Flowers come from the same family, yet each is different in its own special way. What they represent... most people never care to discover. I'm sure most don't even know that every flower symbolizes a lot more than just pretty colors and a pleasant fragrance. Purity, joyfulness, beauty. Each flower is so much despite being so simple.

My eyes stay trained on the hot pink begonias in bloom outside. We're sitting close enough to the door for me to make out how beautiful they are, yet they stand for something so negative. Begonias are a warning about future misfortunes and the bloom is a reminder to be cautious about new situations.

An eyelash pokes me in the eye, and I blink sporadically. Lifting a hand, I rub at my eye as I refocus on my two friends. The hustle and bustle of our school cafeteria doesn't distract me from the conversation.

"It wasn't great," Jenny states with a dismissive shrug. Taking a packet of French dressing, she tears the top off. Her nimble fingers squeeze the contents onto her salad before she sets it aside. Concentrating, she mixes the green leaves, oblivious to the bombshell she had just dropped.

"Well, duh! You were a virgin, and it's Greg we're talking about." Micah rolls her eyes. "I'm surprised he even knew where to stick it in."

Jenny gives Micah a blank look, plastic fork clenched in her right hand. I know she hates it when people make jokes about Greg being dim. He's a sweetheart, really, just not as smart as others. Not to mention, Jenny has been head over heels for Greg since the last day of sixth grade when he wished her a happy summer and kissed her cheek. I stood right next to them and had witnessed both their cheeks turn red. It was love at first sight.

"Shut up, Micah. You know that Greg was also a virgin, and not everyone is as experienced as you," Jenny snaps back, stabbing the lettuce before shoving the pieces into her mouth.

Jenny and Micah are natural-born frenemies. They're nice to each other when they want to be, but mostly end up fighting. They like to call their odd relationship 'friendship with constructive criticism'.

I have known Jenny Braxton since we were kids. We were in the same kindergarten class and have been classmates almost every year after that. That's usually what happens in small towns. It was only normal that we ended up becoming the best of friends halfway through elementary school.

I can still remember what we were wearing when Jenny came up to me during lunch in second grade. She wore a unicorn shirt that I was so jealous of, a pair of white shorts, and black Toms. Her jet black hair was intricately braided into individual ponytails with colorful barrettes clipped on them. I was wearing a white floral dress and ivory sandals. My hair, blonde at the time, was left down. I'll never forget those outfits because they had marked our friendship as soon as Jenny said, "I like your dress. Wanna be friends?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Micah's loud question pulls me back to the present.

I look over at the raven-haired beauty. Micah joined our school years later in eighth grade, halfway through the school year. Her dad received some kind of promotion which forced them to move to our small and conservative town. Everyone thought that was also strange because no one moves from the city to here unless they are elderly.

"Nothing!" Jenny shrugs again, an innocent smile on her face. "It's just that you know, that we all know what you've been doing."

"Jesus, just call me a slut, why don't you?" Micah grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Your words, not mine."

Micah thundered into our lives like an enraged bull looking for a fight. Back then, she was the 'emo' girl. Her wardrobe mostly composed of black with dashes of inky purple, indigo, or cobalt blue. She was mean and scary, yet we clicked. This dark, mysterious girl and me, a colorful little thing. Despite my best efforts, Micah and Jenny never vibe as much as I do with them individually. A pity, really, because it still makes sleepovers awkward.

"Emie!" Micah snaps, shoving her fingers in my face. My head juts back before she can mark my cheeks with her sable acrylics.

"I'm sorry, guys." I give them both a slight smile, shrugging sheepishly. "I zoned out on you."

"Don't let it happen again. You need to be on my side when this hooligan tries to attack again," Micah says and I suddenly notice a piece of lettuce hanging off her face. It's covered in the salad dressing Jenny uses. "I've done nothing wrong. This crazy girl just decided to attack me out of nowhere."

"As if. Emie knows I'd never do such a thing," Jenny scoffs, waving her fork around. "You came at me with those claws of yours."

I giggle lightly as Micah grabs a napkin off my tray. She wipes at her cheek as her lips pull back in disgust before she discards the soiled tissue. Micah glances over at me, shooting me a withering look as if daring me to believe her enemy's accusation. Just as I open my mouth to speak, the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch and the beginning of the sixth period. Just one more class to go and I get to see Sebastian.

"Anyway," Jenny stands, loading her trash onto the tray, "Emie was my best friend first." She then scurries off, backpack in hand, before Micah can reach over the table and grab her.

"Your bestie is such a bitch," Micah snarls as she looks after Jenny, watching her weave through students.

Sighing, I gather both mine and Jenny's trash before we leave the canteen. "You're my bestie too, Micah," I tell her softly as I dump the trays into the trash can sitting a couple of feet away. When I get no reply, I look over to see her brooding silently.

I sigh again as I reach for my bookbag and Micah's, hoisting both on my shoulders. I can't help but think of how different each of us are as I glance towards either side of me to look at our book bags. Micah's is all black, representing her personality: simple, uncaring, mysterious. Mine is a light gray with pink and white flowers all over it to showcase me: light and frilly. Jenny has a purple book bag. I read somewhere that purple can equal royalty or power. Jenny is bold, therefore, Jenny is purple. Our distinct personalities are constantly pushing each other out of our comfort zones.

