Shy and Lowly (Matt tags Elaine)

[Matthew Waylan]

~The Flower that smells the Sweetest is Shy and Lowly~

William Wordsworth

Matt woke up that day to the smell of pancakes.He always did love pancakes. Especially blueberry ones.Which is exactly what his mom had made for breakfast. Suppressing a grin Matt made his way down to the kitchen and gave his mom a small grin before sitting to eat at the table. He really did love blueberry pancakes. Besides, it was something that did not get made so often at his house. It was a rare treat for him to have them. Smiling he munched them down and brought his plate to the sink. He did know how to clean up after himself. Smiling at his mother, His father was already off to work, he went upstairs for a bit. That was, until he heard his mother calling.

Matt made his way down the stairs, taking two steps in one until he got back into the kitchen where his mother was. When he got there he was calmly handed a list and told to get everything on it by the end of the day. He looked it over and just raised an eyebrow. What? Were the feeding an army? Sighing he just nodded and realized that was what the pancakes had been for. He knew it was too good to be true. Still, he had the chance to have pancakes and that was a good start to any day.

So Matt made his way into the town of pilot ridge to get all of the things on his mothers list. By the afternoon everything was crossed off the list except for flowers. Of course his mother didn't specify, where, or what type of lowers to get . Just to get the flowers. Matt sighed as he started to drive around Pilot Ridge looking for the flower shop. He was driving around until he finally spotted a shop, that seemed to be, filled with flowers. Over the top of the door was a Mama's Garden sign. Pulling into the parking lot he parked his car and walked into the shop having absolutely no clue about flowers or anything.

Looking around he saw all sorts and flowers and plants not really knowing what to do. He just sort of wandered through the store, hoping to find something that would please his mother and be somewhat good for the house. Yes Matt was completely out of place and it was completely evident. He also realized he had left his notebook at home so he couldn't ask for help without talking. This thought made him furrow his brow and sigh contemplating actually talking and how mad his mother would be if he didn't come home with the flowers.

Talking it was.

Matt made his way up to the counter looking for the person behind the counter. In as small of a voice as he could muster he slowly took a breathe and spoke, “Excuse me I don't have a clue what I'm doing.. maybe you could help?” Matt shut up after he had properly spoke to the woman behind the counter. He didn't know her and he didn't know how she would react to him, a six feet two inches teenager standing in a flower shop, trying not to look so embarrassed as he spoke. It wasn't working well.

[Elaine Tonaya]

It was just a normal day in the shop. Elaine was actually going through and doing inventory, making sure that everything was in its right place and that she had all the orders for the next few days in place. When the door opened she put down her clipboard and list, smiling at the newcomer.

He was someone she had never met before, and he seemed quite nervous. He wasn't close enough for her to get a strong read from his scent, but were she to guess she would have said that he was just a bit confused. Probably not looking for flowers for himself, and potentially even in the wrong store. She decided it would be best to get everything straight first.

"Yes, I think I can probably help you. Do you at least know what you're looking for?" She stepped out from behind the counter, which made her even shorter as the counter was actually on a raised platform. From the other side the individual looked even taller. But that was all right, as he didn't seem intimidating.

"Are you looking for cut flowers or flower seeds to grow? Do you have a particular type you would like? Or maybe you need something for a special occasion?" She wandered down one of the aisles, which was filled with lilies and roses.

"I'm Elaine, by the way. It's very nice to meet you. I own this shop, and I like meeting all the new people who come into the store." She didn't want to invade his personal space, so she kept a slight distance and didn't try to get a better read on his aura.

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt was looking at and taking in all of the flowers that were there. It was jammed with them and there were all sorts. Some purple, some yellow, gosh it seemed like the rainbow had exploded over the shop. There were different smells, different things and different people. It was quite apparent Matt was out of his element.

Especially when the person behind the counter smiled up at him. Matt had not a clue who the person was behind the counter. Though, he didn't know anyone in Pilot Ridge for the most part. He had met a few, Ethan, the nosy neighbor, and Andi, Someone who had made him talk. Then of course was The two pranksters who were brave enough to prank his sister. His face broke into a smile at the very brave younger boys. His sister was furious of course but that never mattered to hi. He played his part well. He didn't let Dani kill them after all.

Matt smiled a genuine smile as the lady explained that she thought she could help him. Then of course she had to spoil it by asking if he knew what he was looking for. Of course Matt didn't know what he was looking for. Flowers, that was all that his mom had said. "ahh..." Matt was a loss for words but the lady was friendly enough. " Not really." Matt gave a grin and observed as she stepped off of the platform and became considerably shorter. The fact that Matt was taller then most people did not help the matter any either. Giving a grin he followed her as she ran along the rows of the shop.

