Ahoy guys! Who's pumped for summer? I sure am. If anyone is testing in school right now, I wish you all loads of luck. Well... this is my first story on here, and I would really appreciate all reviews and feedback! So pretty please review! Enjoy!
The calligraphy pen glided over the paper, creating a swirled matrix of intense color. Clark's hand moved with ease, sliding smoothly over the thick paper. His pale hand stopped with a small flick, and he set aside his pen, analyzing the project.
Satisfied, he set the paper on a stack beside him, the top of it almost reaching the jumble of red curls on his head. 174th invitation done.
He sighed and sat back in his chair, massaging his cramping hand. Clark has spent 4 weeks handwriting wedding invitations for some extra cash so he could pay for art school over the summer.
He was done for today though. With only 26 invitations left, he was sure he could finish before his deadline in two weeks.
Clark got up out of his chair and stretched, his hands not even close to reaching the ceiling in his room. He walked to the other side of his room, and pushed aside stacks of moving boxes so he could reach his old dresser.
Forcing the weathered drawer to open, Clark accidentally caught his sweater on the corner of the drawer and it ripped.
"Ugggghhhhh are you kidding me right now?" he mumbled, grabbing at the sweater with his hands, examining the hole. He pulled it off, revealing the black tee underneath, and threw it, hoping that it would land on his bed. Knowing his luck, he probably missed.
"Clark! Simone's here!" Clark's head turned at the sound of his dad's voice. It made sense, Simone came over practically every day. She was his best friend, after all.
He smiled when he heard her voice echoing through the hall that lead to his room.
"Wow, Mr. Fray, I really love what you've done with this painting. Is this supposed to represent Clark's flowing ginger locks? I think they capture their essence perfectly."
Clark shot back a reply after he heard his father's billowing laugh.
"Actually, it is supposed to represent the grace and elegance of your band. What are you guys now, the Eloquent Lemurs?"
He smirked, and his smile grew when he saw Simone dramatically throw herself against Clark's doorway, fanning herself frantically with her hand. She paused, and pushed her hipster-esque wire glasses down the bridge of her nose, focusing her soft brown eyes on his green ones.
"Well, that was uncalled for. And now we're Catastrophic Dishware." Simone plopped onto Clark's bed, and kicked off her black boots before laying down and spreading her arms out. "I'm loving this new apartment. It's so cute. But why isn't there an elevator? My poor little legs cannot endure this torture of climbing up to the 6th floor."
Clark back into his chair, and rolled it around so he faced her. "Dad is trying to convince me it will be useful, he said something about 'character' and 'increase in stamina'."
He rolled his eyes dramatically, and then shrugged. "I just cringe at the thought of having to journey down the stairs half asleep in the mornings on my way to school. Hopefully I don't end up with a concussion."
Simone picked her head up, and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly.
"On the topic of school," she started, "you're lucky that the move wasn't far enough that you have to switch. I know how much you love school with people like Jaycee and her bestie Alexis." Simone couldn't even get the sentence out without giggling.
Clark widened his eyes at the thought of Jaycee. The girl was- of course-the most popular girl at school. Thanks to her annoyingly luscious golden blonde hair and picture perfect body. Not to mention being the cheerleading captain. Jaycee has a teen mean girl cliche written all over her.
"Hardy har, Simone. It's bad enough that have to see her at school. Don't make my new room all Jaycee-ey. Bad voodoo," he scoffed.
Simone pushed herself up off the bed, looked at the clock on Clark's bedside table, and cursed under her breath.
"So I guess we actually have to start working now," she whined with a grumpy frown.
Clark knitted his brows and tilted his head, making his signature I have no idea what you are talking about face.
Simone huffed, and pushed away the brown strand of hair that had fallen into her face. She tucked the lock behind her ear, and explained. "Mr. Blackthorn's science project? Due tomorrow? You might be partnering with, I don't know, a girl named Simone Lewis?"
Clark responded with a smirk. "Oooohhhhhhh that's why you came over? I'm sorry that I forgot about our super exciting science project."
