UNEDITED
Breathe in. breathe out.
Breathe in Breath ou-achooo.
My cold had started acting up and I had sneezed at least five times in the last two minutes.
Yay life.
I look at my phone trying to send the most impersonal text possible.
To Jak(e)ass
Ashley is coming to pick you up.
That's impersonal enough.
I had quickly texted Ashley to come pick Jake up from school after the fight scene Jake had started. I just hope that Jake sucks up his ego long enough to go home.
No one really knows what the fight started for, thats a secret only Jake and Kevin seem to know and Kevin was not in the best shape to say anything and Jake had disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Good riddiance.
"Hello Earth to Clara." Samantha says making me looking up.
"What?" I ask her kind of startled.
" That." She says in a disgusted tone looking at Jeremy and Rebecca next to her in the cafeteria where of course the topic everyone was talking about was the fight.
The fight that lasted about 10 minutes had made enough gossip to last for 10 days.
She says it softly so that only I can hear because clearly she doesn't want them hear after her fight with Rebecca she had became much more careful.
"I don't know what to wear to winter ball."Rebecca says,"I do have a pretty dress but Im not sure it will match."
"Babe you will look good in whatever you know it." Jeremy replies giving her a genuine smile.
My heart sinks at the choice of their topic. The Winterball. I remember when Jake asked me...
You know what screw it I am done thinking about Jake the guy can go with Ashley or lie dying in a corner of the street see if I gave a damn and I doubt he really meant it when he asked me.
"So you did come to see the fight in the end." Samantha says in a desperate attempt to make conversation and drown out theirs.
Just remembering about the fight makes me think about Jake and that makes me want to puke.
"Yeah." I say trying to sound light,"I mean who could resist seeing Jake getting his ass kicked."
Samantha rolled her eyes.
"Oh please you looked like you were about to faint during the fight." Samantha says smirking.
Shit people noticed that? And I wasn't going to faint I just felt slightly queasy.
"I'm sick." I say not completely lying or telling the truth,"And I don't like blood very much."
"Yeah yeah sure why not." Samantha said,"You don't like blood very much when it is coming from Jake and lets not even mention the eye contact crap you did. For a moment I thought you weren't selling the fake dating thing."
"Eye contact?" I ask sort of confused.
Samantha smirks.
"You know exactly what I am talking about." Samantha says.
"When did you become Rebecca?" I ask.
"When she started to completely ignore us." She said looking at Rebecca who was completely oblivious to our conversation.
"Whatever I don't like Jake." I say,"Never have. Never will."
"Who are you trying to convince?" Samantha said raising an eyebrow,"Me or yourself?"
I simply roll my eyes.
By the time the lunch bell rings Samantha and me have just had enough of Jeremy and Rebecca. I don't know what game Jeremy is playing or what love potion Rebecca put in his food but they are so cheesy that I want to kill myself.
I just hope Jeremy doesn't break Rebecca's heart because if he does I will kill him and Samantha will happily help.
For different reasons though.
I reach my chemistry class slightly late but the teacher hadn't arrived yet so I slid into my seat next to Alec completely ignoring Jake's empty seat next to me.
"Where is Jake?" Alec whispered.
I shrug.
"It's Jake," I respond,"And I doubt we would really like to find out."
"Well, your boyfriend is forever indebted to me cause I saved his sorry ass." Alec cracks a grin just before our teacher walks in.
"Okay class today we are doing a practical." She says and briefly glances at me and the pained expression on my face,"This is a very complicated one and we are dealing with concentrated acids so precision is everything."
I tune off because I know for a fact that I am going nowhere near this experiment because knowing me I would probably end up screwing up. Big time.
Instead I go back to my favourite pass time: To stare shamelessly at Alec as subtly as possible.
Alec is listening intently to the teacher is the definition of cute. His blonde hair is completely messy and his green eyes are completely focused on the teacher.
Why god? Why? Its not fair to make people this perfect.
The one thing that had always drawn me about him was how nice he was. Besides the fact that Alec was ectremely easy on the eyes.I mean he did have his major share of faults.
I mean dating all the girls the parties and the of course at times the drinking. But Alec is still one of the nicest people I have met.
When his mom died who was the only thing close to a motherly figure in my life I almost found it my duty to start caring for him.
Eventually I fell for him. Hard. Or maybe I always had but I just never understood it until later.
Until Natalie came.
