Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed.
A/N: I'm going to update this pretty fast because I want to start on new stories, if you don't mind. Anyway, this chapter will be all about Fllay and yes, it'll be quite boring. I'm degrading as a writer…
Hope you enjoy! This is going to be quite a long chapter.
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Chapter 10: Meeting with Mrs Elyn
The morning was quite early and the day was just beginning. Dewdrops were yet to dry and evaporate, and the sun merely rose, although sunrays were already shining on the surface of the earth, giving warmth to all the life beneath.
Fllay pleasantly strolled to the bus stop, knowing that she had plenty of time before school officially starts. That day, she had decided to wear contact lenses after a long and hard decision. She knew that her relatives would want her to look her best when she meets with them. Although she decided to stay with contact lenses until the next day, she had brought along her spectacles in a durable plastic case lest she need it in times of urgency. She heavily breathed in the fresh air as she felt the morning breeze sway past her.
As she walked to the bus stop, she had noticed that people were starring hard at her. What's their problem? Fllay thought as she raised an eyebrow, but ignored the stares with much determination. However, she was still curious, she touched her face and tries to feel if there was something on her face, or maybe a pimple popping out. Like every girl, she, too, had a compact mirror in her bag. She retrieved the little item and lifted the lid up, inspecting herself with the small mirror. Although it was small, it served its purpose, but Fllay couldn't see anything out of the ordinary on her face.
"Hey Fllay!" A high and shrill voice called, prompting Fllay to turn around. Fllay saw that it was her two of her friends, Lunamaria and Meyrin. It was obvious to why they were going to school together for they were sisters. Fllay smiled and waved to them as they approached. At first, Meyrin was reluctant and Fllay could see that when Meyrin pulled her sister backwards and whispered in her ear. But clearly, Lunamaria had ignored her and went to Fllay.
"Good morning, Luna, Meyrin." Fllay greeted politely as they stood in front of her.
"You are Fllay Allster, right?" Meyrin said cautiously. Fllay faced her with a surprised look on her face, then look at Luna, pointing a finger at Meyrin and asked, "What's up with her?" Although Luna was listening, Fllay could tell that she was inspecting her face closely and her eyes wandered all over her delicate features.
"Nothing is wrong with her," Luna replied, looking at Fllay once again with a softer expression, "It's you."
"What's wrong with me?" Fllay asked as she gave a short nervous laugh.
"You look…different." Luna said slowly, finding the best word to describe the current Fllay.
"I ought to think so." Fllay explained. "I'm wearing contact lenses today."
"Why the sudden motivation on wearing contact lenses?" Meyrin asked as the three friends boarded the bus that just came not too long ago. Fllay explained the reason to Meyrin and Luna, leaving them nodding in realization after their curiosities were answered.
"But, frankly," Meyrin said, "You look better and nicer without your spectacles." Fllay blushed at the compliment and thanked her.
Fllay, Lunamaria and Meyrin found a four-seat area and sat down; Meyrin sitting with her sister and Fllay sat alone opposite them, facing them. The journey to school was quite an enjoyable one, they were discussing the day that was ahead of them, wondering if any teachers were to be absent, and would their different extracurricular activity – also known as 'ECA' for short – of that day be an eventful or uneventful one.
"I wonder when would I get my ECA?" Fllay asked, changing their current topic. The two sisters looked at each other, then Luna started to speak, "I'm sure Mrs Elyn (A/N: The principal) would allow you to have one soon. Besides, you just transferred for two weeks. Maybe she just wants you to get used to the school environment and then when she thinks it's ready, she would approach you and ask you about the subject."
"But how would she know if Fllay is ready?" Meyrin asked.
"Maybe teacher instincts?" Fllay joked and Luna giggled, but Meyrin just raised her eyebrows.
"But Fllay, to be more assuring, I suggest you go to Mrs Elyn and asked about it. What if she forgets about the new transfer student, Fllay Allster? Besides, there is a big chance that she would forget; she can't possibly remember all the students in school, can she? And you just entered the school not long ago, it's bound that she'll take not much notice to you." Meyrin said with more sense and with all the right reasons.
