Loud voices clamoured over each other as they put together their potted plants. Everyone stood at the counter at the sides of the classroom made for science experiments. Brown earth dotted over both counters. Students were talking emphatically with their friends, even if there were only a couple of them, they didn’t lack the ability to be loud.

For the past ten minutes the grade eleven’ were planting seeds or flowers for the school's front garden. As winter was thawing off and coming to a close they were partaking in the yearling school tradition of putting new plants into the garden. Almost all of the other grades were doing it too, but this year it was the grade elevens’ that would fill the school garden, the other pots would get planted and lined up at the perimeter of the school.

In a small flower-patterned pot, Aaradhya was taking each seed and placing it in the pot before sprinkling some soil over it and restarting the pattern. But not before dusting some water over it.

Kai stood next to them, earth staining the tips of his gloves. Conversely to everyone, Kai and Aaradhya were speaking softly as they worked on their pots. The pots were reused each year, leading them to be slightly cracked and faded in a couple spots. Kai was planting blue hydrangeas in a little mosaic pot.

Aaradhya dropped another seed, their black long-sleeves rolled up to their elbows, “I would say my favourite one is the Death on the Nile but the Murder of Roger Ackroyd comes in a smooth second place.

Kai agreed, “I can’t believe Roger Ackroyd isn’t your first choice! You can’t tell me you saw that plot twist coming!” His cross swayed slightly as he spoke, his hands digging into the dirt to make small holes for the seeds. He finished another pot and placed it on the table behind them, grabbing another mosaic pot to fill.

Mr. Hughes took another round of the classroom, stopping by them, “How’s it going guys?” Mr. Hughes had gotten a haircut over the weekend, his hair cut shorter as he began to carve out waves in his black hair.

His ivory cardigan was similarly rolled up to his elbows despite not helping to plant any flowers. Beneath his cardigan he was wearing the homemade black and white gym shirt that Principal Adams had made a couple years ago after one of the only trade ships stopped coming to Gamal.

“Good.” Kai fixed his gloves and brushed a strand of hair out of his face as he spoke.

“Good.” Aaradhya smiled. “We should be done soon. What time are we planting them today?”

Kai fully turned towards Mr. Hughes at Aaradhya’s question. His stance mirrored Aaradhyas with his back pressed to the counter and one foot taking most of his weight.

“Should be sometime after fourth period.” The pair of them nodded. Mr. Hughes’ eyes squinted before he gave a small smile like he knew something that Kai and Aaradhya didn’t. Both shared a confused look as Mr. Hughes walked away.

Connor Barleys yelled over to Aaradhya, “Hey! Look! I’m like you!” Connor’s pinkie and ring fingers were taped together with masking tape so he couldn’t use them well. Faint laughter ran through the classroom. He turned back to his pots and began to cackle like it was the funniest joke in the world.

Aaradhya ignored him and turned back to the counter. They mumbled, “Dickhead.” Kai laughed beneath their breath. The two of them continued talking about Agatha Christie. Aaradhya had recently found out that Kai liked treading too, after the tree had sprouted in Robbie Simmons’s front yard.

Connor Barleys had always been a slight asshole, most especially because he was friends with Robbie Simmons. When Aaradhya was younger they would find the rotting food the two of them had planted as a “prank” on church grounds. And then, a few days later, the two of them would show up to Church with innocent eyes and tightly tied ties.

Aaradhya picked up the pot to put it with the other finished pots in the middle of the room. But just as their hands touched it, the vines of the pepper began to grow. Rapid like washing caves over the pot's lip and cascading down the ceramic.

Letting the pot “accidentally” fall to the floor. The pot smashed against the floor, the tan sides sliding over the beige tile below. Earth exploded everywhere, all over Aaradhya’s shoes and the ground. Their eyes widened as all eyes fell on them, “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! It slipped.”

The long vines shrivelled and mixed in with the earth on the floor. No one seemed to notice.

Kai dipped down and grabbed the larger pieces of broken ceramic. Mr. Hughes smiled with no malice in his eyes, “Aaradhya, it's okay. It’ll take four seconds to sweep it up. Though it might take a little longer to clean up your clothes.”

Aaradhya looked down at their earth-stained clothes. A shaking in their hands beckoned them to the plants around them, to make them grow larger than any man had seen them before. Aaradhya clenched their fists so tight their knuckles whitened, “Can I go to the washroom to wash it off?”

Mr. Hughes nodded, “For sure.” He turned towards his kid, “Alex, go get the broom.” Alex grabbed the red handled broom and handed it to their father. He began to brush up all the piles of dirt from beneath the desks and the students' shoes.

Embarrassment turned their face on fire. Their cheeks felt red hot. Aaradhya scurried out of the room with wide eyes, as they were trying to keep it together.”

“Sir, can I…” Kai pointed at the door. He could hear Aaradhya's quick pace as they rushed through the hallways.

Mr. Hughes waved him away, his mind focused on cleaning up the mess, “Yeah, yeah.” Kai turned out of the room and towards the bathroom. He had seen what happened, he had seen the pepper plants sprout and die seconds apart.