Disclaimer: I do not own the TV show characters, The John Hughes film, or Taylor Swift's song.
A/N: Just a sidenote, I put this under the humor category not because this story is so funny it will make your stomach hurt (I can only strive for that) but because this story is very light-hearted, not too much drama/angst or anything like that. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy it :)
'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Feeling like there nothing to figure out
Well count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen
"Nope, still have the face of a fifteen-year-old," Clare said to Alli, on the phone, as she examined herself in her vanity. She felt she needed to play this song on her speakers as a way to properly say goodbye to her awkward year.
"You have big boobs and a bodacious bottom. Appreciate what you got," her best friend retorted. "Besides, it's not like you're going to magically have Natalie Portman cheekbones anytime soon."
"I know. But I should at least have that feeling of maturity, right?"
"Clare, look at guys like One Direction and Justin Bieber. As beautiful as they are, they are certainly no Channing Tatum or James Franco," Alli pointed out.
"True. Well, I better get downstairs. My mom's probably mad that I haven't let say happy birthday to me yet," Clare smiled as they said their goodbyes.
As Clare descended downstairs, she could already see the madness going on. Darcy was putting on her mascara for her brunch with her fiancé, Peter, and his parents. Her mom and Glen were also getting ready as she fixed up his tie. Clare could already see the mental eye roll Glen was making at being forced to attend this brunch. And of course, Jake was eating cereal.
"Morning," Clare greeted after a little while of busy-body silence. She made her way to the kitchen to grab herself a bowl of Honey Oats.
"Hey, Clare," her mother smiled for a brief moment and then went back to fixing Glen's tie. "Since we have to get ready for lunch with Mr. Stone and Ms. Hatilakos. I wasn't able to make you breakfast or lunch, sorry."
"She could lose a few pounds," Jake snorted under his breath as Clare smacked him upside his head.
"Sorry, there was a fly on your head," Clare said loudly so her action could be justified in front of their parents. "But, uh, Mom, isn't there anything else you want to say? And it's Ms. Hatzilakos."
"Right. And sorry that I couldn't make you a sandwich when it's your responsibility," Clare's mom retorted as she grabbed some of Darcy's blush. This didn't seem to upset the older sister, surprisingly. "What do you want me to say?"
Clare stood there silently agape.
"She can't read your mind. Speak up," Darcy added as she put on her lipstick. Glen just watched his wife and her girls as estrogen entertainment. Jake seemed to pick up the same traits from his father.
"Never mind. Have fun at brunch," Clare faked a smile as she made her way to the door. She decided it'd be a nice day to ride her bike to school. The fresh air could clear her mind on how her family forgot her freakin' birthday.
"Why do you look like you have your panties in a bunch? Didn't get that $50 gift card to the bookstore for your birthday?" Alli teased as she walked up to her friend after she slammed her locker.
"Along with not remembering it," Clare confessed.
"Bummer. I'm sure my parents would do the same if Sav was getting married. But this could be actually quite nice if you play your cards right," Alli winked as the two friends started walking side by side.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You use it against it your parents. They make $50 gift card into a $100 gift card," Alli suggestively shrugged.
"Please, I was raised to be classy," Clare said.
"By the same people who forgot it," Alli added.
"At least my dad texted me. I just wasn't expecting my birthday to be like this. Ever since I could remember, along with Darcy's brain-washing, I thought turning sixteen would be… I don't know… a little more extravagant?" she sighed. "Waking up looking like Emma Watson from seventeen magazine and having this awesome party with a DJ and..."
"...tons of people," Alli chimed in.
"And having this pink mustang in the front of your driveway with a big ribbon around it. Then going to Europe and meeting a hot guy with an accent. Then you guys make out under the bridge on one of those gondolas in Italy," Alli exaggerated.
"I don't need a gondola," Clare smiled as the bell rang, forcing the girls to look defeated that they were going to be late to their class. Luckily, it was only independent study.
After the girls had to tell her substitute teacher her name so he wouldn't mark her as absent and getting settled in her seat, Clare realized something she needed to do. She had a question sheet due next period for child development class. She felt the class was absolute nonsense but it had to be completed if she wanted that high school diploma. Plus, it would be a grade boost to her GPA. And it was entertaining to be in the same class as boys who had the maturity level of a seventh grader.
Have you ever touched it?
She cringed at how idiotic the first question. Even more so when she realized it was her teacher who typed up the paper. At least it was confidential, or that's what the title said in bold, capitalized letters. All caps titles clearly never lie.
Almost. She decided she'd have a little fun with this assignment.
A few moderately inappropriate questions later, she came to the next bold one on the back side of the paper.
Have you ever done it?
I don't think so.
If you answered "I don't think so," would you ever if you could?
Either her teacher has a sixth sense or he must've gotten a good amount of those answers in this assignment over the years. Now she had to think about this question carefully. She could be a total jerk about it and give the same answer as someone like her friend, Eli. He was always the sarcastic one who took pleasure in annoying the snot out of his teachers. Or, she could actually be truthful. Honesty seemed like the best policy.
Yes. But I'm obviously not going to throw my virginity around like a free food sample at Costco.
With who? (Be honest. Your name isn't on here so it's okay)
Why does the teacher want to know who the person is? Is she going to tally up which people are the most sexually desired? Clare felt a little hesitant to answer. She could put a fictional character or a celebrity to settle things. Finnick Odair or Logan Lerman seemed like possible candidates. Once again, she'd be honest and put down a real person. Her on and off school-girl crush since ninth grade.
She turned around to give her crush one last look as an assurance to see if he should be her answer. The royal blue eyes. The olive skin. The perfect cut of brunette, not too long or too short. The toned arms outlined by his T-shirt. That definitely settled it. Especially those eyes. Who were definitely looking at her. She awkwardly turned back around, adverting her eyes to the clock to cover the lie that she wasn't checking him out.
Drew Torres.
Does he know that you want to with him?
NO!
Now she was finished. Instead of putting back in her folder, she decided to give it to Alli who was sitting behind her. Or to Clare's oblivion, sleeping. She rose her arm up in a stretch, participating in yet another obvious cover up and drop the folded piece of paper. This caught Drew's attention as opposed to Alli's leading him to getting the note by dragging it with his shoe. All the while, Clare had no idea as she started writing in her composition book for the next chapter in her vampire fiction.
