrows. “What do you want?”

Immediately you tensed up. She was the last person you wanted to see, and now you were in a room alone with her.

You had no choice. You had to face her now.

But you’re just there for business, right? No big deal.

“Um… is Sunset Shimmer around?” you asked. “I have some photos to drop off.”

Wallflower sighed.

"You just missed her… and everyone else.”

"Shoot…" you said. "Well… what are you still doing here? Finishing up some work?"

"Am now,” Wallflower said. “They forgot about me... again.”

Suddenly, her expression changed. She looked... hurt. It reminded you of yesterday before she left.

"Oh…" you said. "Um… I-I'm sorry to hear that."

“...I’m used to it,” she said.

“Huh?” you asked. “Used to what? Being left behind?”

She shot an icy glare at you.

“Why do you care? You didn't even notice me until I said something. Just… leave that flash drive and go away. I’ll get it back to you tomorrow.”

You could feel the coldness from her eyes. However... something was different. Her eyes were cold... but filled with hurt. Her words also sounded more hesitant. More vulnerable.

She was in pain. Her face and tone gave it all away.

You felt this instinct start to nag you. An instinct to help someone in need... even if they didn’t want to admit it... even if you were the last person they’d want help from... and even if they tore you to shreds with their words again.

You had to try. You owed it to her after hurting her yesterday.

“….do you really want to be alone?” you asked.

“Huh?” she asked.

“I think this is bothering you more than you’re saying,” you boldly said.

Suddenly, her eyes widened... before her eyebrows furled and locked onto you, like she was brandishing a knife.

“...you don't know anything about me,” Wallflower said. “Even if I told you, you’d just forget about it tomorrow, so why bother?”

You could feel your body tense again from her stone-cold eyes. Nevertheless, this was your chance to help her. Steeling yourself for any further jabs she might take at you, you advanced. No holding back.

“Hey, give me some credit,” you said. “I remembered you today, right? And I saw you in pre-calc just like you said.”

“Wow... good for you. Want an award?” Wallflower said. “Just because you remembered me today doesn’t mean you will tomorrow.”

“And just because you’re used to something doesn’t mean you aren’t hurt by it,” you sternly retorted.

She opened her mouth. You braced yourself for whatever she might say...

...but she faltered. No response. It sounded like she was struggling to speak, but no words were coming out.

You felt bad for talking back to her like that, but now you had a window to say something.

“Look, I’m really sorry,” you said. “I felt awful after yesterday. I’ve been thinking about it all day. I can’t change the past, but I can try to help you when you’re clearly hurt. I know I’m probably the last person you want to talk to right now but... I’m here. And be honest with me, if what you said about ‘being used to it’ is true, then I’m probably the only person to even offer to listen to you, right?”

Wallflower’s eyes widened. Suddenly, the ice in her eyes melted away. All that remained... was the hurt.

“I won’t force you,” you continued. “I’ll leave right now if you want me to. But if you want to talk about anything... I'll listen... and I promise, it’ll stay between us.”

For a few seconds, Wallflower was frozen. The only sign of life in her was her blinking. No sound in the room except the droning hum of the ventilation.

It seemed like you struck a chord with her.

Folding her arms and holding her sleeves, she turned her head to the computer monitor. Onscreen was a photo of a large, colorful garden nestled in some woods. Staring at the screen, her face was one of longing. The sleeves of her sweater crinkled under her tensing fingers. Her breathing grew shaky, and it almost looked like her lips were trembling.

What was going through her head right now? Whatever it was... it looked tumultuous.

...were you putting too much pressure on her? You wanted to help, but it seemed like you were having the opposite effect. Did you mess up? She'd bitten you with her words before... and now you were worried that she’d bite you again.

Prepping for the worst, you waited for the ice in her eyes to return...

...

...

...

...but it never did. Instead... she spoke in the demurest voice you’ve ever heard from her.

“...do you know what it’s like to be invisible?”

For a brief moment, you forget to speak, shocked that you actually managed to convince her. But there was no time to think about that. With your nerves put to rest, it was time to buckle up and listen.

“What do you mean by invisible?” you asked.

“Y’know... ignored? Forgotten? Unsure if anyone knows you exist? Like... if I disappeared... would anyone miss me? Or even know I was here to begin with?”

That word suddenly had a much more poignant meaning.

“That’s... pretty heavy stuff,” you said.

“Yeah, well... that’s my life,” Wallflower said. “Always alone, always left behind, always forgotten... if I’m lucky enough to be noticed in the first place. I guess you wouldn’t know. You seem like you have no shortage of friends, not to mention your band.”

“Well… you got me there,” you said. “Flash and Brawly have been my best friends for years.”

“Must be nice,” Wallflower said. “To mean something to someone... to me, that’s just a pipe dream. I introduce myself to someone, and they forget me the next day... or even the next hour. Y’know, I’ve been on the Yearbook Committee all year, and I can't tell you how many times Sunset Shimmer and her friends have left me in here without even acknowledging me. Sunset only noticed me today because she bumped into me. And guess what? She acted like she’d never met me, even though I've known her since ninth grade! But why should she remember that when she can’t even notice me in our freaking committee meetings?! Why should she notice me all?!!”

Her teeth were clenched, as were her fists. Her eyebrows were furled. But even as she paused to calm down, you stayed quiet. Saying anything now would be interrupting whatever was going on in her head. Your job was to be patient and listen. Nothing more.

A moment passed in silence. When Wallflower spoke again, her voice was shaky enough to tug at your heart.

“...and it’s not just Sunset,” Wallflower continued. “It’s not just you, either. It’s... everyone.”

Another pause... but not to come down from anger. This time... you noticed her eyes reddening...

...and your heart dropped when you saw a tear trickle down her cheek.

“Ergh...” Wallflower grunted, seemingly trying to fight her tears, but to no avail. Another tear fell. And another. And another.

Looking around, you found a nearby box of tissues and quickly handed it to her.

“Th-Thanks,” Wallflower said, sniffling and wiping her cheeks.

As she continued, you could see her will crumble little by little.

“It’s just... no matter what I do... I always get left behind. Is it me? I-I know I’m quiet, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to exist. I see everyone else hanging out in their circles, talking and laughing about… whatever they talk and laugh about. Well... where’s my circle? Where are my friends? Why do I have to keep introducing myself to people I’ve known for years like I’m in some stupid time loop? Whenever I have to reintroduce myself... it feels like I die a little inside. And then they forget about me anyway… like they were just taking pity on me. What... What's wrong with me? Am I ugly? Am I mean? I don’t want to be popular or anything... I-I just want to belong! I want to matter! Is that too much to ask?!”

With that final plea, the last of Wallflower’s willpower disintegrated, and she broke down crying right before your eyes.

You were left stunned, and unsure of what to do. Every shaky breath and whimper were like a slash of guilt on your heart. This was—in large part—your fault. Yesterday, when you didn’t recognize her... you hurt her. You hurt her far more than she let on... and that was a fact you couldn’t ignore.

In hindsight, you deserved the verbal lashing you got. Daresay... she let you off easy.

Her heart-wrenching sobbing continued unabated while you sat still... feeling more conflicted than you’ve ever felt before. As much as you wanted to help... she called you out just now.

It’s not just Sunset. It’s not just you, either. It’s everyone.

Mentioned merely in passing, but direct enough to fill you with guilt.

Instinctively, you wanted to offer a hug, but that grudge could still be lurking inside her waiting to strike. At the same time... you couldn’t just leave her. How cruel would that be?

What were you supposed to do?

...

...

...

...be a man, that’s what. Wallflower was crying. Period. Even if she pushed you away in the end, you had to man the hell up and at least try to comfort her.

Bracing yourself, you scooted your chair closer to her. Instead of going for a hug right away, you instead gently place your hand on her back.

“H-Huh?!” she flinched.

“U-Um!”

You immediately retract your hand. Wallflower stared at you through wide, bloodshot eyes.

“S-Sorry...” you stammered. “I-I was just… trying to comfort you. That’s all.”

She didn’t say anything. Combined with the sorrow she was already feeling, she looked surprised at what you said. As if... nobody’s ever done that for her.

Almost confirming that, her lips began to tremble, and another tear trickled down her reddened cheeks. Her breathing was so unsteady it caused her body to shake slightly when she inhaled. She looked like a frightened puppy.

...rubbing her back wasn’t going to cut it. This would be a big gamble... but it might just be what Wallflower needed. You had to trust your intuition on this one.

“Um... maybe it’s a bad idea to offer this considering, y’know... what happened yesterday, but… do you want a hug? Or at least a shoulder to cry on? I want to help, I-I just don’t know—h-huh?!”

Catching you completely off guard, Wallflower suddenly threw herself into your arms. Sitting on your lap, she buried her face in your shoulder and sobbed even harder than before... to the point of almost screaming.

Recovering from that initial shock, you gently wrapped your arm around her and held her tight. Every muffled scream and shaky breath rattled your body to the core. It felt like years of repressed emotions were being released in your arms, like a hurricane. Was this really the same girl who scolded you yesterday? The girl who ripped you to shreds with her words was suddenly so vulnerable. But through it all, you stayed strong. You didn’t dare shed a tear yourself. All that mattered right now was Wallflower. Until the storm passed, you would be her shelter.

After a long minute or two, she had quieted down a little, though was still trembling in your arms. You started rubbing her back, trying to offer what little comfort you could.

