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

"Thanks, Mr. Thompson," Fiona chuckled softly.

Keaton gave her a fond pat on the head, but his eyes were really on Flora the whole time.

...

As they walked toward Mr. Garcia's office, a bunch of students noticed them and started whispering all sorts of things.

"Looks like Mr. Thompson is taking the new girl to Mr. Garcia's office, right? Poor thing, she's in for it now."

"Getting caught and still worried about rumors? We've got a girl selling herself at Westbrook High, what a mess."

"Fiona seems so sweet and innocent. Who would've thought she's mixed up in that kind of stuff? Think a grand would do it for a night with her?"

The boys kept their chatter going, totally oblivious to the guy across from them. He was darting his eyes behind them and trying to signal them to zip it, but they were too caught up in their gossip to notice. Then, out of nowhere, a voice cut through the noise like a knife!

"A thousand bucks would definitely cover breaking one of your legs."

The chill in the voice made everyone's skin crawl!

The boy went stiff, slowly turning to find Nash glaring at him, looking like he was about to be plucked.

"Nash..."

"You've got some nerve," Nash said, leaning against the window, eyes cold as ice. "Talking smack about a girl from my class."

"I... I... I..." The boy was sweating bullets now.

"Nash, I didn't mean it, I just run my mouth... Besides, Nash, you and Fiona don't even get along, right?"

She'd even scrapped with Nash on her first day at school.

Yet here was Nash, stepping up for Fiona.

"Doesn't matter if we're besties or not, she's still in my class," Nash tapped his fingers on the window, his eyes sweeping over the group "Keep your mouths clean, or watch

your back on the way 2001."

Everyone went quiet as a mouse.

Nobody dared to make another peep.

Nash chuckled darkly before leaving.

...

Class 5.

"Louise, have you heard the latest about Fiona?"

It was study hall, and Louise was deep in her work when her deskmate leaned over, all excited and whispering.

"Her?" Louise smirked. "No, what's up?"

"It's all over the place, and you don't

know!" the girl said eagerly. "The school forum had some photos leaked. Turns out, Fiona, that new girl in Class 9, is actually a... you know!"

The school forum had been locked and the post deleted, but the girl was itching to show it to Louise.

"Really..." Louise's perfect brows knitted together. "Fiona doesn't strike me as that type. Could it be a mix-up?"

"With pictures? No way it's a mix-up.

Louise, you're just too sheltered! Coming from a good family, you wouldn't get it. Some girls, especially ones like Fiona from the sticks who need cash, will do anything for money."

Louise listened, a picture of concern, but if you looked closely, her lips were ever so slightly curling up.

"Cut it out! Nash is on the warpath, he's headed this way. If he hears you badmouthing Fiona, he might just make good on that leg-breaking threat."

Suddenly, a boy dashed into the room, urgently whispering to his classmates as he ran.

At that, Louise instinctively glanced out the window.