Michael was smitten with the boy with a floppy mess of brown hair who would come in every Tuesday buying a little grouping of essential oils with a wad of cash. He would come up to the counter stammering as he threw the bottles over to the other, pushing the money in Michael's direction and then leaving quickly.

    Michael would watch about how carefully Jeremy would pick out each bottle, even though the scent was the same. He made sure the bottle was in most perfect condition, then he would smile to himself and go up to the counter. Each time, it was the same. Willow and lavender. He would always change the third scent up, and this week Michael waited patiently for the boy to come up with some new flavorful choice.

    "J-Just these, thanks." The boy muttered, only throwing two bottles gently onto the counter.

    "Only these two?"

    "Y-Yeah." 

     "You usually get three- That'll be ten fifty." He coughed, trying to cover up as the other looked at him confused.

    "I know... I'm short on cash quite suddenly s-so I have to c-cut back." He smiled softly, looking to his feet and shuffling them ever so discretely.

    "Hey... You know what? Pick out one you really like and I'll cover it."

     "N-No I couldn't-"

    "Please?" Jeremy couldn't refuse when he looked over his shoulder back to the shelf, blushing as he started walking back to the oils.

    "T-Thank you so much... Michael." He read his name tag, taking his time to pick the best bottle of the fluid.

     "No problem..." He lulled on, waiting for the other to respond with his name.

    "J-Jeremy." He put the bottle down, shoving it softly towards Michael. Rose. Often called the essential oil of... Love. Michael decided to cover all three oils, handing him back his cash but keeping the receipt for a second. He scribbled something down, handing it back to him in the bag of his oils.

   "Enjoy..." He winked softly, leaning on his arm as Jeremy blushed and waved goodbye. 

    Jeremy took out the receipt as soon as he got home, the corners of his lips turning upwards as he saw a little smiley face and a series of numbers. He was quick to take out of his phone, fumbling over the keys to compose a small message.

    "Thank you so much for the essential oils... I'd love to make it up to you some time! Maybe bubble tea at the place across from the shop?" 

    He was referring to the small place for boba across from where the store Michael worked at in the mall, he knew the other boy enjoyed it since he got off of his work when Jeremy left. He would always go into the little café and order bubble tea, and sometimes Jeremy would watch him for just moments as he hoped to catch his eye.

    "I'd like that :) Next Tues after I get off my shift?"

     "Sounds good ^_^"

     Michael was head over heels in delight, nearly crying that the other had texted him. He hadn't expected that, hell, he didn't expect anything. Every single day that week, both boys had thought of the next time they would see each other. Jeremy's dad wondered where the big smile on his face came from.

    As Tuesday came around, Michael had already put out Jeremy's regulars, willow and lavender. And rose. He liked the smell, it reminded him of Jeremy now. It was four fifteen and Jeremy usually got to the store at promptly four. Michael knew he had no reason to, but he started to panic. Had he been to abrupt? He was sure he'd screwed it up somehow... Until Jeremy came stumbling through the doors.

    "I-I'm so sorry I got- I-I was-" He rushed over to Michael waiting dreamily behind the counter, a small bag in front of him. 

    "Don't worry about it... You ready?" Jeremy nodded quickly, and Michael shoved the bag into his pocket as he walked beside Jeremy to the bubble tea store. 

    "What'll it be, boys?" The lady behind the counter asked with a smile, Michael lighting up as he looked at the menu.

    "How about..."

    "Taro?" They both finished, looking away from each other as they both blushed bright red. The woman chuckled, going to brew up the teas while Jeremy paid. Michael fidgeted with the hem of his hoodie, feeling bad for "not being allowed to pay" as Jeremy had said. They sat down with the purple drink in the far corner of the shop, smiling awkwardly at each other.

    "So... Why essential oils... Every week?" Michael started, watching Jeremy chew on the straw as he sipped the vanilla like drink.

    "I-I want to make sure I always have enough... My ocd makes me think I don't and then if it's a bottle with a torn label or... Or just not really perfect somehow I have to throw it out. I-I know it's a waste... B-But I can't stand it. I also really like holding the bottles... And listening to the little drops it makes when you put it in water." Jeremy rambled out, fishing in his deep pocket for the bottle he was currently using. Lavender. He put a little on his wrist, breathing in deeply and relaxing his speeding heart rate.

    "That's cool... I'll make sure you always have the best bottles." Michael winked, pulling the bottles he had picked out especially for him. He had even gone as far as to put little notes in there with them, expressing little words of encouragement. Jeremy's mouth nearly hung open as Michael slid the bag over to him, shakily opening it and whimpering.

    "I can't accept-"

    "Jer, I want you to be able to breathe." Jeremy got up to hug Michael tightly, silent tears running down his cheeks as he squeezed the other. Michael wrapped his arms around the slim boy, rubbing his back softly.

    "Thank you."

    In the months that followed, the boys started seeing a lot more of each other. They had the agreement that Michael would buy Jeremy's essential oils and Jeremy would repay him in bubble tea and hugs. There was no denial that both had feelings for each other.

    "W-What's this?" Jeremy asked as he picked up his regular order of oils, feeling it a little lighter. There was only one bottle, picking it out and looking over the label. "Jeremy's mix <3" was typed out perfectly, and the paper it was printed on fit perfectly around the bottle. His hand was over his mouth as he looked to Michael who was smiling sheepishly, holding his hands in a little heart shape.

    "I thought you'd-" Michael was cut off as Jeremy pulled him by the collar of his sweatshirt and kissed him quickly, but deeply. As the boy pulled away, Michael looked in shock. Jeremy cowered for a moment, but Michael pulled him into another reassuring kiss.

   "I liked that." They said at once, their hands connecting. It was quiet after that, going to the bubble tea store as usual, but this time hand in hand. Jeremy was short of cash this week again, causing him to split his drink with Michael. Which neither of them minded that much.

   "I-I really care about you, Michael. T-Thank you for caring about me too... I'd love to... What I mean is... I-I'd like to ask you to be my... Boyfriend?" He stammered out, but looking up to meet Michael's glance as he felt a squeeze to his hand.

   "There's no way I could say no, my rosebud boy."

//

a.n: wOAH REFERENCE but it fit okay and i love essential oils i have no fucking idea what this was tbh