Natalie had come to town soon after Alec's mom died. She wasn't always the confident blonde she was but in fact a shy sweet girl who had braces.
Natalie became my friend almost immediately and that meant she became Alec's friend.
One day when we were thirteen Natalie had looked at me straight in the face and asked me if I liked Alec and though I had never come to think about it I realised that in reality I actually did.
A lot.
And from then on the pining began. Nothing had really changed between Alec and I. I still was the clumsy one who kept on tripping and falling and he was always the one helping me up. But the difference was my heart raced whenever he did.
He was kind, sweet, funny and I had known him forever. He was my best friend too and frankly It didn't get any better.
During the summer I spent in camp with Jake, I became a completely different person than who I usually was but I became the quiet,pushover girl again when I came back.
When I came back things had drastically changed. Natalie had grown out of her awkwardness and had transformed into the next thing after my sister while Alec had grown hot.
Like really really hot.
Which is when the girls came after him. He always denied them which gave me a bit of hope that my feelings were reciprocated by him.
Our last year in middle school consisted of Natalie changing to queen and Alec into the king while I still remained the quiet girl who no one noticed.
When Natalie came to high school she had transformed completely she became meaner and bitchier and worse than ever.
But Nick's party. Thats when everything changed. I didn't remember much of that night to be honest no matter how hard I tried.
After that my high school life became hell on Earth. Alec started dating Natalie shattering my heart (gosh I sound dramatic) and Natalie found every single way to make sure I felt horrible.
But small miracles did occur when Alec dumped Natalie and I became friends with Samantha and Rebecca.
And then came Alec's relationship with my sister and the very thought of it made me want to puke. Of course they broke up eventually thank god for that because I honestly didn't know how long I would be able to take seeing my sisters tongue down his throat.
I just puked in my mouth.
Then of course came his playboy phase. Girls, parties and drinking. It was one of the things I liked least about him but it was the only time where things felt like the old times when he depended on me.
Which was plain pathetic.
I have no idea why he had started dating Natalie again and I was scared to know the answer really.
"Clara?" Alec's voice calls out breaking me out from my reverie.
"Huh?" I say stupidly.
"Can you slowly spray the gas into the solution slowly?" he says.
I take in my surroundings trying to process what I had missed out. Alec was adjusting his lab coat and glasses something I had worn before the experiment had started. He was pointed at the spray bottle that lay next to the blue solution in the flask.
I nod and pick the can cautiously. I should have probably listened to what exactly the liquid was and how much of a chance I had of going to the Emergency Room if I have a mishap with it.
I picked up the spray can at the back of mind distinctly remembering that we had to be very careful not to spray excess.
Shit what was the right amount again?
I was about to put down the spray and ask Alec no way in hell I was going to do it but before I could I sneezed.
Almost immediately I sprayed out almost half the bottle and managed to drop the flask onto the floor which shattered.
I looked up at horror at Alec and was about to say something like it was nice knowing you or I was sorry that we were going to die a painful death because of me.
Instead I laughed.
I'm not talking about like the normal giggle I mean full on laughing clutching my stomach and Alec was doing exactly the same.
In fact everyone around us had started to laugh too which make me laugh harder. I felt light headed and slightly dizzy and very confused.
But I still was laughing my head off.
"Oh my god." Alec said laughing,"I never thought laughing gas would be so effective."
I nod still giggling and laughing,"I know right we should and spray it all over your girlfriends face. She could do with a look on her face that doesn't look like she doesn't want to kill someone."
Holy Shit. I just said that but Alec still continued to laugh.
"I know and your boyfriend should literally inhale this stuff on a regular basis," he says and I nod the mention of Jake not pissing me off.
"Everyone out." Mrs Yetern said giggling slightly.
"I am sorry ." I say my mind terrified but I was physically laughing.
By the time we left the Lab everyone was laughing and giggling holding their stomachs.
I felt pretty light headed and dizzy but I found everything funny.
"I am getting screwed." I tell Alec my laughing slowly decreasing.
He gives a slight chuckle and says,"I know."
"Clara!" I hear Mrs Yetern call out and the effects of the laughing gas has completely worn off.
" I am so ss-sorry." I say.
Mrs Yetern simply sighs,"I know you don't do this on purpose Clara but honestly despite you're impeccable theory you will fail in practicals."
"B-But." I stumble.
I cannot fail. This is not happening to me. I have never gotten a below a B in my life.
