roses. [tag; leonie]

"Oh for crying out loud!"

A tall man got to his feet quickly and slammed his hand down, hard, on the table he'd previously been sitting at. It was now eleven in the morning. The usual postal owl had been and gone. It had dropped off bills, a letter from his mother, the newspaper but no word from her. It had been two weeks now and he was growing frustrated in her absence.

They'd been circling each other for years. Sam had been infatuated from the first time she'd slapped him at Durmstrang. It was infuriating. Every girl he met, he measured them up to her. It was silly. They'd never dated. There had been one single, wonderfully clandestine kiss in the caves but that was about it. It was an infatuation, no, an obsession. It wasn't fair. She'd had boyfriends, dates, men and waved them in front of his face like some sort of cat toy. It was callous and careless and he loved it. She grew close and then distanced herself just as fast.

He thought he'd been making progress but apparently not. She must think that all he wanted was sex. To a certain extent, that much was true. She was beautiful and cold but he did genuinely like her. He thought they were friends. They understood one another. They found the same things funny, they hated the same people, they complimented each other and yet, she still wouldn't go out with him. Sam imagined she liked having the upper hand but she failed to realise that he was effectively her puppy dog. Once upon a time, he was sure he was in love with her. Perhaps the feeling hadn't totally disappeared but he did still want to throttle her.

Now stood at his full height, he set his jaw. In a fit of rage, he knocked all of his papers off his desk in one fell swoop, scattering pages to the floor as he took a deep breath. "She's just a girl," he told himself softly, over and over again like a mantra as he pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. Just a girl who refused to acknowledge him.

Over the past month or two, Sam had been sending gifts. At first, they were regular ones; chocolates and flowers. He'd sent two dozen red roses, pleased with himself for being so original. He was expecting her to turn up or at the very least, a letter. But no. No word. Then he'd sent something different. He'd sent her an ornate, glittering bouquet of pure white flowers; snow drop roses, calla lilies, gardenias, freesias, peonies and white lilac. He thought it was a nice touch due to her nickname of eisprinzessin. Still no thanks.

He'd changed tack. Sam had been more thoughtful. He'd begun sending her books he thought she might like, photographs of places she might like to visit, little snippets of life. It had now been three months and he was pissed off.

It was snowing in Stockholm already as he stomped around his small harbour-side apartment, shrugging on a smart and thick woollen coat and angrily winding a navy blue scarf around his neck and slamming the front door behind him. It wasn't snowing in London but it was cold. Not Swedish cold, English cold; damp and oppressive. The heels of his smart tan leather brogues clicked on the well worn pavement, shoving his way past people who were lingering annoyingly. It looked like it was going to rain. He slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he strode purposefully, trying to ignore the niggling feeling he had as he was reminded of the last time he'd visited this city.

Leonie Kirschbaum had gotten him arrested.

Full on arrested. Handcuffs, big Muggle police officers, a cell. Sam shoved his hands into his pockets as his handsome face twisted to wear a stormy expression. He had been walking for a good fifteen or so minutes before he turned down a smart little street. Lined with manicured trees and white-washed buildings, his destination was a small shoe shop. He knew the place well. He'd found himself researching its location, just to make sure it was safe for her to set up shop.

He shouldn't have bothered. Leonie was a bulldog in a model's body. His big blue eyes watched her move around her chic little shop, too busy adjusting and boxing some things up to notice him. Casually, he leaned against the door jamb, arms folded an eyebrow arched. She knew why he was here.

Life was good.

Leonie Kirschbaum was a lucky girl and she knew it. Things had always been easy for the German, starting with her childhood and continuing with her time at Durmstrang, graduation and the things that had come after that. She'd been loved as a child, adored by her parents as well as her brothers, especially her older one, and she'd always gotten everything she wanted. The huge designer doll house, the tree house in the garden and more dresses and shoes than she could ever wear. She had been spoiled, yes, but at the same time her father had made sure that she would be well-educated and that she'd always know that money required hard work.

It was exactly what had helped her after graduation. Together with her brother Benjamin, the blonde had developed a business plan for her own boutique and it had been good enough that her father had given her the money she needed to start her own business and a whole new life in London. A rather big amount had been a gift but Leonie was determined to pay back every single knut. She didn't want to depend on her father and luckily it was working quite well. For now.