"Come on." I loop my arm with Micah's. "I'll walk you to class."

Micah, being a couple inches taller, looks down at me and offers me a modest smile. Instead of completing the arm loop, she wraps her arm over my shoulder and pulls me by her side.

"Awe, thanks, Em," she squeals, which is an out of character reaction. "Sebastian better take all the love he can get from you before I steal you away from him."

"Yeah, yeah."

***

I focus on the tree outside my English class. The leaves are a vibrant green. Because it's September, they'll soon start turning brown, orange, red, then begin falling. The massive oak is one of the oldest trees in Elderwood. Legend has it that it's been here since the town was built and maybe even before that. I've no idea if it's true, but I will say that the tree is still going strong.

"All right, guys, that's all. You're starting the weekend with no homework, lucky for you," our teacher, Mister Brown, says as he takes a seat behind his desk. "Take the rest of this time and talk, or do whatever teenagers do... within reason, of course!"

There's not much time for anything because the bell rings. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

Did I spend the entire class staring out at the tree and daydreaming?

I've never been so careless before. Walking out of class, my mind can't help but trail to the conversation between Jenny and Micah.

I never really thought about having sex before. It wasn't something that I needed nor craved, so why the heck was I wasting a whole period thinking of it? Sebastian and I never even entertained the idea, but maybe we're ready to?

"Babe!" I hear a familiar voice call out.

Turning excitedly, I see my boyfriend of five years heading my way. His mouth is pulled back into a grin, revealing his straight teeth. Not perfect and slightly yellow due to the braces he once had, but I love each and every one of his imperfections. I can only describe Sebastian Caldwell as my 'dream guy'.

Sebastian's arms engulf my waist and he lifts me, spinning us both which makes me squeal. He laughs as he slowly stops spinning to set me on my feet. There's a moment where we forget the rest of the world exists as we look at each other—two pairs of blue eyes gleaming—before he breaks the stare.

"How was your day?" He leans down and plants a small kiss on my lips.

I shrug as he pulls my bag from my shoulder. "I think Micah and Jenny will kill each other. One of these days, I won't be there to stop them and they'll just go for it."

Sebastian throws his head back as he laughs, a sound as smooth and rich as melted chocolate. "Tell me something I don't know." He is still chuckling as we make our way out of the school.

The warmth of the sun hits us. I welcome the natural light and cool breeze on my skin. My nostrils flare when I breathe in the fresh air. Closing my eyes, I take in the free vitamin D. I've always loved the warm spring and summer seasons more than winter. I'd rather feel the rays of the sun than the snowflakes of a gloomy season. The cold is one reason I'm dreading the end of September and the start of October. The temperature will drop, and I'll have to dig out all my sweaters.

After a few moments, I open my eyes and look over at Sebastian. He's already looking at me in amusement, if the goofy half-smile is anything to go by. I shake my head and begin walking again.

"Hey, Ten?" I call as we reach his car. It's an old, beat-up pickup. The paint is wearing off, and it's pretty rusty, but she purrs like a baby, as Sebastian normally says.

"What's up, Emie bear?" he asks as he opens the door for me.

Sebastian and I met about eight years ago when we were ten-years-old, having been in the same fourth-grade class. We immediately clicked then. Ten was the nickname that came from that, plus, it's the end of his name. Seb and Bas were just too common for me. Everyone calls him that while I call him Ten.

"You're still coming over for dinner tonight? Mom says she misses you."

Sebastian comes around and gets in before answering. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Not to mention, mom's cooking is the best. Who would skip out on that?"

"Good. Dinner at six. Don't miss it, okay?" I warn him though it isn't much because I have trouble intimidating a kitten. "She's not the only one who misses you."

Sebastian starts the car and lets it sit to idle down. Clipping his seatbelt, reminding me to do the same, he looks at me. A weird expression of narrowed eyes and pursed lips takes over his face. He tilts his head to the side as he reaches over to cup my face. I know my cheeks are red; I felt them heat up when he looked at me. Somehow, even after all these years, looking at Sebastian still makes my heart race. He's my first crush ever, and somehow we ended up together.

Ten leans over and presses his lips to mine. Like always, it's a sweet, chaste kiss. We never indulge in more than a mild make-out session. Sebastian has never once brought up sex. I mean, neither have I, but weren't teenage boys supposed to want it all the time? Or am I stereotyping? Listening to Micah and Jenny has muddled me.

Sebastian pulls away, much to my disappointment. Is this what it feels like to be... horny? Micah is constantly talking about it. Jenny not so much, but talking about sex is where they both can relate the most. Now that Jenny and Greg have consummated their relationship, they'll always be talking about it. I'll be the only inexperienced one.

Why am I even thinking about this? We're still young, and it'll eventually happen. Sebastian and I love each other. Maybe we don't need to be intimate to prove our love.

Right?