Room 46

Chapter 2: Love Runs Out

Clarissa waited at the driveway for a mere minute and a half. Once she got on the bus, she took a seat 4 rows from the front. Not quite the very front, with the goody-two-shoes', but not quite the back with all the troublemakers.

As she sat down, she put in her ear buds. A fan of all kinds of music, Clarissa began listening to One Republic. Counting Stars...Secrets...Love Runs Out...

"Hey."

Clarissa looked up.

A boy, about two inches taller than her, had sat across the aisle from her seat. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a gray T-Shirt, a red hoodie, and blue jeans, making Clarissa feel overdressed in her white blouse, jean jacket, purple bow, and purple jeans. She took out one of her ear buds.

"Um...hey. Can I help you?" asked Clarissa.

"You're new, aren't you?" asked the boy.

"Yes..." replied Clarissa, "I just moved here from Lansing."

"Where?"

"Michigan," said Clarissa, "I moved her from Lansing, Michigan."

"Cool. I'm Joey. Joey Carol. And your name is..."

"Clarissa. Clarissa Jonas." Clarissa could still hear her music emanating from her left ear bud. This embarrassed her for some reason. Off.

"One Republic? My favorite band!" said Joey.

"Look," said Clarissa, "I see what you're doing. You're trying to flirt by introducing fake common interests. I just moved here. I'm not looking for anyone right now."

Joey just laughed. "No, you've got me wrong. I'm not flirting. I'm trying to make friends. I know how hard it is to being the new kid. I only moved here from San Antonio two years ago."

"Where?" asked Clarissa sarcastically.

"Okay, okay," Joey put his hands up, "I earned that. I'm just saying. If you ever have trouble making friends, you can come to me."

"I think I'll be fine," responded Clarissa sharply.

Joey walked to near the back of the bus.

"Ugh, boys," Clarissa thought, "why can't they just be girls?"

The bus pulled into the loop. Clarissa hopped off, and went inside.