People liked her shoes, she'd already been featured in a few newspapers and it helped that some of her customers belonged to the upper class. Leonie was convinced that her mother had sent some of her friends over at first but by now the customers seemed to come without any of her family members persuading them to. It wasn't an easy life, next to the hours in the shop the German also spend hours drawing new designs, but she liked it just the way it was. It was what she'd always wanted and luck seemed to be on her side again. Well, everyone got what they deserved and she obviously deserved the best.

One might think next to her work the young woman had barely time for anything else but that was far from being true. She'd always been a party girl, someone who enjoyed life in the fullest and it hadn't changed. London was wonderful; full of life and glamour and fun and she always tried to enjoy every single minute. That meant visiting restaurants, bars and night clubs, meeting new people everywhere. Leonie had never been shy and now she flourished even more. London was just her city. It was perfect.

And for the past four months her life had been even better.

She'd met James McAllister in a fancy bar, not far from her shop, and from the first moment on he'd known how to push all her buttons the right way. He was handsome, well-educated, a business man through and through. They could laugh together and they could fight and Merlin, the sex was heavenly. Benjamin didn't like him, said he was possessive but since he'd never liked any of her boyfriends, Leonie had just laughed at that. Well, she'd know if her boyfriend was possessive, wouldn't she?

In about an hour her shop would close and Jamie would pick her up. They wanted to try that new restaurant just a few streets away and the blonde was already looking forward to it. She was just rearranging one of the displays when she spotted someone in the door. Putting on her 'customer greeting smile' Leonie turned around to greet the person and when she realised who it was, her blue eyes widened in surprise. Samuel Andersson! She hadn't seen him since that they she had gotten them both arrested and to be honest she'd thought he was still mad at her. The look on his face actually said that he still was but Leonie decided to ignore it.

"Sam! It's so good to see you!" Smiling brightly at her friend, the German walked over to him, her red heels clicking on the floor. She hugged him tightly before letting go again and looked at him questioningly. "What brings you here?"

He just stared. Leonie had always been beautiful. Had she cut her hair? She looked different. More relaxed. Prettier than the last time he'd seen her. Resting against the door frame, his eyes took a slow and deliberate pass over her figure. From her slender shoulders and down over the gentle curve of her spine and down the legs she had. Legs for days, someone had said. He shifted awkwardly, wondering what was causing her newfound spring in her step. He'd be damned if it was a man.

Sam had always had a problem with jealousy. It was a compulsion. The more he couldn't have something, the more he wanted it. Whether it be clothes or belongings or women, it didn't matter. He could make her happy. He knew it, she knew it but she was so pigheaded sometimes. As she turned, he frowned. Leonie was still very special. He was half hoping she'd gotten fat or ugly so he'd no longer want to be with her but no, she was perfect, as always. The surprise was clear on her face and it made him blink. Clearly, she'd been thinking of something or someone else.

As the blonde approached, Samuel stood up straight. As Leonie looped her arms around his neck, he stiffened. He held his breath, not wanting to smell her perfume because it tormented him. He thought he was able to smell it everywhere after he left; on his clothes, his skin, even on the damned wind. A few seconds had passed before he looped one arm around her waist awkwardly and gave her the briefest of squeezes. He was mad at her and he didn't know why. He didn't own her. Leonie didn't owe him anything. This was his doing. He felt as though he'd been replaced or forgotten, thrown away like a child's toy. Here she was, swanning around, all smiles and glitter and it made him want to punch something. Couldn't she see she was the orchestration of all his pain?

Now that he was released,  he could breathe again and he offered a tight smile. "Nice place," Sam said conversationally as he stepped into her shop and around her without permission. He wandered in, trailing his fingers gently over various shoeboxes. He'd always liked the smell of leather. He suddenly decided he didn't like London. It was very…grey. Dull, dark and busy. Dirty, too. He'd only tolerate it because she was here. Otherwise, he would have failed to see the appeal.

"Did you get my flowers?" Sam blurted out as Leonie asked him why he was here. That wasn't the main reason he was here. His visit was borne out of frustration and the inability to get her out of his head. He hadn't planned on it. He was almost nineteen. Wasn't he too old to be getting crushes now? Wasn't that a pre-school notion? He frowned at her again and slid his hands into his coat pocket, looking and feeling a bit like a caged animal. He didn't like feeling uncomfortable and he certainly didn't like Leonie's powers over him. He always felt three steps behind her.

