- Joined
- May 7, 2019
As Claire woke, surrounded by the dusty rose silk of her bedsheets and the cream color of her heavy down comforter, she groggily wondered if the entire weekend had been a dream. Where she normally would have spent it out shopping with her friends, perhaps attending the football game on Friday and a party afterwards, she only had vivid memories of a raucous Saturday morning with four people she never would have thought she'd keep company with – save Andy, perhaps, but the others were completely unpredictable. Fond memories of laughing over marijuana smoke with Brian and Andy, brushing Allison's hair back as she applied lighter makeup, and – oh, John – rushed to her head, causing her to smile as she pulled the covers over her head briefly, not wanting to leave the dream behind.
Of course, it was reality, something that became clear as her foggy mind began to wake, which propelled her out of bed even faster than days she'd planned on skipping to hang out with her friends, already in the shower within minutes of waking up. It was rare that she was getting ready so early, usually preferring to delay the start to her school day as long as possible – the act she put on every day of preferring her stuck-up, snotty friends and being perfect day in and day out was exhausting, and not one she was ever happy to begin – but today, she found herself singing a Duran Duran song in the shower, staring at herself in the mirror with a pleased sigh as she began preparing for the day.
Once her short red hair was blow-dried to perfection and a bit of natural makeup was applied to her face, she strode to her closet clad only in a plush pink robe, throwing the doors open to scan her wardrobe for something suitable. It took her much longer than usual, making her thankful that she'd begun her routine much earlier; though she was used to crafting a look that was the perfect balance of stylish and effortless, today the stakes were much higher. Rifling through the boundless options, she finally settled on a sleeker look than usual, trading in her flowing skirt for a more form-fitting pencil style and ditching her high boots for a pair of trendy, yet a bit risqué, pumps. The neckline on her shirt was just a bit lower than usual, and while her friends would likely either not notice or make a short comment about her looking to gain someone's attention, she hoped that the difference would be enough to make them correct.
It was still early, much earlier than she usually arrived, when she stepped out of her father's BMW, heels clicking against the pavement as she waved goodbye and headed into the school on her own. Instead of joining her group of friends for a bit of pre-class gossip, Claire made an easy excuse about how she needed to do some extra work from detention and spent a bit of time alone before her first class began, silently panicking over the biggest decision she'd ever had to make in her life.
What did she do? Did she continue in a life she detested, making her parents and her friends' content while sacrificing her own happiness? Did she throw herself into her campaign for prom queen, focusing only on the superficial things she'd grown to hate? After that day in detention, she didn't know if she could bear keeping up the façade, but to not do so would mean social suicide. Was she ready to give up everything she'd worked for?
She spent her morning classes in silent contemplation, skittishly avoiding joining up with her friends and doing her best to ignore the whispers about her strange behavior. When the lunch bell rang, she jumped, gathering her things and steeling herself as she entered the hallway.
"Hi, Brian," left her red lips before she could stop herself, and, figuring she was in too deep now, she accompanied the greeting with a shy wave and a small smile. The blonde boy stuttered, attempting to return the greeting, but settling with returning the wave as his face reddened.
Well, she'd done it now. She knew the small gesture would spread through the cafeteria like wildfire, so she marched into the room with her head held high, lunchbox clutched in pale, white-knuckled hands. When she arrived, she had expected all eyes to be on her as usual, but instead, their attention seemed focused elsewhere. Sat at a table right in the middle of the cafeteria were Andy and Allison, him chattering away nervously about something or other as she giggled and hid her face in between preparing another one of her unconventional lunches. The student body gaggled at them, gossip and nasty things already beginning to circulate, and Claire made her final decision then and there.
Striding confidently through the crowd, the noise of her heels drawing and commanding attention, she plunked her lunchbox down on their table and sat down, beginning to unpack her salad as though it was something she did every day. "Hi, Andy, hi, Allison," she greeted them breezily as she drizzled salad dressing over her food. "Oh, there's Brian!" she grinned as she saw the boy enter the cafeteria. She raised a manicured hand to wave to him. "Brian! Over here!" she called as she patted the seat next to her, staring out at the crowd as though daring them to say anything.
