Here it is!
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. (Bored of it yet?)
Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers!
Onwards with the story!
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I promised myself I would come back to try to figure out what this was. Maybe I'll come back some day in the week.
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--Claudia's POV--
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I got a job! At the Los Angeles music store. The manager is really nice and I can get discounts on CDs if I buy them here. Problem is, I running low on cash..
I want to make an inventory of what I have. Just to make sure:
Ratatouille - my childhood stuffed rat. Last childhood toy memory.
My Viola (no name) - Used to be my mother's. She loved it. She taught me how to play it and it now belongs to me. I play like an international orchestra member. My strings teachers at my schools say I have a natural talent and that I should play for a living. I have decided that I will sometimes busk on the streets of Los Angeles to make some money.
Roxanne, My guitar - I bought Roxanne with my own money when I was twelve. I spent all of my money but it was worth it. My father had a big passion for guitars. He taught me all he knew. He was over a hundred years old. So, he knew a lot. Once again my teachers called me a child genius. I rolled my eyes at them. All I did was practice. A lot. Plus, changing my hands to those of a vampire sure helped. Human hands were so slow while playing instruments.
CDs - Ninety Three. I bought them only with the money I make at the separate jobs I take. My parent's money I only spend on food and the occasional clothing when one of my sets is broken. Oh, and I use my parents money for washing machines at the dry cleaners. Ninety in my locker, three in one of my knapsacks.
Books - Twenty-or-so. Again, bought with my own personal money. All in my locker.
Walkman - What else do I have to listen to my CDs?
Backpacks - two. One messenger bag, that I use to go to school.One old tatty bag which holds some of the stuff that doesn't fit in my locker. I hide it Deep into the middle of the woods. No human goes there, ever.
Clothes - Three changes of clothes, a leather jacket. Four pairs of socks and four sets of underwear and bras.
Food - Whatever I can find on the spot. No fridge, remember?
Ride - Harley Davidson. My father's motorcycle. He was a motorcycle fanatic. I inherited the H-D. It is my pride and joy. I take maximum care of it. It is brilliant red and beautiful. (See link in the previous chapter).
I know this seems like I am rich. But really, I am no where near. I haven't had a home-cooked meal since the age of twelve. My CDs and Books are second hand and I bought them with my own hard-earned money.
The essentials are bought with my parent's money but that is running out slowly. The Viola and Guitar. They were mine from before I was orphaned. I can't sell them. My Harley-Davidson? Another hand-me-down. In perfect condition but it is the only thing I have ever gotten from my father. (material-wise) And I love it. It is my most vivid memory of him and I can't and won't sell it. Other than that, I'm broke. Which is why I live in a tree and work in a music store. Oh yes, my photograph. let's not forget about the thing I cherish most of all - the photograph. It shows my family, as a whole, before the Volturri ripped them to Shreds.
My mother, my father, Me. I'm twelve in the picture and my older brother, Liam, is fourteen. He would now almost be eighteen. It brings pain to my heart when I think of him. He ran away a couple of months after the picture was taken. But that is another story. Last of all - the twins. Michael and Jake. They were eight in the picture. They would now almost be twelve. Haven't seen them since I was twelve but I know they're all right. That was us, our happy family. Our impossible family. My father, who shouldn't be able to reproduce with a female. Got my mother pregnant three times and she had four children. Our impossible, but happy, family.
It hurts to think about it so I shall stop.
My manager at the music store says I may leave my Viola and Guitar in the back. I am so happy!
Finally, after an exhausting day I went to bed, in my tree.
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I woke up, late. I cursed and swore again and again. There was only one thing for it, I unlocked my Harley and revved the engine. I sped away from the forest and made my way to school, late.
I ran into my English class.
The teacher looked sternly at me and then made his way over to me. He had assigned the class work to do but hey were all staring at us.
"Miss Oriano, you shall see me after school today."
I nodded glumly.
He turned and went back to the front of the classroom.
"Students" he boomed.
"The other grade eleven English class has to be rearranged. Nine students have all dropped out and that leaves ten and the class is now too small to continue. We shall be moving some of you to the other classroom. This is mandatory and those who are moved there will remain there for the remainder of the year.
Gerald. Kolsensky. McGill (the teacher's son). Oriano. Hills. You may now move your stuff to the other classroom. Do not dawdle. They have your names. Dismissed."
The English teacher thought he was still in the military. He didn't ask. He ordered, issued commands. Acted as if we were simple soldiers and he was a general. I rolled my eyes. Stood up and started to leave.
"That doesn't make you excused from detention tonight Oriano."
