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

Louise had this nagging feeling in her gut, like something wasn't quite right... Could it be...?

She quickly dismissed the thought. No way! The plan was solid, airtight. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

But as more and more parents filed out, her anxiety started to creep up. Her nerves were getting the best of her.

Unable to sit still any longer, she jumped up and approached one of the parents, putting on her best casual face. "Excuse me, ma'am, what's going on? Everyone seems so on edge."

The parent, dressed to the nines but with an air of trying too hard, looked at Louise with thinly veiled irritation. She might not have given Louise the time of day if she wasn't obviously a student. "Oh, it's just the usual drama. Best not to get involved. Knowing too much isn't going to help you. Just saying, don't say I didn't warn you, and also..."

Before she could finish, Louise cut in.

This was all wrong. In her mind, Fiona was supposed to be getting her comeuppance, but instead, it seemed like everyone was tiptoeing around her!

Louise bit her lip and pressed on, "And Fiona? What's up with her? I heard she's mixed up with someone way older... Rumors are flying at school, but who knows what's true?"noveldrama

At Fiona's name, the woman visibly flinched.

She yanked her arm away from Louise, like she'd seen a ghost, and whispered, "Don't drag me into this. I didn't say a word."

With that, she scurried off.

Louise watched her leave, feeling a knot of frustration. Who could she ask now?

She had spent so much time crafting this plan, convinced it was foolproof. But now? Not so much.

Soon, a few more parents emerged, looking all serious, none of them showing the outrage or satisfaction Louise had expected.

Before they could slip away, Louise spoke up, just loud enough for them to hear, "What's going on in there? Fiona really is a piece of work..."

The parents exchanged worried looks and one hesitantly asked, "Do you know this Fiona?"

Noticing their cautious demeanor, Louise realized something was definitely up.

She let out a dramatic sigh, playing the part, "Oh, don't get me started Yeah, we're classmates. She doesn't have the best rep at school; not many folks like her. With all these rumors... it's no secret."

She watched their faces, expecting nods of agreement. Instead, they looked uncomfortable.

One parent finally spoke up, "There might

We misunderstanding

We shouldn't jump to

jump to conclusions.

Afterall, she's just a young girl who cares about her reputation

The others nodded, echoing the sentiment.

After this little scene, they seemed to realize their behavior might have been a bit much, especially with their kids around, and they grew more reserved.

"You're all classmates, try to get along. Focus on schoolwork. We might've misunderstood her, so let's not dwell on it."