Chapter 30: Fashion
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Mrs Prachett took an awfully long time to pick a stalk from the hundreds of flowers that poured over the whole shop. Tiadora had to explain flower by flower, its price and meaning which was getting really difficult to memorise, while the customer just continue moving. It was Wednesday, the day when all the guardians had their activities whether inside or outside school. Cornelia with her volleyball, Kiara and David with their modeling, Jason with his soccer training and Tiadora with her job at the flower shop. Her first day had been great. There were a total of seven customers so far, but the eighth, was still searching for ‘the’ flower.

The shop was surprisingly bigger than what she had seen before. There was a huge room behind the main room to store all the many varieties of flowers. Finally, Mrs Prachett picked out a Christmas Rose and paid six dollars for two stalks instead. Tiadora breathed a sigh a relief, tired at the latest customer. She plonked herself onto the wheeled-chair behind the counter and closed her eyes. "Tiadora?" Ms Hermoine's frail voice echoed the walls as she strolled to the counter, "Where's Mrs Prachett?"

"She has left. She bought two Christmas Roses. Is it always this much?" Tiadora sat up straight and looked at the short figure. Mrs Hermoine had a winnie the pooh's tummy, and although she was already in her sixties, she wore no glasses. Her wrinkly warm face cringed to a smile as she dragged a chair to sit with Tiadora. "Today, there's a lot of customers," Ms Hermoine explained, "Somedays there will be many people and others sometimes no customers at all. You must be a good luck charm."

"I'm just doing my job," Tiadora smiled and stared at the pastel-coloured shop. "How did you know Jason?"

"Oh that young lad," she said carefully, rubbing her palms together, "He was playing with his bike last year, and at that time of the day, there weren't many people along the streets. I was in my shop waiting for anyone to come in. That day was no-customer day unfortunately. And so, as I was staring outside the glass windows, I saw Jason on his bicycle, riding at such ridiculous speed opposite the street of my shop. The next thing I knew the bike stumbled upon a huge rock right in front of him and the bike practically fell on top of the poor boy."

"Ouch. That should have hurt," Tiadora grew fearful.

"It was his fault in the first place," Ms Hermoine chuckled at Jason's careless act, "When I saw that the boy didn't stand up, I knew that he was injured. So I went out and helped him to his feet. His knee was bruised pretty badly and I had trouble dragging him into the shop. Luckily there weren't any cars at that time. And so, I cleaned the dirt away and bandaged the wound. He was so grateful that he passed me a cheque with a hundred dollars in it. I was so shocked. Giving so much cash."

"What's a cheque?" Tiadora quietly asked, embarrassed by her lack of understanding of the new time.

"A piece of paper whereby when you have a shortage of money but require paying a company or person, you write a cheque. So that the money from your bank will go straight into the other person's account."

"What's a bank?" Tiadora realised that it was a bad idea asking all these questions, knowing that she wasn't from here. 'Cause Mrs Hermoine's face showed a 'huh' face to Tiadora. "Gosh, my dear," Mrs Hermoine exclaimed, "You really don't know what a bank is?"

"I'm sort of like from the roo-ral areas," Tiadora remembered the 'excuse' Cornelia had given to Tiadora. Though she did not understand why, Cornelia told her that it will solve all weird questions if anyone was suspicious. "Oh I see. Rural areas," Mrs Hermoine finally fell for it, "Banks are places where you save your money throughout your whole life for your adult future. So that once you grow old and retire, you won't lack the money. Anyway, ever since that day, he often drops by to chat with me, knowing that I'm always alone. That's the reason why I wanted an assistant. Not because I can't manage the shop but it was because I wanted a friend. Someone to talk to."

"I'll be your friend," Tiadora excited considered, "Let's be best friends!"

Ms Hermoine giggled wittily, agreeing, "Very well then, my friend. Let me give you something." She ushered Tiadora deeper into the rows of hundreds of flowers up to right at the end where the back gate was. Unnoticeably, there was another dark black door beside it. Ms Hermoine pushed open that door and Tiadora entered into the room. Coloured with lime green walls and a flowery carpet, the living room, or so she has heard from the other guardians. A rather bulky television stood above the low wooden cupboards that contained many old books and magazines.

