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

It didn't take long before everyone at school was talking about Tyler teaching self- defense to the guys in his class. He'd always been popular with the girls, but now he was basically a legend. Every day, his locker was stuffed with love notes, his phone blew up with friend requests, and he never had to worry about lunch- there was always something waiting for him, from homemade desserts to fancy takeout from the best restaurants. The regular snacks, though, usually found their way into Fiona's and Nash's hands.

Tyler's training sessions went from once a week to three times. Each time, the gym was packed-there was barely room to breathe. Students from other classes tried to join in, and Tyler never said no, so the place was always overflowing. Some people even started lining up at lunchtime just to claim a spot. But the guys from Tyler's class never had to worry; they had their spots guaranteed. It was only the outsiders who had to race for a space.

After just a few days, everyone in the group could feel themselves getting stronger. Tyler was basically a superstar-they all looked up to him.

"Would you look at Tyler? The guy's busy 24/7," Fiona said, taking a big bite of her pastry.

Nash, working his way through a bag of snacks, grinned at her. "You're not exactly slacking off, either," he teased. "Honestly, you've got a real talent for getting people on your side."

Fiona swallowed her last bite and rolled her eyes. "It's not about winning people over-it's just about helping out."

The whole class saw Fiona in a new light now, especially since the self-defense idea had been hers. People treated her like a celebrity. There were so many snacks stacked on her desk every day that someone eventually brought in a giant snack box and set it up in the classroom.

It had been two weeks since she'd put her design sketches up for the online contest. The rankings were about to come out, and the air in the classroom was electric. Every morning,

entries in total,” Fiona said. “Minus Jane's, that's twenty-six. Sixteen

I've disqualified them."

have suspicious voting ne

so

the running. Let's

At this about

a nobody even cared

self-defense prize

was all about the

bragging rights.