“You almost didn’t break anything tonight.”

Vora had been working at Bernard’s flower shop for a month now. She envisioned herself blowing through her job with ease, but she learned that any motor functions required for minimal physical work didn’t follow her out the womb. It was probably replaced with her Eoa—which was a name she was ecstatically proud of.

On her first night, Vora had broken two pots trying to bring the outside ones in. On her next work night, she counted the types of flowers wrong, causing improper inventory. Every night she screwed up something, and every night Bernard would scold her. When Vora expected to be fired, he didn’t do it. For what reason, she did not know.

All this made Vora forget she took this job to have an excuse to roam the night freely.

“I’ve gotten better,” Vora replied, sweeping some clay bits into a pile of dirt in the corner. “I didn’t even break that pot. It just chipped.”

“Sure.” Bernard glanced at the clock. “Time’s up. The night’s done, Snihde.”

Vora dropped the broom instantly. “Great. It’s my friend’s birthday tomorrow, so I best get to bed.” Vora goggled. “I forgot to get her a present. Can I get an advancement on my paycheck?”

“What? You? You’re barely hanging on, and you ask me that?” He unwrapped a blue swirl sucker and put it in his mouth. “You’re out of your mind. That ugly mug of yours brings in more money than you burn. Be grateful.”

“Ugly!? You don’t have to be rude. Clearly, you’d be helpless without me because who would work for a jackass like you? Bet your last employee ran off furious.”

“No. She died,” Bernard said seriously.

“Uh. Oh. I apologize.” Vora grabbed her purse. “I’ll leave then. You won’t have to deal with me anymore. I’ll find somewhere else, then. Use my payment for the damage then.”

“Hey, wait.” Vora paused before coming back to the desk Bernard was seated in. He stood and handed her an envelope. “Your payment. I deducted the things you broke. Pots and such are not that expensive, so it’s nearly a full check. If you’re quitting, that’s fine. But I’m not firing you. If I were going to do that, I wouldn’t have hired you.”

Vora put the envelope in her purse. “Then why did you? You owe me that, at least, if you’ll tug me along.”

“You may not act like it, but you’re an outcast. No one in their right mind would keep you around after going beyond skin deep. I made this business to brighten people’s lives, whether it be flowers or otherwise. Besides. How would you accomplish whatever scheming you’re doing behind your loved ones’ backs? Don’t act surprised,” Bernard added when Vora’s eyebrows raised. “I was young and stupid like you.”

“You still are. Thank you.”

“Charming. Go home, Snihde. If you do come back: next Thursday on the dot.” Bernard reclined himself in a chair. As Vora passed through the door, he pulled out his sucker and yelled. “Don’t buy your friend a crappy gift. And keep your bonds close.”

Maive could receive a box of dirt, and she’d be happy, Vora thought. But I have a gift she’ll truly cherish. A gift that shows we’ll never grow apart. I’m a great friend. Vora smirked.

***

Darcie and Vora were already displeased with the new school year, and they’d only stepped through the door ten minutes ago. The assembly hall was filled with girls six to ten years old—and the pair were among the eights. As the principal rattled on and on, Vora and Darcie whispered between themselves.

“There’s no way you could stuff that many cranberries in your mouth.” Vora’s eyes thinned, and her cheeks lifted. “That’s far too bitter for anyone to handle. I despise cranberries.”

“I can, and I’ll do it again just to prove yer wrong.”

“I do not want to see—ow.”

Darcie grunted as the teacher behind the two smacked them on the silver and purple.

“Krow and Snihde. Shut your mouths and respect the school,” said a dark-skinned teacher with tied white hair. “It’s the first day, for Bell’s sake.”

The two girls straightened up to avoid further punishment.

“And to finish this all off before you girls get to learning, I have some wonderful news for our school. The Orna family has sent their only daughter to learn with us.”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

There were whispers among the girls. Vora knew that the Orna’s were the largest manufacturers of HCs and that they lived in O’Landra. Aside from that, the remainder of her knowledge was no better than myths and fairy tales.

“You may come to the stage, Ms. Maive.”

A girl with long blue hair and a downcast expression pattered up the stage to join the principal, a few Chimes there for blessings, and some teachers. She never looked up at the audience as the principal rattled off about the honor of such an opportunity. Whispering and head shaking increased.

“She doesn’t look thrilled. I’d be overjoyed to have all those eyes on me,” Vora said dreamily.

“Yeah, you would. Weirdo,” Darcie said.

***

Vora and Darcie reached their homeroom class and placed their school cases on their chosen desks.

“I can’t believe your brother did that,” Vora said while snapping her case open. “Your brother does so much dumb stuff. Breaking his leg fits.”

“It sucks only having one sister.” Darcie slumped on her desk. “She’s already making plans to ditch the farm.”

“Grown-ups do that. I hope I won’t end up like that.”

“Did you ever want a sibling?” Darcie asked as if she just learned Vora was an only child. “It’s not that much fun.”

