writingcamp + The Diary

WEEK 3 + FIRST CHAPTER

Clara put the boxes down the curb with a huff. She carried two boxes at once without thinking. She was in haste since the moving van only arrived on the second day of their supposed to be move. She slept in her new bedroom of their new house the first night in a sleeping bag. What an impression for the newly moved family, was it not?

"Clara, dear. If you can only carry one, then do so. I don't want you to hurt yourself for overestimating your strength" , came Mr. Henry's comment over his daughter's stubborness to have two boxes to carry when evidently, she can only carry one.

"Oh please stop worrying, dad. It's not that heavy." Clara replied with a stomp of her foot. "Believe me, I can still dance while carrying these two boxes." As she did so, she did not notice the group of teenagers who were as oblivious as she was with each other's presence.

With a loud crash, Clara stumbled but weirdly fell on something soft. With knitted eyebrows, she set her hands underneath to scan what saved her from the hard cement. Clearly she thought, the boxes surely didn't have pillows in them.

A groan was heard under her and then someone spoke. "I'd appreciate it more if you would stand up. The ground is hotter than it seemed."

With a yelp, Clara stood up and there she saw. Long brown hair covered mostly the face of her human sacrifice on the scene of stumbling over thin air. Clara felt a surge of embarrassment run through her whole existence. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry. Here let me help you up."

She held her hand towards the girl on the act of reaching for her. The girl took the offered hand and stood up. Laughter erupted not far from the two and they thrned towards the sound. There were others apparently, who saw the whole scene.

"Look at what you've done Jean, the poor girl's things are all over the ground now." Said the short girl with a boy clinging to her like his life depended on it.

The girl with the long brown wavy hair, patted herself as an act of getting rid of the dirt on her clothes. Her name was Jean. "Truly sorry about that. Although I guess we can call it even since I broke your fall." Jean said in a cool manner. The short girl with the lanky boy slapped Jean on the arm and gave her a glare. "That's such a bad apology! Let's help her pick up her things, shall we?"

With that, the others started to pick up the things on the ground and put them back on the boxes. The short girl turned towards Clara and introduced herself. Well, more like introduced themselves.

"Hi, my name is Harley. I apologize for my friend over here who clearly was very clumsy, here name is Jean." With that said, the girl once again jokingly slapped her friend's arm. Harley then pointed over to a boy with blonde hair and said, "That boy over there, with the blonde hair is Khaleel." Upon hearing his name, the one named Khaleel looked up and showed his brightest smile and then waved. She then pointed at another boy, the lanky one. "That guy is Lester. He's our resident "Bringer of Goods". With that Lester greeted Clara with a "Yo!" and then went back to picking up things.

The other girl, which Clara noticed as a silent one, came forward towards her and Harley. She reached out her hand for a handshake and introduced herself. "A pleasure to meet new people around here again. Hi, I'm Arian."

Clara shook Arian's hand and introduced herself too. "Thank you for the warm welcome. My name is Clara, Clara Grey."

Clara stood still when all five teenagers looked at her and smiled widely. "Nice to meet you too, Clara." The teenagers said in unison. They also worked fast too, after the brief introductions, they somehow managed to collect all of the things that were thrown out of the box from the collision that happened.

When Clara started to carry both boxes again, Khaleel took one and smiled at her. "Let me help you with this one, we somehow put some of the heavy things in this box."

Even though Clara was tall for her age, Khaleel was taller than her for several inches. So she had held her gaze higher than usual. Aside from her dad, she didn't have anyone else to compare her height. But now, well here comes Khaleel.

Clara nodded and spoke a "Thank you". Since Khaleel was holding one of the boxes, the four others followed Clara and him towards the house. The group looked around aimlessly. All of a sudden, brown haired girl -Jean spoke. "Wow, I've never gone inside this house before.Even when the Petersons were the one's sho lived here before."

The other four nodded in agreement. Clara was curious. "Why, have you gone inside all of the houses here?"

Jean looked at her and replied, "Except this one."

"Why have you been inside all of the houses here?" Clara asked.

Then Lester snorted. "You ask the question like we were criminals or something." Then Arian, Harley, Khaleel, and Jean laughed.

Clara started to defend her question when a hand came to her shoulder. "Relax, we've been in on all the houses because we do chores for the people sometimes." Jean said while nudging her a little.

"Its fun too! They also give us snacks and tips for our assistance." Khaleel added to what Jean said. The group nodded in agreement.

"Maybe you could join us, when you're done with your arrangements here." Harley suggested. "Also, maybe we can helo around here too. We promise we'd be great helpers." She added.

Clara was not sure. She should probably ask her parents first. Before she could say something, someone else spoke.

"Ah, the famous five! I've heard quite a lot of things about you kids." Mr. Henry, Clara's dad. "I'm guessing you've heard the huffs and puffs from this household and thought someone must be needing help." Mr. Henry said and then laughed.

Then another one spoke, now much softer than Mr. Henry's booming voice. "Well if you do intend to help children, then feel free. But then, you can also just lounge around and take Clara away too. She needs to be acquainted with the whole place." Said Mrs. Amanda Grey, Clara's mother.

With that said, Khaleel put down the box he was carrying and the. took the other box from Clara's hold which he stacked with the former. He then smiled brightly and spoke, "Much obliged, Ma'am! We shall see to it that your daughter shall be familiar with the place. We shall also do it with much fun!"

And not a moment to lose the famous five whisked Clara away from sorting boxes.

What a weird way to have been acquainted. Clara thought.