He gave a careless shrug as he looked at the ceiling, rocking back and forth on his heels. "I was just in the area," he said as he became seemingly engrossed in a light bulb above his head. "Sorry. I should have let you know I was coming but apparently, post doesn't get delivered here," he said sardonically as he shot her a pointed look with a slim eyebrow arched.

Her former house mate stiffened when she hugged him but instead of letting go, she hugged him just for a little while longer than neccessary. Leonie had missed him. His smile, their banter, their talks... She hadn't noticed it during the past few months, life had been too busy, but now that she saw him, the blonde realised that it was true. There had always been something special between them, a weird kind of attraction, a spark that had never gotten the chance to turn into a flame. At first there had been Niko, then graduation and then she'd gotten him arrested and he'd disappeared. But maybe that was it. Maybe the attraction was there because it had never worked out before even though both of them knew that it could.

"Thank you." Another smile lit up her face as she looked around. She had put a lot of effort into the interior design and it was good to hear someone appreciating it. Fitting to she shop's name, it was decorated with lots of tiny cherry blossoms everywhere. There were huge elegant white porcelain vases filled with cherry tree branches standing next to a few shelves and the light was provided by fairy lights. Leonie loved being in her shop and she always hoped her customers liked the atmosphere as much as she did.

Did you get my flowers?

Huh? Leonie looked at her friend, the confusion very evident on her face. Flowers? Which flowers? Jamie had brought her some every now and then but she couldn't remember that she'd gotten some via delivery. It was weird. Maybe he'd had the wrong address? Or was he just joking around now? "No," she replied slowly, shaking her head. "I haven't gotten any. When did you send them? Did you have the right address?" The former Klyk Vampira tried to remember if a bouquet of flowers had been delivered to the shop but after thinking about it for a few seconds, she dismissed the thought again. No, she would definitely know if something had arrived.

"No, no. It's all good. I like surprise visits." The German took a few steps into the shop, gesturing him to follow her. "Come in, please. Can I get you a coffee? Or a glass of water?" There was a fancy little silver espresso machine in the back of the shop as well as some bottles of water and a lounge sofa, which was frequently used by her customer's boyfriends or husbands. Leonie led him over to it and stopped, tilting her head to the side a little. "Would you like to sit down?"

Before he had the chance to say anything, the blonde reached for one of the coffee pads and placed it inside the machine. Not looking at Sam, she pressed the button and soon the familiar noise of boiling water echoed through the room. It had taken her some time to get used to that thing but since she also got muggle customers, she couldn't do everything with magic. "You know," she said quietly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I thought you were still mad at me for everything that happened during our last meeting." She smiled sheepishly and forced herself to continue. "I guess I've never apologised for it, have I?" 

He knew he was being a big baby. He'd always been a petulant child. He liked to win. He relished in the rush when he'd beaten an unworthy opponent at something. Had he been rational, Sam would have realised that Leonie wasn't a prize to be won. He knew that, she knew that. He was just frustrated. He'd tried both angles. He'd been a dick to her in school. He was rude about her boyfriend, he constantly mocked her, he paraded other girls in front of her and yet, she didn't seem to give a shit. The nicey-nicey- approach hadn't worked, either. He was positively livid.

"Fairly certain, yes," Sam said gruffly. Of course he had the right address. He had several maps of London. If he was going to be precise, he had nineteen maps of London. It was bordering on creepy now. The only address he didn't have was her older brother's but he knew the address of his bar…he also knew that it was seven point nine miles away from her shop. He probably needed a hobby.

Leonie seemed honestly surprised that he'd sent her gifts and he frowned as he softened just a little. He didn't like this. He had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Things weren't adding up. "Oh, a while ago," he said airily. Now that the blonde knew about his offerings, it sounded a bit strange. Sending flowers once was fine but seven times? He shrugged his broad shoulders as she crossed his arms across his chest swiftly, his eyes behind the lenses of his glasses focused on the ceiling.

His sister Kaisja was right; Leonie was trouble but he'd resolutely refused to listen.

Would he like to sit down? Of course he would. Unlike his sister who had emotional blackmail down to a fine art, Sam's intentions had always been horribly clear. "A coffee would be great," he said shortly as he sat down. It was a bit…twee for his liking. Scandinavian by birth, Scandinavian by style. He preferred something simpler. His apartment was simple, too. Blonde, highly scrubbed wood. Low sofas. Cream walls. Minimal but striking accents. It looked clean and stylish and effortless when actually, it was a bit of a ball-ache to source and fit everything.