It was so surreal to be this close to her. And since you started holding her, a distinct aroma permeated your senses. Some mix of flowers and... strawberries? Was it her hair? Whatever it was... you liked it. A lot. Not to mention... she felt so warm in your arms. It made you feel tingly... as if from the moment you started holding her... your heart had been beating just a little bit faster.

Eventually, Wallflower’s breathing steadied out. Keeping her head on your shoulder, she took more deep breaths. You could feel her relaxing little by little with each one, barring the occasional sniffle. You didn’t move or do anything that may rush her.

With one last deep breath, Wallflower finally lifted her head from your tear-soaked shoulder. Your eyes met... then she looked down... and her eyes widened.

“U-Uh!” she exclaimed, quickly scrambling back to her seat. It was hard to tell if she was blushing with her cheeks being so tear-stained, but you definitely were a little.

“Uh... s-sorry...” Wallflower cooed.

“Heh... it’s fine,” you said. “I offered, didn’t I?”

“...yeah,” she said, grabbing a tissue and blowing her nose. “Um... thanks. I... I guess I needed that.”

“Y-You’re welcome,” you said.

And then... silence. This time, the air felt much heavier. The kind of silence where there’s an elephant in the room, but nobody knew how to address it. Or at least, you didn’t. Even if she wasn’t crying anymore, the pain in Wallflower’s eyes hadn’t gone away. But... what were you supposed to say? You’ve always had friends. You’ve always belonged. The feeling of hopeless loneliness was only something you’ve experienced in nightmares, and even that was rare. For Wallflower, it was her everyday life. She couldn’t just wake up to escape it.

...you didn’t understand. You never truly would. And thus... you were at a loss. How could you help someone so unfathomably broken?

The silence carried on, bearing down on you as you struggled to think of something comforting to say. Something that wouldn’t be insensitive or dismissive...

...

...

...

...that’s when you noticed her staring at the computer again. The photo of the mystery garden. She’d been fixated on it for a couple straight minutes with those same longing eyes from before. Whatever that garden was, it seemed important to her.

That’s it! Ask her about the garden!

“...that’s a nice picture,” you said.

“Huh?” she said. “Oh... thanks.”

“Did you take it?” you asked.

“Y-Yeah. It’s my garden.”

“Your garden?” you asked. “That’s all you?”

You noticed a faint glimmer in her eyes. And then... something amazing happened. Something you’ve never seen until now. Something that took your breath away.

...she smiled. A little one, but still sincere. And it was beautiful. So beautiful, it made your heart skip a beat.

“Well... technically it’s the school’s garden,” Wallflower said. “I’m the founder and president of the gardening club.”

“Oh? I didn’t know there was a gardening club,” you said.

“That’s... probably because I’m the only member,” Wallflower said. “And the only one who’s ever been to the garden... or seen it.”

Her smile disappeared, stinging your heart a little.

“Ah... sorry to remind you,” you said.

“It’s fine. You didn’t know,” Wallflower said. “But yeah, for what it’s worth, it’s my garden.”

“That’s great,” you said. “Tell me what you’re growing.”

Wallflower looked surprised.

“...y-you really want to know?” she asked.

“Of course,” you said. You pointed to some random white and pink flowers on the screen—random to you, at least. “Let’s start here. And don’t hold back. I wanna know everything.”

Wallflower looked at you for a moment in disbelief. Maybe she was waiting for the “just kidding” or something similar. But you just kept smiling to insist that you were genuinely interested.

After a moment, to your delight, her smile returned. Your heart skipped a beat again at the sight.

“Heh... a-alright,” Wallflower said. “So... those are snapdragons. They took a long time to grow, but it was worth it. They bloomed not too long ago, actually, and they look so pretty next to the lilies. Oh, and right over here...”

And Wallflower was off. With bright eyes and the purest smile, she pointed out every plant in the garden.

“The poppies haven’t bloomed yet, but I’m expecting them to soon. The red will look really nice next to the peonies. And there’s some nigellas over here, some marigolds...”

It was hard to keep up. There was so much variety in every square inch of the garden, and Wallflower explained it all with such enthusiasm. If someone walked in right now, they would never guess that she was crying her eyes out mere moments ago.

She looked genuinely happy. Her smile... her glowing eyes...

...you never noticed it before... but Wallflower was cute. Really cute. In fact... it was a little distracting.

“Oh... but here are my favorite flowers,” Wallflower said. “Right in the center.”

You looked where she was pointing. In the middle was a gray stone plot filled with dozens of vibrant blue flowers. The color was unique from everything else in the garden.

“Those are pretty,” you said. “What are they?”

“They’re called Forget-Me-Nots,” Wallflower said. “Kind of a poignant name...”

Her smile seemed to falter a little, but she pressed on anyway.

“It’s the first thing I grew there, and it’s a perfect centerpiece. Sometimes, I’ll sit there for minutes at a time just looking at them. Their blue color is so entrancing to me. Heh... you must think that’s weird... doing nothing but stare at flowers...”

“Not at all,” you said. “I think it’s great that you’re so passionate about something. You deserve to admire your work.”

“My mom always told me I had a green thumb,” Wallflower said. “When I was little, I took the seeds from an apple and planted them in our garden. Of course, I didn’t know what I was doing back then, so nothing happened. But my mom noticed and bought me a gardening starter kit with a little strawberry plant.”

“How did that turn out?” you asked.

“Much better, though it did take a while,” Wallflower said. “But once I tasted something I grew myself, I wanted to grow everything. My parents started giving me a new set of seeds for my birthday, and eventually I kinda took over their garden.”

Wallflower giggled as she reminisced. It was the cutest giggle you’ve ever heard.

“Anyway, what else is there?” Wallflower said, glancing back at the photo. “Oh, yeah! How could I forget? There are strawberries right over here.”

She pointed to a plant with white flowers and plump, vibrant red berries.

“You're growing crops here too?” you asked.

“Of course,” Wallflower said. “Those are my strawberries there, and over here I’ve got some onions and carrots. I have even more crops at home. Garlic, ginger, apples, raspberries, broccoli, and I have a whole setup in my room where I grow fresh herbs. Basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, you name it.”

She listed so many items your brain barely kept up.

"...whoa,” you said. “Do you cook with the stuff you grow?”

“I do, actually,” Wallflower said.

Your eyes widened.

“Really? What do you make?”

“All kinds of things,” Wallflower said. “My mom used to be a chef, so she’s taught me everything I know. You name it, my mom can cook it. As far as what I know how to make… cakes, pies, soups, stews… more basic things. If I’m being honest, mostly it’s just me helping my mom. Sometimes I just give her ingredients and she does the rest. Ooh, like the other day she used some of my tomatoes and basil to make pizza from scratch. Oh my gosh... best pizza I’ve ever had.”

Wallflower was beaming. Passion radiated from her like the sun. Honestly, the next things she said went in one ear and out the other. Not that you weren’t trying to listen, but you were getting distracted…

...by her.

Although, she seemed to catch on to the fact that you were zoning out, because her words suddenly tapered off. Her smile faltered with it.

“Oh gosh... I’ve been yapping your ear off, haven’t I?” Wallflower said. “I’m sorry. I get carried away, sometimes.”

“No no, don’t be sorry!” you said. “I... I’m just amazed. You’re so talented.”

Her cheeks turned a bright shade of red.

“Uh... heh... i-it's nothing, really,” Wallflower said. “I just like to garden, that’s all.”

“It’s definitely something!” you insisted. “I mean... that garden’s incredible! And it’s all you! And you have more at home? And you can cook with the stuff you grow? That’s amazing! And it’s a beautiful garden too. You should be proud.”

For a moment, she just sat there stunned. The only things that changed were her cheeks getting redder.

And then, another amazing thing happened. She smiled again. The biggest smile you’ve seen her make. She even started giggling to herself and playing with her hair.

“...wow... um... nobody's ever said that to me before,” she said. “D-Do you mean that?”

“One hundred percent,” you said. “You’re extremely talented, Wallflower.”

Her smile grew even bigger. Suddenly, it seemed like she was avoiding contact with you. Every time your eyes met, her reddened cheeks grew even redder.

In the softest, cutest voice you’ve ever heard, Wallflower looked at you with a twinkle in her eye and said...

“...thank you.”

Silence fell once again, but not heavy in the slightest. It was a peaceful silence, where the rest of the world seemed to fade away except for you and Wallflower.

You felt tingly as you just looked at Wallflower. Your quickened heartbeat echoed throughout your body like the beating of a drum. Her smile was a thing of beauty. No... Wallflower was a thing of beauty. Perhaps because she looked so happy, you could truly see how beautiful she was. Her green hair was like soft, cascading ferns. Her eyes were like two wells of smooth, velvety milk chocolate. With how much she was blushing, her freckled cheeks resembled two ripe strawberries. And of course... her gorgeous smile gleamed like the stars.

She was gorgeous, and in such a refreshing way. She was just herself. She was purely and genuinely Wallflower Blush. That’s all she needed to be to take your breath away.

...was this really the same girl from yesterday? The Wallflower in front of you was a completely different person, but in the best possible ways.

Suddenly, your eyes met, sending a jolt through your heart. She quickly looked away, blushing even harder. You couldn’t help but blush yourself. The way she was playing with her hair was adorable.

“Hey... um... I owe you an apology,” you said.

“Huh?” Wallflower asked. “What for?”

“For forgetting about you,” you said. “You’d think I’d remember the lab partner I had all semester, or the one who sits next to me in a class I have every day. I didn’t realize how much that hurt you. I’m really sorry.”

Wallflower sighed.

“I guess it’s not entirely your fault. I probably didn’t do much to make myself that memorable.”

