A SECOND CHANCE

"Arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh" Claire annoyingly closed her eyes due to the deafening screams caused by the girls in the hallway. She wondered what was wrong with them. Today was just her first day in the school yet it was turning out terrible. "What is going on? Why are you ladies screaming like that?" She asked no one in particular. Some random girl answered "It's Eric Santiago" "And who's that?" Asked Claire "Only the most handsome guy in this entire school, and the captain of the basketball team. Did I mention he can sing and is also rich?" The girl replied. "So who cares?" Claire said loudly. Her statement made all the girls gasp and look at her like she just lost her mind but they forgot all about her when their hero came. Eric Santiago made his way through the hallway with his two friends by each of his side. He was truly handsome with a boyish cuteness, black hair, brown eyes, nice body. He acted oblivious to the chants of his name meanwhile he enjoyed every bit of the attention the girls were giving him. Although none of them were brave enough to walk up to him, they all just hoped he would notice them and get interested. While Eric was enjoying the attention, his eyes went to the girl standing in front of her locker. What amazed him was the fact that she wasn't stunned by him, she acted like he didn't exist to her, instead she looked at him repulsively before leaving. Eric asked Alex, one of his friends about Claire. "Who was that girl?" "I don't know" replied Alex. Sean, Eric's other friend asked "Why are you asking about her?" Eric answered "Didn't you see that she didn't look interested in me, like all those other girls?" "Yeah I noticed that" said Alex "but so what?" "No girl has ever ignored me. And that makes me interested in that new girl" Eric said. "You want us to find out about her?" Sean asked "No. Jennifer can do that." Claire walked into the classroom for her first lesson. She really had to catch up cause her admission came late, hence she resumed late. Her coming into the classroom made everyone look at her, she didn't even realize that she had the kind of beauty that could turn heads. She just quietly sat down on the first empty seat she saw. Another pretty girl came into the class, she was a blonde and sat behind Claire. She tapped Claire on the shoulder to get her attention. "Hi, it seems you're new here. I'm Thalia" said the blonde "Claire" "I just thought it would be nice to tell you that you're sitting on Jennifer's seat." Said Thalia Claire responded "How can it belong to her when she isn't even here. Is she?" "She is now" said Thalia. Jennifer was tall and not very thin. She had long hair which she let down and her face was covered in much makeup and dark lipstick. But underneath all the makeup, she was really beautiful but with a nasty attitude. "I don't know you and I don't care who you are but get your butt out of my seat" said Jennifer. " The seat doesn't belong to you alone. It's for anyone who comes first." Said Claire Jennifer laughed a little. "It seems like you're so ignorant and don't know how things work around here. Don't you dare mess with me" " And you think I'll let you mess with me?" Claire said while standing up. " You're new to this school so I'll let this slide. Now move. " On a norms, Claire would have stubbornly refused to leave the seat but then she didn't want to get into trouble on her first day, her mother would be disappointed so she moved to the back and sat beside Thalia. Immediately Jennifer sat down, the teacher came into the class and started the lesson. During lunch time, Thalia showed Claire to the cafeteria where they would eat. After collecting their food, both of them strolled to the other end of the cafeteria and picked a table. Once again, she took no notice of Eric who was sitting behind them. "I thought you were going to fight Jennifer back there" said Thalia. "I would have but I'm no thug. And also, today's my first day so it won't do me any good if I get into trouble for fighting. Besides, I'm here on scholarship and I don't want it to get withdrawn because of some annoying brat. "Said Claire. " Speaking of the devil" said Thalia. Jennifer came in with her posse and they sat down at the same table with Eric and his friends. She was smiling at him while he just stared. "Who's that girl?" Eric asked Jennifer turned to where Eric was pointing and saw Claire. "She's just an annoying newbie. She was actually talking back at me." "Hmmm.. she does opposite of what others do." Eric said. "Why are you interested in her?" Jennifer asked. No special reason" replied Eric." But I want you to find out about her. " " What? "She exclaimed "no way. We already argued. I'm not talking to her." "Then apologize if you have to." Eric said. " Eric, do you like her? " Asked Jennifer in a small voice. " No. I'm just curious. Do what I told you". Said Eric. The bell rung indicating the end of the lunch break and they all stood up to go for their various classes. Claire and Thalia walked back to they classroom together. Claire spoke "so Jennifer and that Eric guy are friends?" "Not really" replied Thalia "but everybody knows that she likes him". " But he doesn't like her?" "Well they did date for a while but they broke up. He broke up with her actually. But she still likes him. And Eric knows that so he sometimes uses her to do his bidding". "she's actually more foolish than I thought". Says Claire Thalia laughed "She just loves the wrong person. Eric's a playboy and doesn't stick to one girl for long, that's it. He's broken so many hearts but there are still other girls hoping he'll notice them". " They're unbelievable".