September 2nd, 2017

Dear me,

I just freaked you out, didn't I? Thank the Goddess of cheese that you are so stubborn. I wish I was there to get a good laugh when you were slapped with the reality of your situation. (Mrs. Garheild must love me for still making literature references as a college grad, despite it being rather vague)

However, now onto the more serious dilemma. I think after yesterday you learned a very important lesson on choices. This will be very important later on, so take notes! One of the characteristics that make us human is the ability to choose our outcomes. As you saw before, you could either choose to adhere to your wiser self's advice, or disobey it. You have this innate free will. This defines your destiny.

Today, you will be presented with a decision. This could make your fate worse or ease the problems that I have personally encountered. One of my deepest regrets comes from this humble September 2nd.

You know Lia Marhart from Best Buddies club? She's a sweetheart who can seriously teach you so much more than one would expect. But, my baby girl is in some serious danger. Little Lia's long list of struggles would've make most second graders miserable, but she doesn't have many people to depend on. I know you care for her a lot, but don't let your love for Lia be merely superficial. She needs someone, and you have the power to make her happy. Choose joy for her. Because it could make such a huge impact in her life.

I hope you listen to me, kiddo. I really, really do.

Don't be an idiot,

An older (and better-looking) Sierra Wilson

You know, from all this, I learned that I am seriously one arrogant asshole.

~~~

A long, dramatic sigh escapes Sierra's chapped lips. Her disheveled appearance marked her inability to function after all the intense AP work she had to complete. Bags that not even the most talented makeup artist could cover troubled the teenager's face.

Fortunately for her, however, the day was concluded besides club activities. Today was an off day for competitive swim team practice, so sports were not going to plague her. Despite this, the one prevailing thought on her mind during school hours was the letter she received the prior night. Excluding her older self's overconfidence, the letters listed many important concerns.

Sherylyn was the guinea pig for the first test, her being the prime subject of this whole conflict. Every little detail was concurrent with what Sierra's older sister did. Now, she has to figure out why Sherylyn's sudden change in character occurred, who the enigmatic messages are coming from, and why Sherylyn went to the hospital last night.

Secondly, Sierra had to figure out what was wrong with Lia Marhart, an intelligent, free-thinking young girl with a strong desire to learn. Sierra introduced herself to Lia over the Summer when club activities officially began. When they met, she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary besides her disability. Apparently, there's more going on then the eye can see.

Striding up to the campus building dubbed Ronald Hall, Sierra fixes her appearance to the best of her ability. From where she stands, Sierra spots a familiar blonde kid in the window, waiting for someone in particular. She heads up to the locked door and uses her keycard to gain entrance to the building.

Seeing this, Lia perks up and dashes over to the unexpecting seventeen-year-old. Her green eyes bright with enthusiasm, she acclaims, "Sierra, Sierra! I missed you! Where have you been? I've been waiting for you! I missed you!"

Sierra bends down and embraces the petite girl. In her ear, she whispers, "Oh, I missed you too, kiddo. It's so great to see you again."

They break from the hug and, holding her hand, Sierra guides Lia over to the teenagers's and kids's seats for today's lecture. Lia jumps onto Sierra's lap, taking off her book bag afterwards. The little girl opens up the bag to get her precious computer.

She then turns to Sierra saying, "I got so much research done last night! Right now I'm learning Spanish so that Jonah and I can talk secretly without his brother knowing what we're saying. Oh, and Jonah and I are buying this new game and he's had the audacity to beat me. How dare he!"

Sierra smiles and chuckles slightly. "You're so smart, kiddo. You use big words like 'audacity' and are already learning your third language. I wish I was as talented as you."

Lia's jaw dropped, looking appalled. "But Sierra, I'm not that smart. 'Audacity' isn't even a big word! I know so many more gigantic words. And most kids in other countries know more than one language! Americans are just stupid."

Before Sierra had the chance to respond, a little girl in front of them held up her pointer finger to her mouth and shushed Lia. Not understanding what the girl was intending to imply,  Lia starts talking to Sierra again.

"Okay sweetheart," Sierra whispered, "we have to be really quiet right now because the lady is about to start her speech. Got that?"

Lia nods her head and then hugs Sierra again.

A plump, elderly woman makes her entrance on the auditorium stage, confidently striding to the center. Clapping commences. Lia begins to fidget to calm her nerves, since loud noises are a bit overwhelming.

"Education. What do you think when you hear this word?" she pauses, "to educate means 'to bring forth'. One of our jobs in the Best Buddies club is to bring forth an everlasting thirst for knowledge in our friends here today. For this session, our goal is to inspire our friends by promoting a strong foundation in education for the future leaders of America!"

Another round of applause interrupts her speech.

Less formal this time, she turns her attention towards the teens and kids rather than the teachers and parents. "Today, you guys will tutor your best buddies and help them with whatever homework they have. Also, if you all have permission from the parents, feel free to go somewhere which you think will teach them valuable life lessons. Alrighty kids, go have some fun!" She motions for us to go to the library to begin the club activities for the day.

"Sierra-a, is it over yet? I'm bored." Lia whispers in her ear.

Standing up whilst holding the petite seven year old in her arms, she responds, "Yeah, kiddo. Now we have to go to the library and study."

She bounces her hands on Sierra's shoulders. "Hurray! I'm gonna show you all the research I've done so far!"

Taking a look at the kid currently in her arms, a memory flash of the words from the letter last night appears in her head.

What could possibly be wrong with such a happy kid?

~~~

Author's Note: Chapter two has started! Now, with the second letter, a new side mystery has been introduced. What's wrong with Lia? How does her problem relate to the main plot?

Writing this has been so much fun, especially with working as a camp counselor all week. I can understand now how hard it is to teach and deal with younger kids. Except, unlike Sierra, I was working with middle schoolers, not a second grader. However, I get how hard it must be to help out a kid.

Question of the chapter: What's wrong with Lia?