“Well, I still hurt you,” you said. “Looking back... I was being an absolute douche yesterday.”

Wallflower giggled.

“...yeah, you kinda were,” she said.

“Hey!” you protested.

“Your words, not mine,” she said with a smirk.

Her sassy side was coming out, although it’s much cuter when she’s in a good mood, unlike yesterday.

“Y’know, it’s funny,” you said. “Flash and Brawly called me out on how I was acting yesterday too. It’s just... nobody cares about the bassist. I always feel like I’m in the background while Flash and Brawly get the spotlight. They’re my best friends, and I love them, but I just wanted a taste of the attention for myself for once. Hearing the applause when I was done was so exciting. I felt like a rock star! I felt like I... I...”

“...mattered?”

You paused. Your eyes met Wallflower’s. She took the word right out of your mouth.

Another period of silence fell. Not an awkward one, not even a peaceful one, but one of mutual understanding. Maybe her pain wasn’t so foreign to you after all.

“...y-yeah,” you said. “I guess I just took that feeling and ran with it. Maybe they just applauded as a formality.”

“Hey, don’t sell yourself short,” Wallflower said. “I was there, and I was impressed. Even if you’re not acknowledged as much, you’re still talented. I wish I could play an instrument.”

“And I wish I could sing like Flash,” you said. “Or garden... or cook...”

“You know what I mean,” Wallflower said. “You’re allowed to be proud. Just... maybe don’t flaunt it as much next time.”

“Heh... thanks,” you said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

You opened your mouth to say something else, but you stopped when you noticed your phone buzzing in your pocket.

“Sorry, hold on,” you said, retrieving your phone.

Your stomach dropped when you saw Flash’s name. How long have you been here? Apprehensive, you had no choice but to answer.

“H-Hello?” you said meekly.

“Dude, where are you?!” Flash yelled. “It’s been like half an hour!”

Half an hour?!

“U-Um... shoot! Sorry!” you said. “I-I got... uh... distracted.”

Your eyes met Wallflower’s. She looked concerned, and you felt a knot in your heart.

As much as you didn’t want to... you had to leave.

“Well, are you on your way back?” Flash asked.

“Y-Yeah... I’ll be right there,” you said.

“Cool,” Flash said. “Sorry for yelling, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for a while now.”

“All good. That’s on me,” you said. “Okay, see you in a sec.”

You hung up. When the lock screen appeared, you saw a long list of messages from Flash and Brawly, as well as a couple missed calls.

You let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m sorry, Wallflower,” you said. “I totally forgot I came here from rehearsal.”

“...oh,” Wallflower said. “Um... do you have to?”

That question surprised you. It was like she read your mind.

“Trust me, I’d love to stay, but it wouldn’t be fair to Flash or Brawly if I just cancelled on them,” you said.

“Right... I understand,” Wallflower said. “Well... I guess this is goodbye.”

“Heh... you say that like we’ll never see each other again,” you said.

You immediately regretted those words. The pain in her eyes returned with a vengeance. It almost looked like she was going to cry again.

Were you trying to be a jerk? Why did you say something so insensitive?

Her saddened face tugged violently at your heart. Of course, you didn’t want to leave! You’ve only just realized how amazing this girl is! Why would you want to stop talking to her?

Well... why couldn't this just continue later?

“...can I have your number?” you asked.

“H-Huh?” Wallflower asked, eyes widened. “You mean my phone number?”

“If you’re okay with that,” you said.

Her cheeks turned strawberry red again.

“Uh... well... I-I guess that’s alright,” she said, looking like she was holding back a smile.

You smile back, handing your phone to her. She typed in her info and handed it back. There it was. Wallflower’s number.

“Great,” you said. “I’ll text you right now so you’ll have my number. If you ever want to talk again, just hit me up, okay?”

You hit send, and a few seconds later Wallflower’s phone buzzed. She didn’t say anything for a moment, just staring at her phone.

“...are you sure?” Wallflower asked. “I’d hate to bother you.”

You looked her in the eye and smiled.

“It’s never a bother to help a friend,” you said.

She sat there stunned for a moment... before her gorgeous smile returned. Your heart skipped yet another beat, and you felt your cheeks heat up again. How was this girl so cute?

“...thanks,” she said softly. “For everything.”

“You’re welcome,” you said. “I enjoyed talking to you.”

“Me too,” she said. “I-I mean... I enjoyed talking to you too. That’s... what I meant.”

You chuckled. She was super cute when she was shy.

“Oh, wait!” Wallflower said. “Didn’t you come by to drop off yearbook photos?”

“Oh shoot, I almost forgot!” you said. “Thanks for the reminder.”

“You brought a flash drive, right?” Wallflower asked. “Here, I’ll take care of it right now.”

You handed Wallflower the flash drive and waited for her to copy the photos. Meanwhile, you tried to imprint every detail of Wallflower’s beauty into your memory.

“Done,” Wallflower said, handing the flash drive back.

“Thanks,” you said. “Alright, I guess I’ll see you around?”

“I-I guess so,” Wallflower said, blushing a little. “Bye.”

You had to pause to take in the last smile and wave she gave you before you finally got up and left.

You walked down the hall with the biggest smile on your face. Who cared if Flash and Brawly scolded you when you got back? All you could think about was Wallflower and her beautiful smile.

Author's Note

Stay tuned for more! Thanks for reading.

Ch.4. How Could You?

Before you knew it, Friday had come to a close. This week was flying by, in no small part due to Wallflower Blush.

The morning after you’d gotten her number, you sent her a good morning text to let her know she hadn’t been forgotten. She seemed to appreciate that. During pre-calculus, you would ask how she was doing. She'd smile and ask you the same. Sadly, since you had different lunch periods, pre-calculus was the only time you saw her, but that was okay, because you’d been texting her nonstop. On top of just chatting, she's shared photos of her home garden, which looked even more amazing than the school garden. It made for some fun conversations. You’ve been talking to her so much that it's been distracting you from homework and practice. But you didn't care, because every new message from her made you smile.

However, you wanted to spend time with her outside of school too. To ease into that, you had invited her to come watch your band rehearsal after school today. To your delight, she agreed, but said she'd be late because of something else. That was fine. Just thinking about introducing her to Flash and Brawly and showing off for her excited you. It’d be more than worth the wait.

In the meantime, you sat in the rehearsal room, tuning your bass guitar.

“By the way,” Flash said, “I hope you guys don’t mind, but I invited some friends to come watch.”

“Huh?” Brawly asked. “Who?”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Through the window you could see a distinct tuft of rainbow hair. The door opened, and a familiar group of girls waited outside.

"What up, what up!”

Rainbow Dash entered with bravado, followed by the rest of the Rainbooms.

“Oh, hey girls,” you said. “Come to watch?”

“And give a little feedback,” Applejack said.

“I figured the best band in school could give us some pointers?” Flash said.

“You flatter us, darling,” Rarity said. “But I know you won’t make our job easy, considering how good you already are.”

“But there’s always room to improve, right?” you said.

“Darn right,” Applejack said.

“C’mon, let’s get started!” Rainbow said.

You weren’t expecting a coaching session today, but it was always nice to hang out with the Rainbooms.

Not wanting to waste another minute, you quickly finished tuning and joined the rest of the band.

For the next hour, the band started and stopped through your usual repertoire. Every now and then, you’d be stopped for some feedback and start again. Applejack even pointed out how your bass could be smoother. Rainbow gave some advice to Flash and Brawly even got some pointers from Pinkie Pie. Overall, a tiring but very fun and productive rehearsal.

“Whew... thank, girls,” Flash said. “I feel like we’ve gone up a few notches.”

“Don’t mention it,” Rainbow said. “You’ll just have to sit in on one of our rehearsals now.”

“Deal,” Flash said.

“I wish we could have that ending section down better,” Brawly said.

“Yeah well, we're basically a day behind because someone decided to skip out on us this week,” Flash said with a smirk.

“Hey, I said I was sorry,” you said. “And it was one day.”

“Just giving you trouble,” Flash said.

“You were talking to a girl that whole time, right?” Brawly asked. “We can forgive you for that. What was her name again? Blossom something?”

“You don’t remember?” you asked. “Her name’s Wallflower Blush."

"Wallflower Blush..." Rainbow said. "I've never heard of that name before."

"Maybe she's from another school!" Pinkie said.

"No no, she goes here," you clarified. "She's just on the quiet side."

Just then, you had an epiphany.

"Wait... I just remembered... she was supposed to come watch us today," you said.

"Oh, really?" Flash said. "Hm... I don't see anyone new in here."

“Did she skip out?” Brawly asked.

There was a slight sinking feeling in your stomach.

“I-I’m sure she would’ve texted me,” you said, going into your pocket for your phone... but it wasn’t there.

Your heart started beating faster.

“Um... have any of you seen my phone?” you asked.

“I thought I saw you put it in your backpack,” Brawly said.

You quickly went over to your backpack. Sure enough, it was in one of the side pockets. You had no memory of putting it there, but nevertheless turned it on... and what you saw made your stomach turn.

Text after text... missed call after missed call... all from Wallflower.

Hey, I’m here but the door’s locked. Can you let me in?

Hello? Are you there?

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush

I guess you're busy. I’ll just wait out here. Let me in when you can.

Hello? I’m still waiting.

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush (2)

Are you gonna pick up?

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush (3)

This isn’t funny anymore. I’ve knocked several times, and nobody’s even glanced at the door.

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush (5)

I can see you through the window, y’know? Can you not see me? I know you’re in there.