“Sometimes. It sounds like you are having fun. But I overheard my mother can’t have any more kids. I don’t know the specifics why.”

“Eh,” Darcie grumbled. “You might be lucky.”

The class went silent as Maive Orna entered with her case close to her chest. She looked up only to find an empty desk in the back, then returned to the floor. Her travel was blocked by a group of girls, one of whom was Millie Dart: the resident bully. She had pink hair, strawberry eyes, and freckles on her cheeks. A thin girl and a large girl a lot followed her around.

“You look down on us, don’t you? Is that why you can’t look us in the eyes?”

“Please, leave me alone,” Maive replied. “I would like to go to my seat.”

“Don’t have time for the poor, huh? I just wanted to talk.” Millie grabbed Maive’s blue hair and slammed her face onto the table. Maive made no noise as Millie growled, “My dad lost his job because of you Ornas.”

“I’m sorry…” Maive said with a shaky voice

“What was that? Want to repeat it? A hundred more times at least.”

“Millie, quit your hassling.” Darcie stood and knocked Millie’s hand away. “It’s our first day, and she had nothing to do with yer dad.”

“You’re going to defend her? She probably spits on farmer families, too.”

“Not defending her. I want sum quiet.”

Darcie was one of the few that Millie didn’t mess with on account of that Darcie fought back. “I’ll deal with this later, then.”

“Thank you…” Maive whispered.

“Don’t thank me,” Darcie replied. “It was the first and last time. Fight yer own battles.”

***

Lunch had finally arrived, and every girl was impatient to escape the school—even for a brief moment. Vora and Darcie grabbed their lunches and walked through the double doors. Outside was already littered with perched groups of girls.

“Darn,” Darcie started. “Fixin’ that mess took a bit.”

“Listen, it’s not my fault all those dumb trophies were stacked in the middle of the hallway. Anyone could have run into them.”

“They were protected by rope—Never mind. Let’s find somewhere in the back of the school. By those woods over there should do,” Darcie pointed.

Vora felt a sudden pain in the gut and a blow to the head. She wanted to puke for a moment, but that went away. Her head still hurt, though, so she rubbed it. Her gift had shared someone’s pain.

“You alright?”

“Yeah. Just hungry. And my hair hurts. I mean head. Yes. Head,” Vora corrected with a smile.”

“Uh huh…”

When they rounded the back of one of the buildings and neared the woods, they passed by Millie and her gang, laughing obnoxiously about something. They discovered a path of food leading into the trees. Darcie explored, and Vora followed shortly afterward. Her guess of the pain coming from whomever Millie just throttled skyrocketed in probability.

After wandering, they found a blue-haired scrawny girl sitting against a tree. Crying. There was a fancy sort of silver lunchbox beside her with a dent, and her hair was littered with bits of corn and mashed potatoes.

Vora wanted the pain to stop for the both of them, so she wanted to take this girl to the nurses’ office. But when Vora went for the girl, Darcie blocked her with her arm.

“What are you stopping me for?”

“She doesn’t deserve yer help, Vora.”

“Sorry. Please. Just go away. I want to be left alone. Hate me if you wish,” Maive whimpered.

“Apologies and self-pity: I know your type.”

“Sorry.”

“Yer hopeless. Yer not worth helping if yer not willin’ to fight for yerself.” Darcie tossed her food aside and took a solid stance with her legs. “Get up an’ hit me.”

“What? Why would I do that?”

“Do you have to do this?” Vora rolled her eyes. “You’re embarrassing me in front of the princess.”

“I’m not a princess. And I won’t hit you.”

“Stand up an’ fight me.”

“No! Please leave.”

Vora decided to play along, even though this would only lead to pain for everyone. She analyzed Maive to find something that may set her off. A glint drew her eyes to something within Maive’s school uniform. She whispered in Darcie’s ear.

“You like dogs, then?” Darcie said, referring to the brooch in her school uniform.

“Yes, I do.”

“I have dogs on my farm. They’re stupid an’ stinky, an’ sometimes I kick them for fun.”

“What?” Maive finally looked up.

“It’s fun sometimes to hurt animals.” Darcie mock laughed. “They’re so stupid. An’ dumb—”

Maive sprang and tackled Darcie to the group. She hit her weakly with the side of her fists. “You’re stupid. How could you hurt animals, monster?”

Darcie slugged Maive in the cheek, and the blue-haired girl tumbled off her. “You do fight for sumtin’. Fight fer yourself now. I’ve never hurt an animal. ‘Cept Dad’s going to show me how to brand next year. But that don’t count.” She offered a hand, and Maive agreed to take it.

“Sorry.”

“Ugh,” Vora groaned. “Shut up and be friends with us.”

“I’ll hit Millie for you if you do.” Darcie punched her palm.

“Okay. I will then. Thank you.”

Vora and Darcie squinted their eyes before rolling them while walking off.