Stella's Progress Report
When we arrive at the lunch line, I help Stella pick out the food, and we all head to the table.
At the table, Stella sat next to me as if it always belonged to her, with Chelsea and Gavin across the table.
Stella, picking out the exact same food as me, started to eat in the same order as me.
“You guys are reeeeally close, aren’t you?”
Gavin started to say in a really annoying voice.
“She is just new here, and she just needs some help. No need to tease me.”
Gavin makes a little chuckle and starts to focus on his food. Meanwhile, Chelsea stops and starts eating as if something is on her mind.
“Everything alright, Chelsea?”
She starts to nod and go back to eating, but I know that expression. She has “something to say.”
Chelsea looks at me with a shocked face. Did I say that out loud?
“Sigh, look, what is the deal between you two?”
Maybe that weird response to coming to lunch must've worried her.
“Well, we are…”
Wait, what are we? How should I define our relationship?
“Brother and sister. Just brother and sister.”
Brother and sister… You know what? Why not? I think it's a good way to explain our connection. Let's stick with it.
“Yup, brother and sister. That's all.”
Chelsea opens her mouth to say something but closes her mouth immediately and starts to eat her food quickly.
I take a breath and also continue to eat, leading Stella to eat as well.
**************
It's finally the end of the day. Thank goodness. The rest of the day was me preventing Stella from breaking the rules in school.
When I had to leave the classroom for the bathroom, she tried to follow me. Trying to persuade her wasn't hard, but it was embarrassing as my classmates laughed.
Near the end of the class, she tried to have me ditch class because she was bored. She was tugging and whispering if we could go home. Mr. Bob definitely noticed, but I tried to not pay attention.
The good news is that Stella is a genius! We just learned about pre-algebra, and she understood it perfectly. In English class, she was able to read and correct every grammar mistake on the worksheet.
During gym, she was the fastest and strongest of everyone! She outran every kid and seemed to never be out of breath!
I do wonder what kind of life she lived before she met me. Was she from a secret laboratory where she was supposed to be a super soldier like in that movie? C ****** A*******?
It's enough achievements to make me, her brother (?), cry with pride!
“Did I do good today, Arthur?”
Stella asks me while we are walking back to school.
There are many complaints I have with how she acted sometimes in school, but regarding how she was doing in school, she was perfect. Maybe even too perfect.
I hope the other kids won't bully her because they are jealous.
“You did really well, but promise you will listen to me when I'm teaching you something.”
She nodded. I finalized this promise with a pinkie promise and a hug.
I ring the doorbell, and I see my mom opening the door.
“Welcome back, Arthur and Stella. How was school?”
“It was ok. But did you know that Stella is a genius!”
My dad, sitting on the couch, started to look in my direction when I said it out loud.
I started to tell her everything she did good in school and how smart and athletic she was!
But I also told my parents about how she was struggling to get along with others. She doesn't seem to talk to anyone other than me. Even if she does, it's only because I'm around.
After I finish my story, I see Stella staring at my parents and my parents pondering.
“It looks like there were a lot of problems at school, Arthur, but you seem to be taking care of it well.”
My dad tells me.
“Keep it up, you're doing great!”
My mom encourages me.
“Of course, Mom and Dad! I'll keep helping Stella!”
I answer with pride and continue to eat dinner, with Stella eating at the same time as me.
********************
Stella and I are in my bedroom. I gave up on having her sleep in her room. Besides, there was enough space for both of us on the bed.
“So what do you think about your first day in school?”
Stella looks at me and looks up, thinking about what happened today.
“It was ok; I think it was boring though. Everything was too easy, and everyone is too weak.”
I frown a little. Even if school was easy for her, it kind of stings because what was taught today was pretty hard.
And with gym, I'm not the fastest in the class, but I like to consider myself strong for my age. And even though I was more excited for Stella at the moment, when she says it like that, I feel a little hurt.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Crap, I must have shown that I was a little upset. It's not Stella's fault for being too talented.
“No, Stella, you didn't do anything wrong. I think I'm just jealous of how strong and smart you are.”
I learned that in school, it's important to let your feelings be known before they start to hurt you.
Stella looks at me with a sad expression. She may be very strong and smart, but she is still a girl my age. She has her own feelings as well. Also, I need to remember she is not perfect. She still needs to learn how to be more social.
What would my heroes do? They would get out of this sad emotion and work hard to make others happy.
I go and give Stella another hug.
“You keep being yourself, Stella. I'll help you if you are ever in trouble.”
With the hug, we lie down together on the bed. The last thing I saw before I drifted to sleep was Stella staring at me.