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush (7)

You didn’t forget, did you? I was looking forward to this.

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush (10)

I don’t know if this is some prank, or you’re ignoring me on purpose, but it’s not funny.

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush (12)

You actually forgot, didn’t you?

Missed Call, Wallflower Blush (16)

Fine. I’ll just listen from out here. Hope you’re having fun. Sounds like you are.

You stood catatonic, staring at your phone in horror.

She didn’t bail on you at all. You forgot about her.

“Sugarcube?” Applejack asked. "You okay?"

“...Wallflower...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...Wallflower!!! No! No!!! Damn it!!!”

Without a second thought, you sprinted to the door.

“Whoa, dude!”

“What’s going on?”

"Hey, watch it!"

You ignored everyone. Nothing else mattered right now. Bursting through the door, you looked around frantically, praying that Wallflower was still around.

...and she was... sitting on a bench across from the rehearsal room... all alone.

She glanced at you, but only for a moment before looking away, as if to only acknowledge your presence. There was no warmth in her eyes.

“Hey,” she said quietly, avoiding eye contact.

“H-Hey...” you said meekly.

“How was rehearsal? Sounded like you were having fun in there.”

Her cold eyes chilled your body, even though they weren't looking at you.

“Wallflower... I-I'm so sorry,” you said.

“Like I said... I’m used to it.”

Suddenly, she shot you the iciest glare you’ve ever seen. So icy, it felt like it was clutching your very throat.

“I... I just got caught up and—”

“You know what? Don’t!" she barked, standing up and staring you down. "Just… just don’t! Don’t even start!”

You staggered back, shocked that her voice could be so piercing. Her eyes were no longer cold... but red hot… and laden with pain.

“How could you? How could you just ignore me like that? After everything I've told you?!"

“I-It’s not like that!”

“Then why didn’t you come look for me? Even if you didn’t get my messages, you knew I was supposed to be here. The door was locked, so I couldn't get in no matter what I did! And apparently you didn't hear the dozens of times I knocked either. Did you just invite me just so you could shut me out? Was it some kind of prank? Or did you actually just forget about me?”

Your mind was scrambling to come up with any excuseto defend yourself... but you had nothing. You knew you had nothing. You just didn’t want to believe you did something so cruel.

Unfortunately, she read your silence like a book, and it said more than any stupid excuse could.

“...you did forget. I should’ve known. You’re no different than anyone else at this school, and I was stupid to think you were. Why would you be? You’re part of the popular crowd. Everyone wants to be your friend because of your amazing solo, right? Why should you go out of your way for someone you didn’t even know existed until a few days ago? Why should you care about me at all or even notice me in the first place?! I doubt you’ll even remember after this weekend!”

“Th-That’s not true, Wallflower! I do care about you!”

“That’s what everyone says!!!” Wallflower screamed, her face turning red. “And then they forget about me anyway and treat me like a stranger. They were just being nice to make them feel better about themselves. That’s what you were doing, wasn’t it? Well, guess what? I don’t want your pity! I just want to belong! I told you that! I poured my heart out to you! I told you things that I’ve never even told my own parents! I trusted you... and you still leftmebehind?!!! I HATE YOU!!!”

Her impaling words echoed through the halls. She gasped, covering her mouth, as if surprised by her own words.

Her words left you petrified, as if she’d just gutted your very soul. It was hard to breathe because of how overburdening the air had become.

The red in her face faded, and as it did, a tear trickled down her cheek. Her breathing shook her body. She spoke with a choked, hoarse voice.

“And here I thought that maybe... you and I... ergh!!! It doesn’t matter! Nothing I do matters! I... I don't matter... I really just don’t matter at all... do I?”

Burying her face in her hands, she started crying. It horrified you to your core, because you could hear every ounce of despair inside her being sobbed out. You felt the crushing weight of guilt on your shoulders, like you held the weight of the entire world.

...this was your fault. All of it. Every tear was a like a drop of blood on your hands.

“Wallflower...” you whispered, reaching your hand out to her...

...but she backed away. A gesture so simple, yet it felt like she just stabbed your heart.

Her tear-stained eyes were fixated on you, brows furled. A leer so sharp, it could cut diamond. It looked like she was about to punch you. You wouldn’t expect that from such a shy girl, but you noticed her fists were clenched. You braced yourself...

...

...

...but instead, her shoulders fell. She looked away as tears trickled down her cheeks. Avoiding eye contact, she spoke in a low, defeated voice.

“...if you still remember me by next week... don’t waste your breath. You can delete my number too. Thanks for nothing.”

“Wallflower, wait! Just—”

Ignoring your pleas, she stormed off.

“Wallflower!”

No response. All you could do was watch helplessly as the girl you’d fallen for left you behind...

...just like you did to her.

You could hear her sniffling as she walked. Soon, she left your sight, and it felt like a piece of you left with her. You couldn’t move, too mortified to do anything but stare at the precise place where she disappeared. Was part of you hoping she’d come back?

The air in the halls was crushing. You could hardly barely breathe. It felt like Wallflower had beaten you senseless with her words, then ripped your heart from your chest.

How could you have betrayed her like that?

“...argh!!!”

*BAM*

In a fit of rage, you kicked a nearby locker. It did nothing but make your foot hurt.

Your anger quickly melted into cold, suffocating despair. You leaned your head against the lockers and broke down in tears.

Wallflower’s cutting words replayed continuously in your mind. Your head hurt. Your heart ached. It felt like you were choking.

What you wouldn’t give to turn back time and fix things, or wake up from this nightmare. But you knew full well that was reality. The most beautiful girl you’d ever known wanted nothing to do with you anymore, and you only had yourself to blame.

Suddenly, you perked up to the sound of footsteps behind you. You looked, and there stood Flash and Brawly. The Rainbooms stood together in the open doorway of the rehearsal room.

“...h-how much did you see?” you asked.

“All of it,” Flash said.

You groaned, letting your forehead fall against the lockers. As if this wasn’t embarrassing enough.

“I’m such an idiot,” you lamented.

“Sorry, man,” Flash said.

“There’ll be other, right?” Brawly said.

“No… you guys don’t understand. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. You didn’t know her like I did. But it doesn’t matter now.”

“Darling?”

Rarity walked up beside you looking concerned.

“Hey, Rarity,” you mumbled.

“May I offer a suggestion?” she asked. “If you really want to show her you care, I think you should get her a gift.”

“...like what?” you asked.

“Something personal,” Rarity said. “Perhaps she mentioned something in your conversations? She mentioned that she told you things she’s never told anyone else before. There might be something there.”

“M-Maybe...” you mumbled.

“You could serenade her too,” Flash suggested.

“Don’t you still have your acoustic bass?” Brawly asked.

“Sure, but I’m not a great singer,” you said.

“Oh, yes you are,” Rarity said. “I think that’s a great idea. A gift and a song to sweep her off her feet.”

Those sounded like good ideas, but it was hard to think with how much your head hurt.

“Thanks for the input,” you said. “But I think for now I need to go home and clear my head.”

“Sure thing, dude,” Flash said. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up too much.”

“Yeah,” Brawly said. “Things will work out eventually.”

You sighed.

“I hope you’re right.”

Ch.5. One Last Chance

How could you?

I trusted you!

I HATE YOU!

Throughout your roller coaster of a weekend, Wallflower’s verbal lashing tormented you. You could barely sleep the first night, too busy scrolling through your message history with Wallflower. Things were going so well. Friendly banter, photos of her garden…

Of course, every time you looked at her message history, you had to get past the last texts she sent—the slow realization that she’d been abandoned yet again.

You also had to scroll through the increasing number of texts you sent afterwards trying to reason with her. Even bolder—or stupider, perhaps—you tried calling her. Unfortunately, it went straight to voicemail every time, meaning her phone was off... or she’d blocked you. That’s when you couldn’t deny it any longer. She was really done with you. Why wouldn’t she be after you hurt her so cruelly?

In one fell swoop, everything came crashing down. The most beautiful girl you’ve ever met hated you, and it was all your fault.

...how could you? Really. How could you?

...

...

...

...but the next morning, you woke with a new mindset.

You couldn’t give up! Wallflower was too special for you to give up! She thought you’d forget about her over the weekend. You had to prove her wrong. You had to prove how much you cared about her! It wouldn’t be easy. Hell, winning her back at this point may be a pipe dream. But you had to try! For a girl like Wallflower, you couldn’t go down without a fight!

The big question became... how? Rarity had suggested a gift, while Flash and Brawly suggested serenading her. It’d be a stretch. You wouldn’t consider yourself good at either of those things, but now was the time to shape the hell up.

The rest of the weekend was spent planning Operation: Win Wallflower Back. No other activities. No meeting up with friends. No homework. Only Wallflower mattered now.

Monday after school. For most, the first day of the week was over. For you, it was just starting.

The only thing on your mind all day had been Wallflower Blush. You didn’t care about anything else, wanting to speed up time to get to the end of the day and put your plan into action. Or at the very least, speed through pre-calculus. Today, that class was excruciating, because you still had to sit next to her. She didn’t talk to you, of course. She didn’t even look at you. She was just... there. The air between you was overbearingly heavy. Then again, maybe she didn’t feel that heavy air at all. Maybe she was totally fine without you.

But in the end, you made it through the day. Now, any and all doubts had to be put aside. It was time.

Slung behind you was your acoustic bass you’d brought from home, and held behind your back was her gift. With all necessary items in tow, you headed for Wallflower’s locker. Your heart skipped a beat when you saw her and her long, flowing green hair.

