Florence - (G.B.)/(B.A.)

Chapter 17

╔══════════════╗

Unwinding

╚══════════════╝

Lately, Florence had been spending a lot of time with Priscilla (Prissy) Andrews. She would also occasionally talk to Anne here and there whenever they came across one another, but the red-head was more accustomed to sharing conversation with her first friend in Avonlea, Diana Barry. Florence didn't mind it too much as she was oftentimes preoccupied with the oldest Andrews daughter and her own life. Prissy proved to be a great company as the two friends shared a few things in common that bonded them together.

After Florence stood up to Billy Andrew's face, his mean comments had certainly dialled down a bit. Of course, he still teased her here and there but he didn't go out of his way to do so. One thing she couldn't help but concern herself with was the blond boy's ⸺ bruises on his knuckles and how his lips were cut slightly. It was the following Monday when she first noticed it. The class was solving math problems in relative silence, and Florence had yawned as she let her eyes drift around the room ⸺ her gaze falling on Billy and his injuries. A frown made its way onto her face as her stomach dropped. The said boy soon caught her staring at him ⸺ more specifically at his hands. He'd tried his best to hide them away from sight, but the damage had already been done.

One day at school, the class was having a work period to complete the finishing touches of their month-long history project. Since the girls had long ago decided that they would present about Charlottetown's residents, they were quickly immersed in their work. Last weekend, the two girls had taken the train to the town and conducted some much-needed research ⸺ they didn't gather as much as they'd initially wished due to the lack of residents willing to answer any of their questions (finding it odd that females were roaming around without supervision) ⸺ but at the end of the day, it was enough for them to get everything done.

"After lunch, we'll be presenting next," Florence said with slight nervousness and excitement. When she didn't hear a response, she glanced at Prissy who was staring lovingly at the front. She turned to match her friend's line of sight until her eyes landed on Mr Phillips ⸺ who was smiling back. She practically guffawed at the sight, but didn't let her emotions show as she repeated more persistently, "Prissy."

"Yes, yeah, I'm listening," the blonde quickly said, shaking her head out of her trance. "What happened?"

Florence stole a single glance to the teacher to see him scribbling away on the blackboard as if nothing had happened. To be completely honest, the girl had caught her friend in this kind of situation many times before in the last few weeks. The teacher and she were always staring at each other as if they were in love or something, but she never made much of it. There was definitely something going on between the two, and it seemed like all the other girls in the class secretly knew about it but her.

"Nothing . . ." Florence said after a moment. If there was something going on between the two, she didn't really care as long as Mr Phillips was treating her friend right. If he wasn't, however, she would positively have his head. And this time, she wouldn't care if he was her superior.

Prissy didn't seem convinced, but she seemed hesitant to ask. "Are you sure?"

"No," Florence admitted truthfully. "Is there, um, something going on between you and . . ."

"What?" Prissy avoided her friend's gaze, and Florence knew that she was hiding something for sure. The girl wasn't even good at hiding things as she looked nervous out of her mind, and the fact that she was fiddling with her hands; the single most obvious sign of nervousness.

Prissy sighed, knowing well that she wouldn't be able to cover up this for very long. "I'll tell you, Flo, just not necessarily here."

"Would you like to wait until lunch?"

"No, no. How about you come over to my house on Saturday? We can have lunch together and I'll . . . I'll tell you everything."

"You know, you don't have to if you're not comfortable," Florence insisted quietly. But it would be nice if you did tell me.

Prissy placed a gentle hand on the brunette's shoulder. "And you know that I should. You're my best friend, Flo. I can see that you're curious."

Florence smirked playfully. "See? That is why we're best friends."

"Why?"

"Because we understand each other without needing to utter a single word."

The two girls smiled at one another before Prissy suggested that they continue with their project work ⸺ and Florence didn't deny the offer. However, they didn't have a lot more time afterwards as the school bell rang indicating the start of lunch.

During lunch, Florence had sat with Anne and the other girls like usual. It was only sometimes when she sat with the Andrews girl, but she was busy most of the time studying for her Queen's entrance exam, and the other, older girls. Sure, Florence was a year older than Anne's friends, but they didn't mind it if she joined them as long as she paid the price which was lunch sharing. Plus, Josie Pye seemed to become a lot nicer with her ever since she learned that she was a year older than the rest of them. Maybe it had something to do with being automatically more sophisticated if you were older. Where the logic behind that came from, she'd never know.

After the lunch period, the class began their presentations one by one. It was interesting to learn about everyone's different topics, but it did admittedly get boring at times. Especially since it was clear that not everyone was as passionate about their subjects as others, and how not everyone really cared for the project overall. Eventually, it was Florence and Prissy's turn to present, and it seemed like most of the students genuinely enjoyed their presentation. Even Billy Andrews seemed calm ⸺ but Florence assumed that it was only because his sister was up on stage.

School had ended for the day shortly afterwards, and Florence was slipping on her coat when Moody Spurgeon had approached her by the coat lockers. "Hey, Florence."

She turned to face him. "Hi, Moody."

The boy secured his toque onto his head and headed for the door, pulling it open but pausing just to say, "You and Prissy had a great presentation today."

"Thanks, Moody," she said and he walked out of the school.

He'd only stayed for a moment, but the comment in itself had put a smile on her face.