Authors Note: Hey everyone! i hope you lked the story so far. I'm a little concerned, I think I will wait until I get three different reviews before I decide to post the next chapter. I really hope you like this one its pretty casual but its a nice little one. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Claudia dressed herself in her school uniform. She was ready for her first day of high school. She had been there last year, but she was still nervous. She stood in front of the mirror all morning and straightened her top. She had no sign of a wrinkle anywhere on her. She was wrinkle free, yet she felt the need to smooth it out a few more times. She ran her fingers through her long blond hair. It was silky soft today. She loved it.
Claudia decided to go downstairs and make breakfast. She wanted to make it quick before she left. She decided on a single egg. She knew he father was at church. He often went earlier during the school year. Claudia made her egg as fast as she could without undercooking it, and sat it on her plate. Claudia remembered when she was small. On her first day of school, her mom would get all her breakfast ready. Her mom got so excited. She loved the thought of her daughter learning new things. She would take a picture of her on the morning she was going. She remembered that day. She had long pigtails, and a pretty dress. She was happy then. Now she was in grade 10. She wasn't sure how she would deal with everything, but she had hoped she would be ok. She finished her egg and put the plate on the counter. She picked up her newly filled backpack. She had all the accessories she would need. She had pens, paper, pencils and even a big black binder. She was excited. She loved to learn. She was usually very good in all classes she took. She was excited; she was taking art this year. It was a personal treat for her to take art. She loved it more than most classes. Claudia slung the backpack over her back and left for the school.
After a short walk to school she found herself in the entrance. She watched many groups of people pass by. Some of the girls gave her looks as if she wasn't good enough to be there. Claudia ignored it. She was very much used to those looks. Claudia wanted to find Alessa. She began to feel her eyes attention being drawn to the hallway to the left. Claudia followed her instincts. She saw a small dot on the floor. It had black hair. Claudia walked over smiling. "Alessa?" She called.
Alessa looked up puzzled and then smiled when she saw her best friend coming towards her. "Hello, I'm rather surprised you aren't over there." Alessa pointed to the other end of the hall.
Claudia looked. She saw a boy sitting there reading. It didn't take her long to realize who it was. Vincent. He sat there mindlessly reading. He wasn't aware of anyone else in the hallway, just his book. "He's been there like that for a while. I think he's in love with his novel." Alessa commented.
The bell rang. "I have English." Alessa said.
"I have history. I'll see you later Alessa." Claudia waved.
Claudia walked into her history class. She kept her chin up as she received all the disgusted looks. Claudia sat down at the only desk left in the class. She was at the back of course. She opened her books and got ready to begin class.
Claudia looked at her timetable when the bell rang. She had math. She hated math. She couldn't wrap her mind around numbers. They were too complicated, yet another reason she hated dealing with money. Claudia sat down in the class alone. She stared off into space. She heard foot steps. "Hello Claudia." A female voice snarled.
"Lucy…" Claudia didn't look over.
"I'm going to make you miserable this year after what you did you me." Lucy vowed.
"Lucy, I didn't do it on purpose! Just leave me alone!" Claudia yelled.
"Yeah, and I guess you're going to tell me you have powers then? Grow up!" Lucy yelled sitting down in the front of the class.
Vincent walked into the classroom right after the outburst. He looked at Claudia and smiled. He sat down beside her. Claudia felt a chill down her spine. Lucy saw that no doubt. Claudia looked back at her. Lucy held a malicious smile on her face. Claudia swallowed. Not him.
More people piled into the classroom. Finally the teacher walked in. "Welcome." The teacher announced in his loud booming voice.
Claudia sat back. She wasn't going to get this class at all.
Claudia sat there and didn't take in a word of what the integer process included. She looked helplessly at the teacher as he spoke. Vincent must have noticed her confused expression as she stared at her worksheet. "Claudia, read this." He handed her his notes when the teacher wasn't looking.
Claudia read them. She started to understand what the integers were about. She finally looked back down to her sheet. She could do it. She smiled at Vincent and handed him his book back. Claudia began writing down some of the equations.
Claudia headed for the cafeteria after the bell rang. She spotted Alessa with her keen sight. She sat down next to her. "Hello Alessa how was your morning?" She asked.
"It's been ok. I'm more concerned about this afternoon. I have social studies." Alessa said angrily.
"You'll be ok." Claudia assured her.
"What a loser!" Claudia could hear a football player say.
Claudia looked over to the source. The football jocks were trying to push Vincent around. "Leave me alone!" Vincent yelled as they pushed him once more.
Claudia felt a burning fear in her heart. "Leave him alone!" Some people shouted at the situation.
With one last shove Vincent was on the ground. The football players laughed and walked away clearly satisfied. Claudia and Alessa got up and walked over to him. Claudia held out her hand for assistance. He tapped her hand out of the way and marched away. His face was beat red. Claudia knew he must have been feeling horrible. She experienced that kind of bullying a lot. She couldn't wait to go home.
