…
"This is Gardenia. She's going to eat lunch with us." Stella smiled at Sierra and the rest of her friend group.
"Ummmm. Sorry but we can't have that." Sierra frowned upon setting her eyes on Gardenia.
"Why not?"Stella was getting angry. She hated people like this, and had hoped that Sierra would be more forgiving.
"She's just not…you know…one of us" A girl with a long milotic-tail braid said.
"That's fine. Then I guess I'm not either. C'mon Gardenia, let's find another table. That one was full anyway" Stella grabbed Gardenia by her tiny wrist and dragged her across the dining hall to an empty table.
As soon as they were seated, Gardenia turned to Stella with huge deerling eyes.
"I thought they were your friends? You're a celebrity, what are you doing with a lowlife like me? You should have let me go. I would be fine by myself, really. I-" Gardenia couldn't finish her sentence because Stella had placed her hand over her mouth.
"You need to breathe!" Stella laughed, "Gardenia, just because I'm a celebrity doesn't mean I should be treated any different from you" Stella smiled, but then bitterly added "At least you know you got in based on your own merit…and not your parents' celebrity status"
"Thanks. But I shouldn't have come here. It's too overwhelming. So many personalities. I mean…two gym leaders are here! You're here! I have read all of 's books. Oh and Sandie Stone too! She's fascinating" Gardenia began searching her brain for more things she knew about Stella.
"Thanks. I'll tell my parents that. Maybe I can get you a signed copy when I go to Mossdeep?" Stella laughed again. Although, she was only half kidding. If Gardenia really wanted it, she would give her a signed copy no problem.
"So you live in downtown?" Stella had observed the apartment complexes in downtown, but she had wanted to explore Rustboro and the little odd shops it had.
"Nope. I live across the bridge" Gardenia suddenly took up interest in her food.
"Oh cool! What do your parents do?" Stella wasn't quite sure what the bridge was, and she was genuinely interested.
Gardenia dropped her fork and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"They…"she started reluctantly "well… my dad is a pokemon breeder and my mom runs the nursery right across from Petalburg woods."
"You work at the nursery?! That's amazing! I've had flowers sent to me from my grandparents especially from your nursery. They are honestly the best" Stella grabbed Gardenia's hands. She could almost see the pretty flowers again. Normally, Stella wasn't a huge fan of flowers, but these had been so stunning that they had been engraved in her memory forever.
"Um. You could come visit if you like. I mean, it's my house, but above all it's a store." Gardenia felt a little bit of pride from Stella's latest comment.
Stella was about to add something else, but the bell rang and the girls headed to their respective classes.