The girls giggled the guys smirked. I clenched my fists behind my back. Everybody at Forks High hated me. Except the Cullens. I think. The girls thought I was too much of a guy and the boys thought so too. But the guys wouldn't treat me seriously and the girls would just whisper behind my back and not to my face. I'd show them I was no wuss.
The other day's Rugby tryout was canceled and tonight they would see that I was not somebody they could mess with. I talked it over with the male coach. He was taken aback at first but gleeful that a girl would want to try out. He said that just because I was girl I would get no special treatment and I would have to get on the team fair and square. I said I expected no less and the teacher had smiled again.
He also said that I would wear my helmet and padding the whole time and try not to speak. He said the guys might not take me seriously if they knew I was a girl. So, I'd try out and after, I'd show that I was a girl.
I had grinned at that, I couldn't wait to see their faces. I was good at rugby, very good. It was my favorite sport. I wouldn't change into a vampire, I considered that cheating. But I was naturally strong (for a boy let alone a girl) and I could so take on a few high school boys no problem.
I left the class room and queued up in front of the other English class. I filed in last and went t6o sit beside the only empty seat left. I noticed my desk partner only after I had sat down.
The female teacher that taught this class was no better than the other English teacher. She took attendance of the one's that
had just come in.
"Gerald."
"Here." A boy with short hair and a cocky attitude raised his hand.
Adam Gerald was as annoying as his name.
"You say 'present', Mr. Gerald." The teacher reprimanded.
"Sorry. Present Ma'am." He smiled at her and the class laughed. She sniffed and continued.
"Hills" I pretended to barf at his name while the teacher wasn't looking at me. The class snickered. Joshua Hills sent me a glare. He was hot. Smoking hot. And if you thought that Adam Gerald was cocky. You couldn't have a work to describe Joshua. Josh. Josh hills was stuck up and pigheaded. He was captain of the Rugby team, had been since grade nine. Thought he was king of the world. You were either in his possy or dirt. No matter, everybody loved him. Danny snickered beside me.
"Present Ms. Hollywater." She nodded stiffly and continued.
"Kolsensky."
Victoria Kolsenski was alright. Compared to Joshua. She was shallow and fickle and called me ugly, to my face even though hers was covered in huge pimples. Don't get me wrong. It is normal for some people to get pimples at this age. But she was covered. Covered. And it wasn't puberty. She ate crap all day then threw it up. Bad nutrition made her look like a checkerboard of pimples and blackheads.
"Present Ms. Hollywater. Your shirt looks wonderful." Suck up.
People loved her though. She was surrounded by possies.
"McGill."
"Present Ms. Hollywater." He was alright really. Not bad at all. Nice, except our paths don't really cross.
"Oriano."
"Present Ms. Hollywater." She sniffed suddenly and was looking at the page Mr. Edds had given her. (The other English teacher).
"Ms. Oriano, it seems you have quite a reputation in the other English class."
Danny raised his eyebrows at me and I shot him the same exact confused look.
"I do? Ms. Hollywater?"
"Ms. Oriano I do not tolerate trouble makers in my class. Is that clear?"
I was still bewildered. "Of course Ms. Hollywater."
Bella, Alice, Edward and Jasper were all looking at me the same way I felt. So confused.
"Is that gum you are chewing?"
"No, Ms. Hollywater."
"Open your mouth." I looked at her as though she was deranged.
The entire class laughed.
Alice was trying to hide her giggles.
"Do not make me ask you again, Ms. Oriano. Your mouth. Open. Now."
I opened my mouth and felt like an idiot.
Stuck her face into mine. Her nose practically in my mouth. the class was laughing openly.
"You swallowed." She accused. This was getting ridiculous.
"I did not swallow Ms. Hollywater. I wasn't chewing gum."
"I do not appreciate gum chewers Ms. Oriano."
"I wasn't chewing gum!"
"Ms. Oriano!" She said, affronted.
"I beg your pardon Ms. Hollywater. But I. Was. Not. Chewing. Gum."
"Ms. Oriano. Detention. After school."
"For what?... Ms. Hollywater?" I added the last part hastily.
"For chewing gum."
I stopped myself from screaming in frustration.
"Ms. Hollywater. I was not chewing gum, you cannot accuse me of something I did not do."
"Fine then. Detention tonight."
"For what, Ms. Hollywater?"
"For being pert. And no excuses."
I seriously thought I would strangle her.
"Ms. Hollywater, I have a detention with Mr. Edds tonight." I said through my teeth. Joshua Hills looked as if he was barely containing laughter from behind Ms. Hollywater's back.
The class was all giggling under their breaths. this was all too bizarre.
"Ms. Oriano. I told you I did not appreciate trouble makers. You will serve detention tomorrow night and the night after."
The bell rang but everybody stayed in their seats.
"Dismissed." The English teacher said, not looking up from her desk.