"Alec you on the other hand are doing just fine and your theory is improving leaps and bounds." She says but I am too dazed to catch what she says.
I. CANNOT. FAIL.
Thats all that goes through my head and by the time I break out of my thoughts ready to beg Mrs Yetern to revaluate she says,"Fine Alec if you say so. If you can get her to do her final practicals on her own without her breaking so much as a test tube she I will revaluate."
Alec nods and smiles and she walks of muttering something about just how clumsy a person can get.
"W Wh-What just happened." I stammer still thinking of the large F that would probably taint my report.
"She has given you another chance but that means no mishaps in the lab." Alec says.
"Oh so basically she wants me to bunk every time there is a practical period?" I say," That I can do."
Alec chuckles.
"You will be fine." He says,"Trust me by the time finals come you will never know what the word clumsy means."
"Clearly you don't know me." I say.
"I do Clara." He says,"More so than you think."
I blush slightly at that. I mean what is that supposed to mean?
"Well, best of luck teaching me how not to trip over my own feet." I say.
He simply laughs.
"Challenge accepted." He says in Barney Stinson style and I crack a smile.
I laugh just as Mrs Yetern calls out,"Class you are dismissed. This will be a free period as it will take time to clear the gas."
Three-Fourth of the class turn towards me and look like they would kiss me any moment.
Umm Alec, feel free to do so.
Alec disappears into the crowd as they all disperse and I decide to walk towards my locker knowing that Natalie would definitely not be there.
My phone pings and I take it out to see who sent me a message.
It was Samantha.
'Do you need a ride after school?'
I quickly reply back saying Yes.
I see another unread message from Jake sent about an hour back.
Thank You.
I read the message twice and thrice trying to figure out what he meant. In the end I just figured he thanked me for calling Ashley or maybe he just sent it to the wrong person.
Must be that.
I quickly dump my books in my locker and see how much time there was for the class to be dismissed. It was a good 15 minutes.
My eyes dart to my phone.
Clara don't do it.
But I call anyway.
"Hi Ashley?" I say when she picks up the phone.
"Hi Clara." Ashley says her voice sounding distant through the receiver.
"Did um he uuh come home with you?" I say doing my best to sound casual.
"Oh yeah." She says,"The idiot is in his room right now and refuses to take any meds for his fever I did give him some soup which he gobbled in like 2 minutes so basically he is acting like a huge hypocrite."
"Oh." I say unable to think of anything else.
"Clara do you think perhaps you could tell me why Jake has so many bruises?" She says sounding slightly angry.
If I told Ashley the truth Jake would get screwed for sure and since he hasn't told her himself I had no right to tell.
I give my standard answer,"It's Jake. Who knows what he does."
Ashley chuckles lightly.
"Well, I hope you come home soon and force the meds down his throat." Ashley says laughing,"Threaten to break up with him unless he does."
If only.
I give a fake laugh and say,"Ok."
I am about to say bye but before I can Ashley quickly says,"Hey Clara would you mind being a bridesmaid at my wedding?"
My mouth almost hangs open. I had never been to wedding in my life and now I was going to two and being a bridesmaid. How did I get so popular all of a sudden?
"It's okay if you don't want to-"
"No, I would be honoured to be one actually." I say surprising myself.
I can almost hear her huge smile on the phone.
"Thank you." She says,"I'll go over the details with you later. And don't worry,Jake will be fine."
She cuts the phone and I stand in my place kind of frozen as to what happened.
Despite myself I smile and shake my head as I start to think to myself how genuinely I like Ashley and Nathan together.
They were complete polar opposites yet they were perfect. Despite talking to Nathan for literally 2 minutes only a blind person would not notice how deeply infatuated he was with Ashley.
I honestly wish I had someone like that.
Ugh Clara you sound like one of those helpless people in a teen fiction novel who seriously just ran out of clichèd sayings.
I simply shake my head and head to the library hoping the bell rings fast.
____________________________
"So you broke up with him." I said as I sat in Samantha's car who told me about her recent relationship failure.
"Well I just don't think we match very well." She says.
I control an urge to roll my eyes. With Samantha this wasn't a very unusual thing really. It happened every time and what Rebecca had said was completely true. Samantha literally threw guys away like toys.
She never went very far with them according to my knowledge and as far as I knew Jeremy was the only guy she had ever done it with.