Matt listened to her question and thought hard. No one in his family had a green thumb, and he was afraid if he bought seeds none would bloom and then his mother would be disappointed. It might be better to go with cut lowers. He wasn't the expert though and thought it best to ask the person in charge. She was still firing questions at him and all he could do was follow her hopelessly through the row with some type of white flower and roses. Shaking his head at all the questions he waited until she had stopped to say, " Cut, Other then that not a clue." Matt gave a soft easy smile and waited for the magic flower lady to do her work.

Matt smiled at the smaller women as she introduced herself. Matt nodded and ave his own name to move along the introductions. He didn't really care about personal space and such. After all Dani was his sister and she really did not know the meaning of the term. "Matt." He smiled as a way of direction and stuck a hand out to shake. It was only polite. "Nice to meet you Ms. Elaine."

[Elaine Tonaya]

Elaine nodded politely as she looked at the cut flowers. She started to pull out a few simple flowers to make an arrangement.

"I'm glad you came in, Matt." She shook his hand, smiled, then went on collecting flowers. "Have you lived in Pilot Ridge very long?" It was very possible that he had and she just hadn't met him before--it wasn't like people were coming into her shop very often. She had her regular customers, and people who came by for special occasions, but other than that a flower shop was not a particularly busy location.

"I moved here when I was about fourteen years old. And I fell in love and never left. The people here are just so nice, and I love the atmosphere. Not to mention some of the food." She grinned.

"Here, what do you think?" she said, holding out the collection of flowers. "It's a bright summer mix--good for a table centerpiece or for just sticking on a wall somewhere. Versatile, so you don't have to know exactly what it's needed for. And if you ever need anything else, just come by again and I'll whip up something for you."

She went back to the counter, where she wrapped the flowers in cellophane and strapped a rubber band around the stems. "Is there anything else you were wanting, or is this it?"

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt watched the owner pull the flowers and arranged them in a simple yet elegant fashion. She was good at her job that was for sure. Matt smiled at the owners words, and even though he felt incredibly awkward standing over the woman in a flower shop while she worked he was glad he came in. Now he knew where to get his mom her flowers. It helped that the owner was nice.

At her comment she sheepishly smiled and shook his head with a grin. " Nope. Just moved." You were nice to Matt you get him to talk. Matt listened as Elaine talked about her own past and her own experience from the sounds of she had gone to Hammel, since she had mentioned going at fourteen. Matt smiled him self and looked at the smaller person standing before him. " Hammel?" He raised his eyebrow asking the question. If she didn't want to tell him that was fine.

Matt smiled as he was presented the flowers. He nodded as she explained about the mix and what it was good for. Matt would have been so lost trying to arrange flowers. He laughed at the thought and a smile was constant on his face. Nodding his thanks Matt took the arrangement and smiled down at the flowers. He uttered a single word as he handed over the money to pay for the flowers. "Thank you." Matt smiled at the lady as she handed him the arrangement. his mother would be pleased.

As Matt followed her back to the counter he shook his head at her question and just smiled. " Nope." His mother had assigned him flowers. That was all. No more and no less. With that goal in mind he had accomplished it. He was happy that he was able to walk into the shop and get the flowers with the help of Elaine. He was glad that he was able to spend as less time as possible in here. It was not that he disliked flowers, it was that he hadn't a clue what he was doing around them. In a thought he was afraid he might break them.

[Elaine Tonaya]

"Oh, so you're new to town? How are you finding it so far? I hope everyone has been kind. There really are some wonderful people here, if you know where to look."

She froze in her tracks when he mentioned Hammel. "Why, yes, in fact. Why, do you go there?" He seemed a bit old to have only just come to the school, but stranger things had happened. "It's quite a nice school. My son teaches there now." She beamed all the brighter when she mentioned Morgan--he was, after all, her pride and joy.

"If there's nothing else, then, I guess we're done. Unless, of course, you'd like a cookie. Free of charge, of course. I hope you like butterscotch." She slid the plate over closer to him so that he could have some if he wanted. She loved giving food to others. "And your total for the flowers is six dollars."

[Matthew Waylan]

Matt nodded towards the shopkeeper. “Yes, Friendly people.” Matt smiled. That was true, yes, but Matt himself didn't get out much. He was used to being alone.

Matt watched as she froze when he said Hammel. Well it was obvious he had struck a chord. Smiling he shook his head and looked back at her. “ No, my sister does. We moved to be near her.” Hearing her talk about her son Matt smiled.. It was a typical Mom thing he supposed and wondered. He nodded in occurrence with her words. It was night to see her light up like that.

Matt smiled as she said that they were done. Well that was relatively easy, he thought. It honestly wasn't as painful as he thought it was going to be. Though, he seriously doubted if Elaine wasn't there he could have done this.Matt just smiled wider as she offered him a cookie. Delicately taking one he smiled again as he handed over the six dollars. "Thank you."

He knew his mothers would like the flowers.

((OOC: Oh My Gosh, this didn't bookmark. I am sooooooooooo sorry! So here, a month late, the wrap of the thread.))