Claudia made it to art finally. She got through her social studies with Alessa in the afternoon and she was about ready to go home in five minutes. She was finishing her first sketch. They were drawing items on the middle table. Claudia really liked this class. People were nice in here. Many of them smiled at her and talked to her. She knew that not all of them liked her, but she was happy they could pretend. It showed some respect. Claudia finished her sketch. She was proud of it, she drew quit well. She smiled at Alessa; she drew in a funny way. Suddenly the bell rang. Claudia picked up her stuff and decided to go to her locker. She undid the lock with a bit of trouble, she hadn't used it before. It would take some time to get used to. "Claudia?" A voice asked her.
She looked over to her left. "Oh… Vincent. Hi." She said looking at him.
"Um, I'm really sorry about earlier. I was just…" He started.
"Hurt. I know the feeling. Its ok, I don't think I could get mad at you about that." She smiled.
Vincent was pleased. "Uh, if you ever need any help with your math, I'd love to be your tutor." He offered.
"Sure, that would be great!" She smiled widely.
Vincent nodded. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow, I have to go home."
"Goodbye Vincent." Claudia waved.
"Goodbye Claudia." He replied.
Claudia walked out the doors of the school and headed walking towards her house. Claudia was happy to have had Vincent in math class. He was a big help to her. She began to remember Lucy among all those nice things. Lucy was going to hurt her? How? She was afraid to know, but she wanted to know. Lucy didn't believe Claudia; she thought Claudia had thrown her down the stairs last year in the presence of all the students. She would never do that. Lucy had called her a bitch and Claudia became angry and upset. Her rage somehow directed itself on Lucy and she was thrown all the way down the stairs. Lucy had fractured her collarbone and Claudia was left blamed. Maybe she was rightfully to be blamed, but she didn't mean to do it. Lucy was more embarrassed than anything that day; everyone in the hall saw her underwear under her skirt. Claudia continued walking as she neared her father's house. She could see the door. It was probably locked. Leonard loved to lock her out. She walked up to her door. She tried the handle, locked. She knocked on the door. Leonard surprisingly opened it. "Get in here." He yelled.
"What did I do?" She asked.
"You were born you little bitch! Now get upstairs, I have guests coming and I need you to cook and look nice." Leonard snapped.
"Guests? Nice?" Claudia questioned.
"Guest from the church. They're new and they want me to discuss things with them. I know its impossible for such an ugly girl to look even nice, but I would appreciate you clean and in nicer clothes. You look like a whore." He yelled.
Claudia ran upstairs without another word. She threw off her school clothes and stepped into a nice dark green dress. It wasn't very fancy, but it was a sundress she liked. She combed her long hair. She felt sad that she could never be beautiful. Her father knew she wasn't, it had to be true. She walked down the stairs and began making spaghetti. Her father loved spaghetti. She was often told to make it all the time. She was in much preparation. She had to make meatballs, sauce and cook the noodles. She knew on top of all that she still had to make garlic bread and set the table. "Father?" She asked.
"What?" He sneered as he read the paper.
"When are they coming?" She wondered.
"In two hours." He said looking at the clock.
"Well, I was hoping I could talk to you about something." She said to him as she stirred up a bowl of spaghetti sauce.
"What is it now?" He asked.
"Well… I'm not doing so well in math. Would I be able to visit a tutor a couple times a week?" She asked.
"Claudia, throw yourself off the top of the church if you wish. I could care less what happens to you." He yelled.
Claudia stiffened up. She hated it when he yelled. She felt like she couldn't move. She felt the spoon slip out of her hand and hit the floor with a clang. "Claudia!" He stood up and smacked her across the face.
"Smarten your act up!" He scolded watching her tremble as she tried to pick up the spoon.
"If you don't mind I would like to look like I have a daughter who can complete her jobs without seeming brain damaged!" He yelled sitting back down.
She rinsed the spoon off and held back a painful sob. She hated freezing up with fear. She hated humiliation. When will it end for her? She let the sauce cook on the stove. She began making meatballs. She wished something pleasant would come to mind, when she was upset, her thoughts usually helped her through. Claudia thought about Alessa. She wondered how she was doing. She wondered if she was happy. She hoped Dahlia was nothing like her father. She didn't think so. Dahlia showed her so much care; it would seem senseless to think that about her. She continued to make supper carefully.
Claudia had everything set up and ready for when the guests came. Leonard made sure he spoke the rules to Claudia before eating.
"I don't want you to show any sign of rudeness, I don't want to hear you say a word unless you are asked. I don't want you to get seconds unless our guests have had seconds. What I do want to see is manners and pride for me and the church." Leonard explained to her.
"Yes father. I will do as you say." Claudia replied.
"Good. Now go wait by the door." Leonard said walking away.
Claudia sat there and waited. She knew it would take them a while; she was good at sensing those things.
She picked up the book on the table next to her. It was the bible. She began looking through it. "I see you take interest in it." Her father said sounding proud for once.
"Um, yes, I do." She looked back at the page she was on.
"Marvelous!" Leonard praised.
Claudia looked up at him shocked. "I think I should start letting you attend night church with the faithful follows." He thought out loud.
Claudia felt her heart stop for a moment. How would this help her at all? Claudia stood up and directed her eyes to the door. She placed the book down and walked over. She opened the door after the first knock. She smiled and allowed the guests to enter her well furnished home. She took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy trying not to screw up, she was willing to try.