Vie de Fleur

Chapter 5

"...The United States Capitol was constructed in 1793, and later expanded its chambers for both houses of Congress. Also called the Capitol Building, it is the home of the US Congress, which is, as you know, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. Quick note to remember for the quiz, the current Senate representatives for our state are Kamala Harris, and Dianne Feinstein, which are up for reelection in 6 years. Anyway, as we learned last chapter, Congress was established upon ratification of the Constitution and formally began on March 4, 1789. The Residence Act was passed to have a permanent place for capital, since Congress previously-"

"Oh!" The history teacher jumps slightly as the bell interrupts her lesson.

"Don't forget to do pages 459 and 462 in the book!" she cries as the students file out of the classroom.

As I walk out with the students, the writing on the whiteboard changes, and I pause to read it:

"02/21/20XX

I really like Questley... He's been there for me for the past 2 months, and trust him a lot. He isn't really organized, but that's okay. We've gotten to know each other really well, and he's really really cute. And smart. And has a nice smile.

I like him... Penny says he likes me too. :)

-Love, R. H.

P.S. Tomorrow, on Friday, we're going to go on a small "hang out" (it's a date shush lol)!"

I exit the class, pausing as high school students crowd to the exit. Pushing, shoving, the hall echoes with indiscernible chatter while hall monitors futilely yell, in earnest trying to restore order. As I head for exit, sliding past the students, I hear some passing conversations.

"Today's party is gonna be lit." "Yeah boy! We gonna get SO wasted!"

"Did you see the drug dogs today? They were adorable!" - cue squeals -

"What's the Stats homework again?"

"Sh*t I forgot my jacket in Winck's!"

"...And she even had the audacity of saying 'we're friends'! The whole class snickered, I swear to god! She's soo dumb."

"I bombed that quiz more than you!" "Wanna bet?"

The mass of students spilled outside and I followed, trying to spot my heroine. Clumps of students littered the front of the school, while some ran about playing frisbee.

As I hear girls' giggling, I turn around, sidestepping the front entrance. Emerging, Ren Hope, surrounded by a group of - what I assume are - friends, avidly discusses some topic. The group bursts out laughing from some punchline, and Ren grins.

That's the smile. That's the smile from before - when the angels of joy carved her face, as she held the kitten in her arms. That's the twinkle in her eyes, which seem to capture the very stars from the heavens.

Unfeigned, unbound, she smiles purely and wholeheartedly now.

But the smile soon fades. The group moves away from the entrance, glancing at the group of athletes that pass them. They all seem to stare at Ren, like hawks pinned on a mouse. She lowers her head, averting her eyes from them. Protectively, the others surround her, but the boys' stares continue to pierce into Ren. As the last person passes, one guy - a baseball player by the looks of it - loudly whispers to his teammates, purposely loud enough to allow Ren's group to hear: "What a slut!"

Ren's friends' heads whip around, about to knock some guys a knuckle sandwich, but sniggering, the athletes quickly disappear into the school.

Speechlessly, I watch the moment play out in slow motion, seeing Ren's face break in misery. I rush down the front steps after them, my heart panging as I see tears begin to well up in Ren's eyes.