A/N: Welcome to my second fic! This is a collection of short one-shots, pondering what happened after the Girl of the Year's time in the spotlight was up. They all take place in the same universe, so some characters and/or relations carry over from one story to the next. My first few were a little too short for my liking, so I'm working on revising them and reuploading soon. For now, enjoy, and I'll update when I can.
Lanie's Later Life
"Ms. Holland, PLEASE stay focused!" the tour guide, Mr. Ron, screeched into the microphone. The other naturalists snickered. Lanie snapped to attention.
"What? I mean, uh..." she said. More giggles.
"Ms. Holland! I am starting to doubt your dedication to the mission," Ron exclaimed. Lanie's heart began to race.
"I am dedicated! I spent three months trying to apply for a spot on the mission crew!" she retorted. Mr. Ron put down the microphone and sauntered down the aisle to where Lanie sat by herself.
"Your work on this mission hardly shows it," he said through gritted teeth. Lanie was near tears. She HAD put in a lot of work to have a chance at this great opportunity. She had dreamed since she was young of touring Africa with other naturalists, cataloguing new plant and animal life, and making life-long friendships. On her resume, she realized how many things she had already accomplished; discovering a new species of butterfly, breaking the world record for number of waffles eaten in one minute, and being the American Girl of the Year in 2010. Looking back on it, perhaps her popularity that year was what caused all of her relationships to fall apart. Mr. Ron interrupted her thoughts.
"Lanie, I am truly sorry, but upon the next sight of an airport, you will be sent home. You have been too...unhelpful to this mission," he said. She couldn't hold in her feelings any longer. Lanie burst in to tears, and threw herself off of the tour van. Everyone gasped, then shrugged, and continued on the tour. Mr. Ron was concerned for the amount of paperwork he would have to do. He resumed his place at the front of the bus. Suddenly, the cloudy African sky was lit up by a ghostly strike of lightning. The naturalists oohed and ahhed and snapped pictures. By chance, a second bolt lept from the sky, and smote down the unsuspecting Mr. Ron. Gasps could be heard for miles across the savannah as the naturalists gawked at the charred body of Mr. Ron. Somehow, Lanie had miraculously recovered from her dive off the van, and had also caught up to it. On instinct, the naturalists began worshipping her as their merciful goddess, and everyone lived happily ever after. Sort of. (There was no internet, so they all really went crazy.) The end.
