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He comes by every Sunday, & it’s honestly scary. It doesn’t seem like he lives in the area to Jonas, so he’s assumed he specifically comes by to grab flowers from Jonas’ front garden. Did he contemplate confrontation? No. Why would he speak directly to the flower theft? He could scare him off, which would benefit the garden but god was he a sight for sore eyes. Jonas may have known nothing about this guy, except he comes by on Sundays to pull out some flowers (Maybe the accidental weed if Jonas was lucky) from the garden by his front steps, then he’d continue down the road. At first, Jonas hid from the windows to avoid being seen; But after getting a good look at him Jonas decided watching him from the glass’ seal was “better safe than sorry.” Totally not because this guy was gorgeous. Not because of the way his bones peaked from the side of his ragged jeans, stained with oil, grease, & mysteries. Never because of the large hands that pulled on the stems with such care. Or the way his sly smile slid onto his face as soon as he had what he came for. Did his tan eyes scan the area for onlookers as he continued the sidewalk? Jonas totally had no idea. So, every Sunday, sometime after noon, Jonas would perch on the floor, his head peaking from the bottom of the window just to view the stranger’s vandalism.
After telling Sid about the strange circumstance Jonas almost immediately regretted it. She wanted to devise a ploy & catch him in the act. It wasn’t until Jonas explained his… fascination, with the criminal that she calmed down. Sure, she thought it was stupid that Jonas let his hard work be taken by a stranger just because Jonas thought he was pretty. But curiosity kept her from calling the shot. “What’s he using these flowers for?” With that question, Jonas couldn’t help but deflate a little. What was he using them for? He didn’t seem like a crafty guy, to use them for framing or candle creation. A guy like him using them for decoration seemed way out of the frame. Perhaps a girlfriend? Jonas & Sidney tossed ideas back & forth, but the last suggestion seemed to take the ladder. Jonas knew he shouldn’t be surprised, but disappointment was evident in him. What else should he have thought? There was no way in hell he had a chance with this guy, especially if this geezer has been stealing his flowers for a girl. Though, of course, Sidney is his voice of reason. “If he really is taking these flowers for a girl, then you shouldn’t have a problem scaring him off by asking.” She picked through her dirty nailbeds. “I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? He stops stealing your flowers?”
That conversation was 2 weeks ago. A Saturday, so the next day was perfect to attempt to encounter the lanky burglar… If Jonas didn’t chicken out. It wasn’t planned, but how do you plan to tell someone “hey i know your stealing my flowers & i dont care bc your fine asf but whatre you even doin w/ them?” Yeah, not exactly smooth for a first impression. He chickens almost chickens out the next Sunday until he’s locked out of the house.
He had originally left the house because he thought it was Saturday, & everyone knows the bank’s closed on Sunday. The rude realization that it was Sunday was abrupt, but it made Jonas rush back home. He’d miss the mystery man if he wasn’t in the window soon! But sure enough, the house key was missing from its ring by the car key, & Jonas could swear he could hear worn sneakers on pavement. With a tear of dread in his eye, he went back into the car to drop off his bag. The root looter was about to flee the scene that was Jonas’ garden when Jonas himself shut the car door & made himself known. The blossom bandit stood frozen awkwardly, the first time being caught in his petty crime. Jonas, just as awkwardly waved at him with a wavy smile. His eyes darted, unsure of what to do. The milkweed mugger watched carefully as Jonas walked up to his side. Jonas tried to look up & give him a genuine smile, but it just came out nervous & honestly a little scared. “Alright, let’s go.” The rose raider returned the awkward smile, & they slowly started the sidewalk, pulled flowers in large hands. He looked between the concrete & Jonas’ gaze. “Uh- Where are we goin’?” His gruff voice steady with their tracks. Jonas cocked an eyebrow at him, trying to warm up to what is still a handsome stranger. “Well, you should know. Running off with my flowers for what I presume is a pretty girl.” The peony pilfter looked away & scratched the back of his neck with his free hand. “Uh yeah.. A girl..” He trailed off. It was an awkward silence to add to their awkward walk. Jonas didn’t want this as his first impression, so he cleared his voice & tried again. At the same time as the marigold marauder tried to clear the air. “So what’s your?-” “You really don’t mind me?-” As soon as they both started they stopped, eye contact totally helping the situation. The bluebell brigand chuckled into the back of his hand & looked away from Jonas as they turned a corner. Jonas could feel his ears turning shades of crimson with embarrassment. The dandelion dacoit eventually asked his question.