"I thought you really liked him." I say,"I mean you were stuck with him in a closet in the bowling alley."
"With you and Alec." She says blushing slightly.
"But still you get my point." I say as she pulls out of the parking lot," I thought you liked him."
"I did but it wasn't enough." She says,"I think I just have to go off guys for a while."
"You do know you say that every time right?" I say.
"Well, this time I plan to follow it." Samantha says,"In fact this year I am going stag to the winter ball while you and Rebecca smooch of your dates."
"I am not going to the winter ball." I say.
She raises an eyebrow and asks,"Why?"
I sigh.
"Well, for starters you have to dance and dancing combined with a dress that I haven't bought yet and heels equals to a surefire invitation to my funeral." I say and then add quietly,"Plus I don't think I have a date."
That makes Samantha's head do a 90 degree turn to look at me.
"So you aren't putting up the charade of fake dating anymore?" She asks.
I rub my temples.
"I don't know." I say,"I doubt its even fooling anyone and Jake and I hate each others guts. So whats the point."
Samantha laughed dryly and it had no humour in it.
"Alec turns red as a tomato every time he sees the two of you two together." She says.
"No he doesnt." I say blushing slightly.
"He does trust me. He literally bores holes at the back of your heads whenever you are not looking." Samantha says,"You might not have noticed it but the rest of the school most definitely has especially Natalie."
I smirk at that thinking about her warning. My mind briefly wonders if I should take it seriously but I am almost 100 percent convinced that I won't. I have more or less had it with Natalie and her I am the queen of the world attitude.
Its time I actually grow a spine.
"Even if you don't have a date you can come with me."Samantha says,"It will honestly be hilarious to see Natalie loose her homecoming crown to you. I have heard a lot of people are voting for you."
I roll my eyes.
"But unfortunately your chances are slim despite all the drama lately." Samantha says,"She was campaigning today I saw the posters and almost laughed my head off. She was also giving free cupcakes and if she hadn't given me a the bitch stare and given me one then I would probably vote for her too."
I laugh.
"So would I." I say,"But she probably would have poisoned mine."
"True that." Samantha says with a chuckle,"But not to worry I will avenge your death."
I laugh.
"So are you tell me what is going on with Jake?" She says softly.
Samantha is the kind of girl who will probably be the realist one when it comes to guy problems. If a person dumps someone instead of bitching about the guy she will tell you honestly why he broke up with you and improve. Rebecca on the other hand the believer of true love and fairytales would be the kind of girl who would straight go to the guy and shout at him for at least an hour with a lot of expletives.
My friends were both very different from each other yet very similar. They were both confident, didn't care what people thought about them and expressed themselves. Me on the other hand I was the spineless nerd who was the definition of clumsy and unfashionable.
But still they were my friends. Best friends. Both of them have stuck by me during Natalie's taunts and threatened to have her killed and buried. I told them almost everything. From my long term infatuation with Alec to my friendship with Natalie.
But Jake and camp was the one thing I hid from everyone. Including them. I think back on yesterday's events and today's massive fight in the morning and I decide that I might as well tell her that.
Leaving a few details of course.
"Umm. I am not sure Jake is being moody as usual and you know being Jake." I say.
Okay so maybe I left out a lot.
"Thats it?" Samantha said,"Nothing to do with the nanny?"
"Oh." I say remembering the fact that I had completely forgot to tell her about Ashley and Nathan. I tell her all about it putting emphasis on just how different they are. I finish my story by telling her about Ashley's offer just as she reaches my house.
"Wow its like if I miss even one day of your life its like I have missed at least four chapters in a novel." She says.
I roll my eyes.
"Well, I think you want Nathan and Ashley to work because its like you and Alec all over again." Samantha says as I close the door.
"No, it's not!" I say.
"Are you sure?" Samantha says,"It sure looks like. The popular girl and the nerd. It's the same thing with you except it's the popular boy and the nerdy girl "
"Why can't you just be happy for them." I ask,"I think it's super cute and no way in hell a metaphor for Alec and I. Or Jake."
"Well, it's either the popular nerd thing or the fact that if Ashley is getting married with Nathan you have no competition when it comes to Alec. Meaning Jake is officially out of the running," she says smirking,"Mull on that Clara and I will see you tomorrow."
With that she drives off.
As I walk up Jake's drive way I think about what Samantha told me. I doubt that she is right though.
I ring the bell but when no one opens I grab the key under the mat and unlock the door.
