4th chapter- enjoy!

Big sparkly thanks to dancing when the rain falls, ailes du neige, BaconCupcakes, and keep. calm. and. sparkle for reviewing. Stay loving and keep on reading!

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Sadly, I do not own The Clique.


Smart

It's hard to be smart.

Everyone knows this because all you do is study, study, study; no time for fun at all. Your Biology and You textbook becomes your bedtime story, the only thing more interesting than the latest from Perez Hilton are the theses you've been studying for that new English project, and knowing the fundamental positions for the Physical Fitness Test is way more important than actually executing it properly. (Because, hello, you're already a natural-born athlete—it's the grades you've got to worry about.)

This isn't the case for Kristen, though. She's one of the most popular girls in OCD, star athlete, top student. She's the perfect example of the golden girl.

What could be more fun than that?

Well, she's got an answer to the said question: not caring at all.

Ever since Kristen's family became broke, school consumed her life. She was taught that if she fails yet another test, if she becomes too carefree, she'll lose her scholarship.

During her first few months as the "scholarship-dependent poor girl," she thought that simply passing was good enough. Her mother begged to differ.

("So how was the quiz?"
Eight-year-old Kristen swallows her fish before proudly answering, "I passed, Mom! It wasn't my highest but I still got the passing score."
Marsha frowns slightly at her daughter. "That's nice, my dear… But just because you passed doesn't mean its good enough. You're a smart girl; you have talent and skills, so you should use them more. Having a higher score—or maybe even the perfect score—has always been better."
Kristen sighs, but nods. That's what her mother always expects—hopes, as Marsha puts it—of her. Nothing but the best quality, the perfect quality.)

It's been years now, and her situation is still the same. Whenever she brings home a passing grade, Kristen becomes frustrated with herself. And when the unthinkable happens, when she actually gets a failing test she's just so ashamed.

Kristen is the smart girl. She's supposed to know everything. Her classmates expects—no, hopes, because if she doesn't know the answer, who would help them with their homework?—for her to be knowledgeable in even the most trivial topics.

For her to actually get a low score just disappoints them all, really. ("She's supposed to be smart, how come she failed?")

The answer is pure and simple: just because you're smart doesn't mean you know everything. So for once, even for just a minute, give Kristen a break. She's done with the expectations, the hopes, whatever you want to call it.

She's done with everything.


Honestly, I had a hard time writing this for who-know-why so I am more than happy with the outcome of the chapter. I know I was supposed to update last week, but writer's block is a beast! Hopefully, the last chapter will come out before the weekend ends.

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