Yoyoyo. I know I should be working on Kidnap Your Heart, or maybe, I don't know, school, but this idea has been floating around since Journalism class yesterday. Just for the record, Nellie Bly's pretty cool. IMO.
This is set sometime before All Falls Down, but after the Eli-Has-A-Dead-Girlfriend episodes. This shouldn't be more then around four chapters, and will contain underage drinking. JUST SAYING.
"Method journalists like Nellie Bly-also known as Elizabeth Cochrane- even went so far as to fake insanity to go undercover for stories."
Twirling a curl through her small, pale fingers, Clare Edwards studied the cinnamon-gold color of her hair. She should have been paying attention, but it was the last period on Friday, and she was worn out, stressed, and tired. These last two weeks had been long, to say the least, and had hosted everything from mixed signals to dead girlfriends to exams, and honestly, the distracted redhead was just ready for a break.
In front of her, a dark-haired boy sighed dramatically, the very sound sending a shiver down her spine. Inwardly, she admonished herself. It was just a sigh; way to overreact.
Yeah, she needed a break. Badly. From Him.
"Ms. Edwards, would you like to explain to us the assignment?"
Her head shot up, fingers falling from her hair.
"Uh. What?"
Mrs. Dawes, her eclectic but good-hearted English teacher, chuckled. "Well you seem so distracted, I can only conclude that you already know what I'm about to assign you, otherwise you'd be paying more attention. So answer my question, what is it?"
Clare gulped nervously, her eyes darting around the classroom.
"Um..."
"That's what I thought. Sorry, Clare, "Um" isn't an acceptable answer. How about you get your head out of the clouds and listen up, hm?"
Ashamed, she sunk low in her seat and blushed furiously. Beside her, Adam, her best friend, offered a sympathetic smile, his soft features reassuring. In front of her though, the dark boy spun around, shooting her a brief smirk.
Damnit, Eli...
"As I was saying. Your assignment isn't to go as extreme as Nellie Bly, but I want you all to do something completely out of character; opposite of you, and then write about your experience."
A surprised murmur overtook the classroom, and, unfazed, Mrs. Dawes continued.
"Now, I'm not saying for you to do anything ground-breaking, but I do want to see a different side of you all. And don't worry- I won't share these experiences." She paused, her eyes sweeping meaningfully across the classroom. "To anyone. These are due Monday, and I expect to be surprised."
With those final words, she turned, and retreated to her seat, freeing the class to talk for the last few minutes. Clare busied herself with packing up as her two friends discussed the assignment.
"I was thinking about maybe trying to play football." Stated Adam. "I'm not really a football kind of guy, obviously, and Drew could, like, help or something." His tone was laced with the lighthearted brand of cynicism that was uniquely Adam.
"Cool." Eli said simply. She heard the chain dangling from his pants brush against his chair, creating a scraping noise as he turned to face her. "What about you, Saint Clare? More public embarrassment?"
Memories flooded back and seemed to take residence in her cheeks, flushing them red. She slipped a notebook into her backpack and shrugged in what she hoped was a nonchalant manner.
"I'm not sure yet." She fiddled with a pen, tapping it gently on her desk. "I had a few ideas, but they weren't good." She dropped the pen in her bag, blue eyes meeting his.
Again, he smirked, "Anything I can help with?" His tone arced with something that could, (maybe, possibly) be detected as eager hope.
Clare smiled slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe, Mr. Goldsworthy."
His voice dropped a little; husky. "I'll be taking that as a promise, Miss. Edwards."
Beside them, Adam scoffed. "I'm rolling my eyes, you two. Get a room, you lovebirds you."
Immediately Clare blushed. "Shut up, Adam. We're just friends." She didn't want to look at Eli, she was mortified, but when she did, she caught a glimmer of something in his eye. Disappointment? No, it must have been a trick of the light.
Because if it hadn't, that would mean...
No. Nonononono. He needed time, remember?
The bell rang, sending the eager High schoolers off in a flurry of Friday-induced excitement. Clare took her time, letting most of the class file out first. By her locker waited Eli, leaning lazily against the blue metal with an expression of amused boredom on his face. When he saw her, however, the expression brightened slightly to one of repressed excitement.
"Clare. I was wondering if you maybe wanted to grab a bite to eat? We could talk about our assignment."
Shakily, Clare nodded, thinking that his invitation sounded suspiciously like a date. "Sure." She swung her backpack onto her shoulder, grabbing a few books from her locker before slamming it. "Let's go."
His face brightened just a little more, and, courteously, he placed a hand on her elbow, leading her gently outside and towards his hearse, Morty.
His touch, (reluctantly,) sent shivers down her spine.
Yeah, she scoffed. So much for a break...
It's not too interesting yet, I'm sure, but we're getting there. I might post a chapter today, in my pre All Falls Down pt. 2 jitters. I'm so nervous/excited/pathetic, I'm, like, jumping. No joke. It's sad. Whatever- just review. I'd be a heckova lot more persueded to post chapter deux if I get some, ahem, convincing, reviews, my lovely readers.