[color=1a7b30]Stella Herbalem[/color] & Mr. Johnson [@Kirah] 
Just before Dinner

After Stella finished unpacking, she realized she had some time before dinner to explore the grounds a bit. She pulled out the map of Northwood and smiled to herself. She saw that there were greenhouses, and noticed on the class schedule that they were where the Horticulture club met. It had been some time since she had been just among plants and listened to them, so she put on her jacket and headed outside.

She went towards the greenhouse, letting her powers flow a bit, wondering what the plants were feeling. However, they all felt the same thing. This strong urge to make people leave. [i]“Leave. Leave. Leave. Leave.”[/i] The word echoed in her head until she clapped her hands over her ears. [color=1a7b30]“STOP!”[/color]

A weathered hand touched Stella’s shoulder gently. “Miss, are you okay?” The voice is deep, and calming. 

Stella looked up and blinked.[color=1a7b30] “Oh uh, sorry, I just, had a lot on my mind and was trying to make it stop,”[/color] she said. She shut out her power, not wanting to hear the voices at the moment. [color=1a7b30]“I’m sorry if I worried you. I have a tendency to just keep my head in the clouds, as mama says.”[/color]

“I’m Mr. Johnson, what’s your name Miss?” He asked nodding his head.

[color=1a7b30]“Stella Herbalem… oh! You’re the Horticulture club adviser! Its nice to meet you!”[/color] Stella said, perking up after this. She had read through her schedule earlier, and had noticed his name. 

“Ah Miss Herbalem. I remember your name on the roster. Want to check out the houses then?”

[color=1a7b30]“Would a honey bee love to pollinate a lily?! That is why I came out here. I was hoping to sneak a look around before club met Tuesday… seems like a long time,”[/color] she said and went to follow Mr. Johnson to the greenhouses. She kept her powers under wraps for the moment. She knew better than to tell people she didn’t know well about her powers. Also, she was still a bit freaked out about what the plants were feeling. It was normal for plants to feel all sorts of things, but for all of them to feel the same thing at the same time? And such a feeling as making everyone want to leave?  [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhgFDo7XPu0] Something was wrong at Northwood.[/url] However, for the time, Stella shoved it out of her head. 

Mr. Johnson chuckled a bit as he entered the flower greenhouse. “This is the second greenhouse.” He explained. “Want to see something special?” He asked with a wink.

[color=1a7b30]“I’d love to! I mean, if that’s alright with you,”[/color] Stella said, trying to calm down. However, she was super excited about plants. Maybe the ones in the greenhouse would be different. Maybe they’d be happier? She continued to follow Mr. Johnson, interested in what the something special was.

“Excellent.” Mr. Johnson led Stella down one of the isles and pulled a small rose plant forward. “This is a special breed I’ve been working on for the last couple years.” Mr. Johnson leaned forward to bring his face close to the rose. “How are you doing today Katie?” Mr. Johnson gently brushed one of the leaves, and seemed to be nodding to the rose. “This is Stella, I have a feeling the two of you will get along just wonderfully.” Mr. Johnson looked to Stella. “She’d like to shake hands.”

Stella smiled, reaching out gently and brushed the same leave as Mr. Johnson. [color=1a7b30]“Hello Katie, it is lovely to meet you. You’re quite beautiful,”[/color] she said to the plant and then looked at Mr. Johnson. [color=1a7b30]“She’s lovely!”[/color] Stella paused for a moment, and turned her empathy back on, wondering what Katie was feeling. A pleasant warmth spread into Stella’s finger, along with the small push to leave. Stella smiled. Perhaps it was not all bad here. Katie was well cared for. [color=1a7b30]“I can tell she gets a lot of love,”[/color] she said, turning back to Mr. Johnson. 

“None of them have been too happy since the end of last semester.” Mr. Johnson shook his head sadly. 

Stella blinked. Could it be… She then shook her head. [color=1a7b30]“Was it… because… I mean I’ve heard about what happened… plants have more empathy than most people understand,”[/color] she said, removing her hand gently from Katie. She wouldn’t use her powers on this one… no… She was Mr. Johnson’s. 

“Yes.” Mr. Johnson nodded. “Something’s wrong and they know it.” He gestured around the room. “You can sense it, but now isn’t the time and place to talk about it. I’ll talk to you tomorrow about it all during your homeroom.”

Stella went wide eyed and nodded. [color=1a7b30]“Alright Mr. Johnson. But you are right… They don’t want anyone else to stay here… except Katie,”[/color] she said softly. 

“Katie sees hope. The others only feel the darkness. Just know you’re not alone Miss Herbalem.” Mr. Johnson reached over to another plant and gently placed his hand the plant, and Stella could see it stretch and visible grow under the gentle touch of Mr. Johnson.

Stella nodded. [color=1a7b30]“Thank you. I look forward to talking to you more tomorrow Mr. Johnson,”[/color] she said. She knew it was the time not to talk about this, as he said. But she was surprised. She had never met anyone else that had powers like hers. She then smiled to herself. He could easily do the same to Katie, but he was letting her grow on her own. What a kind man. 

“Have a good evening Miss Herbalem. I look forward to our chat as well.” He held out his hand for Stella to shake. She happily shook his hand and nodded.

[color=1a7b30]“You too Mr. Johnson,”[/color] she said, before going to head to the dining hall.