“You uh, really don’t mind me takin’ yer flowers?” Jonas pressed a button on the lamp post so they could cross the street. Trying again not to make a fool of himself, (but cool enough to maybe be friends?) “Depends if you can pay the price: your name & business.” He clicks his tongue, shooting a little finger gun at Jonas. “Mitch Mueller, local bluebell burglar.” It’s silly & charming for an introduction, & it makes Jonas giggle confidently around Mitch for the first time. “And yer Jonas Wagner, ya go ta that big school with the park right?” Jonas instantly shut his yapper. How did this complete stranger know his name & school? They weren’t classmates, were they?? It was like Mitch could read his mind & answered simply with a snicker. “Yer name is on your lanyard. Yer lanyard is the same school as a frien’ of mine.” Oh. So he read his lanyard, not his mind… Did that mean Mitch had checked him out? Probably not if he was having a soapy romance giving a girl stolen flowers. “Hm, is she who’s receiving the flowers?” Jonas tried to be casual about it, but he really did want to know. But it’d be considered rude to straight up ask who he was committing weekly theft for, right? “Scratch? HA! Nah, she’s got her eyes on this girl from her physics or sum like that.”
And something about their conversation after that sailed so naturally after that. Jonas wasn’t even paying attention to where their path was leading them anymore, he was just having fun talking to Mitch. So when he realized that they’d been walking an hour & some more to say Jonas was shocked would be an understatement. “Dude, how far does she live? She’d better be worth at least an hour of this every week.” Mitch tried & failed to suppress a bellowing laugh as they rounded the final corner. Any color from Jonas’ face was suddenly gone as his mouth went agape. His eyes widen as he read the gated entrance to the local cemetery. “Actually he’s dead.” Mitch clarified. Jonas stayed silent as Mitch opened the gate for him to trail through. Mitch lead their path with his hands (somehow) fitting into his jean pockets, calm while Jonas tensed & followed behind with his head hanging. Mitch slowed so Jonas could catch up to him, then flung a lean arm around his shoulders when he kept his pace. “Ya couldn’t have known ta begin with. Plus, yer face was funny.” Jonas could tell comforting wasn’t Mitch’s strong suit. It wasn’t Jonas’ either, but the effort was enough to bring a sad smile to his face. It was a comfortable silence that ensued. Mitch’s figure leaning on his in the late afternoon sun, walking down the wet grass of the cemetery.
In course due, they stopped at a corner with flowers piled at the limestone & a lone empty vase from seemingly years ago. Some were lost to time’s degradation while some were still fresh. Mitch reluctantly let go of Jonas’ side to add the newest flowers from the garden bed. Instead of adding them to the piles on the sides, Mitch added the flowers to the vase. Mitch adjusted himself back to Jonas’ side (& bygod, Jonas couldn’t be happier) & read the scripture out loud “Freddie Mueller, loved brother & son, you will be missed.” Then, they were silent again. Comfortable, admirable, gorgeous silence. It was only temporary, & they both knew it. Just like the setting Sun & the fleet of birds above them. So when Jonas broke it they shouldn’t have been surprised. “Seeing the year, he was your brother, right?” Mitch nodded, not daring to look at Jonas. He gave a half-hearted chuckle “& all this time I thought these flowers were for some kind of girlfriend. Sorry for assuming.” Jonas leaned into Mitch, despite everything in him not telling him to trust a new acquaintance. Mitch let go of Jonas, much to their joint disappointment. Mitch stood in front of Jonas, his red face turned to the ground. “Actually, this doesn’t help, but I don’t uh, swing that way. If you know what I mean.” Jonas was visibly fazed by this for a second, surprised such a stereotypical guy didn’t fit the stero he thought he would. Jonas quickly wiped the shock off his face to elbow Mitch in the side lightly with a playful smile. “Hey man, I swing both ways. It’s cool.” Jonas then did a little funky walk, turning around & hooking elbows with Mitch.
“Whenever you’re ready, we can walk back to my place; it’s too late to be getting back to the trailer park.” Mitch smiled at Jonas, squeezing his elbow with his own. “Yaknow get back home later than this usually. Plus, thought cha said yer locked out?” They started going back down the path they came, the realization obvious on Jonas’ face. Mitch cackled & wiped a tear from his eye. “Itsfine Spots, I’ll just pick it for ya.” Mitch opted to swing his arm back around Jonas’ shoulders, of which Jonas welcomed as they stepped through the grass. Jonas smiled at Mitch purity & tranquility in his eyes; & how could Mitch not return it? The sun highlighted his freckled face & his pearly whites almost made Mitch want to cover his own for their color. Neither could care though, both content with the new friendship. It was almost enough for Jonas to forget about Sidney for a moment.
Oh, Sidney was going to want to hear all about this.