"You're right." Fllay said, and this set her thinking about her decision.
"Anyway," Luna started to change the subject. "Fllay, if you are allowed to enter a club or society or whatever activity, which one would you go to?"
"I'm not sure." Fllay confessed. "Maybe I'll go check out various ones."
"You should join the Science Club or the Chess Club or the Mathematics Club since you're quite clever." Meyrin offered. "These are clubs that are very keen on getting new and smart people. Besides, I'm sure they'll welcome you since your academic performance is quite outstanding during the time since you transferred here."
"She can't go to those clubs!" Luna protested and formed an X with her arms. "Some of the smartest people in the level are in those clubs, and mark my words, most of them are plainly mean. They might act meek but they'll actually hate and play pranks on you if you outstand them. Misaki (A/N: Random person without any meaning to the story. I just had to make an example) was in Mathematics Club before and she transferred out later because she was bullied by those geeks who were jealous of her IQ."
"How do you know?" Meyrin asked.
"She was my best friend two years ago."
"How did she get bullied?" Meyrin prompted excitedly.
"I can't tell you that." Luna frowned and shook her head. "I promised not to tell anyone." After several attempts to make her sister talk, Meyrin gave up, knowing that her persistence was useless. By now, the bus had reached their destination and the three girls alight the bus and walked the short distance to school.
"Anyway, Fllay, what do you like basically?" Luna asked.
"I like math, science, art, singing, playing flute, acting, cheerleading and also tennis." Fllay said, thinking hard. "I was considering going to Mathematics Club and Science Club before you were saying your part in being against them. Now I'm too freaked out to go to the clubs, but I might just go and check it out nonetheless." Fllay confessed.
"But you would have many choices if you like so many things." Meyrin pointed out.
"Still, I should think about it." Fllay concluded. She knew she couldn't decide on anything unless she had really gone to check out the ECA, about the time, the achievements they got, the standards they require, their conduct and there were a lot more to think about.
As the three girls reached the school and their lockers, a blond hair girl came running to them. When she stopped, she bent down and rested her hands on her bending knees, catching her breath by panting heavily. By this, Fllay, Luna and Meyrin could conclude that she had been running as if she was on something urgent.
"What happened to you, Cagalli?" Meyrin asked. "You look as if aliens have invaded earth."
Cagalli glared daggers in Meyrin's direction and said, "The day when the aliens come would be the day you ever achieve you master degree. Besides, I highly doubt that that day would ever come." "Are you saying that I'm stupid?" Meyrin retorted. "Maybe I am." Cagalli said in a mocking tone. "You have no sense of humor." Meyrin retorted. The two enemies and friends glared daggers into each other's eyes. Luna sighed and shook her head and Fllay tried to calm the two of them.
Cagalli and Meyrin were never on good terms because they were too much of an opposite. Meyrin was girly and Cagalli was quite a tomboy. Although they were good friends and hang out in the same group, it was always ugly when they start bickering. There was once when the two quarreled over a small matter and it ended up with the two people not forgiving each other for two weeks. It was finally resolved when Stella faked crying in front of them, pleading both of them to stop (A/N: Ah, this will be explained in next chapter). But there were also times when they were really good to each other, resulting in confusing and questioning theories about the two's behavior towards each other.
"Anyway, why were you so rushed?" Fllay asked. Cagalli finally left Meyrin's glare and faced Fllay. "Mrs Elyn wanted to speak to you, so she instructed me to send for you since she saw that you have been hanging out with us lately." Cagalli explained, then her expression darkened, "Did you do anything against the school rules?" Fllay shook her head and said, "Not of any that I could remember."
"In any case, you better meet her fast." Cagalli said and look at her watch. "Homeroom period starts at around fifteen minutes. Miss Ann wouldn't be pleased to find someone missing at the first period of the day." Fllay nodded, scrambled through her locker and took out essential books for the first four periods of the day before break: social studies, double periods of elementary math and simple Literature. Then Fllay rushed to the principal's office, giving a quick wave to her friends.