As the students continued to chitter, the final member of their fivesome entered the cafeteria, and while Claire didn't call out to him like she had Brian, it was easy for her to meet his eyes. Cocking her head towards the four of them, she silently invited him to join, holding her breath as she waited for him to react.
Of course, it was reality, something that became clear as her foggy mind began to wake, which propelled her out of bed even faster than days she'd planned on skipping to hang out with her friends, already in the shower within minutes of waking up. It was rare that she was getting ready so early, usually preferring to delay the start to her school day as long as possible – the act she put on every day of preferring her stuck-up, snotty friends and being perfect day in and day out was exhausting, and not one she was ever happy to begin – but today, she found herself singing a Duran Duran song in the shower, staring at herself in the mirror with a pleased sigh as she began preparing for the day.
Once her short red hair was blow-dried to perfection and a bit of natural makeup was applied to her face, she strode to her closet clad only in a plush pink robe, throwing the doors open to scan her wardrobe for something suitable. It took her much longer than usual, making her thankful that she'd begun her routine much earlier; though she was used to crafting a look that was the perfect balance of stylish and effortless, today the stakes were much higher. Rifling through the boundless options, she finally settled on a sleeker look than usual, trading in her flowing skirt for a more form-fitting pencil style and ditching her high boots for a pair of trendy, yet a bit risqué, pumps. The neckline on her shirt was just a bit lower than usual, and while her friends would likely either not notice or make a short comment about her looking to gain someone's attention, she hoped that the difference would be enough to make them correct.
It was still early, much earlier than she usually arrived, when she stepped out of her father's BMW, heels clicking against the pavement as she waved goodbye and headed into the school on her own. Instead of joining her group of friends for a bit of pre-class gossip, Claire made an easy excuse about how she needed to do some extra work from detention and spent a bit of time alone before her first class began, silently panicking over the biggest decision she'd ever had to make in her life.
What did she do? Did she continue in a life she detested, making her parents and her friends' content while sacrificing her own happiness? Did she throw herself into her campaign for prom queen, focusing only on the superficial things she'd grown to hate? After that day in detention, she didn't know if she could bear keeping up the façade, but to not do so would mean social suicide. Was she ready to give up everything she'd worked for?
She spent her morning classes in silent contemplation, skittishly avoiding joining up with her friends and doing her best to ignore the whispers about her strange behavior. When the lunch bell rang, she jumped, gathering her things and steeling herself as she entered the hallway.
"Hi, Brian," left her red lips before she could stop herself, and, figuring she was in too deep now, she accompanied the greeting with a shy wave and a small smile. The blonde boy stuttered, attempting to return the greeting, but settling with returning the wave as his face reddened.
Well, she'd done it now. She knew the small gesture would spread through the cafeteria like wildfire, so she marched into the room with her head held high, lunchbox clutched in pale, white-knuckled hands. When she arrived, she had expected all eyes to be on her as usual, but instead, their attention seemed focused elsewhere. Sat at a table right in the middle of the cafeteria were Andy and Allison, him chattering away nervously about something or other as she giggled and hid her face in between preparing another one of her unconventional lunches. The student body gaggled at them, gossip and nasty things already beginning to circulate, and Claire made her final decision then and there.
Striding confidently through the crowd, the noise of her heels drawing and commanding attention, she plunked her lunchbox down on their table and sat down, beginning to unpack her salad as though it was something she did every day. "Hi, Andy, hi, Allison," she greeted them breezily as she drizzled salad dressing over her food. "Oh, there's Brian!" she grinned as she saw the boy enter the cafeteria. She raised a manicured hand to wave to him. "Brian! Over here!" she called as she patted the seat next to her, staring out at the crowd as though daring them to say anything.
As the students continued to chitter, the final member of their fivesome entered the cafeteria, and while Claire didn't call out to him like she had Brian, it was easy for her to meet his eyes. Cocking her head towards the four of them, she silently invited him to join, holding her breath as she waited for him to react.