The next morning Clara was sitting up in her hospital bed. She was watching TV. It was a quarter after eleven. Someone knocked on her door.
"Come in." She said wondering who it could be. She was very surprised to see Clay walk in. "Clay." "Why aren't you at school?"
"Well this is our tutoring period and since you're not at school it's a free period for me." He sat down on the edge of her bed. "How are you doing?"
"Better."
"Good." "When do you get to go home?"
"Tomorrow but I'm not coming back to school till next week." "My parents want me to take it easy."
"I can go around and get your assignments and help you with them, so you don't get to far behind."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
"Ok." "I'm so sorry."
"For what?"
"For what happened." "I'm so embarrassed." "I made a fool out of myself."
"You had an anxiety attack Clara." "It's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"I just hate when people know about it." "The bad ones I mean." "Now you really know how fucked up I am."
"You're not fucked up." "You're great." "I don't care about your anxiety attacks." "I'm just glad you're ok." He grabbed her hand and held it. "When I found you unconscious it really scared me." "If anything ever happened to you I... The nurse came in.
"It's time for your medicine." The nurse said.
"I have to get back to school anyway." Clay said standing up "I'll see you later Clara."
"Bye." Clara said. Clay left.
"I'm sorry I interrupted." The nurse said. "It looked like you two were having a moment." She went over to her and handed her the medication.
"It's fine."
"Your boyfriend's cute." "How long have you been together?"
"He's not my boyfriend." "We're just friends."
The next day it was around two in the afternoon. The hospital psychologist was coming in an hour. A candy striper came into the room. She was Clara's age. In fact Clara recognized her.
"Hi." The girl said.
"Hi."
"We go to school together right?"
"Yeah."
"I'm Emily."
"I'm Clara."
"Would you like a book?"
"Sure."
An hour and a half later the hospital psychologist was in front of the nurses station. She'd just got done talking to Clara. She put Clara's file down on the counter. Just as Emily was walking passed. She saw Clara's name on the file.
Two days had passed. It was Friday afternoon at three o'clock. Clara came down the stairs. She was dressed and had make-up and red lip gloss on. Christy had just gotten home from work.
"Hi mom." Clara said.
"Hi." Christy looked at Clara. "Well no messy hair and pajamas today huh?" "What's with the make-up?"
"No reason."
Fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door. Christy answered it. It was Clay. He had a bookbag with him.
"Hi Clay." Christy said.
"Hi Mrs. Randall."
"Come in." He went in. Clara was sitting on the couch.
"Hi Clay." Clara said.
"Hi." Clay said. "I have your assignments."
"Thank god, you're a lifesaver." "Mom Clay's gonna help me get caught up on my assignments."
"Ok." "I'll be in the dining room." Christy said.
Four hours passed. Clara and Clay were still working and Christy was making dinner.
"Ok Clara, time for English." Clay said.
She rolled her eyes and sighed frustrated. "Clay not English." "I hate English."
"I know that's why I tutor you in it." "Come on."
"You suck Jensen." She said jokingly.
"Ha ha."
"Ok.'
Ten minutes later Nick through the door.
"Hi dad. Clara said.
"Hi Clara." Nick said. "Hi Clay."
"Hi Mr. Randall." Clay said.
"Is mom in the kitchen?" Nick asked Clara.
"Yeah."
Nick went into the kitchen. Christy was standing at the stove.
"Hi Christy." He said.
"Hi." He went over to her. They kissed. "How was your day?"
"Good." "How long has Clay been here?"
"Four hours."
"I've never seen Clara work on homework that long."
"It's pretty obvious why." Christy said smiling.
"I know." "Those two are crazy about each other."
"I think it goes beyond like, I think they're in love."
"You think?"
"Yeah I can just tell by the way they look at each other."
"You should have the sex talk with her again."
"I will because I'm pretty sure they'll be having it before to long."
"I don't want to think about that."
"Dinner's ready."
"Should I set four plates?"
"Yeah." Christy went into the living room. "Clara dinner." "Clay would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Sure." Clay said. "Let me just text my mom."
After dinner Clay was getting ready to leave. Clara walked him to the door.
"Thanks for all your help today." Clara said.
"I'll be back tomorrow, we'll finish that English." He said smiling.
"You enjoy torturing me don't you Clay?"
"A little." "See ya."
"Bye." He left.
Clara and Christy were doing the dishes.
"I like Clay." Christy said. "He's great."
"We've become really good friends."
"Does he know you like him?"
"What?" "No I don't." "Mom, you know he's not my type."
"Yeah which is why I'm surprised you like him." "I know he's not a jock like what you normally go after but he's nice, he's sweet and he's cute."
"Don't let dad hear you say that." She said jokingly.
"Why are you so scared to tell Clay how you feel?"
"Even if I did like him, which I don't, it wouldn't make any difference." "He likes someone else."
"What?" "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"I don't know who she is but sometimes I can sense he's thinking about her." "Trust me, he doesn't like me, not that I want him to."
The next night Emily was at a party at Bryce's house. She was talking to the jocks.
"Get this." She said. "Not only is Clara Randall a lousey lay but she's also a psycho." "She was in the hospital where I volunteer." "She had to see the hospital psychologist."