I was still clenching the desk in a death grip hold. I stood up. Grabbed my bags and left, seething.
"What on earth was that all about?" Danny was behind me instantly.
"If I knew I wouldn't be trying to contain myself from strangling her." I said through my gritted teeth.
"What was the matter with Ms. Hollywater? What did you do to Mr. Edds?" Alice came up, chirping worriedly from behind us.
"That's the thing. I didn't do anything to Mr. Edds. I was late this morning and he spazed." I said.
"Yes, that does sound like Mr. Edds." Edward said. I hadn't realized they were all here.
"C'mon, let's go." I said. Pulling back from the wall where I was leaning just a moment before. They all started walking.
"You coming?" Bella asked, looking back.
"Yes. Just a second." I looked around and saw the hallway was clear.
I pulled back my fist and slammed it against a locker. i dented it. I hadn't changed my fist to a vampire's or anything. I worked out. A lot. In the forest there's not much else to do and climbing trees helps your arm muscles develop pretty fast.
I turned away and went with the Cullens. I guess I'll consider them my friends from now on, they're definitely friendly enough.
"And it's not even second period." I muttered under my breath. Of course the vampires heard me.
Jasper and Edward chuckled.
"You know you just dented a locker right?" Bella said.
"I'm not in a good mood so far. I really don't care. Plus, It's Josh Hills'."
Alice giggled and Danny laughed.
Biology went pretty well and no more incidents occurred. That doesn't change the fact however that I have three nights' worth of detentions for nothing. Not one good reason.
I was still in a bad mood when I got to lunch. I picked up a tray and put some food on it and an orange juice. I was looking for where to sit and spotted Alice waving her hand at me. I nodded and started towards her when somebody stretched out their leg. I fell forwards and landed on my tray. I was squirted with orange juice.
The whole lunch room went quiet to hear. I looked into the asshole's face, orange juice dripping from my face.
"Sorry didn't see you there." Adam Gerald smirked. Total lie. He seemed to sense I wasn't buying it.
"Don't sweat chick, it's an improvement." He and his boys laughed.
"You know what else is an improvement?" I turned around quickly and grabbed a foam container filled to the brim of chicken soup off the nearby table. He didn't see it coming.
"This." I smashed the foam bowl, soup and all, into his face. I snatched up my bag and stormed from the cafeteria.
People staring after me, just like the previous day. The guy's weren't laughing anymore.
I went into the washroom and cleaned my face.
I tried cleaning my shirt but the orange juice wasn't coming out.
"Shit!" I swore. Clothing cost money, which I wasn't full of at the moment.
"Thats never coming out." Alice pointed out, coming in to the washroom.
I took a deep breath.
"What the hell am I supposed to do?" I asked.
"Wear another shirt?" She suggested.
"I own three shirts. The other two are dirty."
"Three shirts?" She shrieked.
"What part of 'broke', 'homeless' or 'orphan' don't you understand Alice?"
She flinched: "I'm sorry, I didn't realize."
"No, Alice, I'm sorry." I sighed."I've been having a terrible day and I'm taking it out on you, sorry."
"That's okay."
"But seriously Alice, what am I going to do?"
She opened her mouth to speak bu I cut her off quickly.
"And no charity money, I don't need people's pity."
She nodded; "What about an old shirt I don't wear anymore. It's not worn out or anything, I just don't want it anymore. It's in the car. Do you want it? If you say 'no' it goes in the trash."
I thought it over. "Well I guess that's alright then."
She started leaving the washroom then turned back to me:
"Claudia, you don't always have to be so tough, you can let other people help, let other people in." She said quietly.
"Alice. You don't get it. And it's not your fault. I'm glad you don't. The only way to understand is to have it happen to you and I would never wish that to anybody, even someone I hated. Alice, I--"
I kind of chocked on the last word.
Alice came forward and took my hand in hers.
"I - I watched my parent's die. I haven't seen my brother's in over three years. I lost everything on one night. People have tried to 'help me' along the road. Mostly men that wanted to 'take my pain away'" I laughed bitterly.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"Alice you don't get it. You can't. You never will. It's hard for me to accept help when I've been on my own for so long. But you're right. You mean me no harm. I should give some space in my heart for you. The little bit that's left of it anyways."
Alice looked like if she could, she would be crying.
"I'm sorry for burdening you with my problems." I said. I meant it too.
"I'm glad you have let me in Claudia, I am glad." She smiled at me, and I, returned her smile.
She left to get me her shirt. There was no spring in her step this time.
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Yes I know... Very Long!
Here it is... Another chapter.The last one for today. You'll probably see one tomorrow though.
Read and Review! Hope you liked it...
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Keep Reading,
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xxTunstall Chickxx
