Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

The atmosphere in the conference room was so thick with tension you could almost cut it with a knife. It felt like any second now, the two sides might start swinging at each other over the recent exam results.

But Fiona? She was cool as a cucumber, lost in a game on her phone.

"With that kind of attitude, you expect us to believe you topped the whole school? Who are you kidding? Think knowledge just pours into your brain like water?"

"Well, we don't know if the teachers are all wet, but when we're thirsty, we drink," came the cheeky reply.

With a loud bang, Mr. Anderson, the Class A homeroom teacher, looked like he was about to blow a gasket. In all his years of teaching, he'd never met students this headstrong, refusing to admit they were wrong. It was enough to drive him up the wall.

Mr. Garcia, on the other hand, kept sneaking glances at Fiona. He noticed she hadn't said a word, just sat there as calm as you please. Even Keaton had only spoken up to back Class 19 and then zipped it.

"All right then, if that's how you want it, we'll do this the old-fashioned way. You've got last year's math and Spanish finals right in front of you. Three hours to finish them, and our teachers will mark them right here."

Finally, Fiona looked up, gave a quick glance, and then went back to her phone. During the shouting match, she'd already checked out the school's online forum. It was ablaze with posts dragging them through the mud, not just the three of them, but the whole of Class 19.

She recognized a few usernames of folks who used to be tight with Class 19. Now, they'd turned on them. She figured someone had to be stirring the pot because there was no way just a set of grades could spark this much ire.

"Just 'cause you say we have to write doesn't mean we'll do it."

Nash, with a swagger in his step, crumpled the exam paper into a ball and tossed it to the floor, watching it roll away.

Even if it came down to writing, Nash wasn't about to play ball with that kind of attitude.

"You're students; you need to do as your teachers say!" Mr. Anderson was about ready to lose it.

"Oh, really? And what if we don't?"

Nash's nonchalance was enough to make anyone see red.

Fiona put away her phone and nudged Nash, giving him a look that said, "Zip it."noveldrama

Curiously enough, Nash listened to Fiona. He leaned back in his chair, keeping his mouth shut while Mr. Anderson seethed.

"We're not against retaking the test. There's no need to turn this into a circus." Fiona slid her phone over to Mr. Garcia.

Ever since they'd entered the conference room, only she and Mr. Garcia had kept quiet. Mr. Garcia had his eye on her, probably already made up his mind and just waiting for the right moment. Content

And now, Fiona saw her opening.

"I'm guessing none of you have checked the school's official forum. It's blowing up over this. And it's not just our school-students from other faculties are piling on us too. Do we really warrant that much attention?"

Fiona's words hit the nail on the head, and everyone caught the drift.

"What are you talking about? How would students from other schools even know what's happening at Westbrook High? It's embarrassing to even bring it up."

"If you don't believe me, grab your phones and see for yourselves," Fiona said with a smirk.

Suddenly, everyone's faces changed. This kind of scandal should've stayed within Westbrook High's walls. How did it spread so quickly? And why were students from other schools suddenly swarming the official forum? A cloud of suspicion hung over the room.