It was very Leonie, he realised suddenly. Absently, he ran his slim fingers along the length of fairy lights, the light tinkering of plastic hitting plastic sounded almost musical to his ears. He became momentarily interested in the cherry blossom flowers that were artfully placed in the vases around the shop. "I'm surprised Kaisja's not been in here yet," he said. His sister and his crazy ex, Julia, were close. They used to go shopping together and it drove him absolutely mad. His family had a very loose idea of "family ties."

"I'm not mad," Sam said, his head jerking up, answering her question almost too quickly. "Getting arrested for someone else's vandalism really was on my New Year's Resolution list," he said brightly as he sat. He still felt apprehensive. He couldn't understand why. Leonie had no reason to lie to him but the flowers thing really did irk him. In spite of himself, he cracked a smile. Honestly, he was at the point now where he could look back and laugh at it. It was a Muggle conviction; it held no mud in the wizarding world. Thank Merlin otherwise he'd lose his job. Imagine, a convicted vandal, working in the Russian Ministry for Magic?

He reached out his hands for the cup of coffee that Leonie had made for him. "You can make it up to me by having dinner with me tomorrow night," Sam said quickly and with a winning smile as he sipped from his cup nonchalantly.

It was weird, really. Leonie knew Sam wasn't lying - why would he? - which meant they'd probably gotten lost somewhere. "I'm sure they were beautiful. Maybe someone at the post office wanted to keep them for themselves?" She shrugged, a smile on her face. " Next time you'll just have to bring them in person." The coffee machine was done and she picked up the plate with the cup on it carefully so that she wouldn't spill anything and placed it on the table in front of him. She always had a small can filled with milk on the table as well as pots with brown and white sugar. Keeping the husbands happy while their wives were trying on her shoes usually was half the battle. Leonie poured herself a glass of water and sat down next to her friend, legs crossed.

The former Klyk Vampira chuckled softly at his words and took a sip before she replied. "But I am sorry. I really didn't want the night to end like this." It was true, she hadn't. The day after she hadn't remembered everything, a lot of alcohol had been involved, but she had definitely remembered that she had enjoyed spending time with the Norwegian and that she'd enjoyed being close to him. Maybe something would have happened if they hadn't been arrested but she would never know now. He'd disappeared, understandably, and she had continued to start her own business. Sure, she had thought about contacting him but then she'd been too worried that he'd ignore her and hadn't sent out the letter. The power had always been in her hands, even at school, and she just hadn't wanted to give it to him. Not even once.

And then she'd met Jamie. Successful, handsome, perfect Jamie. He'd made her forget almost anything else, especially during the first few weeks in which they had barely left her or his apartment except for work. By now they were spending more time with friends, they went out for dinner, visited plays as well as concerts, just like a regular couple. If she thought about it, Leonie couldn't think of a single weekend or even night she hadn't spent with her boyfriend but it was fine. She wouldn't be surprised if he'd ask her to move in with him soon and she would probably say yes.

Shaking her head slightly, Leonie focused back on her friend just in time to hear his suggestion. Dinner, hmm? The German mentally checked her calendar for any appointments tomorrow but she couldn't think of one. James had suggested to stay in and order some takeaway but he surely wouldn't mind her spending some time with a friend. It probably wasn't fair to agree without telling Sam that she was in a relationship but something prevented her from telling him and so she just smiled and nodded. "Okay. Dinner it is then. I close the shop at six, so shall we meet at seven?" Leonie usually spent another hour once in a week to check her inventory and the finances and moreover she didn't want to have dinner in her regular work clothes. Not that she wasn't dressed well, of course she was, but still.

"Do you want to choose a place or shall I?" The witch didn't know how well he knew London but maybe he already had a favourite place here. There was so much she didn't know about him, now that they didn't see each other almost every day, but maybe they could change that again. Apparently there were no hard feelings involved and it pleased her more than she'd thought it would.

Sam sighed.

Rejection ran in the family. Both he and his younger brother weren't great with women. Only his older sister, Kaija, was any good with relationships. Well, "relationships" was a bit far fetched. She blew into people's lives like an explosion, leaving a trail of broken hearts and blood in her wake. The girl was a maniac.

