Talented Me! 11

The two of them chatted about their new plan. Both of them took turns adding new ideas, all in a small bathroom cell. They were both excited about the near future, about stardom! Before long, the first bell rang echoing through the hallways and into the bathroom. At the first strike, Avina lifted her head and gasped. She skidded across the floor and slammed the doors open. Out she came tunneling into the hallways and she ran!

One hand held her phone, the other her bag, and both her feet were flying across the hallway. Placing her phone in her pocket, Avina started to rub both of her eyes fiercely.

Sad Wilona! She was Sad Wilona! Who cried in the bathroom and has red puffy eyes! Think about sad stuff! Like puppies left in boxes! Or cats who don't have 9 lives! Tear ducts start making tears!! Hurry!

At the sight of the classroom door, Avina slid it open slamming the door to the side. Everyone inside turned their heads looking at Wilona. The teacher inside taking attendance looked up startled before anger took over his face.

"Where were you Miss Wilona!" his voice thundered and slapped his book down. Fury ran in his veins and his voice shouted in the classroom.

"Late! You are late!"

Wilona looked nervous whilst panting. Her eyes were red and her chest heaved with heavy breathes. Her hand rested against the door as the other swayed by her side.

"Sorry," she could only give her apologies in an exhausted voice before heading to her seat.

Each of her steps was slow and heavy and her back hunched over. No one could see her expression, but if it was anything as they saw before, they knew it was full of shame and sadness. Shame for being late and scolded and sadness for who knows what.

The teacher was guilty upon noticing the ragged form, but coughed and chose to ignore it. Waiting till Wilona took her seat, he then restarted attendance. Every name was called out and answered with a clear "Here". Upon reaching Wilona's name, the teacher glanced at Wilona before clearing his voice and saying it. Of course, Wilona answered but there was a hint of tiredness in her voice.

As rumors come and go, new rumors spread of Wilona's next case of blues. From morning till evening, everyone was whispering and laughing hidden by only their hands and the walls. Avina chose to ignore every last one of them, but couldn't against her new friends.

Every hour, a new text would pop up on her phone, and she secretly had 5025 answer back to each of them. It was only at lunch break when Avina could breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, a small break.

Avina enjoyed her meal and finished it with gusto. The comfort of a full belly was relieving in a way. In the end, she patted her bulging tummy with a look of content. As she got up with her plate and a smile, a hand patted her shoulders.

Avina looked up expecting another bully, but it was a teacher. She greeted him, before hearing him say she was expected at the office. Avina was puzzled but quickly headed out.

"Set a monitor at the office. I want to know what's going on," Avina immediately thought it was Adi's funny monkey business. Wilona never got in trouble and neither did Avina; the only choice left was Adi.

A small monitor popped up from her right, and she stared at it as she walked to the office. Walking as slow as she could manage, Avina reached there in 5 minutes. Knocking on the door, she opened it carefully and peered inside.

From the monitors, she already knew it was her homeroom teacher and another teacher. Her homeroom teacher was holding onto papers flipping them and showing them to the other one. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, but Adi was a viper. Sneak attacks were her best attacks. No matter what, she had to be on her guard.

Her head peered in and soon her teacher noticed her. He waved for her to come closer before introducing the teacher next to him.

"This is Mr. Greene," he pointed at the tall man, "He wants to know if you would be interested in the Gardening Club."

Avina looked over at Mr. Greene. He was a tall, lean man who stood with his back straight and hands behind. On his mouth hung a small kind smile and his eyes curved for what seemed to be forever. In conclusion, he was a kind-looking man, but she felt he was a clever fox. A person who hid their motives behind a smile.

Wilona looked puzzled at her teacher. What does this mean? Why was he looking for her to be in his club? She had no experience in gardening!

Of course, her homeroom teacher knew what was going inside her head, but how was he supposed to know the answer. Mr. Greene just popped in his class during break and requested to have Wilona be in his club. Mr. Greene said it was all for the development of Wilona and because of her green thumb, but who would believe that hoax of a lie!

But was there a reason for him to refuse? No. Wilona was one of the students who weren't in a club, and it does wonders for a teacher report to say that you managed to have a student in a club. School interaction, the thing that increases changes of pay raise! So, instead, he left the refusing to Wilona. If she didn't refuse, then gardening it was! If she did, he could only shrug at Mr. Greene. Not my fault your club is a little boring!

For the next 5 minutes, he worked to persuade Wilona for the betterment of her school life (and his, but that's a secret). Club life is great! It's nice to have a hobby! Make new friends! Gardening is very good! Grow your own vegetables!

Mr. Greene was watching with smiling eyes. It was entertaining to see such fun. Upon realizing the teacher was running out of ideas, he placed his own comment.

"And I can help you obtain excused absences for your show."

Avina's face changed at his words before returning to normal. No one noticed her changes, but her mind was racing. She was flustered, but couldn't reveal a thing.

The teacher looked puzzled at Mr. Greene. He did not mention a show or excused absences or whatnot when he asked for Wilona. What was going on here? How did Mr. Greene know about Wilona's show?

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, the school advised students to focus solely on education and to forget activities that may hinder it. That means, if there is an activity hindering a student's growth, the school has some rights to stop said activity. Of course, this has only happened a few times during the school's history because it was impossible for the school to know everything. But showbiz, that was a grey area; Avina didn't know if the school would step in or not.

No one other than Adi and her friends knew, but if word got out, she didn't know what to do! A few steps to stardom would be ruined just like that if the school stepped in!

"But Mr. Greene, I don't know how to garden," Wilona began. Her fingers twisted unsure of what to say. What kind of reason was there to ask her to join? What kind of excuse can she make to not join...

"Then you can learn."

"I can't pay to join," Avina said. Wilona has limited money, a good excuse. Plus, there was no way her pretty hands were touching dirt. Fight a man, sure, but gardening? Avina is not ashamed to say she's got no talent there.

"No need for money," his smiling eyes stared at her anxious ones. "It's okay, just help at the greenhouse."

"I'm a little busy." At this point, Avina was running out of ideas. She didn't want to garden, but at the same time, excused absences were tempting. But Mr. Greene did not seem like the person to help without benefits; Avina didn't know what his plan was. She didn't know what to do.

"Then you can come in your free time," Mr. Greene smiled again. He wasn't backing down either. He came this far; what was the point in backing down now.

Avina stared at Mr. Greene's smiling fox face. She didn't understand why he was so adamant about having Wilona join the Gardening Club. Wilona never had the hobby of gardening nor mentioned it once. Even in her memories, Mr. Greene was not mentioned either.

She looked at Mr. Greene and then at her own teacher. Mr. Greene had a hint of eagerness in his eyes and there was a victorious smile lining his face. He was sure Wilona would join. Her own teacher was puzzled but hardly cared half a thought. In his mind, the paycheck was all that needed his attention. Thinking of all the hassle there would be if word got out, she could only resign in defeat.

It's just gardening. Pretty flowers pretty plants, feed them water and they grow! Can't be that difficult, right? At the very least, she can just not do anything. Mr. Greene said it himself, she can come in her free time. When was this free time? How would he know!