Have you ever met that one person who has the ability to make your skin crawl? Seriously, just their mere presence causes your blood to boil like pot of water on a hot, burning stove? The incredulous thought of having to interact with them creates such a stir of emotions, you can feel the tall tale signs of rage induced panic twisting tightly around your lungs?
Unfortunately, Clarke has. She has had the insurmountable fortune of dealing with such feelings towards a certain person in particular. As a result, it only takes two words, two words, for her vision to turn crimson.
Costia. Greene.
A tale as old as time. You can question, interrogate, anyone around about this legendary rivalry. Yet, no one is sure of the exact origins of this love/hate, well mostly hate, relationship. If you were to question Clarke, Costia was a threat, an enemy, and her strongest competitor.
Tall. Lanky. Flawless skin. She could pretty much wear a paper bag or potato sack to class and still look drop, dead gorgeous. Costia Green, with her perfectly straight, pearly whites, strong jawline and piercing green eyes was a model of perfection. As if sculpted by Aphrodite, people have compared to her to a damn mermaid or a goddess.
But, it's not her looks that irk Clarke. Oh no, that was definitely not it. Clarke could appreciate beauty as well as give credit when it's due. She could not deny the immense attractiveness of her arch enemy. It's not like Clarke was a blonde headed Medusa causing people to turn to stone from the sheer ugliness engulfing her face. On the contrary, with her busty, curvy physique, crystal clear blue orbs, golden locks, and charming smile, she was stunning as well. Clarke, a leader, had no obstacles in attracting the opposite or same sex.
So, you ask yourself, what could it possibly be?
Well, like psychiatrists, you could probably examine past experiences to pin point the exact moment acquaintance turned to foe. However, you would probably be waiting eighty-four years or so. You see, Clarke's hatred is rooted deep within the core of her being. Obstacles and challenges she faced stemmed from one person and one person only. It seemed every time Clarke would shine, a huge, black, ominous rain cloud named Costia sauntered by. Leaving a devastated Clarke to pick up the pieces of destruction that Hurricane Green left behind. No matter how driven, how determined, or how valiantly she fought, Clarke always claimed the title of second best.
For instance,...
In third grade, Clarke received an award for student of the month. Absolutely spilling with joy, Clarke showed off this accomplishment to everyone she knows. Yet, her proud moment turned sour when Costia waddled over in her pink frilly tutu and bouncing brown curls with a sly smirk gracing her lips. Arms filled with ribbons accompanied by several certificates, Costia thrusted these treasures forward. It seemed not only did she win first place in her soccer tournament, she received student of the month in Mathematics, English, and History as well. Dropping the cherry on top, she also received awards for class participation and perfect attendance. Clarke's mood deflated quickly as her best friends began to touch Costia's ribbons in awe. With her chubby cheeks and pigtails, she walked away with her shoulders hunched forward and head down, barely clutching the award.
Unfortunately, it would only escalate from there.
When Clarke won the prestigious honor of being accepted into an art competition, tirelessly, she worked day and night on her masterpiece. That night, after munching on a few chocolate chip cookies, Clarke discovered a red ribbon for second place pressed against her canvas. With a toothy grin, innocent blue eyes gazed upon the painting of a dolphin leaping out the sea. Yet, despite hating art, Costia's painting of a pink flower appeared in the art show as well. Unfortunately, it won the hearts of the judges for her to claim first. During a photo with the circle of winners, an eye-twitching Clarke fantasied about wrapping her pudgy hands around that slim neck and squeezing until Costia, like a fish out of water, gasped for air. Art was Clarke's specialty. Unlike her foe, Clarke wasn't a nimble little flamingo who succeeded in every damn sport. By the end of the night, she found herself being dragged from the gallery. After Costia claimed to be an art connoisseur, she studied the graceful dolphin closely. With a high pitched fake tone and sly smirk, she had the audacity to say, "I guess we know who is a real artist, better luck next time Clarke." Whispering loud enough for Clarke to hear, she remarked, "it's not that good compared to mine." As she strutted away with her giggling friends, Raven and Octavia leapt up to grab a scowling Clarke from lunging for a pair of scissors.
