Work Text:
Kindergarten
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"Alright,class! Now that we're all here,let's split up into pairs of two. Be with someone you haven't talked to."
The teacher said to the all kids sitting on the rug.
"Yes,uh..Noelle? You have a question?" The teacher hesitantly asked.
Noelle put her hand down.
"Mr. Jones,do we have to be in a pair of two?"
"Yes,don't worry. This activity is easy. And you do have to get to know everyone besides Diya." He smiled, but he was a little worried looking at a frightened Diya by Noelle's right side.
Diya loudly cried the minute he held his hand out for her to move!
He stepped back a few steps,arms were on either side of his body. She stopped.
He tried to move Noelle by gesturing but she bawled. He stepped back. She became quiet. His hands weren't even up,but he cautioulsy took a small step towards Noelle once more. This time,Diya held onto her arm and resumed crying like a banshee!
"Noelle,get her to stop crying." He quietly said to her as he gave her the snack bag and left to check on the other kids.
"Diya! I have a bag of Lays for you." Noelle held the bag in front of her face. She stopped sobbing. Letting go of her arm,Diya took the bag to open it and started eating the chips. She smiled,eating the Original flavored chips with her eyes closed.
Noelle can see their teacher silently calling her over.
"I'll be back,okay?" She told her friend.
Diya opened her eyes,nodding.
She got up to where he was in the classroom. He began to softly speak.
"I apologize since I didn't realise that Diya's really attached to you. I'm a new teacher here. I'll explain to your parents why you don't have homework today. Here,just...spend the rest of the day with her." He handed Noelle a box containing an assortment of chips and a mini cooler that had Kool aid.
"I believe the other teachers told me Diya really likes the blue flavored one. There should be a water bottle for you and some grapes in a plastic bag.”
He took out his cellphone from his pocket,dialing the numbers for Noelle and Diya’s parents.
"She won't get homework today as well,Mr. Jones?"
"Yes,you and Diya are free today. You should be heading back to her now."
Their teacher said with a cellphone pressed to his left ear.
Noelle nodded, walking back to Diya on the rug. Her eyes widened and got up to retrieve the box from her hands. She sat down in front of Diya with the mini cooler to her left.
"Sorry." Diya frowned,settling the box to her right.
"You’re fine. We don't have to do work today." Noelle said this with a big smile on her face. She opened another bag of chips.
"Diya,this is for you."
"You're not eating,Noelle?"
“There’s a plastic bag of grapes and a water bottle for me. You can have the rest of this bag.” Noelle ate some Cheetos to show and handed the bag to Diya. She ate the rest while Noelle stared at the one grape in her hand,rotating it for a second a few times and then actually eating it. Diya smiled wide.
“I have to be sure that it’s safe to eat.” Noelle explained,feeling her ears burn.
Since Diya was giggling,she quietly humphed to herself.
“Is there juice?” Diya asked. Her eyes were fixed on the mini cooler.
Noelle opened it and got out a blue flavored Kool-Aid pouch. She placed it in front of her.
“Thanks.” Diya said,piercing the pouch with straw and drinking it. She twisted the cap from the water bottle.
“For you.” She placed the opened bottle in front of Noelle.
“Thank you,Diya.” She drank from it.
“Noelle.” Diya fidgeted with the empty snack bags in her hands.
“Yes?”
“Umm…please follow me to the trash can.” She looked down.
“Of course. You can hold my hand if you’re feeling scared.” Noelle held out her left hand. Diya’s eyes meet hers.
“Are you sure?”
“Diya,I’m okay. I..want to make sure you’re not going to run out of the classroom just for throwing out your trash.” Noelle said,slightly scrunching her face.
Diya gathered the trash in her left hand ,and held on with her right hand.
Both of them stood up from the rug and started walking to the trash can.
She watched Diya throw it.
“Did you want some grapes?” Noelle asked.
“Later. Want to hug you.”
“Why do you want to hug me?”
“Like you a lot.” Diya was radiant as she said that.
“Hmm….when we go back to the rug.”
“Thanks,Noelle. For everything today.” Diya said.
“You’re welcome. So far,I like you as well.” Diya grinned wide at what she said.
Noelle couldn’t help,but smile too. Maybe she can get used to Diya’s undying loyalty to her after all.
They walked back to continue snack time.