I step inside the warm house and shiver slightly not realising how cold I had been standing outside. I go to my room and dump my bags and just collapse on the bed.
My stomach rumbles signifying just how insufficient of a meal I had in lunch.
I make my way to the kitchen and see a note in the counter.
Gone out to buy groceries. Will be back soon. Can you heat up the soup and give it to Jake along with his meds?
-Ashley.
I want to hide the note and say that I didn't read it because frankly I did not want to talk to Jake or be anywhere near him. After debating for a good 5 minutes I simply sigh and put the soup in the microwave and wait for it to heat.
Once its done I quickly put it on a tray and decide that if Jake is sleeping only then will I enter the room and keep the soup. If not I will run away as far and as fast as possible.
I go slowly up the stairs hoping and praying that I don't trip and burn myself. That would be a nice newspaper headline:
Girl dies while carrying soup to a person she doesn't even like .
My life is complete.
As I reach upstairs I am faced with a long corridor and 3 doors. I head to the last one on the right knowing it's Jake room.
Okay Clara. You will only go into his room unless he is sleeping like a baby or he if he is not there or else run as fast as possible.
I slowly open the door hoping I am not making any noise and sigh in relief when I see his room completely empty. I enter his room and set the tray aside on his bedside table being careful not to drop anything. I set everything down and then I am about to make a quick get away until I realise where I am.
I am Jake Henderson's room. His private sanctuary, the lair of the devil.
Okay maybe I am being slightly too dramatic.
True I had been able to get glances of it from my room but never properly. Jake more or less always had the curtains drawn.
It wasn't as if it was anything really special. It was a simple black and grey room with a few posters of Green Day and Linking Park. But the thing that made my mouth almost drop to the floor had to be the giant bookshelf.
With every possible book imaginable.
Jake reading?
I had never pegged as Jake being a bookworm. He seemed more like the magazine kind of guy. Scratch that I didn't even think he would have the patience to read that much videos would definitely be more his speed.
Okay maybe I spend a little to much time trying to figure out what Jake does in his free time.
I stand on my toes looking at his books. He has got everything from the classics Wuthering Heights to the Inheritance series. Each and every book is heavily dog eared and marked and my mouth is literally hanging trying to imagine how could Jake possible read so many books.
My mouth twitches as I see the entire twilight series and I have a sudden urge to burst out laughing. I briefly wonder if Jake supports the sparkly vampire or the shirtless werewolf. For the girl who has only seen the movies the choice is simple. So there was standing and literally drooling at his collection of books when an idea suddenly strikes me.
My diary!
It must be in this room and this was going to be only chance to get my diary.
Okay so I have to be smart and move his things around.
The minute I think that I bump into his table and send a book tumbling down.
Great going so far.
I quickly bend down to pick the plain black spiral binded notebook when the title of the first page caught my eye.
Poetry.
Its written in Jake's cursive handwriting and I swear to god If I wasn't in shock I would have probably fainted right then and there.
But before I could inspect any further the door knob turns and I throw the book on the table and dive under the bed.
So maybe not a good idea.
I can see the door in my view but all I can see are Jake's legs.
He must have come right from a bath because his footsteps were leaving a slight trail of water.
Fuck!
Was I always such a noisy breather?
Jake turns the heat up and I'm sweating in no time. What the hell was I going to do. Wait here till Jake falls asleep or till I literally pass out in a puddle of my own sweat?
Okay maybe not the best imagery.
Jake's legs get closer to the bed and I hold my breath. Okay maybe what I was doing was stupid but at time it made sense.
I am about to just get out and give the act up until the unthinkable happens.
Jake drops his towel.
Fuck.
I let out a squeal and bite down on my hand hard hoping he didn't hear me.
I honestly hope that was only because of disgust and not disappointment that my view were only limited to till a little above his ankles.
STOP!
SERIOUSLY STOP.
I swear to god Clara if you think of one word beyond that I will kill you. Wait I am you so doesn't that mean-Screw that. Think happy thoughts like ponies and unicorns and not the fact that there is a very hot and a very very nak-
I bury my face in my hands hoping that my mind goes blank. I start thinking up Math questions.Its just too bad that I am still a hormonal teenage girl who has read one too many romance novels.
By the time I finally get the guts to lift my head I see Jake's legs now have jeans on.
Clara what you are feeling is relief. You are totally not feeling disappointment in any sick twisted way.
