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1484 Words
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The shrill sound of Claire's alarm clock pierced through the quiet room.
She groaned, burying her face deeper into her pillow.
Without opening her eyes, she reached toward the bedside table and fumbled for the alarm.
Click.
Silence.
She let out a tired sigh and rolled onto her back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Her mind drifted back to the previous night...
The restaurant.
Fred.
The tears she couldn't hold back.
She quickly pulled the blanket over her face.
"So embarrassing..."
BANG!!
Her bedroom door flew open.
Claire's eyes shot open.
Her heart leaped into her throat.
She yanked the blanket off her face, breathing hard.
"Seriously?" Jessie stood at the doorway with her hands on her hips.
"You're still in bed?"
Claire let out a long breath.
It was only Jessie.
She flopped back onto the bed and covered her face again.
"How did you even get in?" she mumbled from beneath the blanket. "Do you have a copy of my key or something?"
Jessie frowned.
"No."
Claire peeked out from under the blanket.
"The front door was already open."
Claire sat bolt upright.
"...What?"
Jessie blinked.
"The front door."
She pointed toward the living room.
"It was open when I got here."
The color slowly drained from Claire's face.
Then it clicked.
She had forgotten to lock it the night before.
She let out a relieved sigh.
Jessie noticed the change in her expression.
"You good?"
Claire nodded.
"Yeah. Turns out I forgot to lock it last night."
"Oh..."
Jessie folded her arms.
"Speaking of last night..."
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Tell me everything."
Claire raised an eyebrow.
"You know what? I'm going to get dressed. We're already late."
Jessie pouted.
"Come on! Give me the details."
She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Did you guys kiss or something?"
Claire rolled her eyes and walked into the bathroom.
"Claire!"
"Sorry. No conversation today. We're running late."
"Oh, so now you're worried about being late?" Jessie teased.
"You weren't thinking about that while you were busy sleeping."
Claire chuckled as she turned on the shower.
Realizing Claire wasn't going to talk, Jessie flopped onto her bed.
"Your bed is so soft."
"I know, right?" Claire called from inside the bathroom.
"No wonder you're late to school almost every day."
Claire didn't answer.
A few moments later, the shower turned off.
Ding!
Claire's phone buzzed on the bed.
Jessie reached for it and glanced at the screen.
A message from Fred.
Hey... um. Sorry about last night. Hope you're good?
Curious, Jessie scrolled down.
Her eyes widened.
Twenty missed calls.
Several unread messages.
Where are you?
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up.
Are you okay?
Just then, Claire stepped out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel.
She stopped when she saw Jessie staring at her phone with a confused expression.
"Jessie... what are you doing with my phone?"
Jessie looked up.
"Um..."
She held up the phone.
"It's Fred."
Claire's heart sank.
"Shit...give me that." She grabbed the the phone from Jessie
"What happened between you two last night?"
"Nothing."
Jessie gave her a skeptical look.
Claire sighed.
"I... left him."
"What? Why?"
Claire lowered her eyes.
"He asked me about my parents."
She swallowed.
"I got emotional... then I felt embarrassed."
She sighed again.
"So I just... left."
Jessie stared at her.
"You left him at the restaurant?"
Claire nodded.
"I don't know why I did that."
Her voice became quieter.
"I just feel bad."
"And embarrassed..."
Jessie smiled softly and opened her arms.
"Come here."
Claire stepped forward and rested her head on Jessie's shoulder.
"I don't know if I can even face him at school.."
She groan
"Oh.."
"I feel so stupid."
Jessie patted her back.
"Yeah."
Claire immediately pulled back.
"What?"
Jessie burst into a giggle.
"I mean... don't."
Claire narrowed her eyes.
"I hate you."
Jessie grinned.
"Love you too."
Claire rolled her eyes and walked toward her wardrobe to change into her school uniform.
***
Ring!
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
Claire stepped out of the classroom with a frustrated sigh.
School is boring.
She headed toward her locker.
Jessie was already there, gently resting her forehead against it.
She looked completely exhausted.
"Sup, J?"
Jessie's face immediately lit up.
"Oh, thank God."
She threw her hands in the air.
"I was literally dying of boredom."
Claire chuckled.
"Same here."
"History was torture."
Jessie scoffed.
"History is better."
She leaned closer and whispered,
"English is worse."
Claire laughed.
"You hate English?"
"No."
Jessie shook her head.
"I hate the teacher."
Claire smiled.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Jessie sighed dramatically.
"His teaching is so..."
She suddenly stopped talking and tapped Claire's shoulder.
