It's Flora. She's come to ask me something.

You wrap a towel around your waist and crack open the door. It’s Flora!

You blush and adjust yourself slightly more behind the door. Flora’s hair is damp, and she has a slight glow to her appearance now. “Did…you want to hang out a little bit together?”

“What do you have in mind?”

Flora looks down. “I wanted to see Billings from the roof.”

“It'll be colder than what you’re used to all the way up there,” you remind her.

“I have a warm coat, besides. I’m no stranger to cool climates. I could use some company.”

You get that feeling that there’s no point in trying to think of a reason not to go, even though you’re sure Amari would never allow this to happen…the other Amari, not the one you were intimate with a few minutes ago. What fond memories… “Yeah, I'll go with you. Just give me a moment to get dressed, OK?”

Flora gives you a strange look and then rolls her eyes. “I obviously didn’t want you to go up naked. Take your time getting dressed. I’m fully awake.”

You brought in the clothes you bought earlier that day. Jeans, boots, a black T-shirt, and then a fleece jacket — away from your uniform wardrobe when you got here. Amari told you it would be better if you blended in like a regular person from now on, not a paid contractor.

After you gussy yourself up in front of the mirror, you stepped out of the bathroom and joined Flora in the kitchen, idly picking her nails and drinking water. Your eyes meet, and they twinkle somewhat. “Looking sharp there.”

“Feeling sharp,” you shrug and then gesture towards her. “You don’t look bad either.”

Flora wore tapered jeans that were slightly brown and a fleece jacket simulator to yours, but yellow instead of gray. Her hair was still the same way it always was, kept in place with a well-placed hairpin. Your expression darkens for some reason as you fall into thought. Flora nudged you and peered into your eyes curiously. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s nothing,” you lied. You wanted more out of your relationship, but you knew it was pointless to entertain the thought. “Let’s get going!”

You embark to the hallway together, not talking until the door behind you is shut. Flora exhaled like she was holding her breath. Once you’ve made it to the stairway, she begins to banter/rant all the way up the flight of stairs. When you reach the roof access, you realize she must be **** for a friend because, by the time you’re opening the door, she looks like she’s on the verge of bursting into tears.

You retreat your hand and look firmly at her. “What’s wrong?”

“You have no idea how happy I am to have someone to talk to at a personal level finally. Just the random shit I’ve been wanting to ask the others but can’t because they’re so uptight and business-minded.” Flora’s voice threatens to break near the end, but she manages to keep herself under control.

“Ah, jeez…” you aren’t sure how to respond to her admitting this, even if it’s something that simple. “I…well, I’m glad to be that person in the meantime.”

Flora carefully wipes her eyes with the pad of her thumb and smiles cheerfully. “I’m sorry for snapping at you when you tried to kiss me the first time, Warren. I can relate. Honestly, I can. I miss having someone to talk to, and you’re missing that girl, Delilah. Our relationship could be dangerous, but I don’t care.”

“Relationship?” You stammer, beset ****. You watch Flora’s expression turn pink as it flushes.

“Friendship,” she chases you. “And that kiss I gave you doesn’t mean anything intimate, so get your head out of the gutter!”

A smile quickly developed on your mouth. You could kiss Flora again, and you might have tried to, but she was pushing the door to the roof, telling you to follow her out. So that is precisely what you do.

The outside air was considerably colder than what it was like outside. Your nose was bitten by the cruel coolness that was accompanying the change of the season. You couldn’t quite tell in the dark, but you were sure it was snowing slightly again. You stuffed your hands into your pockets and exhaled; steam left your mouth while you shuddered and said a curse under your breath.

Flora carefully maneuvered around the metal stairs and went around the idle AC units to the edge of the roof to overlook Billings. It takes you a little longer to get where she’s at, but when you do, the sight is something to behold.

The lights below are orange, but you can also see the red neon lights and flashing blue ones. Guards patrol and chat below, puffing steam from their mouths as they talk about their daily lives. You see the walls that surround the city and the people that manage it. You’ve seen better skylines; better night lights too. However, being here with Flora makes this a much more memorable one.

“It’s so pretty,” Flora chimes in, looking below at the entrance. “You should see New York at night or even New Bedford, for that matter.”

Your eyes leave the city and find Flora, ignited by the electronic glow from below. Her amber eyes dull in the lighting that is provided, but they still twinkle. “I don’t know...I like what I’m looking at right now.”

Flora smiles slightly, not realizing you regard her over an entire city. A few seconds pass, and she finally looks over to you with pink cheeks that you are sure it’s not because of the cold. When your eyes meet, she knits her brows and smirks. “You flirt.”

“Oh, don’t act like you don’t like it. But, honestly speaking, I haven’t complimented you enough,” you lean into the half wall and continue looking outward. “You’re seriously one the prettiest people I’ve had the pleasure coming across.”

Flora joins you, stepping closer to you until your shoulders are touching. “I won’t tell you that I don’t think otherwise, but I guess it’s nice hearing it from you first.”

“Do you like all the special treatment and pampering you get from others?”

She shrugs. “Definitely. I’ve been getting special treatment my entire life, and when that was taken away from me, I didn’t like it. I like being treated like a regular human being sometimes, but...You know, being flowered and babied gets rid of that stress and worry of everyday life.” She then deflates with a heavy sigh. “I honestly miss the way my husband used to treat me.”

Cool air fills the silence with bitterness while you both cast your gaze outward again. “Think you’ll ever remarry after that?”

A **** laugh leaves Flora’s mouth to hide the distress the question caused, but she recovers quickly and replies. “If I ever find someone who I could ever trust with my life, then I’d probably marry him on the spot.”

Silence follows again, but she breaks with a steady voice. “God, I dunno… I don’t ever want to get hurt like that again. The pain of abandonment. One-sided love. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. But, to be honest with you, I’m deathly scared of it.”

“Make sure you don’t let that sense of fear control your feelings too much. Love from both ends is something to cherish. Just because you got involved with one idiot doesn’t mean there isn’t still someone else out there that’s willing to take a grenade for you.” As you say this, you wonder if you hurt Delilah, leaving her on hold. What’s she up to right now anyway? You shake your thoughts off and continue. “I don’t mean someone paid to take a hit for you either, but someone willing to protect you by any means necessary.”

A cloud of steam leaves Flora’s mouth when she breathes through it. “Or maybe I’m meant to be single. Maybe all that happened because I was supposed to get into the mindset.”

“Those are kind of depressing thoughts, though. Don’t you think so?”

Flora turns to face you. “At the moment, I think it’s the most realistic thing that has been in my head since I got married.”

“I’m sure an opportunity will open itself up to you. Once you get back to your kin and whatnot, you’ll find someone better for you.” So you say hopefully, but it’s through your teeth. “Just gotta wait until Summer of next year.”

The cold wind picks up and blows into your face, making you remember how far Summer is. Flora grunts and hugs herself for warmth. “Maybe we should go back inside.”

She looks back up at you with her hair slightly messy. “Don't you think?”

Your heart skips a beat. Seeing Flora like this, for some reason, makes you think she’s one of the cutest people you have laid your eyes on. But, the longer you stare at her, the more her face twists with confusion, awaiting your answer.