Ha, a oneshot, and a chapter in one month. Now that, my friends, is what you call a record.
Disclaimer: Gosh darn it! (Mom's in the room) I just realized I own a bag of chips, a notebook, and a computer chair. Did you see The Clique anywhere on that list?
Does it offend you, yeah: Attack of the 60 foot lesbian octopus
It was around eight A.M. when the sun started streaming through Claire' s curtains. It was around nine A.M. when Kemp started moving around. I could tell he was trying not wake anyone, and didn't know that I was awake. I had always been a light sleeper.
He quietly slipped out of his sleeping bag, and crawled on his hands and knees over to his bag at the foot of Claire's bed. He quickly zipped open the side pocket, and took out his LG Dare. He slid the screen up, and half- smirked, half- grimaced. He quickly texted something back, and closed the phone screen. He was half way to crawling back, when Claire muttered something in her sleep.
My attention went to the goddess laying besides me. I just loved to look at her. To drink it all in, that the last three years hadn't been a sick, sick joke, or a dream. I loved this woman so freaking much. How she would blush when something sensual came up in the movies, or on the telly. Or, if I would compliment her, which was often.
I loved that she was so giving, yet so competitive. She almost once didn't talk to Massie for two days, because she beat her in Airhockey. I loved her laugh. It sounded like the tinkling of bells, or wind chimes swaying in the morning breeze. So pure, and innocent. Most importantly, I loved her, because she loved me.
My mother would always tell me that I would never make a good husband, and no girl would ever love me. Then I would remind her that dad loved me, and she would slap me. But, I always thought that I deserved that slap. It was my fault that the love of her life, my father was dead.
When we moved back to the States, he was murdered. Before we moved back to Westchester, we lived in New York City. It was the second week of school, and I had gotten into a fight with some of the guys there. They were being pigs, and tried to grope a girl's chest. I had a broken knuckle, and a black eye. I was walking home from school, because I just wanted to be alone. Apparently, some of the guys thought it would be funny to start a fire in the logs of wood we had for the fireplace, behind the house. They thought I was home and wanted to scare me.
My dad went outside to put it out, and it got out of control. By the time I had gotten to the house it was to late. The fire department had already gotten there, and the only thing I could see was my mom sobbing. Mercilessly. That, and a big black spot on the grass. A few days later we had his funeral, and moved.
My mom put me up for adoption a few months later, and then she moved. Last I heard she was in Boca Raton. I guess she couldn't bare to see a face that resembled his so directly. I looked so much like my dad it was scary. We both had the same blonde hair, and brown eyes, Our facial structure was the same. Sharp cheekbones, pronounced foreheads. He had more wrinkles and laugh lines. He also had silver glasses that Chris wore in seventh grade. I missed him so much. My dad, not Chris.
Now, don't get me wrong, I love my adoptive parents. Janet and Darrel were amazing. They just couldn't replace my real parents. Jay and Judi were second after Janet and Darrel. They took me in as a second son a little bit after Claire and I started dating. I mean sure there were the "I'll kill you, then resurrect you as a cat, then torture you so badly that you won't want those extra eight lives" looks, and speeches. I'd be worried if there weren't. But, I think they realized that I was here as long as Claire wanted me, they softened up. There were still the occasional "I'll kill you" glances from Jay if we go too touchy- feely around them. I tried not to, but sometimes it was so difficult. Why? Because I love her.
Paramore: Brighter
When I snapped back to reality, I noticed that Claire had shifted in my arms, and the others were starting to wake up. Claire was looking at me with her big, so blue they were almost turquoise, eyes. I bent my head down to her forehead, and whispered "Good morning love." When I went to give her a quick kiss on the lips, she pursed them so there was a thin line where her lips were supposed to be.
"Some of us are actually imperfect, and have morning breath." She whispered.
"And some of us just don't care." I whispered back to her, after stealing a peck after she was done talking. She rolled her eyes and shifted out of my arms so she could stretch, and look around to see who was up.
Massie was trying to wake up Josh. Good luck, I thought. If you played a tuba in the same room as him, he would still be fast asleep. After a few seconds of waiting, she started hitting him with one of Claire's The Juliana Theory CD's.
He mumbled, then turned over. "Five more minutes Mass. I'm begging you."
"No Josh. I had an awesome dream that I want to tell everyone about." She said. This got me curious.
"Well, I had a really good dream too ya know." He said slightly pouting, with his eyes still closed.
"Josh, no one wants to hear about your sex dream." Massie said rolling her eyes.
