Edge Of Danger

Chapter 7: A Secret Here and There

 Chapter 7: Mid-Day Sun

Stella boarded the bus, and being last in line, she had to sit in the front. Everyone had made their room in the very back, leaving her to sit behind none other than Ms. Honey.

 She took her place behind the teacher, and opened her book. She was currently rereading The Mysterious Benedict Society, about four gifted kids who go to a strange Institute by the order of a man named Mr. Benedict (Hence the name). They go on a mission to find out the truth about the Institute.

Stella was reading the part where the head was making Reynie and Sticky Messengers until she noticed Ms. Honey looking at her intently. She pretended not to notice and read on about Reynie and Sticky obtaining their new uniforms until Ms. Honey spoke up.

"That seems like an interesting book you're reading," Ms. Honey said. "What is it called?"

"It's called The Mysterious Benedict Society," Stella told her. "and yes, it's a good book."

"I might review it for class one time," the teacher replied. "So, how is your first year so far at Skyfeller, Stella? I hope you haven't had too much trouble adjusting."

Absolutely horrible, Stella wanted to say, but instead she responded, "It's been well."

"That's good to hear." Ms. Honey grinned. Stella realized that Ms. Honey was much better than the headmaster, especially in smiling.

"Could I entrust you with something, Ms. Galante?" Ms. Honey asked.

Stella did not respond. Ms. Honey cleared her throat.

"Entrust," Ms. Honey explained, "means to know that you can rely something on someone important-"

"I know what it means," Stella interrupted. She looked over to the bespectacled teacher, surprised to find no response from her. "so what is it that you want to tell me?"

"Well," Ms. Honey began, "You know that we will have another trip soon, right?"

"Really?"

"Why yes! Why wouldn't we?"

"That's surprising," Stella commented. "When is it? Where are we going?"

"My, my," Ms. Honey tsked. "Too many questions. I'm not very fond of them really. Anyhow, there has been talk with the staff about something we'd like everyone to do to help our school. How would you like the idea of everyone participating in this experiment?"

"Experiment?" Stella furrowed her brow. "What experiment?"

"Just something to better the school." Ms. Honey replied simply. "So how did you like that fruit torte that we handed out during the freshman presentation?"

Ms. Honey leaned a little closer, as much as she could from the bus seat. "Be honest."

Stella said. "It was good."

"Just good?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I'm not very fond of dessert." she lied.

 "That's very unusual to hear that from someone like you, Stella." Ms. Honey said. "If we put that dessert in the cafeteria, however, would you think people would try it for lunch?"

"Of course." Stella stated matter-of-factly.

Ms. Honey raised an eyebrow. "But you just said-"

"I know I did. If you put it in the cafeteria, however, everyone would try. I'm sure of it."

Ms. Honey sighed in exasperation. "Again with the interruptions, Ms. Galante. What makes you so sure?"

"Because you've never put it out there before. It's such a novelty dessert that everyone wants to have the newest and best thing around here, and that torte is definitely falls in that. Since everyone wants that new, awesome thing, they'll want it, get it, and have it. With the right advertising, I'm sure it'll be a hit!" Stella tried to show as much enthusiasm as she could to persuade the teacher, who just pursed her lips.

"You have a point, I must admit." Ms Honey responded briefly, before another teacher approached her from another seat in the very front. She then turned to the teacher and ignored Stella once again.

Stella opened her book again to where Reynie and Sticky tell their two companions Kate and Constance about their promotion.

Pouring over the pages, she eventually drifts her thoughts away from the book and to reality.

An experiment in the cafeteria, hm? A fruit torte, in the cafeteria, serving as an experiment!? She thinks she's so clever with words, thinking I'm so stupid that if she kept talking to me I wouldn't remember she called it an experiment at first....

 That's not good. Not good at all.

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Stella ate her lunch with everyone else on the park tables after getting off that annoying bus, anticipating the other boring stuff that will come next. She was already bored and tired of this nature trip (even though she  just got off and it hadn't officially started yet), and her uniform itched more than usual. She just wanted to go home and be done with the day.

Packing up her lunchbox and waiting for further directions on the trip, she took out The Mysterious Benedict Society and read it some more. To get out of school. Most of all, to get out of this reality.

Little did she know that someone had taken the spot next to her on the picnic table.

"Hey Stella." Dex smirked. "Looks like you have an interesting book there."

Stella almost jumped in surprise, but she marked her page and closed the book calmly nonetheless.

"Hello Dex." Stella replied. "And yes, it is an interesting book."

Dex laughed. "Have you seen Reyna anywhere?"

"Nope. Probably working with some other new kids." she said matter-of-factly.

"Okay." Dex still had the notes from Reyna's office trip on the first day of school. He had risked his first class - in a Honors class, in fact - to get these notes.

He wanted to tell her such, but it would be very risky to tell a freshman, let alone a freshman girl.

"Well, it looks like my class is lining up. You better go too, Dex." Stella snapped him out of his thoughts as she took her book and ran off.

Little did he know, she had some secrets up her sleeve as well.

One little slip-up about how she knows about the new dish in the cafeteria may become quite dangerous in Skyfeller Academy High.

And Ms. Honey knew she knew it.