Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

All eyes locked on Fiona, everyone quietly wondering what she was trying to say. Confusion rippled through the room.

Even Jane looked puzzled. She put down her notes and stared at Fiona. "Fiona, who else could've rigged the votes? There aren't that many of us, and everyone in class submitted a design."

Fiona didn't answer. Instead, she glanced over at Amy's circle of friends.

Jane followed her gaze, but she still didn't buy it. "That doesn't make sense. How could they be so sure those designs were ours?"

Jane had a point. But before anyone could say more, the accused girl suddenly exploded, her voice coming out sharp and shaky. "Amy! You're framing me!"

Everyone looked around, trying to figure out what was going on. The girl glared at Amy, furious. “You asked to see my design last time-was that just so you could set me up? Seriously, Amy, that's messed up!"

Amy's friend immediately jumped in, her tone defensive. "What are you talking about? Amy never asked to see your design. You can't just make stuff up if you don't have proof."

"It was you! You said you wanted to see my design, so I let you, and then you turned around and accused me. Fine, maybe I wasn't going to win, maybe I never stood a chance against Jane, but at least my work was honest! Now my reputation's trashed, and the real liars are just sitting there, acting like nothing happened. How is that fair?"

She'd spent countless nights working on those designs. Even if she didn't win, at least she had her pride-until now. The injustice burned inside her as she watched the others sit there, looking smug and untouchable.

"If you really think we did it, then show us the evidence," Amy's friend shot back coolly. "Otherwise, I could sue you for slander, you know."

Amy stayed quiet the whole time, but the girl in front of her desk snapped right back, her words sharp as knives.

That was the last straw. The accused girl couldn't take it anymore. Why did she always have to be the one blamed? Why did these people get away with everything?

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On impulse, she rushed down the aisle, grabbed someone's open thermos, and, without thinking, flung a whole cup of boiling water at the girl who'd just spoken. Amy, standing behind, stayed completely dry, but the other girl was hit head-on.

The scalding water splashed across her face, and the sizzle of burning skin made everyone flinch.noveldrama

"That's for framing me! For framing me!" the girl screamed.

Chaos exploded in the classroom. The victim's face turned bright red and started to swell, bits of skin peeling away. Her eyes went wild with pain as she screamed, until a group of shocked boys finally rushed her out to the nurse.

The girl who'd thrown the water stood there, shaking. Panic flickered across her face, but then anger surged back as she remembered her ruined designs. She pointed the empty thermos at Amy, voice cracking with rage. "Was it you? Did you mess with the votes?"

Amy met her glare, totally unfazed. "It's just a design contest. Why would I bother? Don't flatter yourself."

She wasn't about to take the blame for something she didn't do.

“But Fiona said it was you!" the girl cried out.

Amy just laughed, cold and dismissive. "Fiona wasn't looking at me—she was looking at the girl you just burned. Stop making things up. Say one more word, and you'll really regret it."