Iris Blue, Am I In Love With You? (Childhood/Teens)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 (Late April 1866)

"Hey! Smella! You think you can give me the answers to the test today, genius?"

Stella flinched a little as a wad of paper hit her on the back of the head, gently rolling off and hitting the floor. She closed her eyes and sighed as Jeremy's voice repeated in her mind, while Seth and Jack joined him in laughter behind her.

"You better stop it, Jeremy!"

"Or what, Carrot Braids? Going to tell Miss Sarah on me, again?"

"Yeah! I will!"

Anne spun back around as Stella tugged on her sleeve, trying to get the young girl to ignore Jeremy.

"Just keep doing your work. If you ignore him, he'll stop."

Lily glanced back behind her and Henry's seat to see the other boys still laughing, elbowing Jeremy as a show of congratulations- as if his teases were so spectacular. She caught the attention of Anne and Stella for a split second, rolling her eyes and stifling a laugh at the boys' ridiculousness before turning back to her work.

It had been nearly a month since Stella arrived at the ragged school, and the newness of her being there seemed to be wearing off. She also began to show her true colors, seeing as she was from over a century later and was over a decade older in her world. While she didn't understand most of what was considered common knowledge in England (their spellings, mannerisms, history, etc.), most of the school lessons were extremely easy to her, basically tedious, while the other children struggled, more or less. Except for Lily, that is. She seemed to be a smart girl, catching on quickly to what little the teachers could offer her in education. Her and her cousin, Henry, were the oldest of the children in the school. Jeremy didn't seem to like this new competition with Stella, seeing as he had apparently been trying to better his mind before she had come along, inspired by 'Louis's brother'. That seemed to be the common reference for the unnamed brother of Louis around the school, and Stella had a hard time not slipping up in calling his new name to them. A lot of the times, she forgot William only took that name after he and Louis were adopted and helped Albert kill his family.

Stella sighed, gently running her finger along her neck as she turned back to her paper. Luckily, her bandages were now gone, but it was replaced with a scar stretching along the side of her neck. Despite John's and the teacher's efforts, it seemed to be something she'd be stuck with in this world, but the women assured her that makeup should cover it when she was old enough to wear it. For the time being, she didn't mind others seeing it. Even Jeremy knew better than to tease her for it, all of the kids did. They didn't know her history, they didn't ask- it was like an unspoken respect between them. All histories and past injuries were left untouched, unless the owner wished to voice them.

Her eyes gazed off to the side of her and Anne's desk as she thought back to how she came to be here, and ended up smiling upon remembering the amateur doctor. John still came by sometimes, but not as often as he originally did. His final exams were coming up, and he was juggling a small job he had managed to get, as well, so his time was limited. Stella missed his visits, but she found it bearable now that she had her new friends here at the school. Anne and Lily went with her almost everywhere, and Henry and Seth sometimes joined them for a break from the rambunctious boys. The girls honestly couldn't blame the two for escaping with them, even if they didn't want them there. It was all Stella could do on a good day to keep from losing her temper on Jeremy and Jack every time they pulled some stupid prank on her, she couldn't imagine sharing a room with them, too.

"Good morning, children!"

"Good morning, Miss Sarah!"

The kids all straightened as their teacher strolled into the classroom, her skirt swaying gently as she walked, and her eyes seeming to beam with excitement as she glanced across the class. She seemed particularly elated for some reason, Stella noticed.