Just Add Water

Chapter 39

The next day at school Miss Stellar asked Erza to see her after class to discuss something.

"Am I in trouble Miss Stellar?" She asked her.

"Oh no. No not at all." The middle aged brunette assured her. "I just wanted to congratulate you on passing the recent exam. You're one of my best students in the class."

"Thank you but Juvia, Gray, and Lucy get the same grades as me and you're not talking to them privately."

"Well that's because during my lunch break with the staff I heard the student counselor mention that in the beginning of the year you told him that you wanted to go to college but your mother couldn't afford to send you."

"Why is he telling people that? Isn't he supposed to keep that private?"

"Not everyone here does their job properly. Anyway you have excellent talent and remarkable grades but I know that money also pays a big part in getting a college education so I thought maybe you would be interested in this."

She handed Erza a flier for an investment and business seminar held on Saturday at 9:00 am.

"Isn't this for people in big corporate companies?" Erza asked.

"Yes but they want to inspire the younger generation to get involved and if high school  students attend the seminar then they get college credits which in turn could help you with gaining a free scholarship."

"Really?"

"I can't make any promises but when I was your age I didn't have much money so I got involved in things like these to get more credit and it helped me get into a decent college."

"Does it cost money to go to the seminar?"

"No. It's completely free of charge. Well the lunch for it will be held at a very pricey restaurant but I can assure there are no lunch credits needed for to get into a university. All you have to do is be on time, stay for the seminar, and look presentable."

"You mean like office clothes?"

"Preferably yes."

"In that case I can't go. I don't own any clothes like that and I can't afford them."

"Do you have any money saved up?"

"Any money I have saved is meant to help Mom pay the bills."

"Hmm...Well You look about the same size I was at sixteen and I have an outfit that I wore to a teaching seminar in high school stored away in my closest. Come over to my house on Saturday and I'll help you get ready."

"Miss Stellar I really appreciate the thought but you don't have to do this."

"You may find this very unorthodox Miss Scarlet but I'm willing to stick my neck out for any of my students if they put forth an effort and I've seen you put forth nothing but effort. You work hard, you study, I would love to see a student like you make it."

"Again I appreciate it but isn't bad to show favoritism?"

"Who said I was showing favoritism? You're not the only one I've given extra help to."

"I'm not?"

"No. I've had studens that I've written recommendation letters for, arranged after school tutoring for, even gave some of them a ride to interviews. I'm a teacher who's bound and determined to help her students the best way she can."

"I don't know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Don't worry about it. You just be at my house around 7:30 on Saturday."

"I will."

After that Erza went to pick up Wendy from the library and went home to her mother the news. Irene was very excited for her daughter. To see both of her children attend a good college, get a steady career, and live a life much better than what they had now, that was her dream.

"Now for this seminar I want you put your hair up." Irene said. "You look more professional that way and you better not give anyone there sass. I don't want them to think that you're disrespectful and have no manners."

"Mom I won't sass anybody. Even if I did these credits are based on participation not my mannerisms."

"Oh Erza how little you understand the world we live in. If they don't like you they can deny you those credits. So be professional and polite." She said firmly. "You may live in a trailer but you are not trash. I did not raise my daughter to be trash so you will not act like trash. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Good. Now go call your sister and set the table. Supper is ready."

In about five minutes the red haired woman and her two daughters sat down to eat and talk about their day.

"So how did the tutoring session go?" Erza asked Wendy.

"I think it went well." She said. "Romeo is still struggling but he has potential to make progress."

"What do you think of him if I may ask?"

"He's okay. I don't know that well but he seems alright."

"Who is this boy anyway?" Irene asked. "I've never heard of him."

"He's Juvia's foster brother." Erza said. "I've met him. He's a nice boy."

"Why is he in foster care?"

"According to Juvia his mother died in car accident when he was five and his father is currently in the army. He has no other living relatives so he's in Ur's care until his father gets back."

"Typical. An absentee father."

"Mom it's not like that."

"Well why would he join the army if his wife is dead and he has no family to look after the boy."

"Juvia said that he was already in the army before his wife died. He couldn't even attend the funeral because he was fighting in Tataros."

"That's terrible." Wendy said. "Has he seen his father since then?"

"I don't know but I do know that he misses him very much and we probably shouldn't make assumptions about his father. Especially since we don't know the man."

"I suppose you're right." Irene said. "I shouldn't have said that Erza. I am sorry."

The next day when Wendy went to tutor Romeo she noticed that he was very pale and sweaty in the face. Also he wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying in regards to the calligraphy.

"Are you okay?" She asked him.

"Yeah I'm fine." But his hands were shaking. "Listen I...I brought you something to...To say thanks for tutoring me."

He opened up his backpack and pulled out a small bouquet of violets.

"Oh. Thanks." She said taking them from him. "How did you know these were my favorites?"

"Lucky guess." He fibbed. "So you like them?"

"I love them."

"Great and I...I also wanted to...To...To invite you to go to the marine park with me on Saturday."

"You mean like a date?"

"Date? No! No! It's not a date. Unless you want it to be? Do you?"

Wendy saw him blush. She blushed a little too. No one had ever asked her on a date before.

"Well...I...I don't know...I'll have to talk to my mom about it. Can I think it over?"

"Sure."

"Alright then. I call you when I make a decision."

"Okay."