"What?"
Jessie nodded toward the entrance.
"Behind you."
Claire turned around.
Great.
The three new guys had just entered the hallway.
"Oh my God..."
"They're here."
Whispers instantly spread through the corridor.
Ted strutted down the hallway like he was walking a fashion runway, his hair bouncing with every step.
Behind him walked Marcus.
Calm.
Gentle.
His warm brown eyes quietly scanned the hallway.
Then there was the last one.
William.
As always...
He didn't seem to care.
His cold expression silenced the hallway without him saying a single word.
His sharp eyes remained fixed ahead.
Jessie leaned toward Claire.
"Why doesn't that one ever smile?"
She lowered her voice.
"He looks like a nightmare."
Claire burst into laughter before she could stop herself.
The hallway instantly fell silent.
Every eye turned toward her.
Claire sighed.
"Great, Jessie."
"What?"
Jessie shrugged.
"I didn't think you'd actually laugh."
Ted glanced in their direction.
Then smirked.
"Where are you going?" Marcus asked.
"Just clearing something up."
"Don't do anything stupid."
Ted ignored him.
Claire sighed.
"Whatever happens..."
She looked at Jessie.
"Don't do anything stupid."
Jessie smiled innocently.
"No promises."
Ted stopped in front of them.
"Hey, ladies."
"Hi," Claire replied politely.
Jessie remained silent.
Ted leaned casually against Claire's locker.
"
So..."
"What were you two whispering about?"
Jessie opened her mouth.
Claire quickly interrupted.
"Nothing."
"We were just talking about class."
She smiled sheepishly
Ted raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
He smiled.
"Then what were you laughing at?"
Claire fell silent.
Ted pushed himself away from the locker.
"Were you mocking me?"
Still...
No answer.
He stepped closer.
"Answer me..."
His voice dropped.
"Sweetheart."
"Ted."
Marcus walked over.
"That's enough."
Ted ignored him.
He leaned even closer to Claire.
She could barely breathe.
"P-Please..."
She swallowed.
"Back off."
"Wrong answer."
He leaned closer again.
Before Claire could react-
Jessie stepped between them.
"She said back off, asshole."
She shoved Ted so hard he stumbled backward.
Marcus blinked.
Then a quiet chuckle escaped him.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
He looked... impressed.
Ted regained his balance.
"That's it."
He pointed at Jessie.
"I wasn't talking to you."
"Oh really?"
Jessie folded her arms.
"You're bullying my best friend."
"So now you're bullying me."
She looked him up and down.
"And seriously?"
"Ted?"
She laughed.
"What kind of name is that?"
"It's like..."
She pretended to think.
"Teddy Bear."
She tilted her head.
"Actually..."
"You do look like a teddy bear."
Marcus couldn't hold back another quiet laugh.
Ted shot him an annoyed look.
"Really, Marcus?"
"You're not helping."
Marcus raised both hands.
"My bad."
Just then...
William walked past them.
"Quit the drama."
His cold voice cut through the tension.
As he walked by, his eyes briefly met Claire's.
Then he looked away as if nothing had happened.
Claire scoffed.
"And who does he think he is?" Jessie muttered.
Her eyes suddenly widened.
She quickly covered her mouth.
"...Did I just say that out loud?"
Claire slowly turned to stare at her.
Ted and Marcus
Exchange surprised glances.
William's footsteps slowed.
The hallway fell silent.
He didn't turn around.
He simply let out a quiet sigh...
...and continued walking away.
Ted glare at Jessie before following behind William
"That glare doesn't suit you!"
Jessie shouted after him.
He didn't even bother looking back.
Marcus smiled apologetically.
"Sorry about that."
Then he followed his friends.
Jessie watched the three boys disappear down the hallway before turning back to Claire.
"Girl... are you hurt?"
Claire shook her head.
"That guy is such a jerk. Ted... or whatever his name is."
"Jessie," Claire sighed. "I told you not to do anything stupid."
Jessie blinked innocently.
"Oh? Did I?"
Claire raised an eyebrow before smiling.
"Thanks, though."
Jessie grinned.
"But you really shouldn't have pushed him like that."
"Why not?"
"What if he got injured?"
Jessie shrugged.
"Yeah... my bad."
Claire looked at her for a second before laughing.
"But girl..."
Jessie tilted her head.
"You're so strong."
"I know, right?" Jessie said proudly, flexing her arm dramatically.
Claire burst into laughter.
Jessie joined in, and together they walked down the hallway, laughing like nothing had happened.
- Writer
