Flower Child (Peter Parker, MCU)

Ms. Landry Goes to Washington

Parents' House - Kid Bloom

The morning Lila left for the field trip started out relatively quiet. It was sunny, which was deceptive, for the October weather was on the cusp of slipping into chilly. But it wasn't the cold air that awoke Lila. The ball of anxiety sitting in the pit of her stomach propelled her further from sleep and motivated her to leave the warm confines of her bed. Immediately, she treaded over to her desk, where her journal lie open to the checklist she'd made that week. Get ready, Remember decathlon jacket, WATER PLANTS, Pack toiletries, Go over packing list (see next list), and so on.

She was about halfway ready to leave when she heard her phone's alarm going off. Not entirely uncommon, sometimes Lila would find herself awake before her alarm if she had a lot weighing on her mind. Or if she was anxious, and today it was the latter. Sure, she was excited to go to Washington, but she was also still nervous for the competition that was only a day away. Lila took a deep breath as she turned off her alarm, trying to remember her father's words.

You are Lila Landry... You can do absolutely anything.

That mantra was on repeat in her head as calm music streamed from her phone. It was from a playlist MJ had helped her make on a random Saturday afternoon, shortly after Lila had called her for help to come down from a panic attack. Michelle made it collaborative, and was always adding new songs to it, which made Lila smile at the notion that Michelle cared enough to do so.

Speaking of Michelle, Lila's phone chimed while she was double-checking her packing list, and saw a text from her friend light up her screen. Setting down her list, she walked over to her phone and read the message her friend had sent, frowning all the while.

I know you're awake, I'm wondering if I can hitch a ride to school with you. Dad went to work early.

Lila let out a soft hum of disapproval, not that anyone was around to hear it. And not that Michelle ever asked, but Lila's opinion on her dad always lessened when she sent texts like these. No maternal figure in the picture, it was just MJ and her dad, much like Lila and Ted. The only key difference being that MJ's father used his job as a coping mechanism to deal with his failed marriage, and often neglected to be there for MJ. In an incredibly vulnerable evening, Michelle explained that it was her parents' doomed marriage that set her up for struggle when it comes to letting people see her be emotional. That night, Lila joked about how she wore enough emotion on her sleeves for the both of them, and ever since they'd reached a silent agreement that any emotions between the two were void of judgement.

Lila also did her very best to conceal her judgement of Michelle's father, even though she was fairly certain Michelle knew her exact feelings on the matter. It was never talked about, but Lila did her best to include Michelle in as many things in her life as possible with her dad, the open invitation into their household always available whenever MJ needed it. Today was one of those days, apparently.

She heard her father whistling downstairs as he no doubt was cooking breakfast to-go for the both of them, mentioning last night how he'd be heading upstate to talk with the flower farms for new ideas in the coming winter. Quietly, Lila walked downstairs, where the whistling grew louder. Upon entering the kitchen, Lila was hit with the smell of bacon first and foremost. She then saw her dad as he worked on what Lila assumed was a homemade breakfast sandwich. Smiling at the sight of her dad in the flowery apron she bought him as a joke, Lila cleared her throat to signal her entry into the room.

"Mornin' Tulip," Ted said after seeing her leaning against the fridge. "You have everything ready to go? I can start putting stuff in the car."

Lila walked over to the island, and leaned up against it. As her torso leaned on the harsh countertop, she felt a twinge of pain blossom from her still bruised ribs. But she noted how it was becoming increasingly more manageable, and took that as a good sign for this trip. She shrugged lightly, and answered her father, "Almost. But I was wondering if there was any way we could pick up Michelle on the way to school? Her dad went to work early."