As the years passed, this competition shifted from art to school.
Receiving numerous amounts of ninety-sixes for most of her marks, Clarke rarely had difficulty in classes. However, relentless studying did not change the fact Costia was always lurking around with a bright red ninety-eight. As if it was a mission, she would flip her hair with a smug grin, "better luck next time Clarke," or "at least you tried." By the end of freshmen year, Clarke was seriously contemplating using a mechanical pencil as a shiv. Nonetheless, one semester Clarke found herself struggling. There came the day someone made a very inconsiderate and stupid comment. Since Abby, Clarke's mom, was still good friends with Costia's mother, she suggested Clarke ask Costia to tutor her. After being backhanded by that remark as if it was a salty fish, Clarke bitterly responded, "I rather be hung by my toenails." And with that, she did not speak to her mom for almost a week.
And then came the day Clarke bought Old Bertha.
After saving enough of earnings from the Trikru Ice Cream and Things Parlor, Clarke happily purchased her first car, Old Bertha. Despite coming from a wealthy family of surgeons and engineers, Clarke's parents agreed to pay half. One character building lecture later, she settled on a use- I'm sorry, previously owned, four-year-old gray sedan. Sure the bumper was black instead of gray, the interior may have been peeling off and there was a rather suspicious red stain in trunk, but Clarke was ecstatic. Yet, the first day she drove her friends to class, Costia, also having a wealthy background, pulled up in a brand new, sleek, black Camaro. Thus, causing all of her peers, Clarke's friends included, to ogle and praise Costia for her sweet ride. And Costia just stood there with a smug smirk, leaning causally against the hood as the wind blew against her brown wavy locks effortlessly. "It was a gift for getting perfect grades," she giggled. Clarke barely managed to get inside of the school before exploding in a fit of rage by repeatedly kicking a trashcan. Which, for the record, she ended up in detention for her cursing as well as the intent of damaging school property. Apparently, there was a zero tolerance for bullying and violence, including inanimate objects.
Therefore, as one could see, the history between these two has been less than ideal. It always seemed there was Costia perched upon the hill on her throne. Every so often, she would swiftly kick rather large stones down the steep depression. A struggling Clarke would make it halfway up the rocky path before the quake of a tumbling rock would cease her efforts. Eyes wide, arms flailing comically with her mouth agape and wild hair, she frantically sprinted back down. Sometimes, Clarke would not be so lucky in her dodging. Currently, no longer freshmen, both girls have established a "place" in the chain of high school royalty.
Costia, being head cheerleader bestowed with unbelievably attractive features, a large trust fund, and immense popularity, resided on top. In her opinion, girls either want to be her or hate her. Obviously, she only surrounds herself with jocks and fellow cheerleaders. It is rare for her to step down from her throne, more like a self-made pedestal, to grace the peasants with her ever so friendly and inviting personality.
Clarke, on the other hand, found herself a nice, cozy spot in third. With her eclectic group of friends, she is well-known by most, a scholar, an artist, and maybe a bit of a nerd. Her gang consists of Raven, the mad scientist, Octavia, the warrior, Jasper and Monty, the double geek twins and no they aren't related, Belamey, the jock, Finn, his bitch, and Murphy, the asshole. Of course there were floaters, people who bounced around to different groups throughout the year, joining her group daily.
Nonetheless, junior year would cause this boiling, pent up rivalry to finally climax in an epic battle. Oh yes my faithful reader, this is where the journey begins. With the arrival of a new family at Arkadia High, Clarke, hopefully, would prevail in this sadistic game of fate victoriously. Yes, the presence of this highly athletic, intelligent young woman will cause tensions to rise to new heights. Because for once, after a relentless decade of rival hood, both girls were gunning for the same prize.
Lexa Woods.
And you can best believe, Clarke never wanted nothing more than to claim first.