[center][h2][i][color=39b54a]Lucia ~♥~ A Kind Soul[/color][/i][/h2][/center]
[sup][i]Before Departure[/i][/sup]
Mr. Johnson's voice carried easily over the cacophony of noise that was his 5[sup]th[/sup] grade class as he took roll. Lucia had always thought it was weird that he addressed them all by last name, but when calling on them in class he'd use nicknames like "Sparky", "Prince Reggie", "Hannah-bannana", and for herself the ever hated term "Lucybell". 

[b]"Miss Bellemont?"[/b]
Lucia rose her hand and shouted [color=39b54a]"Present!"[/color] as the teacher called her name, waiting until his eyes found her in the crowd before dropping her arm. Her best friend, Reginald aka "Prince Reggie", elbowed her in the side and pointed over to one of the busses not too far away. It looked like another 4[sup]th[/sup] or 5[sup]th[/sup] grader had gotten on top of the bus somehow, and was now shouting that she was their leader now. Lucia laughed and mock bowed towards the girl with Reggie as a teacher dragged the girl down from her newfound pedestal. She felt kinda bad that the girl was probably in trouble now, but that had been awesome. Her smile stayed on her face until when she went to get on the bus, Mr. Johnson pulled her aside.

[b]"Lucybell, could I ask a favor of you?"[/b] She nodded quickly, hiding the dislike she had for the nickname with a cautious smile as her teacher continued. She was always willing to help, or try to at least. [b]"It seems that our class has just one too many kids to fit on the bus. Would you mind riding with the middle-schoolers? I'm sure you'll get along with them just fine."[/b] She glanced over at the other group as they filed onto their bus, suddenly unsure. Older kids were scary, even if they didn't do anything to her. She looked back to Mr. Johnson after a moment, and then decided. 

[color=39b54a]"Ok, but I don't wanna go over there alone."[/color] The teacher nodded happily at her answer, and agreed to walk her over and introduce her to the middle school teacher. Once that was done, he went back to his bus where the rest of the class was already onboard and ready to go. Reginald was waving at her from one of the windows. She sighed and smiled at Mr. Connors as she climbed onto the middle-school bus, and sat in the first empty seat she could find, looking out the window as the lot cleared of people while everyone finished getting on their busses.