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Shannon walked into her apartment, tired and in need of a warm bath. She'd had such a long day. Work was enough to make anyone want to nail their thumbs to a wall. It was just time to rest now; recoup before going back to work again. She tossed her bag down and went into the bathroom. It was only when she came back out that she noticed the bouquet of flowers on the table.

She walked towards them, smiling happily. They were beautiful red roses, only just blooming so that they made perfect circles full of a wonderful scent. She breathed deeply, inhaling the scent so that it went through her body and made her feel wonderfully content. She looked around for a note or something, but there was no sign as to where they had come from. She decided to make a call.

"Hey, baby," said the voice at the other end. Shannon could hear the smile in her girlfriend's voice.

"Hey," she said coyly. "So guess what I found when I got home?"

"What?" asked her girlfriend, not playing into the tone.

"Well, roses, silly. I found them on the table. It was so nice of you to surprise me like that. Very romantic."

"Shan, I didn't send you any roses."

"But they're here. On my table. Who would have sent them except you?"

"Maybe your parents did. You might call them and see."

"I will. Gotta figure out where these came from."

"Okay. I wish I'd thought of it, baby."

Shannon hung up and called her mom, but it was the same story as before. Her mom didn't have any idea who might have sent her flowers. She suggested that maybe Shannon's girl friend might have done it. Instead of illuminating, she was left only more confused.

At the same time, she was faintly exhilarated. Flowers left for her by some unknown person. It was a fantastic thing. She'd never been more excited and curious about who it was who would make such a romantic gesture. It was like something she could only have read about in a romance novel. Something she'd dreamed about forever.

And then she knew what had happened. She looked at the flowers differently, then. They weren't just a romantic gesture anymore. They were more than that. They were romantic, unexpected, still beautiful, but totally inappropriate and unwelcome. She found her phone again and dialed.

"Hey," said Megan's rather preoccupied voice on the other end.

"Hi," she said shortly.

Megan caught the sour note in Shannon's voice. "If there's a problem you have to be quick," she said. "I'm still at work. Picked up an extra shift. I don't want to be short on rent this week. Okay, what's up?"

"I found flowers on my dinner table when I got home," said Shannon woodenly. "A dozen red roses."

Megan looked around her workplace to make sure no one was paying attention. "Flowers, huh?" she said, maintaining a look out for her boss, who would murder her if he caught her on a personal call. "Did your mom cough up and do something nice for once?"

"I called her. Turns out she had nothing to do with it."

"Girlfriend did something nice, then. It's nice that you two are trying the long distance thing. It's quite the romantic gesture."

Shannon exhaled irritably. "She didn't do it either. Look, I know it was you. Don't try and deny it."

"You haven't given me a chance to deny anything," she replied. "Besides, what makes you think it was me?"

"There was no card or note. Everyone else denies it was them and I believe them. It's a romantic thing and you are the only person I've told about how romantic I am. You knew I would like it."

"You've left out one very important part," Megan said dryly.

"Oh really. And what is that?" Shannon asked sarcastically.

"The whole 'I've been in love with you forever' part."

"What makes you think this would work on me?"

"I didn't, because I didn't do it," she said.

That brought Shannon very suddenly up short. "You didn't? You didn't send them?"

"No, Shan. I didn't send you flowers. You've made your feelings clear ten times over and then five more just for overkill. And I'm not an idiot. I love you, but not foolishly."

Shannon felt awful by that point. She started backtracking quickly. "Meg, I-"

"Besides, if I did leave them, I wouldn't leave roses. I'd leave your favorite flower, which isn't roses. And I would leave a note. Something like, 'Thought you'd need a pick me up. Love, your best friend.' You know, something sappy, like I usually do. Because I am your best friend and I can send you flowers if I bloody well want to. Got it?"

Shannon took a moment for silent thought. "I'm sorry," she said. "I was... surprised. It caught me off guard and I thought-"

"You were angry because you thought I was trying to get you back," Megan snapped angrily. "God, when are we gonna get over this?"

"I'm sorry. I just-"

"You don't trust me. I'm your best friend and you don't trust me." She paused. "And yet I'm the one person you can actually trust. Give it up, Shan, and just let me be your best friend already." Megan sighed, rubbing her temple wearily.

"I do, Meg. I'm sorry I doubted you. You are my best friend."

"I know," she said. "And as your best friend I'm telling you to enjoy those flowers, no matter who they're from. You deserve them."

"Thanks, Meg."

This time, Megan could hear the smile in her friend's voice. "Yeah, yeah," she said, shrugging her off. "I just wish it had been my idea. Anything to make you happy, love."

"That's what my girlfriend said, too."

"Well, on a few things she and I do agree. A very few."

"Meg-"

"I gotta go," she interrupted. "I'm still at work. And I'm sure we'll talk later, as usual."

"Yeah. Talk to you later."

Megan hung up and sat back in her chair with a sigh. She stared at the receipt for the flowers on her desk. It hadn't gone exactly to plan, but when did anything with Shannon ever go the way it was supposed to? At the very least, the flowers would be enjoyed. But she wished they could be enjoyed for different reasons. She'd been in love with Shannon the first time she'd seen her. But all things with her seemed to go downhill rather quickly and maybe they would never look up again.

Megan shook her head. She was an idiot, if she was honest with herself. She truly loved Shannon. They were best friends and she couldn't think of anyone better to be with and to have a life with. But that wasn't to be. Maybe she should give up. Maybe it was really hopeless. She hoped not. She practically prayed for it. Somehow every day it felt more futile. Still, she didn't give up. Someday, she might have to. Someday, but not yet.