I then turned my attention to Cam and Kristen. Some time during the night he had gotten into her sleeping bag. Her dirty blonde hair was splayed out on the pillow behind her, and her head was resting on Cam's chest. In seventh grade, Cam was always the romantic one, so this public display of affection didn't surprise me. They were both awake, just staring at each other. You could tell that he almost loved Kristen as much as I loved Claire.
Almost.
As their gazes grew more intense, I felt more and more like I was interrupting a private moment. Like I was trespassing. So, I turned my attention to Dylan and Chris.
Dylan was still asleep with her mouth wide open attracting flies. Her fire- engine red curls were splayed out on the pillow beneath her and Chris was trying to wake her up gently.
Again, I thought Good luck.
The Juliana Theory: Liability
Just when he probably thought all hope was lost, Claire looked over and saw the situation. She got out of the bed, walked over to Dylan's sleeping bag, crouched down next to her ear, and shouted in her ear,
"Dylan, pizza's here!"
Upon hearing this, Dylan jolted up in her sleeping bag, and exclaimed "What, where?" This also effectively got Cam and Kristen out of their "moment", and managed to wake Alicia from her light sleep.
"God Claire, you didn't have to yell so loud." Cam complained. Claire rolled her eyes as she walked back over to her bed.
"It's not like you guys heard me anyways." She said rolling her eyes. It was true. When Cam and Kristen got "lost in each others eyes" they were very effective at tuning everyone, and everything out.
Cam chuckled. "Very true." He said, most likely to Kristen.
"No guys! Don't go all loved- dovey on me! I had the best dream last night that I want to tell everyone about." Massie exclaimed, while slapping Josh awake again.
"Okay Massie." I sighed always being the peace maker. "What was your dream about?" I questioned. I dated Massie in seventh grade for less than a year, but it was still enough time for me to figure out how she could be if someone was in the spotlight when she wanted it. A bitch.
"Oh my God. Okay, you know how our parents are all going away for the weekend next week?" She questioned, even though she already knew.
"Yeah." We all answered at slightly different times.
"Well," She began, her eyes wide. "We threw a totally wicked house party." Everyone was quiet for a moment as we considered the possibilities.
"Dude." Josh said in a mystified voice.
"Dude." Dylan said in a more final one. "We could." She said with hope in her voice, and her mind reeling with possibilities.
"We will." Massie said, confirming what we already knew. Everyone was quiet for a minute taking it all in. Then Massie turned into a drill sergeant. "Okay, we'll need invitations, wardrobe, music, and a place for it all." She rattled off quickly.
"Cam and I can do invitations." Kristen said, quickly signing up for a job.
"Derrick and I will do music." Claire said volunteering us for something that I was hoping for. She had an evil glint in her eye and I knew she would put something like Kings of Leon, or Big N Chunky, from Madagascar 2 on the play list.
Massie must have seen this glint, because she quickly interjected, "And everyone can put in two songs." The wicked glint in Claire's eyes was gone, and now replaced with a glare.
My Spanish teacher call someone a drunken parrot
"Do you not trust me- I mean us, with music?" She asked playfully wide eyed.
"Nope." Massie said simply, then turned to Dylan and Chris. Dylan had a hopeful look on her face.
"I'm guessing you two want food?" Massie smirked after asking. Dylan's eyes lit up, and Chris, almost always laid back, responded with a simple,
"Hells yeah." Massie nodded.
"Alicia, I'm guessing you want to come up with outfits for everyone?"
"Of course." She gushed. Kemp rolled his eyes, but still smiled at her enthusiasm. Lately he had been acting kind of stand off ish, and not being that responsive. I wonder why.
"Massie, what are you doing?" Claire asked, quick to jump in to make sure everything was fair.
"Well, I figure that since it will be held at my house, Josh and I are exempt from anymore work." She said rolling her eyes like it was obvious.
Lazy.
Claire rolled her eyes, thinking the same thing.
"Yes!" Josh exclaimed. "Love you babe!" He said falling back on the pillow.
I looked over at Claire and I could tell that she was thinking really hard about something, because she had a far off look in her eyes, and she was biting her lower lip. I elbowed her lightly in the ribs, trying to bring her back to the present.
"Huh?" She whispered. "Oh, we should probably change before going down for breakfast."
I was still pretty confused with Claire's mood and everything so I just nodded and agreed. "Yeah uh let's get dressed for breakfast." Claire stood up and gave me a wry smile, then went over to the dresser and grabbed one of my sweatshirts and a pair of her jeans and slipped into the bathroom.