When she reached the general office, she requested the receptionist to allow her to meet Mrs Elyn and told her that she was Fllay Allster.
"Ah, so you are the one." The receptionist said as she dialed the number of the intercom of the principal's office. "I heard that Mrs Elyn was very pleased with your conduct despite being a new student in this school." With that, the receptionist flashed a smile at Fllay in which she returned.
"Hello, Mrs Elyn, Fllay Allster is here." The receptionist spoke and it was clear that the line was connected. The receptionist nodded a bit and mumbled something then put down the phone. "You may enter Mrs Elyn's office now." The receptionist told Fllay and directed her to the principal's office. Fllay thanked the receptionist and walked to her destination with a nervous feeling in her. What if Mrs Elyn called her in to reprimand her? But then again, it couldn't be because the lady had said that she was pleased with her conduct. Whatever it is, Fllay thought, I just have to go in there to find out.
Fllay knocked on the door and was told to enter. She turned the knob of the door and entered the white and well-organized office. There, behind the desk, sat a middle-aged lady with a warm smile on her face. Although she was middle-aged, she looked like someone in her twenties, in fact, she was already 37. she was dressed neatly in a bright pink sleeveless shirt and a gray office skirt. Her hair was tied up in a bun and her features were kind and cheerful.
"Have a seat." Mrs Elyn said, gesturing Fllay to the seat in front of the desk. Fllay sat down tensely and Mrs Elyn, seeing the tensed expression of Fllay, gave a soft laugh and said, "Don't be so tense, my dear. I didn't call you here to reprimand you and give you a lecture." Fllay relaxed a bit and waited for Mrs Elyn to say her share.
"Fllay," Mrs Elyn begins, "For these past two weeks, I have heard of your performance in class. The teachers said you were smart and diligent, and your friends were heard to have sing praises about you. I, myself, of course, was curious to meet you, and so I have call you here. Within these two weeks, the staff had told me that you were already being used to the school environment and I had began to question myself of giving you an ECA, although I had planned to allow you one when you find your place in this school." She paused and recollects her thoughts. Lunamaria was absolutely right about her deduction.
"So, to make things short," Mrs Elyn looked at Fllay sternly and seriously, "Do you want to have an ECA? It might take time from your studies and you are only building some foundations." Fllay thought about for a few seconds and nodded, "I don't want to stand out in the crowd by being the only one without an ECA." Mrs Elyn looked proudly at the girl in front of her and said delightfully, "If so, what kind of activity would you like to join? I'm sure some students would have told you by now."
"Yes, they have. But I'm not sure myself," Fllay confessed. "I would like to see those activities for myself and know many details of it before I make my choice."
"Would you like Miss Jean to guide you?"
Fllay knew who Miss Jean was, she was the person overlooking all the activities and in charge of anything relating to these activities. Fllay nodded and gratefully said, "I would like to." Mrs Elyn smiled and said, "Then it would be arranged. How about today after school? there are some activities on today and you can look around."
"I'm sorry but I cannot make it today. How about next week?" Fllay asked, remembering that the afternoon was reserved for her relatives. She knew it was not a wise choice to request of a principal but spending time with her close ones was more important than choosing an activity.
"Okay. Then it shall be next week. I think you can and should be going now. I know of some teachers who aren't very pleased with latecomers, and I'm willing to bet that Miss Ann is one of them." Mrs Elyn said pleasantly. Fllay giggled and bided Mrs Elyn goodbye politely before heading to the homeroom.
Mrs Elyn sure is pleasant, Fllay thought as she rushed to the homeroom. Today was starting off rather well and she was even sure that the afternoon would be even better.
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I knew that was boring but this is just an informative chapter that will concern future developments. Next chapter would be about Fllay's day in school coping with her new 'image' since she became prettier without the spectacles. I hope you enjoyed that! Please review.