Sometimes Fate Works- Chapter 2
(Flora X Riven modern day AU)

Soon after, Flora ran over to class.
She had calmed down from the encounter already. Well, at least, she stopped hyperventilating.

"Miss…", a woman started, as Flora walked into the classroom.
She had ran over, but still fell short 5 minutes.
"Emmm…Laine…"
Breathe in. Breathe out. They're not all looking at you.
"Well, Miss Laine, you're late. On the first day, too."
Flora looked down, tears forming in her big, hazel eyes.
But she wasn't going to cry. This was a new start. A new her.
"I'm, aah, very sorry. It won't happen again."

And she walked over to the only empty seat, next to a boy.
He had spiky, dyed, magenta hair, and by the frown on his face, Flora knew she'd have a very quiet Chemistry class this year.

Of course, it wasn't by choice. Normally Flora would have sat next to Musa, but the girl was already seated with Bloom.
Oh, how Bloom ruined everything. Flora rolled her eyes.

"So, as I was saying. Our class will focus a lot on teamwork, especially in pairs. Chemistry is about formulas, questions, and solutions, but if you desire to work in this field you need to acquire other, more mundane competences. The most important one is cooperation. I see you have all already found your partners, so please write your names on this paper."

The teacher started to distribute blank pieces of paper as Flora's mind went blank. Oh, how she wanted to go home. Suddenly she felt her anger rise.
She wasn't angry at the boy, who had no choice but to work with her. She wasn't angry at the teacher, for this was a class and Flora was nothing special. She wasn't even too angry at Musa, who had left her alone for a girl she met two months ago. No, she was angry at herself.

She was angry at the tears that still were in her eyes. She was angry at the droplets of sweat on her forehead. She was angry at her fear. But being angry was purposeless. She had to act.
So she did.
"Hi, I'm Flora.", she said, turning to face her deskmate.
The boy looked up, his blue eyes reflecting a tint of violet.
Flora felt like she saw those eyes somewhere.
"Riven.", he mumbled.
"Emm… well….Riven…", she replied, passing him the paper, waiting for him to sign it.
Awkward. Flora tried acting detached, but her palms were sweaty and her heart beat fast. She knew what it was like to be shy.
Unlike anime girls, shyness wasn't rosy cheeks and waifu material. It was that storm forming in your rib cage, and all those thoughts going blank at the same time.
Well, she was used to it anyways.

The rest of the class went on pretty smoothly.
Flora didn't talk to the boy again, and they both just wrote their part of the assignment in silence.
Of course, the atmosphere was far from perfect, but Flora was fine with it. Anyways, it wasn't her problem.
Once or twice, Musa threw her sorry looks, which she ignored. She was shy, yes, but she had feelings too.

"Hey, Flo!"
Class had ended and Flora was walking away, books in her hand.
"What, Musa?"
"What did you even want me to do? You weren't there!"
"Would it have been different if I was?"
A small silence echoed. Musa frowned.
"You don't know Bloom, you don't understand. If you tried…"
"Musa, it's alright."
"Huh?"
"Let's just get to class."
"Kay."
"Let me guess, you're going to go find Bloom?"
Musa looked down.
"I…"
"Go. It's fine, I'll get there first."
Her friend smiled.
"Muse, you really changed."
"Maybe I did."
Flora sighed. She tended to give up on people easily, but Musa mattered to her a lot. The girl had been her light in the darkness of her past, and she didn't want to lose her.

"See you at lunch."
"Yah, bye."
Bye.

Flora then walked back to her locker to fetch her botany books. This was the only course freshmen and sophomores shared, so she guessed she would see Helia there. The girl smiled, a light blush forming on her full cheeks.
Oh, how she felt when those midnight blues looked through her soul.

Flora then looked at her watch.
She had a small fifteen minutes break, so she decided to write a little. As always, problems seemed to solve themselves on paper. Maybe it was about the way she thought about things. Maybe she would have to accept Bloom.
She never did anything to her anyways.
Except, maybe, ruin her opinion on gummy bears.
But she'd have to deal with that.

"Hi, Flora!", a voice said as the girl entered the greenhouse.
There was the sweet scent of nature, and butterflies flew in the girl's abdomen as though they could smell it too.
"Hi. Emm. Helia. Yeah."
Mental note: Level up your game. No, just buy a PS5.
"You have botany too?"
"Isn't it, like, obvious?"
She smiled, as Helia chuckled.
"Indeed it is."
"Yeah."
"Yeah."
There was an awkward silence. What was it with awkward silences anyways? That's when a beautiful girl with crystal for eyes walked over to them.
"Helia, I've been searching everywhere for you!", she started, playfully.
Then, she looked over at Flora.
"Who's she?"
"Oh, that's Flora, the girl I was talking to you about. Flora, Krystal, my childhood friend."
The girl, Krystal, smiled.
"Well, hello. You're the one that's joining our ecology club?"
"Emm. Yes. Aah. Maybe."
"Great. Helia, you coming? I got you a seat."
"Yeah, bye, Flora. See you."
He grinned.
"Emmm. Yes! See you."
And they both walked away.

Awhile later, the class started. Flora felt more at ease than in chemistry, since she was in her comfort circle. She managed to do well, and the teacher, Miss Nancy, even congratulated her on her study of dandelions.

"You're research is very original, Miss Laine. You didn't only include the scientific facts, but also the conception of the flower through history. Go on, good job."
"Thank you, Miss Nancy!"
Her eyes lit up, and Helia even smiled at her from across the room.
Maybe it wasn't so bad, after all.

"Flo, here!", Musa cried out, pointing to the seat next to her.
Bloom was there, next to her, smiling.
Flora sighed, but decided to give the girl a chance.
"Hi, Musa. Hi, emm, Bloom."
The redhead smiled.
"Hey, Flora."
She sat down.
"Oh, by the way, Flora, you know, that guy with you in chemistry?", Bloom started.
"Emm, yes. Riven, I think."
"He's my brother."
Oh, that was why Flora felt like she saw those eyes somewhere.
"Okay."
Awkward.
"I'm just warning you. It's a wonder he even got here.", Bloom remarked, rolling her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"You'll soon see."
Well, Flora thought, it's not as though they had any kind of a relationship, expect maybe deskmates.
She looked over at Musa, who was smirking.