But that old feature did not ruin the modernised ambience of the living room, with its L-shaped sofa and two large orange larva lamps that stood firmly at the corners of the room. Ms Hermoine walked past Tiadora and led her up a narrow flight of stairs to upstairs. Even the stairs were colourfully painted with different shades of the rainbow. Tiadora trailed behind her, admiring the paintings that hung alongside the staircase. One, she recognised of a picture from Kadic's history book, was the duplicate of the Mona Lisa. Temptation told her to caress the soft texture of the painting, but Ms Hermoine had already finally reached the door on the other end, trying to unlock it.

Inside, covered with yellow walls, was a vintage-like room whereby the bed was wide and so spacious that Tiadora thought could fit five people. Then, she saw another door that might have probably led to the toilet. Also, at the corner of the room, a small cabinet and a desk mirror. Ms Hermoine dragged Tiadora towards the cabinet and started to unlock the many chains that secured it. After the fuss, she drew out a dusty brown box from inside and carefully wiped the surface with her lacy sleeve. The dust stained her clothes, but it didn't matter to the owner at all. Instead, she handed the box to Tiadora with a weak smile, "This is for you."

Confused, Tiadora was. A gift after only less than a day to know each other. She reluctantly took hold of it and looks innocently at the flower shop owner, "You're too kind, but I believe that I don't deserve this. It's not my birthday and we've only been friends for two minutes."

"Child, do I need to have a reason to why I have to give?" Ms Hermoine finally let go of the box and let it lay in Tiadora's hands, "This was my most treasured item. When I was a teenager, I had longed to buy this whenever I passed the shop. Unfortunately, I devoid of money at that time. My family was so destitute. And when I finally earned the money, I managed to purchase this. However, by that time, I was already too big for it. But the feelings of precious still lie. Even though I've only met you, Tiadora, I feel that you're a very good person. I can sense that you've made many sacrifices in your life and have lost many loved ones. It's all in your eyes, dear. I can tell. Please don't reject it. Embrace it warmly like how I did, and you'll grow to love it. This is my gift to you."

Tiadora felt touched and somewhat thankful. The words that had sinked in, reminded her of her mother, who’s always giving things away for no absolute reason. The gesture formed little wet tears at the side of her blue-green eyes. Her words came out soft and weird, but she knew that Ms Hermoine would have heard it, "Tha... Thank you. I really love it."

"Love what, my dear?" Ms Hermoine tapped the box and folded her flabby arms, "You haven't even opened the parcel." And at the moment when Ms Hermoine said that, the cling of small bells echoed through the whole room. Both knew the sound well. There was a customer below. Tiadora quickly made for the door but Ms Hermoine blocked her way and instead, stepped outside of the room, "I'll take care of the customer. Try it on, Tiadora. When I come back, it must already be donned on."
And without giving Tiadora a chance to say no, the wooden door closed behind Ms Hermoine as she left Tiadora alone in the bedroom as she approached the waiting customer.

♥

Jason sniffed the pink carnation once more, absorbing the beautiful fragrance of the flower. He caressed one of the soft fragile petals with care, wondering in deep thought of the exquisite plant and admiring three hundred and sixty degrees of its outlook. But his train of thoughts were interrupted with the clanging of wooden clogs across the room. Ms Hermoine practically wobbled herself forward, opening her arms wide as Jason gave the old lady a friendly hug. "I'm here to collect my nightingale," Jason said after he had let go from the embrace, "How is she?"

"She's perfect. Thank you for introducing the shop to her," Ms Hermoine exclaimed as she took the carnation stalk that Jason was holding, "It's three dollars for sniffing."
Jason chuckled and tried to search for Tiadora, but she didn't seem to be anywhere. Noticing his wonder, Ms Hermoine smiled, patting his shoulder, "She's upstairs. Would you like to see her?"

