Chapter 28

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Pantomime

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Mrs Lynde, Ms Cuthbert's good friend, clapped loudly, preventing the young choir members from making any more ear-piercing noises. Florence would be lying if she said she wasn't grateful for the opportunity to finally lay her flowers in the arrangement. This task required a great deal of patience and caution, and the choir team's less-than-stellar singing was stopping her from achieving precisely that.

When Florence learned a few short weeks ago that the town's play required a volunteer florist, she immediately jumped to the task.

Others were gathered around her in the vast room, either practising their lines or attending to other activities such as decorating and planning. She knelt to the level of the flowers and gently placed a rose into the pot.

"This certainly requires a lot of precision."

Florence was startled by a voice from behind her, resulting in her dropping a rose that she was holding to the ground. "Yes, and I would like some focus as well please."

She reached for the fallen flower but was left hanging when Gilbert grabbed it instead. He stood up straight again but didn't hand her the flower immediately. Instead, he twirled it around in his hand before offering it to her with a smile. "I don't believe my presence will make much of a difference."

Florence exasperated a sigh, taking it from him and ignoring the unknown feeling she felt inside at the touch of his hand against hers. "Of course you'd say that. Proper placement of flowers is extremely important and must be done with a lot of care."

He tilted his head, analyzing her for a moment. "As you wish."

Florence turned away from him and continued with her attempt. She removed a flower and placed it in the exact spot with more gentleness. With her attention on the task, she questioned, "Aren't you supposed to be working on the farm at this very moment?"

"Well, I've decided to help out with the play." He grinned. "Shame to see you working all by yourself, so I thought I'd provide some much-needed company."

"Much needed is quite a stretch, don't you agree?" she sarcastically asked with a playful roll of her eyes. "I know the set builders need a hand. Why don't you go join them instead?"

Gilbert smirked, staring at the focused girl, who hadn't spared him a single glance for a while. Florence spun around, holding another rose in her hand. They both lowered their heads to admire the bloom, but their heads collided due to their sudden close proximity.

"Ouch," they both shrieked.

Gilbert met her gaze before clearing his throat, and began walking away backwards, rubbing at his forehead as he called out with the same grin, "I suppose this is my cue to leave."

Florence crossed her arms but couldn't help a small smile from forming on her lips. She just nodded as he turned away completely to help the other boys hard at work.

***

Once she was done with her task for the day, Florence decided to stay a little while and help out whoever needed any extra assistance. Currently, she stood at Cole's side, where the boy was painting the display of the stage at the top of the ladder.

She simply admired his artwork from below and didn't hesitate to pay him compliments now and then as he worked diligently. Cole wasn't bothered by the numerous comments on his work; at the very least, someone was appreciating it.

"You're very talented, Cole," she said for the umpteenth time that hour and Cole did nothing but chuckle at her while the wet paintbrush was in his grasp.

"I can give you a few pointers if you'd like?" he suggested, momentarily glancing down at her standing figure.

Florence nodded immediately. "That would be wonderful!"

***

Billy Andrews was jealous.

He was envious for no apparent reason. He'd been determined to find a way to get back at Cole Mackenzie ever since he saw Florence hanging out with him the other day. He was waiting for the right moment to strike and hurt Cole without making it look like he was the one who did it. It had been a few weeks since that confrontation, but he was still waiting.

So, when he walked into the drama theatre that morning, he had the intention to do just that. And what better way to do it than making Cole fall from the top of the ladder?

Despite being a member of the set construction crew, Billy was able to take a few minutes off. He was still hanging on to one of the set pieces, a long metal rod, which he needed to store backstage until it was needed.

Walking with the rod over his shoulder to the ladder that he knew Cole was working on, Billy didn't pay a single glance at the top (not really caring for the boy working) and bumped the metal against the wooden ladder. As the stair grew shaky and the person at the top fell face-first to the ground, he smirked.

Billy's smirk immediately diminished as it was Florence that fell to the ground, not Cole.

Cole had agreed to give Florence some painting advice earlier in the day, as promised. While he was out tending to Florence's initial assignment of bouquet designs, he had temporarily swapped places with her, and she was now painting the set.

Florence's screams of pain could be heard from all throughout the theatre, and Billy seemed speechless.

He sauntered away from the scene, cursing under his breath as he moved around a corner before anyone could notice his presence (even his victim hadn't seen him). He tossed the rod to the ground and stood there silently as a mob of other volunteers gathered around her, attempting to console her as she cried out in anguish.

Billy grimaced at the sight. At that very moment, he absolutely hated himself for unintentionally hurting Florence. Biting his lower lip, he nervously ran his fingers through his blond hair in quick succession.













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Author's Note:

As the author of this story, I'm super nervous about what's going to happen to Florence now.

How do you feel about the ending of this chapter? Billy stooped too low this time . . .

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