Chapter 050

[Apple]

"Congratulations...?"

Why did her eyes shine for a moment? What is going on here?

Nervously, I step back.

"Apple," Hazel looks around. "We'll talk after."

She gives Hawthorne a look and he nods, his expression still hard but his eyes strangely soft, like his face can't decide what it wants to feel.

"It's a good thing, trust me," Hazel winks, and then leads the way into class.

Looking back, I suddenly find comfort in Rudy being only a few steps away. Whatever Hazel has to say is going to change everything. I can feel it.

The problem is, there have been so many changes in my life recently that I can't handle another. I'm already overwhelmed.

"Let's just get through today and worry about everything else later," I try to pep myself up as I enter the classroom.

Today is a lab day, and I'm excited to see how my seedlings are doing. We planted peas in various soils to see how they'd grow, or not, depending on the environment.

The professor is already speaking by the time I take m