Her locker was open, but strangely she wasn’t getting things out or putting things in. She was just standing there… and she looked upset. Because of you? Or did something else happen?

You couldn’t let that bother you. It was now or never. Even if this didn’t work, even if she tore your confidence apart in front of everyone, you had to try. Wallflower was worth the risk.

After making doubly sure your gift was concealed, you took a deep breath and approached her.

“Wallflower?”

She didn’t make eye contact or even glance in your direction. Instead, she turned her head away.

“I know you can hear me,” you said.

“Go away,” she said.

“Wallflower, I just wanna talk to you.”

“I said go away. Don’t you have better things to do?”

Her words were harsh, but you stood your ground. No turning back now.

“Nope. I’m right where I wanna be.”

That seemed to get her attention. Finally, she turned to look at you. You were shocked to see that her eyes were slightly bloodshot. She furled her eyebrows, focusing her chilling gaze squarely at you.

“...I don’t know what you’re doing, but it’s not funny,” Wallflower said.

“I’m dead serious, Wallflower.”

“So am I!”

She seemed taken aback by her own outburst, taking a moment to calm herself down.

“J-Just leave me alone,” Wallflower said. “I’ve had a bad day.”

“What happened?” you asked.

A tear escaped her eye.

“I did something horrible... and I'm so ashamed and... ergh! Why am I telling you this?! Leave me alone already!”

“Wait, maybe I can help?” you said.

“Don’t waste your time. It’s not worth it.”

You paused. Those words struck a chord with you like no other words have.

You looked her dead in the eye.

“…you’re wrong, Wallflower.”

She looked at you quizzically.

“Wh-What?”

“You heard me. You’re wrong. You are worth it.”

Her eyes widened. She looked at you intently, like she was trying to get a read on you. Maybe she thought you were crazy. And she’d be right... because you’re crazy for her... and you weren’t going anywhere until you saw her smile again.

Her mouth moved slightly as if she was trying to say something, but nothing came out. You seemed to have stopped her in her tracks. This was your chance.

You spoke again, but softer and more compassionately.

“Just hear me out. All I want is a chance to make it up to you, and if you still hate me, I promise I’ll leave you alone for good. But I’m not giving up on you so easily. I’m begging you, Wallflower. One more chance. Please.”

She was silent, but you could tell that there was a war going on in her head. Her eyes wandered as you anxiously waited. She seemed frustrated. Thusly, you prepared for the worst. You waited for her to stare you down and rip you apart with her words...

...

...

...

“…fine.”

Her suddenly soft voice released the tension in the air, and you could breathe a sigh of relief. She looked annoyed, but at least you had her attention.

But that was only the beginning. Now to put the rest of the plan into motion.

You took another deep breath.

“Wallflower... I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I lost sleep over this. That's how sorry I am. I guess I got so caught up in rehearsal that... well... I forgot. There’s no excuse for what I did. I betrayed you, and you have every right to hate me. But I do care about you. I care about you a lot. And to prove it… I got you these.”

With an eager smile, you revealed your gift. Upon seeing it, she gasped, and her eyes widened, and all the coldness in her face disappeared.

In your hand was a bouquet consisting entirely of a very particular blue flower.

“Are... are those forget-me-nots?” Wallflower asked.

“They sure are,” you said.

Her cheeks turned red like strawberries.

“...f-for me?”

“All for you.”

You extended the bouquet toward Wallflower, and she timidly accepted it. For a moment, she just stared at them in astonishment.

“That’s your favorite flower, right?” you asked.

She looked up at you. There was no hint of coldness left in her eyes.

“You remember that?” she asked.

“Of course. Do you like them?”

She looked back down at the flowers. Her strawberry cheeks turned even redder.

“…you remembered...”

And then, as beautiful as a ray of light piercing the clouds, Wallflower smiled again.

“...thank you. I... I don’t know what else to say.”

“You don’t need to. Your smile is more than enough.”

She looked stunned at those words.

“Oh... um... o-okay,” she said, blushing even more.

You blushed a little too. It was a bold thing to say, but her reaction to the flowers was so adorable and gratifying that you felt bold enough to say it.

“And the flowers are just part one,” you said.

“Th-There’s more?” Wallflower asked.

She gasped when you slung your bass around to your front. You shot her a grin.

“How about your own personal solo, too?”

Wallflower’s eyes widened.

“Y-You’re gonna play for me? Right now?”

“Right now. Nothing like a song to show someone you care about them, right?”

Suddenly, Wallflower put her hand on your bass.

“Wait, hold on.”

“Huh? What is it? I don’t have to have to do this if you don’t want. I-I don’t mind.”

“It’s not that, it’s just… um... can we go somewhere more private?”

Oh, right. Doing this in the hall would draw a lot of unwanted attention to Wallflower. You didn’t think about that.

“Sure thing,” you said. “Let’s see if any of the practice rooms are open.”

“Actually, I have a better idea,” Wallflower said. “Do you mind following me?”

Her insistent tone took you by surprise. A practice room is about as private as it got in this school. Still, she seemed confident.

“Uh... sure,” you said. “After you.”

She smiled and gestured for you to follow.

You were surprised when your excursion led you outside behind the school. Now you really weren’t sure where you were going. Nevertheless, you followed Wallflower diligently. Her long hair looked so pretty in the breeze.

Crossing the parking lot, you reached a dirt path leading into the woods behind the school. Wallflower followed the path only for a few steps before taking a detour into some bushes. There was a column of sunlight where she was heading. Carefully following her through the bushes, you emerged into a sunny clearing, colored by a wide array of flowers and crops.

Strange… why did this familiar?

It wasn’t until you spotted an flowerbed in the center filled with familiar blue flowers that you realized where she brought you.

“Wait... Wallflower, is this your garden?” you asked.

“Yep... sure is,” Wallflower said, blushing. “Wh-What do you think?”

You looked around in awe. That photo didn’t do this garden nearly enough justice. A dazzling rainbow of flowers, a bountiful assortment of crops in different stages of life, all sitting in rustic stone-lined flowerbeds surrounded by the greenest grass, and illuminated by heavenly, golden sunlight. The air was sweet and invigorating, as if every plant’s aroma coalesced in perfect harmony.

“It’s even more amazing in person,” you said. “You seriously did all this by yourself?”

“Heh... yeah. All me,” Wallflower said, playing with her hair. “Ooh, wait here one sec.”

Wallflower placed the bouquet down next to the other forget-me-nots. Then she walked to her strawberry plant, carefully picked a couple, and brought them back to you.

“Here, try one,” Wallflower said, handing you a smooth, plump, vibrant red strawberry.

It looked so good that you almost didn’t want to ruin it by eating it. But you watched Wallflower eat the strawberry she picked for herself without a second thought, so you followed suit. Pulling the leaves back, you brought the berry up to your mouth and took a bite.

Your senses were shocked when sugary, decadent juices enveloped your tongue—more juice than you’ve ever had from a strawberry before. Delightfully sweet, but with a little tartness for some flair. The flesh was soft with perfect firmness for a satisfying crunch. Every bite released more of the heavenly juices. It was the sweetest, juiciest, most delicious strawberry you’ve ever tasted.

By the time you swallowed, you felt like you’d returned from a journey. Wallflower looked at you, eagerly waiting for your reaction.

“...wow,” you said. “That was incredible.”

Wallflower beamed.

“Aren’t they so much better freshly picked? Here, I can take the leftovers and compost them.”

You handed her what was left of your strawberry, and she took them to a nearby composter bin.

Meanwhile, you just looked around. You couldn’t believe you were actually in her garden. But it was more than a garden. It was her safe place. Which begged the question... why? Despite this afternoon going better than you could’ve imagined so far, there was still tension in the air. Friday’s altercation loomed like a storm cloud. You could still hear her biting words in your head. Was she still mad and just not showing it? If so, why would she bring you to such a sacred place?

“So... did you want to play your song now?” Wallflower asked.

...those thoughts would have to wait. It was time to sweep her off her feet.

The center forget-me-not flowerbeds were made of flat-top stones. It had two perpendicular lower tiers that jutted out and were the perfect height for makeshift benches. Wallflower took a seat, and you sat across from her.

“Word of warning, this guy you’re about to hear can be kind of a douchebag after a solo.”

Wallflower giggled.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Making her laugh helped calm you a little. And what an adorable laugh too. She looked at you with beautiful, eager smile... which was not helping you calm down.

Nevertheless, you took a deep breath and tried to relax as much as possible... before playing the first note.

The song you chose was just a simple, short love ballad. Nothing complex. Despite that, in the beginning your heart was on fire. But after a while, it was like the outside world faded away, leaving you alone with the prettiest girl you’ve ever known. Her smiling, bashful face gleaming in the sunlight was all the reassurance you needed. Soon it felt like your very heart was singing through every note and lyric. A strange feeling of exposure… yet it felt so right.

As the song came to a close, you stretched the last few notes for as long as you could, not wanting this feeling to go away. Even after playing the last note, you didn’t relax until the very last inkling of sound had faded. Only then did you look at Wallflower. Somehow, her face was even redder than when you started.

She applauded you timidly, making you blush with her.

“Well, what’d you think?” you asked.

Wallflower looked at you with the cutest smiled.

“...I loved it. Thank you so much."

“You’re welcome,” you said.

And then... silence. You smiled at her, she smiled at you, and you were full of sweet satisfaction at a job well done...

...until you saw Wallflower’s smile slowly fade. She looked anxious... almost scared.

“Wallflower? Are you okay?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment. Holding her arms, she looked away.

