1 A Get Together (I) (Update)

A red and black, Eternity-series, Eternal sports car is driving to Snol Park, a beautiful community located in the city of Baltham, California. Most of the people knew each other, but they were warm and loved to have tourists come by. 

People often commented and reviewed how Snol Park was one of the best places to go on vacations, dates or honeymoons they have ever visited. However Snol Park was known for its best tourist attraction, Perfumed Beach. 

The beach got its name more than three hundred and fifty-three years ago and before the city ever got its name. 

It was said that a man named Florence Mcvay was interested in a woman named Eleanor Sayre-- whom he got to know during his travels of searching for rare plants around the world. Since she doesn't stay in one place too often, Florence and Eleanor would write a page long-letter to each other. Sometimes even giving hand-drawn pictures to see how they were doing through Eleanor's Northern Goshawk, Zephyr.

Time passed by for three-years. 

During that time Florence got to know Eleanor's work over the years, he understood and admired her passion for exploration and how she chatted about different people and their cultures. His feelings for her developed into something deeper than just a long-distance friendship, it was love. 

In order to convey his feelings for her, he used his vast knowledge of botany, agriculture, and hobby of floriography [1] to plant all sorts of flowers ranging from Asters, Roses, Carnations, etc; as she was going to visit him in half-a-year. Though he did exclude lavender from the pile, no one knows why exactly.

He wrote to her: "Come view the beach where we first met each other. I wanted to show you my best work I have done yet!" Then tied the letter to Zephyr, so he can deliver it to Eleanor.

A week later Eleanor received the letter and instantly replied with a smile on her face: "I'll be there Florence! Give me two-weeks or so to come by." She hurried to tie the letter to Zephyr's leg, but realized that she was in such a rush and didn't consider Zephyr needed to rest. Thus, she allowed Zephyr to rest for two days before sending him to Florence the next day.

As soon as Florence got Eleanor's letter, he became ecstatic that he continued to plant and keep the flowers to their best conditions when Eleanor arrived. At the same time, he asked the town's blacksmith to help create a flower ring. Two weeks was enough time to do so. 

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It took Eleanor a month to arrive at the beach as there were many detours along the way. She couldn't risk losing her wagon filled with her belongings, Zephyr, and her best friend Hazal who begged to see Florence.

Soon after Eleanor arrived at the beach as quickly as she could and was out of breath. 

She found Florence faced towards the sea. While Florence heard footsteps and heavy breathing. He quickly turned to see Eleanor who leaned forward to catch her breath. 

Florence took a breath of relief and his heart calmed down as he worried that Eleanor was not going to show up.

He gave her a tender gaze and walked towards her to offer a soft cloth.

Soon after he asked permission to take her hand and began to slowly guide her to the specific spots the flowers that were planted all over the beach. She agreed and followed him, while she quietly listened to Florence who told her what each and every flower symbolizes.

At first she did not understand his intentions when he showed her the flowers and questioned where the grand project was. Afterall they were only just flowers and she had seen many from her visits or from Florence's letters.

However, Eleanor got to know Florence better during the three-years they had known each other, she too, understood the basics of his field and what some of the flowers meant. 

Even after the long walk through the garden of flowers, she finally realized what Florence's intentions were and blamed herself for being blind and slow-witted to understand that he was in love with her.

Just like how Florence slowly fell in love with Eleanor, Eleanor fell in love with him, too. But she was afraid to tell him her feelings for him. Afraid that she will be rejected and have a scar within her heart. 

All of those negative feelings and thoughts were erased as she knew that today Florence was going to propose to her. 

She had planned many scenarios in her mind throughout the three years and one of the good scenarios came true. Thus, Eleanor has already decided to settle with Florence here in this growing settlement after his proposal. 

Florence turned around and saw Eleanor covering her mouth, he understood that his feelings got through to her. He smiled a bit before he got onto one of his knees and proposed to her while he showed the flower ring he made for her. With a loud cry, Eleanor beamed with joy and said, "Yes!"

Before Florence could come back up to kiss Eleanor on the cheek, she gave Florence a bear hug and a passionate kiss instead. 

The two soon offered their vows to each other that they will be husband and wife as long as they lived. 

The various-colored, flower shrubs seemed to blossom at the right moment and their scent gave the newlywed their blessings to be together in this joyous occasion. 

