✧✧ 100 One-Shots [Flo's Challenge]

[munchqueen]

casually marking stalking

[200765]

@Munch : Mark stalk all you want!

[munchqueen]

Ye I'm making a thread so I can do it too
I need to work on my writing, and what better way? c;

[200765]

@Munch : Yay, you're doing it too! I'll be sure to take a look. Same here, that's what I thought when I saw the challenge. Also, please disable your signature next time you post, thanks!

[munchqueen]

Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot. xD

[200765]

@Munch : Don't worry about it! I often forget to do so myself. And please let me know when you get your 100 one-shots thread up, I'd love to read your writing.

[munchqueen]

Alrighty, I've made my thread. Boop!
Do you like my totally well thought out title? xD

[200765]

@Munch : I like it, it's very nice. c: I can't wait for you to start writing! Thank you for the mention.

[Ranger of the North]

Aw, poor Tyler... ):

[200765]

"All right, children. You have an hour to go anywhere you want in this building. Make sure to stay with a buddy at all times, and come when the clock tower rings," Michelle said.

"Yes, Ms. Link!" called the class, before the fourth graders dispersed and wandered off.

Two girls—one with dark brown hair in a bob cut and another with ginger orange hair in a French braid—stared up at a large map of the botanical gardens.

"Where do you want to go, April?" Krista asked. She couldn't make up her mind as she wanted to visit all the places, but decided to let her best friend choose first.

April bit her lip before pointing to one area on the map. "I think I want to visit the desert plants. I haven't been to a desert before, though I might want to go to one when I grow up. So if I see some of the plants now, I will know what might be in the desert."

As they talked about where they wanted to go, they were joined by two boys in their class. Josh decided to make his presence known by whispering in April's ear. "There are snakessss in the desert..." His warm breath tickled the girl's ear and she jumped with a squeak.

"Josh!" April yelped, gently punching him in the arm. "You scared me! And how do you know that there are snakes?"

Grinning, Josh puffed out his chest proudly. "My big sister, Lisa, likes to take pictures when she travels. She told me when she went to the desert in California she saw snakes even bigger than this!" Here, Josh held his arms as far apart as he could. "She said some snakes like to eat naughty children who run away in the desert."

Green eyes wide, April asked with a trembling voice, "Really? Snakes eat kids our size?"

Josh nodded vigorously. "Don't worry, April, I'll protect you if we see a snake."

Rolling her eyes, Krista frowned at Josh. "How do we know that you aren't just tricking us?"

"Because he's telling the truth! I was there when Lisa told Josh about the trip to the desert." Luke stepped forward to defend his best friend with a little wave and a smile at the two girls.

Flushing, Krista looked away. "He'd better not be lying, or else..."

"Please, Krista, can we go to the desert plants?" April pleaded. She looked up to her protective friend, who relented.

"Fine, fine, let's go."


✧✧•✧✧


The four students had arrived at the desert plants section of the garden. It was dry and dusty; each time they took a step, little puffs of dust would rise from the ground.

"Woaaah," Luke said. "It's like another world in here."

April crouched down before some baby cacti growing in the dusty ground. "They're so small and cute! They don't look prickly at all." It was true. The baby cacti had so many white spines that it looked like a fuzzy white and green lump.

Joshua crouched down besides her. "I bet they'll still hurt though, so don't touch them."

Krista walked further down the dusty path, swiveling her head left and right in amazement. "Snakes live in places like this?"

"Yeah. Snakes like warm places because they are cold-blooded reptiles." Luke walked along side Krista.

"How do you know?"

"That's what Joshua's sister told me. She's right about most things."

"Oh, okay."

They continued walking in silence, looking at the plants, when a loud scream filled the air. Luke and Krista looked at each other with wide eyes before turning around and sprinting back in the direction where they had come from, for the scream they heard belonged to April. As they neared the location of the scream, they heard some yelling too that came from Josh.

"SNAAAAAAAAAAKE!"

"SNAAAAAAAAAAKE!"

"Snake? Where?!" Luke asked as he skidded to a stop, almost bumping into Josh who had rounded a corner with April close behind.

"Back there! We were looking at plants when something moved and April saw something slithering."

"Oh my goodness, April! Did you get bit? Do we need to send you to the hospital?" Krista, being the ever caring friend, checked April over for injuries.

Panting, April rested her hands on her knees. Her face was flushed, tired from the sprinting she had done. "No. I'm fine."

The children were about to talk more when they heard the voice of their teacher. "Children? Are you all right? I heard yelling." Michelle stopped when she reached the children. She studied them, looking from one red face to the next.

"We're fine, Ms. Link." Luke, the most responsible one, responded, assuring their teacher that everything was fine.

"April saw a snake!" Krista said.

Suppressing a smile, Michelle comforted her students. "There shouldn't be any snakes in the botanical gardens, especially because we are inside. Just in case, I'll let the gardeners know and warn your classmates to be careful if they enter this section of the gardens."

"Tell them to be careful! Some snakes can eat children," April said.

Michelle couldn't hold it back any longer. A smile broke out on her face and she nodded before patting April on the head. "I'll be sure to let them know."

✧✧ Okay, childish, I know. But hey, at least you got to see a little bit of Michelle, the woman who Tyler and Chase are so in love with. Let me know what you think of the new character, April! Did you sense some young, childhood crushes while reading?

The front post is updated with descriptions of characters. I got the idea from MunchkinTheMunch, who has character information at the bottom of each one-shot. Go check out their one-shots, they are all amazing!