“...I... I don’t know,” she whispered.

Her voice choked with pain, and it didn’t take long for you to figure out why. Of course, what topic had you been avoiding this whole time? The whole reason why you’re even doing all this in the first place.

Suddenly, it felt a little colder in the garden.

“Do you want to talk about it?” you asked.

She looked at you. Without even mentioning it, you could sense that she knew what you meant. Her pained eyes tugged at your heart.

“...I-I need a moment,” Wallflower cooed. “There’s a lot on my mind.”

You knew couldn’t avoid this forever, no matter how much she liked your gift or song. But you also knew that you couldn’t truly move forward without facing the consequences of your actions.

“...take your time,” you said gently. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Wallflower nodded solemnly.

“...thanks.”

Ch.6. Tranquility

A few minutes passed in complete silence. No sound but the rustling of the trees and bushes. Wallflower stared blankly at the forget-me-nots beside her. Just from looking at her eyes, you could tell a lot was going on in her head, and she would have a lot to say.

In your mind, you were scolding yourself for putting her in this position. If you’d just been more careful, this wouldn’t be necessary. But you couldn’t change the past, and now your friendship hanged in the balance.

In your mind, you could only imagine the scenarios. What would she say? How would she say it? Would you still be friends when it was over? You were at her mercy, and every minute that passed made you more and more anxious.

Nevertheless, you didn’t dare rush her. No matter how long she took, and no matter how tumultuous the impending conversation was, if she gave you another chance, it would all be worth it.

Patiently, quietly, you waited. Wallflower had barely moved. However long she needed, she would get it. You waited... and waited... and waited...

...

...

...

...

...

“...I missed you.”

Your ears perked up. Of all the things you expected to hear, that was not one of them.

“Really?” you asked.

Wallflower nodded. Her lips were trembling.

“I-I know it sounds weird. We haven’t known each other for that long... but I had so many photos of the garden I wanted to send you, but couldn’t, and it really made me miss you. That’s… weird, right?”

“...not at all,” you said. “I missed you too.”

Her eyes perked up.

“Y-You did?” she asked.

“Of course. I spent the whole weekend thinking of ways to make it up to you. I-I really thought you hated me.”

She pursed her trembling lips. It looked like she was trying really hard not to cry.

“I... I said some things I didn’t mean,” she said.

Wallflower stared ahead for a moment. You stayed quiet. You got the sense that she was trying to find the right words to say.

...

...

...

“...listen,” she said with serious eyes. “On Friday, I was really hurt. I was looking forward to spending time with you. I thought I was finally going to be included in something... but I got shut out... just like with everything else in my life. It really... really hurt me.”

You could feel the icy grip of shame on your heart. Of course, you knew you hurt her, but hearing her say it gave it an extra sting.

“But that’s no excuse for the things I said,” Wallflower said, her voice growing increasingly shaky. “I-I don’t hate you. How could I hate the only person who’s ever bothered to get to know me?”

You saw the glimmer of a tear fall down her cheek. She wiped it away and calmed herself down before continuing.

“I… I think I’ve just gotten so used to people treating me a certain way that I jumped to conclusions when I felt hurt... and then I just... just..."

Wallflower trailed off as more tears fell. Wiping them away, she took the opportunity to breathe and calm down. Only this time, it didn’t seem to work. Her breathing never calmed down, and she looked increasingly frightened.

As if to shield herself, she lifted her knees and held her legs close. Her pained eyes slowly shut. Her eyebrows and forehead furled. Her hands gripped her sleeves so hard her knuckles turned white. You’d never seen her so tense.

She wasn’t just gathering her thoughts. She was fighting a mental war.

Nevertheless, you were quiet through it all.

A moment later, her eyes opened. With a long, shaky breath, she spoke again... and it sounded like every word was choking her.

“…when you started talking to me... I kept hearing this whisper. It told me I couldn’t trust you. That you would forget my like everyone else. For a while, I ignored it. You were so nice to me, I finally felt like I mattered, and the whispering seemed to go away. But on Friday, while I sat outside the practice room... it came back... and I started listening. It said I told you so... I told you so... it made me feel so stupid. And then when I saw you… I was livid. I said so many awful things without a second thought. Things I didn’t mean. This weekend, I kept hearing that whisper. It said this is for your own good... it’s better this way... he wouldn’t like you anyway after what you said… and I believed it, even though I missed you so much I could barely sleep. I thought missing you was just the punishment I deserved for being so stupid. But then today… you gave me flowers... sang me such a beautiful song... and are trying so hard to make it up to me… and now I’m just confused! Why do I feel this way? Why can’t I just be glad that someone finally cares about me? I still hear the whisper right now telling me to push you away... but I don’t want to be alone anymore! Why won’t it shut up?! I don’t want to feel this way! I… I hate this! Wh-Why can’t I just be happy?!!”

Unable to fight anymore, Wallflower buried her face in her knees started sobbing uncontrollably, finally succumbing to her emotions.

You were speechless. Of all the paths you thought this conversation would take, you never thought Wallflower would reveal something as vulnerable as her demons. You couldn’t help but feel guilty, knowing you played a big part in awakening them.

Suddenly, everything about her made sense. Why she was so alone... why she was so cold to you in the beginning... why she lashed out so viciously... everything. Each whimper was full of deep, visceral pain, built up over years of being ignored and forgotten. Yet, just as equally, each whimper carried the venomous, relentless sting of perpetual loneliness.

This wasn’t just about you anymore. This was about the mental war Wallflower’s been fighting her entire life.

Tears began welling up in your eyes. Soon, you felt the warmth of a tear trickle down your cheek, followed by another, and another... each one feeling like a stab in your heart. It hurt... but you deserved it for hurting Wallflower.

A few long, heartrending minutes later, Wallflower’s crying had died down to mere unsteady breathing and sniffling. Her head remained buried in her knees. She didn’t move a muscle. She looked utterly broken.

...but you weren’t going anywhere. Not by a longshot. More than ever, you wanted to be there for her. To help her fight her demons. They’d always been there, and may be forever, but she didn't have to face them on her own.

That’s what you had to say. Whether she accepted you or not… you’d find out shortly.

However, words alone wouldn’t cut it. You needed something more to let her know your words were from the heart. You had an idea of how to do that, but it would be the biggest risk you’ve taken thus far. Even still, you’ve trusted your instincts with Wallflower before, and they haven’t failed you yet.

Taking a deep breath, you hoped this wouldn’t be any different.

Gently... cautiously... you reached out and touched her hand.

Wallflower gasped, immediately glancing up at you. You were expecting her to pull her hand away... but she didn’t. She stayed put, her tear-stained eyes never looking away. Once you knew she was okay with it, you relaxed, trying to channel any ounce of comfort and reassurance through your hand into hers. Offering a smile, you spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

“...you’re not alone.”

There was a faint sparkle in her eye. However, she still looked unsure. She looked away and spoke timidly, her mouth hidden by her knees.

“...I’m crazy,” Wallflower lamented.

“Not even a little. You’re not crazy for having feelings. Besides, this is all my fault. I took you for granted and hurt you again.”

“...but... I was so mean to you. Not just then... but even when we first started talking, I treated you like dirt.”

“Well, now that I know what you were thinking back then, I understand why,” you said. “I mean, I forgot about you even after an entire semester we spent together as lab partners, not to mention sitting next to each other every day this semester. I think anyone would be mad about that. The way I was acting that day didn’t help. And about Friday... I never held that against you. Even if I didn’t mean to, I did the worst thing I could’ve done to you. Frankly, I’m surprised you're still willing to talk to me.”

She remained quiet. She didn’t seem convinced. All you could do was continue reassuring her that she wasn’t crazy.

“...y’know... that was really brave of you to share your feelings,” you said. “I’m honored, and I feel like I understand you a lot better now… so thank you.”

Wallflower still didn’t move or say anything. You were starting to worry. Were you losing her?

Suddenly, the hand you were touching let go of her leg. You thought she was pulling away... until you noticed she was reaching for your hand.

You met her halfway, and just like that... you were holding hands.

You didn’t move for a moment, being too astonished that you were actually holding Wallflower’s hand. Your heart tingled, beating a little faster. Your cheeks heated up as they blushed. Despite Wallflower still avoiding eye contact and hiding her face behind her knees, you could see the tops of her cheeks... and they were bright, strawberry red.

You gave her hand a gentle squeeze. The warmth made you feel so connected to her.

“Y’know something else?” you asked. “You were so cute when you were talking about the school garden. And I loved all the photos you sent me of your home garden. Every plant looked amazing. I also distinctly remember you reassuring me that I was important to my band no matter how much or little attention I got. That meant a lot to me. After I got to know you, you were so sweet and fun to talk to. You may not believe me, but you’re a good person, Wallflower.”

Another pause. Wallflower was still for a moment... and then she closed her eyes. You felt her squeeze your hand, and you noticed a tear escape her eye.

“…I'm sorry,” Wallflower said in a choked voice. “I don’t mean to be like this.”

You smiled, squeezing her hand back.

“I know... I know. But it’s okay. I’m here for you.”

She still refused to look at you… but you did feel her squeeze your hand. That was all you needed to know you were doing the right thing.

“Heh… it’s strange,” you said. “We haven’t known each other for that long... but I already feel so close to you.”

“...y-yeah,” she murmured. You could make out the barest hint of a smile peeking out above her knees.

Even still, you could tell she needed a little more reassurance. Thusly, you brought up your other hand and started stroking the back of her hand. That finally got her to look at you. Looking directly into her beautiful, tear-stained milk chocolate eyes, you spoke gently but directly.

