Open Pink Like Spring

[Alice Briar]

Pink rose, open after Clifton Ward

Alice had been lucky so far, mostly having deliveries for Hufflepuffs who she was fairly familiar with Clifton Ward was someone she knew vaguely, though she didn't know more about him that the fact that he was in the year below her. Alice spent some time looking for the boy, finally spotting him in a corridor. "Clifton!" She called, heading over to him. "I have a delivery for you!"

 

[Clifton Ward]

Clifton found Valentines entirely overwhelming, and he didn't quite know what to do with himself. The thought of going to the dance with Lily was both thrilling and terrifying, and he didn't know what he was going to do with himself. How had he lucked into a date with someone like her?! It all felt almost ridiculous. He jumped abruptly at the sound of his own name, looking over to see where it had come from with a nervous grin. "Oh!" Clifton croaked, recognising one of his house's prefects. And she had a rose for him. This could be amazing, or... a disaster.

 

[Alice Briar]

Alice smiled at the look of surprise on Clifton's face. He seemed not to have expected a rose, which made it all the more fun to give him one. "Here you go." Alice said happily, and for a moment she didn't have to pretend to be happier than she was. There was still a joy in spreading love, even with the bittersweet feeling deep down. "It's a beautiful pink." She said, watching his reaction closely as she handed him the rose.

~Lily

 

[Clifton Ward]

Clifton could feel his heartbeat echoing off all the walls of his body as he waited for Alice to give him his rose, sweat drenching his palms. What if it wasn't from Lily? What if it wasn't pink? A huge wave of relief crashed over him as he saw the colour of the rose she had picked out. Pink. Pink. Lily liked him. He accepted the rose wordlessly, fumbling hurriedly to open the card and confirm.... yes. Nothing else, but Lily had been bold enough to do the thing he hadn't dared, had signed her name to the card. She liked him. Impossibly, amazingly, incredibly, of all people in the world, Lily liked him.

 

[Alice Briar]

Alice had to stop herself from giggling at the expression on the boy's face. It was clear he was very happy about this rose, and it warmed her heart. "A good rose, I take it?" She asked quietly, adjusting her basket on her arm.