Oh god this is not happening.
Jake's legs get closer to the bed and I resist the urge to just scream and run away trying to forget what happened today.
More like how I reacted.
His legs stop by the bedside table and I know that he is looking at the soup.
He then promptly takes a 360 degree turn and exits his room. I quickly get out from underneath the bed and notice just how high the heat is in his room.
Wow he must be really sick.
Okay Clara get out of here before things get any worse.
I slowly tip toe out of his room to see if he is in the hallway but when its clear I let out a sigh of relief and I consider doing a happy dance.
But my victory is short lived as soon as Jake comes out of the bathroom door right in front of me catching me in red handed in standing at the door of the room.
Okay Clara you are being ridiculous. It isn't like you have committed a crime or anything.
Jake looks at me curiously and slightly awkwardly.
He looks paler than usual but better than what he looked like in the parking lot. He has a slight split lip and his a nasty cut below his eyes. His hands also looked bruised and battered.
As an instinct my hand reaches up to his forehead trying to determine if his temperature has gone down but as soon as I realise what I was doing I quickly drop my hand blushing slightly.
"Uumm." I say stammering slightly,"I came up to see if you had finished the soup."
Wow Clara you are on fire. That seems like a completely viable excuse that doesn't involve you having almost seeing him nake-
Lets just leave it at that.
He raises his eyebrows but doesn't say anything we stand there for a few minutes in awkward silence.
"Umm soo see you later and Ashley told me to remind you to take your meds." I say softly.
He nods and opens his mouth to say something but promptly shuts it and gives me a curt nod and brushes past me to go to his room.
I am a bit shocked at first and stay frozen in my spot as he slams the door shut behind me.
I kind of feel disappointed for some reason. It was the same kind of disappointment when he didn't mention the kiss. I mean its just sad that we literally have nothing to say to each other.
Well, Clara thats what you get for even getting you're hopes up.
_____________________________
Wednesday and Thursday went by smoothly with not even one glitch. I think it was mostly because I barely saw Jake and Natalie didn't bother me either.I spent most of my time with Samantha and Rebecca joined us at times once she freed herself of Jeremy.
Trust me she has fallen harder for Jeremy than I had fallen for Alec which was seriously saying something. I still didn't like Jeremy much and Samantha outright hated him and had a pretty good reason.
Alec tried to help me with practicals and although I was improving It wasn't by that much.
He didn't let me go near the concentrated acids at all or anything potentially harmful for me because I had a knack of mixing them completely wrong.
As for Jake he didn't come to school and barely came out of his room. We had a few awkward encounters in the hallway and I couldn't even bring myself to look at him after the "incident"
I hadn't told anyone about it.
But for some reason I know that it wasn't the only reason that I couldn't look at him. It was because whenever I saw him I felt like strangling him, hugging him and bursting into tears or melting into a puddle of embarrassment at once. Trust me I felt like I was going to explode.
But the worst part was seeing with an absolutely confused and lost expression. I was so used to seeing him with his smirk, Seeing him without it threw me completely off balance.
I don't know whats going on with him but I was doing exactly what he had asked. I was keeping my big nose out of his business.
Friday was the last day of school before our winter break. I was busy the entire day preparing the gym for the winter ball as part of detention.
It was a nightmare.
It consisted of glue, ladders and props that were certifiably dangerous.
I honestly don't think the principal could give me a worse punishment than that I honestly don't know how many times my fingers stuck due to the super glue. Plus I had nearly impaled myself on a very sharp snowflake.
So it was Friday night and everyone had already started to prepare for the big dance tomorrow. It was ridiculous really.
In fact beyond ridiculous.
I mean come on why make preparations an entire day before for a stupid dance nobody cares about.
When I told that to Rebecca she literally jumped on me.
"I mean come on Clara," she had said,"This our last year here and I plan to attend each and every event. This year you have got Jake too."
I had simply rolled my eyes at the mention of Jake. Honestly I didn't want to go.
A small knock on my door broke me from my day dreams and I said,"Come in."
The door swung over to reveal Jake. My mouth opened in shock but I quickly closed it.
Oh come on Clara get a hold of yourself.
He looked much better now and that awkward uneasiness on his face had disappeared giving him back his usual cocky demeanour.
"Miss me?" he says giving a huge grin that was somewhere in between a smirk and a genuine smile.
I let out a deep breath and want to scream Yes! For some reason but I don't.