“Wallflower... I’m so sorry for hurting you. I’d give anything to go back and undo it. All I can do now is ask for your forgiveness. I understand if the idea of trusting me again is scary, but I promise up and down that I really do care about you. I knew I couldn’t just say that and have you believe me, so that’s why I brought you flowers and sang you a song. I had to prove that this isn’t out of pity. It’s because you matter to me. You’re not alone. You don’t have to be alone ever again. If you’re willing to give me another chance, just say the word, and I promise… I’ll always be there for you.”

With your plea finally out there, you were in freefall. Wallflower held the fate of your friendship in her hands… and all you could do was wait.

She wasn't looking at you, but rather your hands. You could feel her fingers fidgeting ever so slightly. What was she thinking about? You could only wonder as you enjoyed the warmth of her hand… because it could be the last time.

Then... there was a glimmer in her eye. It was tiny, but still there. And at last... she put her legs down, revealing her beautiful face once more. It was the most relaxed she’s looked in a hot minute.

She squeezed your hand and gazed into your eyes.

“...do you mean that? The part about not being alone?”

Her eyes... they were different. They had a new aura about them. An aura of hope.

With a gentle smile, you spoke in a soft, compassionate voice.

“Every word,” you said.

A moment of silence. Her eyes never wavered from yours.

And then... she smiled. A tiny smile, but a smile nonetheless... and it was beautiful. After witnessing her go to hell and back with her emotions, there was nothing more gratifying to see.

Suddenly, she seemed to have trouble maintaining eye contact with you.

“...your hand feels nice,” she said, blushing.

Those words... it felt like she shot you through the heart… in a good way.

Did you pull it off? Would she really give you another chance?

With a sigh, Wallflower’s smile relaxed into a more neutral face. She didn’t look sad, rather like she was contemplating.

“Um... can I ask you something?” Wallflower said.

“Of course. Anything.”

She turned away for a second, fidgeting a little. You could feel her fingers tensing up. When she looked back, she looked... curious.

“...why me? I-It’s not that I don’t appreciate all the effort, it’s just… someone like you probably has better things to do, right? Friends to hang out with who don’t just complain or cry constantly? Plenty of other girls to talk to. Why waste your time on... well... someone like me?”

That question caused a lump to form in your throat. Your heart started beating faster. It definitely wasn’t because you had a huge crush on her, right? No... of course not...

...it totally was... and you knew it. But you couldn’t just tell her that. It could come off as selfish if it seemed like you had an ulterior motive.

At the same time, these were the most genuine feelings you’ve ever had for someone. Her beauty was so unique and pure that it made your heart feel things it’s never felt before. Someone like her didn’t deserve to live in constant mental anguish. She deserved to smile. To be happy. To matter.

...that’s it. No need to overthink it. Just tell her how you feel. Keep it as genuine as Wallflower herself.

Part of you worried that this could overwhelm her. You were confident you’d won her back as a friend, but to pile your feelings for her on top of that? Would that drive her away?

However, the other part of you didn’t fear. Her eyes faintly glimmered as they looked at you, and you’d been holding her hand this whole time. The warmth you felt from her couldn’t be a coincidence, right?

Trust your instincts. Trust Wallflower.

...funny... when you thought about it that way, it didn’t feel as daunting.

But there was still one problem. You were still sitting across from Wallflower. Sure, you were holding her hand, but she felt too far. If you were going to tell her these things... you needed to get closer.

Mustering up the courage, you let go of Wallflower’s hand and stood up. She seemed surprised at first, until you gestured to the spot next to her. She scooted over, and you sat right next to her. Being so close to each other made both of you blush. Even so, you still wanted more.

You reached over to Wallflower’s hand and touched it. Smiling bashfully, she allowed you to hold it again. But this time, you went a step further. With a small adjustment, you gently interlocked your fingers with hers. Your heart tingled as you did, and you heard Wallflower lightly gasp. For just a second, her arm was tense, but it quickly relaxed as you squeezed her hand. She squeezed your hand in return, and an aura of warmth filled you. It was the most connected you’ve felt to her thus far.

Boldly, you turned your head to look at her. Upon making eye contact, she looked away. She was able to look back after a short second, but only with her hair covering part of her face. Her cheeks were bright red. It was so cute.

Your heart was racing. Squeezing her hand and taking a deep breath, you squeezed her hand and looked right into her eyes.

“...because you’re special.”

Her eyes widened.

“I-I am? No... no no… I’m the furthest thing...”

“That’s not true at all. You’re special to me.”

She stared at you for a moment, messing with her hair.

“...how so?” Wallflower asked.

Smiling and squeezing her hand, you spoke in a gentle, loving voice.

“Well... maybe it’s because I loved getting to know you. Maybe it’s because after we met—or I guess re-met—I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Maybe it’s because you’re really talented and fun to talk to. Or maybe it’s because I’ve never seen a smile as bright as yours, and I want to keep making you smile. But most of all... maybe it’s because you’re the most genuine girl I’ve ever met. You’re just you. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but to me, that’s what makes you so beautiful.”

She gasped. For a moment, she was frozen... and then her lips curled into the cutest, rosiest smile you’ve ever seen. She started playing with her hair, and even giggled to herself a little.

“...b-beautiful? Y-You’re just saying that...”

“Wallflower, I mean it. Your hair, your eyes, your smile, the way you blush... everything about you, inside and out, is beautiful. You’re never a waste of time, because when you smile, it makes every minute I spend with you worth it. Your happiness matters to me, Wallflower. You matter to me. And you make my heart beat a little faster when you’re around... even right now. That’s why, Wallflower. Because to me, you’re more than worth it.”

There. You said it. And Wallflower’s eyes were wide. She looked... apprehensive...

...at least, that’s what you thought... until she used her free hand to bring her hair closer to her face, partly concealing it. You could still see her eyes, but her mouth was hidden. Even so, you could see her heightened strawberry red cheeks, like she was smiling underneath. Though she had trouble looking at you, her eyes had a faint shimmer to them.

As adorable as she looked, you were still worried. Was she hiding because simply because she was shy? Or were your words too much?

Suddenly, you felt her squeeze your hand, and she spoke in a soft, breathy whisper.

“...do… do you mean it?”

You smiled confidently, squeezing her hand in return.

“From the bottom of my heart.”

...

...

...

“...oh my gosh...”

Her voice was so quiet, you barely heard her squeak out those three words. The shimmer in her eyes had brightened, and her grip on her hair was tighter. You could feel how stiff she was through her hand.

“Wallflower?”

She looked at you. Her eyes sparkled like glitter.

“I... um... I...”

Her voice was choked, and so quiet.

“It’s okay,” you whispered. “What is it?”

You could feel her hand shaking. What was going through her head right now?

After a moment, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“...I... I think... y-you’re... really cute too.”

She yelped a little when she said that, squeezing your hand tightly and hiding behind her hair as if afraid of what she just said. But you were elated. So much weight had been lifted from your heart, and you couldn’t stop smiling. Now it was your turn to blush like a strawberry.

“Heh... i-it's alright, Wallflower,” you said. “I mean... you already know how I feel about you, right?

She was frozen for a moment, gazing at you with those bright, glimmering eyes. After a few deep breaths, her arm relaxed, and she let go of her hair, allowing it to fall...

...and the biggest, sweetest smile was revealed. She must’ve been smiling that whole time and her shyness got the best of her.

“S-Sorry...” Wallflower said, fixing her hair. “I-I’ve never done that before. It just felt right, y’know? Because... y-you're special to me, too. Nobody’s ever put so much effort into getting to know me... or even listening to me. When I’m with you... I feel like... I can be myself. I feel like I belong. Like... like...”

“...like you matter?” you said.

She smiled knowingly and giggled a little to herself. So cute.

Then, Wallflower did something you never would’ve seen coming. Not from a timid girl like her. She scooted closer to you...

...and leaned her head on your shoulder.

“...yes,” she whispered, squeezing your hand.

You sat in shock for a moment. Wallflower... wanted to cuddle with you?

Your heart was racing again. This didn’t seem real. This isn’t the first time you’ve cuddled with someone... but this just felt magical.

You let go of Wallflower’s hand, which allowed you to wrap your arm her and pull her even closer. You felt her adjust herself before relaxing her head on your shoulder with a deep sigh. Her now free hand rested on your leg, which gave you chills. In response, you gave her a light squeeze, which made her blush even more than she already was. Her smile was as bright as the sun.

If this was a dream, you never wanted to wake up.

A familiar delightful scent of flowers and strawberries caressed your nose. The scent of her beautiful hair. It looked soft and smooth to the touch.

...you couldn’t resist.

Using your free hand, you started gently stroking her hair.

“Haah... that feels nice,” she whispered.

You chuckled, tickled by Wallflower’s reaction. So cute, and it felt so good to give her some love.

“Your hair is so pretty,” you whispered. “And so soft.”

“Thanks,” she said, snuggling up closer. “You’re so warm...”

You gave her another light squeeze.

For the next few minutes, nothing was said. But that was okay. Wallflower’s warmth was like a cozy fireplace, and you were content to just bask in it in silence

...

...

...

...although... there was still this ache in your heart. Like... it yearned for something more.

Just then, you felt Wallflower shift, which prompted you to check on her...

...but Wallflower had decided to check on you too... and suddenly your eyes locked.

