Where It All Breaks
1580 Words
The next day was the w***e of Elara’s life, reality finally hit her like a wrecking ball and shattered her world into pieces, not like it was a whole anyways. Clara was on her feet trying to get River’s attention, but River didn’t seem to be giving in… duhh. He didn’t even care if Clara existed.
Elara sat at the café after her tutoring sessions with the diva. She was just wondering why her own parents would treat her like an outcast. Just when she was about to start talking to herself like a mad person, she felt River’s presence beside her. ‘of course it’s him, who else is always by my side?’ she questioned herself.
He sat beside her and continued reading his book.
“What’s up with you River?” Elara asked
He didn’t answer, he kept reading
“Why are you behaving like I’m talking to thin air?” She asked with an annoyed look
“Aren’t you supposed to be used to that?” he asked without looking up from the book
“I am, but this is different, since it’s coming from you,” she replied calmly
“Really, oh then would you let me spill some secrets?” he asked politely, setting the book aside
“What secrets?” She asked turning to face him
“I hate Clara Quinn, she’s an asshole.”
“Don’t talk about my sister like that, River. Respect your boundaries” Elara said sternly
“Your sister? Clara Quinn is your sister? And she bullies you? Trying to get you on my bad side? You call that a sister?” River asked clearly shocked
“Mind your business,” Elara yanked and walked out.
For the rest of half the day, Elara avoided River and he did same.
Clara took this a chance to get close to River and to some extent, he was too drained to stand up to her.
“Hey River, looking good, better than expected,” Clara said
“Is that an insult?” River asked. “You know what, I don’t care,” he sighed in frustration
“So, what’s up? You’re kinda moody,” she asked taking a seat beside him
“Clara,” he called
“Yes,” she answered
“Why’d you hate your sister?” he asked
“I don’t have a sister.” She replied sternly
“Then who is Elara to you?” he asked again
“She’s just a random kid from the neighbourhood whose parents were so poor that they couldn’t afford a life for her, so they gave her to us…” Clara replied
“So, you both aren’t related?”
She smiled. “I’m happy we’re not, because she’s just a smelly bastard child, who was born out of wedlock,” she replied, her tone mocking
“So, you hate her because?”
“Because, she’s the one loved by all in the school my parents enrolled her into out of charity. She was super intelligent and very beautiful, guys were dying to date her,” she snared. “All the awards were always hers, I wanted them, I worked for them, but she just had to be better than me, now, I will take everything that’s hers, every freaking thing”
“Do you know the name of her biological parents?” he asked, clearly using reversed psychology on her.
“They are now the richest in Silvia city, Mr and Mrs Vienne,” She replied
“You’re actually great at handling a conversation, I like that,” he lied
“Awwn thank you,” she smiled, then he stood up and left
At violin class, River couldn’t concentrate, he kept thinking about how to make things right, how to put Elara where she belongs and that was in riches.
“Hey bro, what’s on your mind? You look messed up,” His friend Andrew asked
“You know Elara?” River asked
“The one who’s frequently bullied?” Andrew asked
“Not a really great remark, but yeah,” River replied
“Woah, that girl is a tough nut, she is like a turtle under its shell. She doesn’t open up to anyone, her circle is sealed in her. She never says exactly what’s wrong and no matter how much Clara bullies her, she still defends her,” Andrew said gulping down a whole bottle of water.
“Why is she doing this to herself, she’d practically beat someone up for talking bad about Clara,” River said with a look of frustration
“What’d you mean?” Andrew asked, stopping them in front of their locker
River sighed. “I was trying to speak to her today about how I felt about Clara, I said ‘I hate Clara, she’s an asshole’ and she stood up, and warned me never to badmouth her sister and that I should respect the boundaries”
“I’m sure she didn’t slap you hard across the face because she respects you, if not the last time I remember Clara being scolded by a senior, she slapped the senior 8 times on the cheek. She defends Clara like it’s a do or die affair,” Andrew said
River’s eyes widened in realization. “I think her parents are making her do it, because Elara can barely stand up for herself. So, maybe they threatened to throw her out on the streets if she didn’t do it”
“True though, but I haven’t seen Elara all day, where is she?” Andrew asked
“What?!” River looked furious
He ran through the hallways, searching, looking, asking, then it clicked, he decided to go up to the rooftop, and there she was, standing at the edge, about to take a jump.
“Elly! What are you doing?!” he screamed and pulled her away from the rim. “Are you kidding me? Do you want to die?”
“Do you know what it feels like to be a mistake? How it feels like to be treated like trash in your own home? like I don’t belong in my own life? What home am I even speaking of?” she asked
He didn’t respond
“The broken one where my parents obviously rejected me? Made me to suffer?”
He kept mute
“I’m not worth you. You’ve tried to help me and all I’ve done is push you away, yet you keep trying.” She sobbed. “Who am I really? A shadow in Clara’s footstep I guess,”
“Elara…” she cuts in
“No! let me talk! I’m tired of being invisible, I’m tired of being a pawn, I’m tired of being your charity case!” Elara yelled
“That’s enough, Elara!” he snapped. “Why are you levelling yourself below what you are?! Belittling yourself? Torturing yourself? Defending someone who bullies you and makes you the fault in public?! Is that it?!”
“Maybe it is! If I don’t defend her, she goes home crying to mom, blaming me for her getting bullied! What do you want me to do?! Should I kill myself just to live?!”
“it’s useless,” he muttered. “it’s useless to speak up for someone who wants to remain in the shadows, it’s totally useless,” he was about to leave. “Maybe you should remain the poor, cry baby who chooses the shadows over the light,” with that, he slammed the door shut behind him
He was furious and so was she, she was tired of crying and from that day on she was no longer an act of charity.
After the school dismissed, she looked for River everywhere and found him feeding fishes at the fountain.
“River,” she called, her voice calm
He didn’t answer
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you so furious” she continued
He didn’t respond
“Come on, I’m apologising, I’m sorry!” She yelled
He turned to look at her, his legs crossed, his arms crossed and he leaned across the fountain. “Come here,” he ordered and she walked forward, just inches away from him. He pulled her closer with one hand and slid the second hand around her waist.
“Who are you?” he asked, his voice calm
“Is this appropriate?” she asked, trying to hide her blush
“I’m serious, who are you?” he asked again
“I am Elara Quinn. God’s creation” she replied
“Good, now I came here because of you. And only you can make me leave, and I won’t leave till I get what I came for. From now on, if you belittle yourself again, I will leave. It’s a promise,” he said and pulled her even closer.
She nodded in agreement.
“I like someone,” he whispered, then she pulled away, but he pulled her back. “Jealous?” he smirked. “Isn’t there someone you like?”
He pulled her closer. “There should be, cuz I like someone from the Quinn family. She’s beautiful.”
She pulled away. “Why are you telling me? Like I care.” She yanked. “Date whoever you like, I don’t f*****g care!” she yelled clearly hurt. “Why did I even come to apologise?”
He smiled and continued feeding the fishes. He had gotten what he wanted.
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- Writer
