Flowers, Corpse Flowers, or Oleanders?

Flowers?

Ayup, everyone. It's me, Heart! Fun fact, this story was actually my first ever attempt at writing in general. This version of the story is a lot different (a lot different, main girl now has a girlfriend lmao) than its beggining draft, which was.... bad, to say the least. It was fun to look back and see how much better I am as a writer, though!

Unlike my story Weep Not For The Memories (Don't Let Life Pass You By), this actually has a very clear plan. All the chapters are planned and everything! I just... need.... to write them...!

Enjoy the story!

Tw // blood, minor injury

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So far, Lily's thoughts on her new boarding school are that it has probably been the sight of several murders. With the size, dreariness, weather and obscure location, the building is the perfect place for murder.

But the only entrance fee is having a good score on the entrance exam, so is exactly where she needs to be. It's a bit far away from home, but whatever. Free schooling is good.

Which means there is absolutely no way she is getting kicked out for being late. Or for running in the hallways. Those are apparently both things she can get kicked out for, so she is not going to risk it.

Thus, Lily speed-walks down the hallways and probably looks like an idiot. Rather an idiot than late and expelled, she supposes.

Coming to a stop as she spies the door to her first class, Lily stops and takes a quick moment to breathe. Then she runs a hand through her hair and goes to open the door.

It flies outward and smashes into her face. A loud crack! rings in the air, turning her blood ice.

She doesn't know what would be worse, the noise coming from her or from the door. She only wonders for a second before the pain hits.

Lily cries out and stumbles backwards, hands flying up to cover her nose. Her eyes meet those of an unamused teacher, unconcerned by the state of the student whose nose she's probably just broken.

"Ah, lurking and tardiness. Not a good way to start your education, Miss Rider," the teacher says, eyes blank and cold over ugly wire-framed glasses. With icy blue eyes and slightly nasal tone, her display perfectly matches her demeanour.

Briefly, Lily debates saying so before deciding against it. Her introduction was bad enough without her purposely making it worse.

She speaks as clearly as she can manage, "I'm very sorry, Ms." In turn, the teacher merely looks at her.

There's a moment of silence. "Well? Introduce yourself to the class before heading to the nurse's office," the teacher says. Resting the urge to pull a face, Lily nods.

Think of the money and the report cards, she reminds herself.

"And do put your hands down, Miss Rider," the teacher snipes. Lily does as commanded and then steps inside the classroom.

The first thing she notices is that there's no chatter. Not even the smallest buzz of conversation. Everyone sits stiff and silent, quiet as can be. Lily thinks it's beyond creepy.

Is it always like this? She had a feeling Zentonl would be strict, but maybe it was stricter than she first thought. Maybe the teacher smacked her with the door as a kind of backhanded punishment for being late.

"Hello," she starts politely. "My name is Lily Kristine Rider. It's a pleasure to meet you all and I will do my very best to make that feeling mutual. Thank you for accepting me into your school."

Introduction finished; she smiles. The smile is carefully without teeth. "Do I need a hall pass, or may I leave for the nurse's office myself?"

A pretty brunette girl in the second row who looks physically pained the longer Lily is in the room speaks up. "Tip your head forward and breath through your mouth, it'll help the bleeding," she instructs.

The teacher zeroes in on her like a hawk. "Miss Alexandra, my favourite student. Usually so well behaved. Speak not unless spoken too, remember?"

Hmm. Lily blinks at the other girl, Alexandra. She's gone very still in the face of her teacher's ire. Not fearfully so, just still.

Maybe it's best to avoid her. Though the brunette seems nice enough, she also seems like she would absolutely leave Lily to the rats if it came to that. Not the greatest basis for a friendship.

"Escort Miss Rider to the nurse's office, if you would," the teacher demands. Alexandra gets up from her seat. She nods and says, "yes ma'am," brushing off her uniform's pristine skirt.

It's a very proper-looking action. Lily supposes she must be wealthy, with such an elegant name and shiny hair. Very, very shiny hair.

"Right this way," Alexandra says, taking two small slips of folded paper given to her by the teacher and walking out the door.

They walk in silence, or maybe they don't. Honestly, she zones out a bit. Maybe she should get her head checked too, just in case. She feels a bit dizzy.

Alexandra is speaking. "Huh?" Lily says eloquently. "Does your head hurt?" the brunette repeats. Lily starts to interject that, "yes of course my head hurts, I was hit by a door," before Alexandra continues, "Any dizziness? Nausea? Confusion?"

Blinking, she resists the urge to shake her head. She does feel dizzy, but not in the way Alexandra is implying. "No, not really. I don't... don't think I have a concussion."

It would be nice to sit down a bit, though. Stop bleeding and all that.

Alexandra nods and then informs her quietly, "Don't worry, the nurse's office isn't too far now."

Lily sighs. "That's a relief," she mumbles. They walk in silence for a little before she speaks again. "Is there a reason the teacher hates me or am I just unlucky?" she asks.

"No, it's just that you were late," comes the quick response. "You're also a new student. New students need to pass the trial period, first." Alexandra seems to think that's explanation enough, though Lily still doesn't get it.

She speeds up to match her pace once more with other girl, having started to fall behind with how fast the brunette was walking.

"Oh," she frowns. "This is one of those schools, then." The words come off a bit ruder than she means them to be.

Coldness seems to seep through the very walls, leaving the air chilly. "Don't talk as if it's a bad thing, Lily," Alexandra says the words like a warning.

There's something in the other girl's tone that put her on edge. She's been joking about how Zentonl is the perfect place for murder, but the way the brunette sounds almost makes it seem like she might be onto something.

Lily really hopes she doesn't get murdered. Funerals are expensive.

"Here we are," Alexandra says after a minute. They stop in front of what must be the nurse's office. Unless the plans changed. "Come inside."

A bit hesitant, she steps inside after Alexandra. The room is empty besides the two of them, nurse nowhere in sight.

Now a bit more unnerved, Lily sits down on a cot. She kicks her legs absentmindedly. "It was nice meeting you," Alexandra nods at her politely. "You too, Alexandra," she agrees, tipping her head forward.

"Just Alexa is fine," the brunette says, opening the door. Before leaving, she informs her, "My dorm room is in the west wing, room seven. If you ever find you need me."

The wording is a bit creepy, but the meaning and gesture are understood.

She hears the door click closed and watches as a droplet of blood fall onto her awaiting hand. Hopefully it doesn't define what the rest of her time at Zentonl will be like.

Just what have I gotten myself into, coming here?