You froze. The world around you seemed to fade until there was just Wallflower. Her face looked so beautiful... more than ever before. The afternoon sunlight glimmered in her unwavering milk chocolate eyes, her hair delicately danced in the light breeze, and her blushing freckled cheeks looked like plump strawberries. She was breathtaking... and was mere inches away from you. She was so close, you could almost count her freckles. Her sweet aroma enveloped your senses, intoxicating you.

Suddenly, you got a lump in your throat. Your heart started beating like a drum as your eyes drifted down... to her lips.

A dastardly thought entered your mind. A move as risky as it was tantalizing. A move that, just thinking about it, made your heart want to punch out of your chest.

...should you do it? Should you... kiss her?

No... no, that would definitely be too much. You’ve gotten much further with her than you ever expected, but you shouldn’t get greedy. One false move and you could lose her again.

...still... being this close to her... and staring at her lips... the urge to kiss her was practically choking you.

Now, more than ever, you’d give anything to know what Wallflower was thinking. Of course you wanted to kiss her, but you couldn’t purely trust your instincts on this. You needed something more concrete before you did something stupid and ruined the moment.

Wallflower’s eyes were entrancing. They looked so big and luminous from this close up. Honestly... the fact that she was still looking at you so intently could be sign. Normally, her shyness would get the best of her, and she’d be looking all over the place to avoid your gaze. But this time... she was fixated on you.

...was she waiting for you?

No. That wasn’t enough. No matter how much your heart burned, and no matter how pretty she looked, nothing could be left to chance.

...maybe you could give her a hint instead of waiting for one.

With your heart pounding, you gently squeezed her to bring her ever so slightly closer, and held her firmly in place. Then, you just barely moved your face closer to her. Not all the way, but enough to feel her breath on your lips, which only sprinkled gas on the flames.

Wallflower’s eyes widened a little. She could tell you were trying to do something. Your heart pumped lava through your body as you waited for her reaction. Would she pull back? Would she reciprocate? The air between you was intense, and dominated by her warmth and sweet aroma. Her lips looked so tempting... but you had to hold back until you knew this was what she wanted.

...suddenly... you felt her hand on your chest just below your neck. You shuddered at her light, bashful touch. You didn’t feel her pull back at all. Your chest was on fire. Your lips ached. In your head, you were begging Wallflower for some signal to kiss her. Anything.

Please, Wallflower. Please.

...

...

...

...you quietly gasped... when you noticed her chin barely lifting... her eyes slightly closing...

...and instantly… all hesitation was gone.

Heart ablaze, you used your free hand to cup her face before leaning in...

...touching your lips to hers.

Wallflower lightly gasped at first contact, but it didn’t take long for her to melt in your arms... and you melted with her. In an instant, the fire in your heart was extinguished. All tension was gone. All that was left was Wallflower. Her lips were so soft and sweet, and her enrapturing scent dulled your mind. You started moving your lips, but too much to start off. Wallflower didn’t move her lips much at first, but soon began to mirror your movements, and you fell deeper into serenity. Every coalescence of your lips sent shivers of through your body, like all your pent up feelings and emotions were finally being released.

Your body overflowed with pure, divine, gratifying bliss. It felt like you were truly one with Wallflower. Everything you’d gone through with her, good and bad, was worth it because of this one kiss.

Several seconds of euphoria later... you gently pulled away, having to taking some breaths to recover.

You kissed her. It was so hard to believe, but you actually kissed her.

It took a minute for you to come to your senses. When you did, Wallflower’s eyes were still closed. She was frozen in place just as you left her when you pulled away. Her breathing was labored, and her smile was the biggest and brightest it’s ever been.

“Ah... hah... w-wow...”

“You okay, Wallflower?”

“I... I just need... ooh...”

You couldn’t help but chuckle. You hadn’t expected her to be so delirious afterwards.

You gave her a minute to recover. When she opened her eyes, they shimmered like golden sunlight on water.

“That was your first kiss, right?”

“...y-yeah... heh... hehehe…”

Wallflower’s eyes sparkled as she giggled. Before you could say another word, Wallflower wrapped her arms around you and embraced you tightly. Nothing more needed to be said. The sheer warmth of her embrace said everything.

Even so, you knew how to make her hug even better. You pat your lap, inviting her to sit there. She was shy at first, but with an encouraging squeeze, she happily climbed into your lap. Being so close to her, and with newfound confidence, you gave her another tender kiss. As good as your first kiss was, this one was even better, with Wallflower moving her lips with a little more confidence.

When you pulled back, you heard Wallflower sniffle. Tears were falling down her cheek.

“Wallflower… are you alright?” you asked, caressing her cheek.

Her teary eyes glistened as they looked at you. Her smile was as bright as the stars. Her freckled cheeks were as red as strawberries. At that moment, she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

With a blissful sigh, she leaned into your hand.

“…I’m just so happy...”

Your heart melted at those words. You just had to kiss her again. How could you not when she’s being so cute? Besides, her kisses were becoming addicting. Her sweet lips... the feeling of being so intimately connected to her... how could you possibly resist?

When you pulled away, you found yourself staring deeply into Wallflower’s beautiful eyes again. A light breeze came through and caused some of her hair to fall in front of her face. Before she could fix it herself, you reached up and fixed it for her. It was so adorable to watch her blush from that.

“So... um... what does this mean for us?” Wallflower asked.

“What do you mean?” you asked.

She blushed even more than she already was.

“Y’know... are we... a thing, now? I mean, I-I know we just kissed and all, b-but I’ve never done anything like this before, so… I-I just thought I’d ask.”

...this girl... was so unbelievably cute.

You gently rubbed her leg.

“Wallflower... it’s up to you… but I would love to be your boyfriend. In fact... nothing would make me happier.”

Her eyes widened. She looked down at your hand resting on her leg, smiled, and gently placed her own hand on top of yours.

“...boyfriend... hehe... b-boyfriend...”

“Yeah… i-is everything okay?”

Wallflower nodded.

“...I just can’t believe this is really happening.”

You used your hand to gently turn her head back to you. Taking her hand, you looked intently into her eyes.

“You’re not alone anymore,” you said. “From now on, I’m here for you, and that’s a promise.”

Wallflower’s lips began to tremble, and then she threw her arms around you and surprised you with a big kiss of her own. This one was the most passionate you’ve felt from her yet, moving her lips with such assertiveness that you had to keep up with her. It was a kiss of gratitude and joy, and you were left melting in its warmth.

When she pulled away, she leaned her head on your shoulder and embraced you tightly once again. You could feel her trembling in your arms.

“Thank you... thank you... thank you...”

Overcome by her emotions, she began crying on your shoulder... but not out of sadness. These were tears of relief. Every exhale felt like a little bit of her lifelong pain being let go. As her crying intensified, her grip on you became stronger, as if she was desperate to keep you from leaving. In return, you held her tightly, and stayed like that for the entire time she cried. You weren’t going anywhere.

After a while, she calmed down. She lifted her head from your shoulder and wiped her cheek dry.

“Sorry...” Wallflower said. “I-I promise I won’t cry like this all the time. I’m sure you’re tired of it by now. I know I am.”

“Don’t worry about it. You can cry on my shoulder anytime, okay?”

She sniffled and nodded.

“Thank you. But listen... I don't want this to be a one-sided thing. I-I'm here for you too, okay? I don’t know how much I’ll be able to help, but I’ll do everything I can. It’s the least I could do after everything you’ve done for me.”

...wow. Wallflower just kept getting better and better.

You gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks, Wallflower. You're really sweet, y’know that?”

Wallflower twirled her hair, blushing.

“So are you,” she said.

“You’re a great kisser too,” you said, smirking.

Her eyes widened.

“R-Really? You’re not just saying that? I-I’ve never kissed anyone else before.”

You shrugged.

“You’re just naturally good, I guess,” you said.

“Heh… well, thank you,” she said, blushing more. “I… I like your kisses too.”

That cuteness deserved another kiss. Her lips were just as sweet as her. And now that you thought about it, for these being her first few kisses, she was surprisingly good. Maybe it’s natural, or maybe it’s because you already adore her. Either way, every kiss was a trip to heaven.

When you opened your eyes, something behind Wallflower caught your eye. It was the glow of a firefly. Several more followed suit.

That’s when you realized how dark it had become. Was it dusk already?

You looked up, and sure enough the blue sky had begun to darken, with the colored bands of the sunset peeking out of one side.

“Whoa,” you said. “How long have we been out here?”

Wallflower followed your gaze up.

“Oh... I didn’t even notice.” Wallflower said. “Um… I may need to go home soon.”

“Yeah... same,” you said.

Suddenly, your eyes locked. There was a sinking feeling in your heart... like you already missed her.

“...or... we could stay for just a few more minutes...” you suggested.

She beamed, pulling you back into a warm embrace.

“I’d love that,” she said.

You smiled big, wrapping your arms around her once more.

You ended up staying for over half an hour. You never wanted this to end. For once, there wasn’t a single ounce of tension in the air. Holding Wallflower, it felt like the world was at peace, if only for just this moment.

Come to think of it, you never asked why she brought you here in the first place. But at this point, you didn’t care. You were here… and you won Wallflower back. What a relief... and what a roller coaster. But in the end, you weren’t just relieved. You were overjoyed. Wallflower, the most unlikely girl you could’ve imagined yourself with, and the most prettiest girl you’ve ever known, was all yours. Now you could take care of her, help her fight her demons, make her smile every day, and ensure she’d never be alone ever again.

Whatever the future had in store, you looked forward to it... because Wallflower Blush would be right there beside you. With a beautiful girl like her, anything was possible.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading!