"I bet she's only friends with Florence for her money and to make herself look good".
Flo heard more than enough. "How did you come to that conclusion?", Flo asked turning to face the girls.
It was Gretta Forrest and her friends who Flo noticed had once again changed. Gretta is quite the gossipper and doesn't like being told she's wrong. If any of her friends went against her she would abandon them immediately and try to make life living hell for them.
"Uhh.. Flo. Hello what are you doing here?", Gretta asked nervously hoping Flo didn't hear it all.
"It's Florence for you. Also do you think me having money is the only reason anyone would be friends with me? That's a little rude don't you think? And what did you say about Rai- boy crazy, acting for attention, master manipulator?", Florence said trying to provoke Gretta.
Gretta turned bright, clearly flustered. There were even girls slowly surrounding them to see what the commotion was.
Gretta was not happy with this attention. "Well no one told you to listen and I can have my opinion about someone. Also hasn't mother told you not to eavesdrop Garden?", She said looking smug thinking she did something.
Florence sighed in disappointment,"Hasn't mother told you not to talk behind someone's back. What was the point of even saying that?" The girls listening in on their conversation started giggling.
Gretta was redder than before which sounds impossible. "Why do you care? It's not like you to bother about these stuff even if it's related to Rai", one of Gretta's new friends was speaking, Genevieve Caddel.
To what Flo remembers of Genevieve she was a quiet girl who didn't seem too bad . So quite the shocker seeing her. But you could understand that Gretta is scraping the bottom of the barrel for friends.
"Do you know me?", Flo said confidently. Genevieve stayed silent. Flo sighed. "I pity you girls what fun is there in putting someone else down. Also I didn't expect it from you Genevieve". Genevieve now was just as red as Gretta, she looked away trying not to make contact .
Gretta was going to make another comment but Flo cut in,"I don't want to hear anything about me and Rai coming out of your mouth. If it does..."
Flo left leaving the crowd and making her way back," Ughh.. so annoying. Was it the right choice to confront her? Should I have ignored it? I don't want Rai to know about this".
Flo's mind was elsewhere as she walked to class, when she bumped into someone. "Opps.. sorry didn't see you there", a gentle but weirdly familiar voice said.
Flo looked to see it was Bentley(her brother if y'all forgot). When she saw his face it was clear that he didn't see her properly either, because what started as a nice smile twisted to an annoyed face. But once he got over his annoyance he smiled again.
"I should have been more careful", Flo said trying to hide her anger. Bentley pat her head and he walked away.
She could hear someone say,"you know her?" To which Bentley replied immediately ,"No!".
What did she do to be ignored by him? She was so used to it she just went along with it at that point but it was still frustrating when it happened.
She went back to class. She was mad and it was a little visible. Rai wasn't sure what to do but made up her mind that she would give Flo some space.
Flo looked at Rai with sad eyes. She felt bad. Did Rai know about the things that were being said about her? She would be hurt. "Arghh... don't people have anything better to do?!", Flo thought recalling the scuffle she had.
But it made her think, would anyone stand up for her? Maybe Rai but she never said much when the boys tease Flo. But it hasn't really gone too far to the point she had to step in.
That day after class she left with Rai. As she got out of school she hoped to see Tina but remembered she wouldn't be there.
Flo turned to Rai awkwardly as she rocked back and forth,"soooo....". Rai smiled and hugged Flo,"sorry I have to babysit my neighbours kids".
"Right you still do that", Flo said a little disappointed knowing she'll have to spend the rest of the day alone. The both of them waved and parted ways.
But just as Rai left the school gates the three Worshippers came and before they asked anything Flo raised her hand and pointed to the gate.
The three of them nodded simultaneously and said ,"thanks", while turning to leave. But Flo held them back by catching on to their bags,"are you going behind her?".
"Yes, now leave us", Wyatt said trying to get out of her grip.
Flo sighed,"she's busy today". "With what?", they said in unison.
"She has to babysit", Flo said.
Nolan smiled," more help the merrier!!".
"It's her neighbour's kids", Flo said," you think they will let three random dudes come into their house".
"Ahh I see your point ", Nolan said while the other two laughed at him. And with that the three of them bid farewell and walked out the gate.
Atleast I have the bus to get home. Flo thought feeling relieved. Right at that moment she got a text from her mom.
"Come home quick. We are having guests."
Flo replied
"I'll try. I have no ride tho and only money for the bus"
She got a message back,
"It's alright Ben will take you"
Just as Flo received that message, Bentley sent one too.
"Meet me at the bus stop"
Flo replied with an ok and walked towards the bus stop she saw Hugo there he was reading the same book he was reading in the morning.
Then Bentley came up to her in his car and she entered. Little did Flo know Hugo had seen her.
"Did Florence mention having a boyfriend? Why would she hide it though?", He thought. For some reason he felt like taking a photo and so he did. The photo managed to get the dude's face clearly just before they left.
"He's definitely from our school by the looks of his uniform he also looks like a senior. I've seen him before", Hugo didn't really care about who she's dating because he had blackmail material. This was perfect.
He started laughing slowly fixing his glasses looking a little cookey. He started swaying as if he were listening to music and then broke into a cackle. A mother who was standing next to him with her son moved away a little and whispered to her son," this is why you shouldn't take drugs".
As Flo reached home she was horrified to find out that it was her aunt Lucy, her father's sister who was to come.
Aunt Lucy wasn't the most pleasant person to be around. She was a harsh critic who really liked to pick on people she deemed not up to her standards which unfortunately included Flo.
As Flo walked in she was bombarded with orders from her mother,"I've set out clothes you are to wear for today on your bed. Once you've changed come to me and I'll do your hair. Ahh Benny...". And with that she went to Bentley.
Flo walked up to her room to see a floral shirt with a long skirt. Mom's style seems to stay the same even after 10 years. She chuckled to herself.
As she put on the clothes she slowly started to dread that night. Flo really hoped that her cousin Harper would be there.
Harper was a fun person to be around. And she was pretty nice to Flo. She too had an older brother Marcus. But Flo doesn't know much about Marcus. He was always busy with studies as a teen and now as an adult busy with work. They never talked anyway.
So Flo was really crossing her fingers hoping to see Harper today.
As she finished dressing she walked to her parents room and towards her mother's dressing table. It was cleaner than usual. She sat down.
Florence was slightly nervous for what was to come for her that evening. While she was deep in thought her mother came in.
Her mother was wearing a nice formal dress and her hair done in a bun. Her mother picked the brush on her table and set off to work.
"Make sure you are on your best behavior. And if you don't like something your aunt says don't say anything. Just ignore and act like you agree", her mother started. "So she means don't stand up for yourself, How sweet,"Flo thought bitterly.
It didn't matter she was too used to these orders. "Umm... Mum, is Harper coming?", Flo asked hopefully.
"Oh didn't you hear? She's gone abroad for college", Her mother said hurriedly parting and brushing her hair.
Flo was upset. She felt a little betrayed since Harper didn't tell her. But she guessed they weren't close enough for her to know.
"But Marcus is coming. He's on vacation at the moment", her mother added.
This night was going to be longer than she wanted to.