"Sure. If it's alright," Jason asked as Ms Hermoine walked back the same route that she used to get there. Jason followed diligently through the many streams of flowers, and up the staircase. He recognised the environment easily. Many occasions had Ms Hermoine brought him through the very same route. He had used to 'wow' and 'ooo' at the amazing different paintings when he was here a year ago, but he's got so used to it, it felt a little bit like home. The door, he knew as the gateway to Ms Hermoine's bedroom, was nearing as Ms Hermoine knocked on the ancient wooden door. "Tiadora?" she called out through the door, "You have a visitor. Are you done? Open up."

Obediently, Jason heard the door clicked and opened very slowly. He looked up and stared upon Tiadora in a beautiful white dress. The dress which reached until her knees with only straps securing it, her shoulders were bare, making Tiadora feel a little odd. Jason just stared in awe at Tiadora. A wide smile gradually formed on his face as he finally said something after his seconds of silence, "Beautiful."

"Come on, Theodore, " Ms Hermoine patted him on the back, "I'm sure you can fish out a better vocabulary than 'beautiful'. Look at her she's stunning."

"I couldn't agree more. Tiadora looks pulchritudinous in that dress. Anyway come, Tia. Time to go. Dinner's almost nearing," Jason reminded, as took hold of Tiadora's palm gently. Warmed by the coolness of his touch, Tiadora grinned another thank-you smile to Ms Hermoine and left the flower shop with Jason. Still holding hands, Jason swinged her arm back and forth, entertaining her. She laughed often now, he realised, somewhat enjoying the sound of her voice. It was all fun and laughter until Tiadora spoke about Monday's event, "The Heritage."

"That's the place that that blue girl said, right?"
"That blue girl is Marabonta," Tiadora spoke in a deadly manner, "Remember when we met Xana, you burnt a girl's arm?"

"That one?!" he exclaimed loudly, "No wonder she threatened about me when the Balistia attacked. But what about the Heritage place?"

"In the kingdom of Anastasia, there's a dark place," Tiadora started in her serious tone, "A place where all of our dangerous criminals are being sentenced. These offenders are banished at a horrible place we call, the Heritage."

"The Heritage is where all the vicious goblins, filthy trolls and uncontrollable dragons roamed about. They are the ones who make life for the criminals much more complicated to endure in. What more, the trees in the Heritage, are alive and rather mysteriously deviously. They pry on the wondering and some, who are unfortunate, are eaten by them. There are those which are in the forms of human. Just the same as how we have the flower, a wish granter. However, a tree in a human form can manipulate people's minds into thinking differently. But of course, there are good trees and bad trees. All flowers are neutral, and abide to the wishes of their masters whether they are evil and good. So a good tree is able to even change the opinions of a person if he or she is planning to do something bad. Anyway, I doubt that any trees got transported to the 21st Century. They are much slower than a human's reaction. But now, after the incident in the Sahara, I'm now wondering if the Heritage is still as active as it was before. Because if it is and if the trees or animals have survived through time, then Xana can make use of them, aiding the villains in their battles against us!"

"Battles with a 's'? As in plural?" Jason asked sounding astonished.
"Unfortunately, yes. And based on Kiara's visions, I'd say many of us will be hurt. Even those who are not guardians," Tiadora solemnly explained.

"And I say we protect everyone!" Jason shouted to the sky as he gripped onto Tiadora's hand harder, "We'll protect them together. You and me."

"Don't forget the others," Tiadora said as she nudged him, walking through Kadic's gates back to the academy. At that same moment, Sally and two others were walking out, stumbling across both Jason and Tiadora, who were holding hands.

Sally’s face twisted horribly as she threw a glare into Tiadora’s direction. She then walked faster than her other two companions and flipped her pink hair in Jason’s direction, trying to catch his attention, “Hey Jason! How was soccer practice?”

“It was fine, I guess,” Jason said without much enthusiasm. Noticing his lack of interest, Sally pulled Tiadora’s hand from Jason’s grip and pushed her slightly away. Sally then held onto his arm, and leaned on Jason’s muscular arm. “That’s all you’re going to tell me? Come on, tell me. I heard you left practice before it ended,” she spoke to his confused expression.