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When these flowers bloom in their specific seasons it would create a sea full of color, magnificent beauty, and soft, but aromatic scents that would make an everlasting memory for many people to come, henceforth named Perfumed Beach. 

How this story was known to many was because during that day, it was Hazal who happened to overhear their love confession for one another and ran back to gossip to the rest of the townsfolk who were building a settlement near the beach. 

It soon later became a talk for the townsfolk and their future descendants to come. Not to mention Florence and Eleanor preserved their diaries, which had all the events, such as: how they got married on their special day or what they have done within their lifetime.  

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After the townsfolk who heard the news, all came as fast as they could to congratulate the young newlyweds and name this special occasion, Florence and Eleanor's Day or FED for short [2]. 

But first things first, Eleanor asked the town's blacksmith if she could design a compass ring for Florence as she didn't prepare a ring for him. 

The compass ring symbolizes that Eleanor found the right direction within her life: her own happiness and what the future has in store for Florence and herself. Though Florence had to wait a bit until the compass ring was done.

Florence and Eleanor then looked at each other with a small grin on their faces. They didn't know what was in store for their future, but they will try their best to make this relationship work for the both of them.

They held each other's hand, while Eleanor led the way and soon went to help build the settlement with the townsfolk.

FED was usually celebrated at the beginning of Spring, sometimes in Fall depending on the community's decision. Couples would often buy any kind of flower of either season, a compass ring or necklace that would symbolize how much their love for one another would blossom and grow strong together, just like how Florence and Eleanor did with each other. 

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With a few twists and turns, the sports car stops at an intersection where dozens of people were crossing to celebrate FED. 

Veronica puts down the pamphlet next to her sun hat and looks outside the window to see the city's festivity:

all the children were running around the place and would give a flower or a compass to any boy or girl who piqued their interest. 

A group of older couples already gave each other a flower and danced in the city center.

Young couples grabbed or hugged each other's hand or arm: while picking, pointing, and deciding on a flower or a compass that would best suit them and their love for one another. 

Shop owners would maintain the flowers' freshness and clean compasses, while selling them to any passing couples or tourists. Even some other flower or compass products [3] were being sold as well.

Veronica enjoys how vibrant everyone was in Snol Park as they were trying to celebrate the FED festival, but it seemed that the gentle stream of people crossing the intersection was endless.

She wanted to go outside and enjoy the festival too. She even dressed up for the occasion.

She wore a botanical ginger, floral dress that had too many colors of green for her taste, though she did love the bits and pieces of scattered flowers design. Her braided belt tilted a bit loosely at an angle below her waist complemented her dress. 

She tied her hair in a Brunette bun hair style while leaving two bangs off to the side. She even brought along her expensive, unknown brand of a purse and sandals to make her whole outfit more complete. 

Bored as she didn't get to enjoy the festival herself, she turns to her side to see her boyfriend and current fiance, David's, side profile. 

His skin is fair, his jaw is well-defined, and his hair was styled to a Taper Fade. She did love his hair as it reminded her of the combinations of summer sands and honey. 

All David wore was a red t-shirt that had an astronaut giving a peace sign behind his back and comfortable and stretchy, dark-blue jeans.  

She realizes that his heterochromia, blue and green eyes, were following the people's movements and it made him chuckle as if he was there with the crowd of people too. 

Veronica gives a small smile as she thinks to herself, 'so cute, like a mixture of a Golden Retriever and a Husky's personality!'

"David, do you remember the first time we met each other," Veronica asked all of a sudden. "You were so flustered when you tried to ask me out on FED, six-years ago."

"Yeah, I remember," he replied, while rubbing the back of his head.

"Back then, I was too tongue-tied to start a conversation with you. I didn't know what else to say to you other than a simple, "Hello." 

"But Ben and Ashe came up behind me and nudged me to ask you out after I kept chickening out whenever I saw you."

"We made a poor and rushed plan when the FED festival came in as little as two week's time."

"I still remember what you said to me," with a pleased look adorned on her face, she kisses David on the cheek. "Can you repeat those words to me? I want to know if you remember."

"S-sure, I can," David stutters, his ears starting to become red. "Veronica, your hair reminded me of the color of wheat when ripe and ready for harvesting season, while your eyes resembled the clear lakes I used to play when I was young."

"So, basically I remind you of home," Veronica interrupts. 

