Bloom (ManxMan)

How It Began + Intro

"You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear."

– Oscar Wilde

"Never love anyone who treats you like you're ordinary."

– Oscar Wilde

******

Flowers bloom with no regret

-Years And Years.

-

"Schlong."

"Dickie."

"Single barreled pump action bollock yogurt shotgun." Andy snickered as he styled green icing around the heart shaped cake.

Annie pouts and stared Andy. "You win." She rolled her eyes at him.

Andy pauses what he was doing and flipped her off. The cake had to be done and sent out today for a birthday party. Thankfully Annie had done the little hearts and cookies, so all that was left was the base.

Andy was a twenty three year old baker. His little shop was suited on a little street in the Republic of Ater, a small country on the other side of the equator. His shop had a good view of the castle and even though Andy would deny this a hundred times, he would stare at the large building

"How do you even know so many synonyms for d***s?" Annie asked as she grabbed a white cardboard box.

"I read a lot." Andy said with a shrug. "Plus the internet is a place with lots of information."

"So let me guess, you were bored and googled it?" Annie asked.

Andy chuckled as he finished icing the cake. Annie moves closer with the large tray of decorations and Andy began to style it.

"I plead the fifth." Andy replies as he tastefully placed the red hearts on the icing and the tiny cookies around it. Annie shakes her head and sticks in toothpicks holding a banner made from icing with the words happy birthday on it.

It takes another fifteen minutes and everything was done. The cake was in the box and Andy had slid to the floor munching a red velvet cupcake.

"That's the last order for the day, right?"

"Yeah." Annie replied. "Would you get your ass off the floor?"

"Why? It's clean and I'm tired." Andy replied. "It's not like we have customers, the shop is closed!"

Annie also slid to the floor with him, a chocolate chip muffin in her hand. "This is the reason I work for you. Your pastries are fantastic, to die for, incredible. It hurt me deep in my soul when you came in second place for the Annual Ater Baking Contest."

Annie has been working for him for close to a year now. Before her was a lad named Liam who left for college. Annie had always been a fan of his pastries, she always came in and always ordered something off the menu everyday, each order different from the last. When she had come in for an interview as his assistant, she had confidently blew his mind away.

"Once the cake is picked up, we can go for dinner. I need beer and fries." Andy groaned, balling the wrapper and throwing it into the bin.

"I have to stop by my mum's. She said something about clearing out her closet and there's a pair of shoes I've had my eyes on since I was nineteen."

"You think she still has it?" Andy asked.

"Yeah, I saw it last weekend."

They fall silent for a minute, Andy places his head on Annie's shoulder and sighs. He pulls out his phone and quickly posts the picture of the cakes he made today on his i********:.

Andy was almost asleep when the door to the bakery was pushed open, the tiny bell jingling. Andy gets up, a smile already on his face. He was ready tell whoever it is, his store was closed for the day.

That was until he saw who it was. It was a tall dark skinned man in a perfect black suit and the royal badge on the lapel of his jacket.

Oh s**t. There was a royal guard in his shop.

"H-hi. How many I help you?" Andy asked, he stylishly kicked Annie with his shoe repeatedly until she got up.

"The Queen requests your presence at the palace tomorrow." The man said as he hands Andy a white envelope with the royal seal on it, the red and gold shining bright. Andy held onto the counter, it felt like his knees were going to give out, his heart was beating so fast and it felt like it was right in his throat. Oh s**t. Oh s**t.

The Queen wants to see him.

"Can I ask what this is about?" Andy asked.

"It's all in the letter, sir. Have a good day." The man said and walked out of the shop.

Andy stared at the envelope in his hand. Annie was nudging him and telling him to open it but he couldn't. His nerves were biting at him and he couldn't. What could the Queen want with him? He hasn't done anything wrong and he makes sure he pays his taxes!

"Just open the f*****g letter before we grow old and die?" Annie asked, nudging him in the ribs this time. Andy took a deep breath and opened the envelope. He pulled out the paper with a shaky hand and read the words.

The paper said the same thing the royal guard had said. Andy needed to be at the castle by twelve for tea with the Queen. The envelope was to serve as a pass at the gate because it got the royal seal on it.

"Is it bad that I don't want to go?" Andy asked as he puts the letter back into the envelope.

"Nope but you gotta. Think about your business, you could get recognition." Annie said and Andy nods. He hates it when Annie was being reasonable.

"What do I wear though?" Andy asked. "I've seen her on television and she looks... regal. I don't want her to stare at my clothes and change her mind about what she wants to say to me."

"You've got more clothes than my mum. You'll find something to wear." Annie replied. She puts him in the shoulder and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Andy gives her a droll look. "You aren't going to help?"

"I'm your frien not a fashion guru. Have you seen me? You dress better than I do."

