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

Mr. Jurado had that "seen-it-all" look: "Alright, alright, you kids go have fun. Drinking's fine, but don't go overboard. Make sure to look after the ladies." With that, Mr. Jurado strode off.

Ivan picked out a nice restaurant with a cozy private room, not too far from the University of Maple Grove-just a half-hour cab ride away.

...

Inside the private room.

Ivan stood up, raising his glass to Flora: "To Flora, cheers!"

Maddox followed suit, standing up: "To Flora, cheers to you too! Without you, there's no way we'd have beaten those guys from Imperial Tech!"

Almost everyone raised a toast to Flora.

Ivan had chosen drinks with a low alcohol content, just enough to enjoy without causing any issues.

Brianna, holding her glass, looked conflicted.

After everyone had offered their toasts, she finally mustered the courage to approach Flora.

lifted her eyes to

bury the hatchet over a drink?" Brianna tentatively raised her glass to Flora, now thoroughly convinced of Flora's superiority. Flora's formidable

it hadn't been for the issue with her uncle's family, they could've

Flora's eyebrows arched slightly, the fluorescent light casting a beautiful

gathered a lot of courage to come over and

was about to set down her glass and

bottle from the table, filled her own glass to the brim, and then did the same for Brianna. "This is

this, Flora tilted her head

smile crept onto Brianna's lips, and she followed suit, drinking it

"Whoa, that's badass!"

the others cheered from

grabbed her backpack from the chair, unzipped it, and then pulled out something to toss

was a programming

the edges of the pages were beginning

wondering why she was suddenly given a book. Tentatively, she opened

were two words, elegant