"Yes, you reminded me of home. Though a bit too cheesy, right," he tells her and turns to look at her with tenderness in his eyes. "But it is somewhere I want to be, feel secure, cozy and it gives me a reason to come back to."

"But too bad for me, you shot me down straight away," David said as looks down to his steering wheel with downcast eyes. "I remember you said to me before I bolted away from you like a scared horse."

"I'm not ready yet, but we can still be friends," and put me in your friend zone." He shakes his head in disappointment for being too expectant for the end result.

"Hey, I have only known you for at least 2 weeks when school started and we were in the same class!" she says as she furrows her brows and starts to frown. "I don't remember that many people from the same school year." 

"And did you expect me to just date you just like that?" Veronica looks at David with disbelief and holds his hand. "But at least I gave you a chance when you gave me your bouquet of Ranunculus and compass necklace."

"Look what happened five months and two weeks after your confession, then five and a half years later." 

"Yes, Vee, but it's all thanks to Ben and Ashe telling me what to do to win a girl's heart. Otherwise, you wouldn't be my girlfriend or current fiancee."

Veronica looks confused trying to understand David and her thoughts spiral out of control. 'David didn't really confess his feelings to me with his own effort, but listened to Ashe and Ben's advice? Oh, my God!'

She can only blurt out, "What?" as her mind couldn't think any longer.

"Ben used Dating Simulators, while Ashe used romance novels' tips and tricks to help me." 

"And they are both masters in their own fields of expertise, so I had to listen to their advice as I had no clue about love." Not noticing Veronica's confusion, David continues with high beliefs that they were both right in the end. "With their advice I learned to know when to confess, how to talk, give gifts, and so on. It totally worked out in the long-run."

"Look what happened-- I have a beautiful and wonderful fiancee with me. And I don't regret that one bit."

Veronica didn't know what to say to David and continued to stare at him for a couple of seconds. 

She recovers from her initial shock and holds David's face. "David, you shouldn't listen to all of their advice, okay?" 

"Especially dating or love advice-- not all of what they say is going to be true and real."

"Though, I'll pretend to not hear what you said just now, except for the last part."

"Okay."

"Good!" 

Veronica starts getting closer to David's face to give him a kiss on the lips. Before she and David can kiss each other, a voice interrupts them.

"You both know that I am still here, right," Ashley grumbled and rolled her eyes. Then she lowers her head and her glasses follow suit. "I'm sorry that my advice doesn't work, but even so, look what Ben and I did to get you two to be together?" 

"So, you should be thankful for that." Ashley looks like an Eastern Brown Snake scanning for her prey with her violet eyes. "On the other hand, I couldn't even pay attention to the book that I am reading with all of your affectionate atmosphere." 

"Even though I love romance genres, seeing it in front of me makes me feel embarrassed and a third wheel." 

David is still looking in front, while Veronica stops immediately and turns her head to look back at Ashley.

Ashley had luscious black hair tied as a high ponytail. While her outfit consists of a long sleeve white shirt, short light-blue jeans, and Sky-brand walking shoes. 

Both of them laugh and apologize to her, "Sorry, Ashe." Ashley takes a few short breaths and exhales to relax herself. 

"Apology accepted," as she opens her eyes. "But you two know that we're here for Ben, right?"

"Yeah, we do." 

"Yeah, I even tried to visit him after high school ended." 

I came into Ben's house just thinking about what we can do for summer vacation like any other year. And I only heard a soft cry and silent murmur in the kitchen.

"I heard Ben's mom saying: He left his home without telling me! Did I do something wrong? Was I a bad mother?" David gave a long sigh before continuing. "So, I have been wondering what he was doing all this time, six-years was it? The same time we have been together, huh, Vee."

"He should have either contacted me or you, Ashe. It wasn't right for him to ghost his friends like that-- we could've been there to help him."

Ashley stops reading and only stares at her book without moving an inch. The car sinks into a tense silence. Veronica turns her head to the window again. 

Not long before she can no longer stand the tension. She digresses the topic and points out of the window. "Look! All the people have crossed by, so we can go now!"

"Oh," David looks up and realizes the lights were green. He gently steps on the gas pedal and continues on his way to Ben's house.  

[1] Floriography means the language of the flowers/ each flower has its own special meaning.

[2] Florence and Eleanor's Day (FED) is equivalent (/almost-like) to Valentine's Day if people didn't understand.

[3] Flower and compass products: cakes, stuffed toys, necklaces, rings, cards, etc.