Simone laughed, stood up, and walked over to Clark's desk chair. She ruffled his hair, red hair curling around her fingers. She pulled over one of the big brown boxes that were scattered around his room, and she sat down next to him.
They spent the whole night working on the project, and Simone eventually walked home at about 2 in the morning.
Clark woke up with a pounding headache. He sat up, and remembered that he has to turn in the science project sitting on his desk. He groaned and threw the heavy covers off of him.
With the speed of a sloth, he got ready, trying to ease into the headache that was taking over his body. He shoved the project into his backpack.
Once he finished throwing on whatever clothes he found the cleanest, Clark walked out to the kitchen, and was surprised when he saw his dad, Jeremy, placing a bowl of fruit on the dining room table.
"You are a lifesaver." Clark praised. One look at the clock showed him that he was running late, and that Simone would show up right on time.
Once he finished scarfing down the watermelon and mango, Clark rushed toward the door, throwing his backpack over his shoulder. When he passed the pantry, he grabbed a granola bar and shoved it into his backpack. His stomach was not happy, it felt like a tsunami of chunky fruit in there. Clark just ignored it, hoping it would subside.
Simone was just walking up the steps of the porch when Clark opened the door. He yelled back in the house before closing the door.
"Bye Dad!"
Simone joined in by screaming, "Bye Mr. Fray have an amazing day!"
Jeremy waved back at the two, and then Clark shut the door.
Simone pivoted back towards the street, and they both started walking the short 4 block trip to Jonathan Shadowhunter High School.
After suffering through 3 periods, monstrous headache, and a queasy stomach, Clark finally saw the main thing that he tried to avoid at all costs. Jaycee Wayland. She was wearing her red cheerleading uniform, and was walking down the hall with her posse, Alexis and Isiah.
Jaycee's curly blonde hair was bouncing Loreal Paris style, and she had a sly smile on her pink lips. Her golden eyes shone while she was chatting with Alexis, who was wearing the same cheerleading uniform and was weaving her hand through her shoulder-length black hair, and her startling bright blue eyes were focused on the floor.
Isiah was next to Alexis, and their family resemblance was extremely apparent. They shared the same color hair, but Isiah's eyes were dark brown, almost black. He had a red polo shirt on, and a cheerleader Clark didn't know strapped to his arm.
They were too involved in their conversation, a fascinating one no doubt, to notice Clark, so he slipped into his next class, art.
This is where Clark really enjoyed school. He has drawn and painted ever since he could remember. Maybe it was because Jeremy loves painting, but Clark was at home when he drew.
So, he was ready to finally sit down and start working on the oil painting project that was assigned to his class last week.
Mr. Hodge, the art teacher, started off the class by passing out the watercolor paintings that they did last month. He smiled when he got to Clark's desk, and put down a gorgeous painting of Central Park. Clark flipped it over, and smiled when he saw a giant red 'A+'.
Clark's smile disintegrated when he saw a Miss USA clone lean on the doorway with a bored look on her face. Jaycee stood there, jutting her hip out, until Mr. Hodge took notice of her.
"Jaycee, being late on your first day is frowned upon in this class," he warned. Jaycee's eyes widened, and she plastered on a puppy dog face.
"I'm sorry Mr. Hodge, I had to fix my hair. It's hard to maintain this sea of luxurious goodness." She gestured to her 'luxurious goodness', and shrugged innocently.
Mr. Hodge rolled his eyes, and told Jaycee to sit down. Clark looked back down to his oil painting, glad that Jaycee would sit in the back, where the only spare seat was located. When Mr. Hodge spoke again, Clark wasn't really listening.
Next thing he knew, his old table partner was in the back and there a pair of glittering golden eyes staring back at him.
"Hiya! Clark, right? This is going to be fun," whispered little Miss Popular herself, Jaycee Wayland.
And that's when Clark threw up mango and watermelon all over his painting, and Jaycee.
Sooooooooo... Poor little Clark! Cliffhanger, I know... but I do love my cliffies. Review review review! All feedback is appreciated. Questions, comments, concerns, all welcome! Have an amazing week you guys!
~M