Back at school;
Flora hung up the phone, her hands trembling. The cold plastic of the receiver felt slick against her sweaty palm.
"Let's calm down." She said to herself as she took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. Yet, the tears stinging the corners of her eyes wanted to be let out.
"Hey, what are you doing here this early?" A gruff voice behind her asked, startling her.
Flora spun around. It was Liam, his blue eyes filled with concern.
"What are you also doing?" She asked, quickly wiping her eyes. The salty taste of tears lingered on her lips.
Liam furrowed his eyebrows as he realized her eyes were wet.
"Flora, what is wrong? You are crying..." He reached out gently taking her.
His touch was warm and comforting but Flora snatched her hand away.
"Nothing. I'm fine." She maintained even though, the sudden absence of his warmth left her fingers cold.
She turned to leave, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. But Liam followed her.
"Come on, you can talk to me. I'm worried about you." He persisted, his voice soft and earnest.
"I never said I needed someone to talk to." Flora snapped, feeling irritated.
"Just leave me alone." She added and quickened her pace.
Liam's footsteps grew faster, matching her pace.
"But Flora, how can I leave you in this situation? And why are you being like this towards me? Did I do something wrong?" Liam asked, his voice sounding low.
His statement got to Flora and for a moment she felt guilty for treating him that way when all he had ever done was being nice to her.
"You think I don't know what you are doing? Trying to use my bethroted to climb the social ladder here."
"I am going to make you regret ever stepping foot into this school."
Clarissa' threats rang in Flora's mind and she knew she needed to keep her distance from Liam.
"If not for anything, but to save myself the humiliation of being tagged a dependent wannabe who is living a fake life." She thought to herself.
"More so, I have a lot to worry about, already." She added.
Then, she turned around, letting her eyes flash with anger.
"I said, leave me alone! Stop following me! I don't want to be friends with you. I don't want to be anybody's friend here." She yelled.
Liam halted, taken aback by her outburst.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I just wanted to help." Liam said, holding his hands in surrender, confusion written across his face.
"Well, I don't need your help. I don't need anyone's help." Flora snapped.
"So just stay away from me." She added as she backed away, her back hitting the cold metal of a locker.
Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Okay, If that is what you want. But if you change your mind, I'm here." He assured her before retreating.
As Liam's footsteps faded away, Flora leaned against the locker, closing her eyes.
"I can get through it all!" She mumbled under her breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that morning, Flora sat in class, the hard wooden chair uncomfortable beneath her.
Her gaze was fixed on her desk, tracing the patterns in the wood grain. She could feel Sophia's eyes on her, but she couldn't bring herself to look up.
"Flora, where were you this morning? You left before I even woke up..." Sophia leaned over, whispering to her friend.
"And you look like something..." Sophia was saying and at that moment, the teacher strode in, her heels clicking against the floor, cutting Sophia off.
"Good morning, class. Let us settle down and make good use of the morning." The teacher's loud voice rang through the class.
The door swung open again, the hinges creaking. Clarissa sauntered in with her friend Lena, the scent of expensive perfume wafting through the room.
"So, we are going to start from where we stopped in our last class." The teacher said instead of commenting on the fact that Clarissa and her friend were late.
Then she went straight to start writing on the blackboard.
"Now, who can solve this equation?" She asked after writing.
As if she had been waiting for that moment, Clarissa's hand shot up.
"Actually, Miss, I think our new student should have a go." She maintained, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.
"Oh no, the queen bee shouldn't start her drama this morning!" The teacher thought to herself, clenching her fists.
"Flora, why don't you show us why you deserve to be here?" Clarissa faced Flora who had been taken unaware.
A chorus of agreement rose from Clarissa's supporters, their voices blending into a cacophony of pressure.
"Yeah, it's only fair!"
"Let's see what she can do!"
"Come on, new girl!"
Liam stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
"That is ridiculous! She just got here!" He protested angrily.
The teacher held up a hand, her voice stern.
"Now, now. Flora hasn't been here for our previous lessons. It wouldn't be fair to..."
"I will do it." Flora interrupted the teacher, her voice quiet but firm. The words left her mouth before she could stop them.
The class fell silent, the tension palpable in the air. Flora stood despite how her legs were shaking in tension.
"I should show them that I deserve to be here... among them." She thought to herself.
"Flora, you don't have to..." Sophia started, concern evident in her voice.
"It's fine." Flora cut her off, her mind racing as she made her way towards the board. The equation swam before her eyes, the numbers and symbols blurring together.
Vivian, sitting in the front row, caught Clarissa's eye. A subtle nod passed between them, unnoticed by the rest of the class.
As Flora passed Vivian's desk, time seemed to slow. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye, but before she could react, Vivian's leg shot out. In an instant, Flora was falling, the world tilting around her.
"Oh no..."
Her face met the floor with a sickening crack. Pain exploded across her nose, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
Gasps filled the room, the sound muffled by the ringing in Flora's ears.
She pushed herself up, feeling warm blood streaming from her nose, dripping onto her shirt.
"Flora! You are bleeding!" Sophia yelled in panic.