"Not really." I reply as coldly as possible.
He smirks,"Yeah yeah Wilson sure I believe you."
I get up from my bed and glare at him. All my feelings of confusion, hurt, guilt and concern had melted into rage.
I go stand right in front of him and glare at him. I have to look up because despite my considerably tall frame Jake still towered over me which pissed me off.
Right now I wanted to rip his head off throw it in a bonfire and feed it to the vultures.
Okay so maybe I am not the best person to be around when it's my time of the month.
"Get out." I say.
He looks at me and opens his mouth but before he can I cut him off,"Get out of my room Henderson."
He raises his eyebrow and tilts his head down clearly mocking the fact that I was much shorter compare to him.
"No." He says.
I open my mouth to yell things that would probably kick me out of any respectable school but I am interrupted by Jake.
"Just hear me out." He says quickly.
"You know what Henderson seriously get out before I kill you or worse." I say,"You can't just waltz in-"
"I am sorry okay?" He yells interrupting me and I continue on ignoring him.
"Here and become a-" I stop mid way to register what he had just said,"Wait you came here to apologize?"
"Look I know I have been really moody for the last couple of days but I had no right to snap at you like that." Jake says.
Jake looks at me expecting an answer but I am too shocked to say anything so I just shut up and stand in front of him. He takes that as a good sign and continues.
"I know you are pissed and you have every right too. But all I am asking is a truce." He says.
I am still looking at him as if he dropped from outer space and then it hit me this wasn't Jake.
It must be one of those freaky body snatchers.
So I do the most natural thing ever I scream in the most high pitched voice known to man,"HELP!"
Okay so maybe it was not a very smart thing to do but come on Jake coming and apologising for his behaviour wasn't very natural.
I take in a deep breath to do it again but before I can Jake puts his hands on my mouth and looks at me as if I was mad.
Okay given the circumstances it was justified.
"What the hell?" He yells taking his hands off and rubbing his ears.
"Okay I don't know what the hell you have done with Jake." I say backing up against the wall,"For all I care keep him never liked him very much anyway but seriously I didn't do anything. Go Body snatch someone else"
Jake blinks at me and then burst out laughing.
Okay so maybe it was the real Jake.
I look at him blushing angrily.
"Okay fine maybe that was a little extreme but it was only a joke." I say getting pissed off again.
That makes Jake laugh harder.
"Okay fine you can stop." I say.
He does stop eventually but his face is completley pink from laughing so hard.
"Glad you found that funny." I say coldly resisting the urge to chuck something on his face,"I mean I am a natural comedian."
That makes Jake laugh again.
"Seriously henderson get out you are testing my patience. I liked you better when you were body snatched." I say.
He finally stops laughing.
"Okay sorry," he says,"But seriously I mean it. I want to call it a truce."
"If I say truce then I won't get to kill you now would I?" I say.
"I mean it Wilson." He says sincerely,"I promise not too I will even give you your diary back."
I look at him my eyes widened. Wait. Hold it. Did he know that I was watching him....…
Fuck.
"I know you weren't in my room to check if I had my soup." He says.
I let out a breath.
"What's the catch?" I say.
"You have to come to the dance tomorrow." He says.
"Yeah and monkeys will fall out of space." I say.
"No, I mean it." He says,"You come to the dance accept my apology and I give you the diary."
"No way in h-"
"Just think about it." He says and then shuts the door behind him.
______________________________
An hour before the dance I finally make up my mind that I wasn't going.
It was not that hard really.
Jake knows how much I hate dances and I don't believe Jake.
With him nothing is simple and if he even confronts me about why I didn't come to the dance the answer is simple. I have nothing to wear.
Over the course of the day Samantha had called me and told me it was not too late to go stag (I hadn't told either of them about Jake's proposal)But I politely declined saying I had homework to catch up on and had nothing to really wear.
But lt's face it the real reason I wasn't going to the dance because I wasn't really ready to forgive Jake.
I know I sound clichèd and soppy but the reason I was pissed with Jake wasn't are fight mainly it was more like our kiss.
As much as I tried to forget it I never could. I replayed it over and over again.
I don't know why I was obsessing because I should have known better when it came to Jake. The kiss meant nothing to Jake. It was forgettable.
So I was being smarter. Jake drove me crazy and he was an asshole. But I am scared of how confused I am when I am with him.
So the answer is simple I am not going.