Tiadora, who was pushed further than what she thought she would have, was shocked to see her own descendant so irritating. She walked towards them but apparently, Sally’s two friends blocked her way. “Where do you think you’re going, Sally-clone?” one of them scoffed in a hateful manner.

“Yeah. In case, you didn’t know. Sally and Jason have been dating even before you came into the picture,” the other one snarled wickedly, still blocking any escape for Tiadora. “And by the way, even though you and Sally look the same, but she’s gone through way more fashion treatment and hardships just to be with Jason. And you haven’t even tried.”

“Ahem. Excuse me,” Jason cleared his throat as both of Sally’s friends turned around to see Jason towering over them, “If you wouldn’t mind, you’re blocking my friend’s way.”

Almost immediately, the girls moved away and joined back Sally, who was just standing there looking at the situation. Jason slung his arm over Tiadora’s shoulders and walked with her, away from them, towards the cafeteria. Tiadora didn’t feel comfortable with what happen, but Jason seemed to have treated it like nothing. “What happened back there?” Tiadora curiously asked, “I didn’t understand a word from one of Sally’s friends.”

“Don’t worry,” Jason muttered, putting a lock of Tiadora’s brown hair behind her ear, “Whatever Cassandra said isn’t important. If you want to make more friends, there’s Isabella, a choir singer, or even Shaniqua, although she sometimes does stick by Sally’s side. Unless you don’t mind guy-friends.”

“It’s just that…I don’t know. I don’t exactly realized that my own descendant acts that way,” Tiadora admitted sadly, “It’s just not civilized. People should be much more polite.”

Jason chuckled, “Don’t worry. There’re people much worse than Sally, you know.”

“Like Xana and the villains?”

“Yeah,” Jason smiled, “Like them.”

♀

Kiara gripped her wavy red hair, securing it tight with her favourite black headband and staring at herself at the mirror. She knew that she could easily ask one of the stylists in the modelling studio right now, but she was tied having everyone pull her hair without knowing the pain she felt. Her dad, the manager of many famous models, with her mum, famous fashion designer, have emerged as one of the best fashion winners in the 21st Century. Lost in her concentration to tie her hair, Kiara got a shock when David phased through her full-length mirror, making her fall on the ground with a big thud. "God, David, you almost gave me a heart attack!" Kiara yelled in his face when she staggered to her feet.

David just had his normal expression, a frown. He walked closer to Kiara, and caressed her neck. Kiara could feel his fingers traced over the almost-healed vampire bite. She tried analysing his expression, like she always does. Concerned and anger, she could feel it very strongly in him, but what about? Suddenly, the door fell open and her father stood there gaping at both the childhood friends. Kiara knew that he never like David ever since she became friends with him during kindergarten. David was a commoner, her father had told her before, and this was after he became richer. If only he hadn't become more well-known, Kiara would have no boundaries spending time with David. "Kiara, your mother and me will be heading off to Las Vegas for summer holidays," her father explained. But Kiara knew better that it wasn't for holidays, as she folded her arms at her father's lie.

"Alright. Alright. It's for the modelling career. Someone over there has recognised your beauty, sweetheart, and is planning to make you front cover of a famous world-wide magazines," he finally revealed the truth, "Tyra Banks herself wants a partnership with you as well."

"I told you that I don't exactly like her," Kiara lied, wanting to spend her holidays else where. Jason is bound to pop something up for the holidays, Kiara knew. David just rolled his eyes, knowing that Kiara too didn't like the idea too much. But Kiara smiled forming a plot in her head as she answered her dad back, "But I'll go, provided that David tags along with me and model too."

"What?!" both David and her father said in unison, dumbfounded by Kiara's request. Her father scoffed and immediately left the room. By his reaction, Kiara knew that he would have to discuss it with her mother. No way, would he say no. He needed me to be there, Kiara thought. And she knew David will eventually come along. David didn't smile or shout or vent his anger. His normal frown showed no feelings. Instead, he winked at her bravery knowing that Kiara rarely demanded. But then he finally breathed and stared into her eyes, "Do you want to know something?"

"It depends," Kiara sighed. "What is it?"

"I know," David started, sounding rather regretful that he started this conversation, "I know the person who bit you."