All though Claire's strange behavior had been bothering me a lot I loved it when she wore my clothes, it made we feel great. Still with that wonderful feeling, something was bothering Claire. And if something was bothering my girl then it bothered me too. I can't stand it when she cried and I sat there helpless, or she felt like she had to face a problem all on her own.
Just by the look on her face this morning I knew that's what she was trying to do, face something all alone. It hurt me more than Claire knew when she did that, she made me feel like she thought she couldn't turn to me, to ask me for help, didn't she I'd do anything for her?
I sighed, got up and grabbed whatever appeared to be clean that was on the floor. I ended up in a pair of army green cargo shorts and a white Henley. I turned around and noticed everyone had fled the room, likely Dylan had rushed everyone downstairs so she wouldn't be parted from her "one true love any longer" (sorry Chris). I laughed a little, oh Dylan and her blueberry pancakes. I started to head downstairs but then realized Claire was still in the bathroom, huh that's weird Claire usually only takes a few minutes to get ready.
I walked over to the bathroom door and gently knocked on it. "Claire, sweetie are you okay?" I pressed my ear to the door and heard a scream. I stopped breathing.
Claire's POV
I got up, grabbed one of Derrick's sweatshirts and a pair of my favorite jeans and slipped into the bathroom. I had been worried all morning about the text I had gotten. I knew I was worrying Derrick, just from the look on his face I could tell his was concerned about me. But I didn't want to tell him, it wasn't his problem and I hated having to run to someone for help. It made me feel like a child, like I couldn't handle anything my self so I had to get someone else to take care of it.
I wasn't going to do that this time, I was going to deal with this by myself, I know Derrick loves me and that he wanted to know what was wrong but he just didn't understand. He couldn't help, there was nothing he could do, and the sooner I realized that he could to.
I locked the bathroom door and sank to the floor against the tub and tried to think. I had no idea what Ethan wanted, he was always a really weird kid in school, staring a everyone, looking like at any minute he'd bomb the place. I knew that whatever he wanted couldn't be good.
Suddenly I heard play, Over My Head I looked around frantically wondering where it was coming from. I reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out my cell phone. The front screen read, one new message. I gulped and opened my phone. 1 new message from Ethan Bates:
I want your blood
All over my hands.
I hadn't realized that I screamed until I heard Derrick on the other side of the door.
"Claire!" I heard Derrick, whisper shout. He was trying not to worry anyone else, just like I was. I knew that Derrick wouldn't go away until he knew what was wrong. I quickly tried to hide my phone, and unlock the door at the same time. As soon as the door was unlocked Derrick pushed his way into the bathroom.
"Claire, are you okay, what's going on?" He said quickly, checking me over for any scratches, or bruises or anything like that. I wanted to break down into his always comforting, and loving arms. I wanted to cry and tell him everything that was going on. I wanted to so badly, yet I knew I couldn't.
"Yeah, Derrick. Everything is fine. I've just got a headache. I'll be down in a minute." I said looking him in the eye. I could tell that he didn't want to leave me alone, and I didn't want him too. He nodded, biting his lip. He quietly shut the door behind him, but not before giving me a last glance as if he was asking permission to leave. I nodded my head yes. I would be fine, I told myself. When he was gone I sunk down to the floor again, and started crying. A few minutes went by, I honestly didn't know how much time it was, because before I knew it, Derrick was at the door again, knocking lightly as if not to irritate my "head ache." I cleaned my face up a bit. There were somethings that I couldn't get rid of. Like my red cheeks, or bloodshot eyes. Since the texts had started coming, I hadn't been getting good nights of sleep. I unlocked the door, and mentally prepared myself for the onslaught of questions that would come. Derrick quickly walked into the bathroom, and locked the door behind him. He had a grim look on his face, that I didn't want to see. He sat down beside me, and wrapped his big, comforting arms around me.
"Claire," He started, "Do you honestly not trust me that much as to not tell me what's really bothering you?" He said, his voice sounding pained in a way that I hadn't heard since he explained why he was adopted to me. I hated that sound in his voice, and what made it worse was taht I was causing that pain. I was already tired of putting up a brave face, and I didn't expect Derrick to sound that hurt. So, I did what I thought had to be done. I didn't want him to break up with me because of lack of trust. Derrick was the best thing that ever happened to me, so I handed over my phone, and I waited for the volcano to erupt.
You all better be happy. My parents are so mad at me right now, because I won't get off the computer. And pay some respect to I. Glow. In. The. Dark. She busted her butt, and now feels like slitting her wrists. Okay, I'm done going all parent on you. Can I at least have eight reviews? I have 700 hits, yet only 25 reviews. Thanks.