Too many bouquets

Though he claimed that he collected them from the forest behind the academy, Aria was sure Stephen made a quick trip to a florist before coming to the recovery ward. Aria had asked him to stop, every time she did. But Stephen always replied that it was his wish, and if she didn't want them, she could always throw them out the window. "You are allowed to use wind bending after all." he had added for extra effect.

But though Aria knew it was almost like leading him on, she hadn't gotten around to throwing them away. She had no idea why, but she never had been able to. There was just something about her and all things of nature, she was oddly fond of them. Trees, soil, leaves, flowers, rivers. Aria guessed it was because she could sometimes sense the spirits of elements from them.

So bottom line, Aria hadn't thrown the flowers he had brought. But today Stephen seemed to have gone quite crazy. He had brought a dozen bouquets, helped by his friends when he had visited first thing in the morning. Aria had been flabbergasted, and shocked at how could one squander money like that.

Which brought her back to her topic at hand. "First thing in the morning." Aria replied, though Joseph's statement hadn't really been a question. "I hope he pluck the forest flowerless." Joseph said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He had used very strong language to make sure everyone knew he didn't believe Stephen picked the flowers himself. Language Aria didn't wish to repeat.

"Or buy the florist dry." Aria spoke, a smile on her lips. The both of them along with Helen and Jacob actually had quite some laughs at Stephen's claim.

But one had to give it to Stephen. The flowers really were beautiful, no one could argue with that. Aria had usually managed to convince Helen to decorate her and her friends' hairs with them. Helen had once suggested Aria would let her decorate her hair too.

Aria had said, she would die from the smell. Helen had said no more. Joseph and Jacob had let out a triumphant smile. And it was true. Though Aria liked flowers, she preferred wild ones. The ones from florists had rather a strong smell. Enough to make her nose tingle and incite a sneeze or two.

Joseph let out a laugh at Aria's statement. His entire demeanor changed the next second. It was then that Aria noticed that Joseph had had one hand behind his back the entire time. "Joseph, what kind of book did you bring today that you hide it from me?!" Aria asked, putting special emphasis on me.

Joseph shook his head. "It's not a book. I have a session that I cannot miss today. I'll probably take class in the afternoon." Joseph said, looking very nervous, "Just wanted to tell you."

Aria nodded. "But why do you have one hand behind your back then?" she persisted. "I picked these for Helen, but she said that they were too many and insisted I took some to you." Joseph spoke, peevishly taking about a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

Aria's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the small bouquet. Anyone could tell they had been hand-picked, there was no order to them.