Her flippant remark made him frown. They were beautiful. He'd spent a lot of time (and embarrassment) picking out the perfect flowers. Flowers that reflected her beauty and meant something. These were not tacky, thoughtless, supermarket flowers. No. He'd put effort into them. That was what Leonie had never realised about him. This wasn't some crush. He was pretty certain he was in love with her and covered it up well with his finely crafted façade.

But she didn't care. Or she was lying to him. He didn't know which one was worse.

But Sam was sulking and he took the cup in silence. "Thank you," he said as he took a delicate sip. Leonie was infuriating. She just didn't get it. She didn't. For someone was modern and sophisticated, she really did need her head testing at sometimes.

This was no longer about the money. Every girl he'd met, he compared to her. None of them made the grade. They were boring and uninteresting. He wasn't even mad about now having a criminal record. Why? Because he'd made her laugh. Properly laugh. It was amazing. He met her eyes briefly, feeling as though he was mentally baring his soul before dropping them again and drinking his coffee in silence. What else could he say? She'd clearly thought him an overgrown teenager.

It wasn't that he hadn't tried. Christ, had he tried. Tried to woo her, tried to court her, tried to get over her but no. There she was, standing quietly, like some sort of malevolent reoccurring nightmare, in the corner, reminding him that he was never good enough.

"Seven's good," Sam replied vaguely. Was this a pity date? Probably. Leonie was a nice girl but she didn't understand. She just skipped gaily through his daydreams, accidentally tormenting him as she wrapped him around her little finger. He'd not once stopped her. She should know that he'd crawl across hot coals for her if she asked him to. He wouldn't even hesitate. She held him in the palm of her hand.

"I'll pick," he said swiftly as he stood, placing the cup on the saucer and back on the side and out of the way. No one said he had to take her to dinner in London. He wasn't sure which route to go; flashy and impressive or low key and meaningful? He stood in silence as his brain ticked over, mentally trying to recall owed favours as he tried to slot things into place. He had an idea and he had a day to form is properly. It could be make or break. Gee, no pressure.

"I'll see you tomorrow at seven," Sam told her, matter-of-factly. He was being deliberately obtuse. He leant in, the scent of his understated yet obviously expensive aftershave catching on the collar of his jacket. Closing the gap, he placed a kiss on her cheek. It was low, his mouth catching the corner of hers in an action that was decidedly un-chaste. If commented on, he could easily say he slipped. "Bring a jacket," he tossed over his shoulder, his fingers sliding down her arm in a soft touch as he strode towards the door, closing it behind him as he wandered out into the quickly darkening sky.

Something was wrong.

There was something about her friend she couldn't quite place. She knew him as a cheerful and fun young man, one who liked teasing her and flirting with her but today was different. Sam wasn't his usual self and it irritated her. This wasn't still about getting arrested, was it? No, she didn't think so. It could be about the flowers, maybe he thought she was lying to him, but that would be a little exaggerated, wouldn't it? Leonie was sure she would have loved the flowers, he always knew what she liked and what not, but she had never gotten them and it couldn't have been her fault.

Maybe everything would get back to normal tomorrow. They'd talk and tease each other just like they always had and then it would all be okay. Maybe he was just tired and a little frustrated that his flowers had gone missing. She'd probably be mad at that in his place as well. Before she could say anything else, Sam was already standing up and she ignored the cup he placed on the table. She could always clean up later. "Fine," she nodded, wondering what he had in mind. There were some nice places in London and she was convinced he'd pick a good restaurant. Sam wasn't snobby but he appreciated a good meal as much as she did.

The blonde followed him as he walked towards the door and stopped when he did, blue eyes looking up at him. "I'm looking forward to it," she replied honestly and leaned in for a hug. The Norwegian had other plans, though. He opted for a kiss on her cheek but his lips brushed over the corner of hers and her eyes widened in surprise. It hadn't been a coincidence, she was sure of it, but what else had it been? And more important... why? Why had he come here after months of silence between them, acting weirdly and then stealing half a kiss? It just didn't make sense.

Leonie decided not to comment on it, instead she nodded when he told her to bring a jacket and waved to say goodbye. The door closed behind him and she stood in the middle of the room, completely dumbfounded. After a few seconds she shook her head and walked back to the table where he'd placed his cup. Jamie would arrive soon and to be honest, she didn't want to think about this weird encounter anymore. Everything would be different tomorrow.