I decide to have a long bath and let the water fill just when a knock comes from my door.
Is it Jake?
"Come in." I say hoping it's not.
Alec comes in his tux looking absolutely and completely drool worthy.
My muddled thoughts of Jake just fly out of the window and I am grinning ear to ear.
"Need help with the tie again?" I say.
He grins sheepishly pointing at his fail attempt to tie a bow.
It was like a tradition for the two of us. Every year during the dances Alec would need help with his bow or what kind of corsage to get the girl.It had started in high school and despite how much I hated helping him pick it out something to impress another girl especially when they ended up being my sister and my ex best friend. He always tried to drag me to the dances and say that I should come too.
I always said no.
"So I assume you aren't going to the dance?" He says as I tie his bow. I take my time with it delaying it by doing it as slowly as possible.
"Yes." I say,"Just like every year."
"I saw Jake leave in a tux." Alec says,"So I am guessing that you guys are fighting?"
Alec doesn't seem particularly upset about that though.
"I guess we are." I say trying to hide my grin.
"But you shouldn't let him ruin it for you." He says as I finish,"This is your last homecoming Dance. Come on Clara and you are a nominee"
"I can't Alec.I can't dance to save my life and I have to study" I say,"Besides we all know the crown totally belongs to Natalie as it has every single year."
"Please Clara." He pouts,"It's our senior year and you have to dance with me. You can't afford to miss my mad dancing skills"
I laugh and blush slightly.
"When it's our lives at stake?" I say,"I can. You have seen how clumsy I am now imagine me in a long dress with heels trying to dance. It is a recipe for disaster. Plus I don't have a dress."
Alec smiles.
"You haven't won this." He says as he slowly leaves.
"I have." I say and then close the door behind him.
_____________________________
I take at least a one and a half hour long bath. The bathroom in this room is just so comfy I almost fell asleep siting in the hot water bath tub.
When I come out I am ready to crash and go to sleep even if it's only eight 'o' clock.
But I notice something really shiny and really white on my bed.
I edge closer not sure what it is only to find it's a pale blue dress. It's actually really pretty and simple with a silver border and a large silver bow.
It's extremely long and I am completely enchanted by it. I pick the dress up slowly and a small note falls.
I quickly pick it up.
I told you that you hadn't won this. This is my mothers dress I think you will look absolutely stunning in it. So there goes your excuse. (I should have thought of this years ago) Don't let him ruin your homecoming dance Clara but most of all don't give anyone the chance to miss seeing you in this dress so suck it up and come. But most importantly don't forget to save a dance for me.
P.S: I found a solution to high heels situation.
-Alec.
Sure enough a pair of white converse shoes lay on the ground. It was perfect really. The long dress would hide it and I wouldn't trip every 2 minutes.
My mouth hung open. Alec gave me his mothers dress. I can't believe he would trust me with something like that.
Without thinking twice I grabbed my phone and dialled the one person who would help me in this situation.
"Hi Ashley. It's Clara and I need your help."
___________________________
Authors Note
Author:*with tears in her eyes.* I just wrote such a huge chapter. I am so proud. It was actually longer but I had to split it in two.
Samantha: *glaring* It has a billion more spelling mistakes than usual
Jake: *one eye twitching* Wait she doesn't go to the ball when I tell her to but she goes when he tells her too?
Alec: And you thought no one liked me.
Jake: Yeah well she didn't see you nak-
Clara: *blushing*I didn't see you okay. My view was blocked.
Jake: But you wanted too.
Alec:*looking horrified* You guys d-did it?
Rebecca: *squeals* I hope you used protection though.
Clara:*Panicking* I didn't. I mean Nothing happened.
Jake: *smirking* Oh why poor Alec cant even say that we had se-
Author: Hello! Im having a moment here.
*all turn to look at author for a moment and then go back to arguing*
Natalie: I recently noticed a lot of fan art on the side.On each and every chapter. Why is Clara in all of them?
Clara: Because I am the main character if you haven't noticed. Anyway dont forget to vote and comment on the fact about how I DID NOT see Jake nake *clears throat* without any clothes on.
Jake: Oh yeah and hugs and kisses to @lulurofl for making the great fan art on the right and featuring me in it. *winks at her*
Alec: *pouts* hey that maybe me.
Jake:Thats not you blonde -
Author: *edits the rest due to violence, expletive cursing and the fact that this chapter cannot be longer*