Andy takes a good look at his friend and smiled. Annie had on a hot pink jeans and a large yellow sweatshirt, her dark hair was styled into pigtails they were rolled into a bun.

"Maybe you picking my outfit isn't a right idea." Andy said with a nod.

"And f**k you too."

—

Andy stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was ready.

He had on a white shirt, dark blue jeans and black boots. He tried to style his hair but his curls wouldn't stay down. The royal envelope was in his hands.

He was going to meet the queen today.

Andy took deep breath, he wasn't sure his heart was going to take it. Tiny bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he hears a loud horn. His Uber was here.

He quickly grabbed his trench coat and walked out of his house. He ran down the stairs and got into the car. He tells the driver he was going to the castle and after the Uber driver gives him an amused look, she began the short drive.

As they neared the castle, Andy's breath caught in his throat. The building was bigger and towering and so beautiful yet intimidating. He hasn't been in here since he was a little boy.

The cab was halted at the gates and one of the guards asked for the pass. Andy immediately hands it over and it was scanned. The gates part and the car drives in.

Andy's eyes went wide and his jaw slacked open. The entire garden was green with different colorful flowers, large fountains and was the sky bluer here than it was in the village?

Once Andy got down, he made his way to the door and the guard standing there, pushed it open for him after he shows his pass. The inside of the castle was so breath-taking, all the gold, amber, the leather furniture, tall lamps and amazing paintings.

A couple of women in white clothings walk up to him, bright smiles on their faces.

"Good afternoon, Sir."

"Uh.... hi? The Queen asked me to come? I'm Andy Parrish of That's So Pastry." He said, awkwardly scratching the side of his neck with his free hand.

"Pass?" One of the maids asked and Andy hands her the note. She takes a look at the envelope for a couple of seconds before she hands it back to him. "This way, please."

Andy followed the maids down a long hallway that had a large mural on the ceiling. Andy stared up at him, his mouth hanging open. He was so lost in staring at the painting that he doesn't notice the maids Boeing nor did he notice the man. He ends up barreling into him, his nose smacking into something hard.

"What the actual fuck." Andy gasped out, reaching up to rub at his nose. He doesn't notice the gasps the maids had let out until he looks up at the stranger ready to ask if he was blind!

Andy's had slipped from his nose and covered his mouth. His goddamn big mouth. The man standing in front of him was tall, his brown hair artfully styled off his face, he had on a green button up tucked into dark ironed pants. He had steel grey eyes that bore right into Andy's brown eyes, like he could see right into his very soul.

Fuck. He had cursed at the prince. He just cursed the prince to his face. He just cursed at Prince Isaac.

His mother had always said he had a big mouth and she was right.

Andy blinked owlishly at the man in front of himself. Prince Isaac stared at him, an elegant bow raised in amusement. This close, Andy could see the tiny moles splattered on his skin. He looked so much better in real life than he does online and in the pictures.

"Curtesy." One of the maid whispered and Andy frowns. Curtesy? What did she me-oh!!! Andy bit his bottom lip and immediately bowed his head, his hand pressed to his chest.

The prince chuckles. He doesn't say anything and just walks away instead. He closed his eyes shut and mentally kicked himself. He hasn't met the Queen yet and he had already blown it.

"Shall we?"

There's this feeling of dread pooling in Andy's stomach. He silently hoped that his lunch with the Queen would go smoothly. He follows the maid, this time he doesn't spin around or stare at the ceiling, he stare right in front of him. The last thing he wants to do was bump into another royal, which wasn't actually possible since Prince Isaac is an only child.

Andy was led to the back gardens, there were a couple of dogs running around, there were leather tress, another set of water fountains and even more beautiful flowers. Seated at a small white table, silently sipping her tea was the Queen. Her dark hair styled into a high bun with tiny tendrils falling down stylishly, she had on a beautiful white gown and her blinding wedding ring. Once Andy gets to her, he bows his head, his eyes squeezed shut as he prays not to f**k this up.

"Your Majesty." He says.

He hears her laugh softly. "Please sit, Andy."

Andy opens his heart and does as he was told. There was an empty cup in front of him and a small saucer of shortbread beside it.

"Tea?"

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'm more of a coffee person." Andy politely replied, his cheeks turning red.

"I'm sure you are wondering why I called for you?" She asked and Andy nods, playing with his fingers on his laps to fight back his nerves. "The Prince's coronation is in four months and I want you to cater the event."

Thankfully, Andy wasn't drinking anything because he was sure he'd have done a spit take and he shivers in horror as he imagines spitting coffee all over the Queen. He does, however, register her words. She wants him to cater the coronation.

There were many other bakeries in Ater and yet she had asked him. He didn't even win the Annual Ater Baking Contest last year and yet she had asked him. This was huge. This was a dream come through for him. Who was he to deny this?

"It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty."