Painful Smiles

Five Years Later…

Its been five years since the incidence of “crazy nurse”. Life went on as everyone was all grown up.

This was almost the final year of high school and all students of Chambrose High school was loved joking forward to it.

Including Claudia and Clara Larabee. They’re in their exams hoping it would speed them and introduce them to FINAL YEAR.

Clara turned out to be a popular bitch with her pretty clique of friends, Mega and Belle.

Basically, her friends had dated all the hot guys at school except for Mark, who’s seen as Clara’s.

Clara never had a record of dating, she never dated losers. Or any guy her friends dumped.

She basically lived the life of a high school Barbie girl with many school boys crushing on her.

Claudia, rather, hadn’t yet seen the fair part of life. But was determined to go through life like a badass. She shouldn’t give up. She told her “Frenchie” not to give up, how could she?

Successfully, she was now a seventeen year old loner. Not nerd. (Know the difference).

It’s been an eventful five years with her four year old little brother who dared all the stupid thing he could.

He was an interesting company. And for once, a sibling she was proud to have.

Blessed with the knowledge to appreciate technology and not teddy bears, unlike someone she knew.

She nicknamed him “Frenchie” even though he was named “Paul”. She couldn’t help but give him, he was a daredevil, just like some French guy she knew that attempted suicide. That was all five years ago.

While Claudia tried to live it up in term of her grades and accountability, Clara lived it up in terms of beauty, fame and friends. They’re twins but very different.

Claudia sometimes doubted they had any telepathic connections.

Mr. and Mrs. Larabee didn’t want to accept it at first but they finally did.

Clara would kill to go to a spa every month.

Claudia would kill for a seminar with her role model, Robotic Engineer Stanford.

Clara would like all the guy’s attention but won’t necessarily date them.

Claudia doesn’t like boys attention after her childhood best friend, Mark, publicly insulted her. He was her only male friend so it got to her badly.

Well, in as much as they’re different, they have one objective: that’s to make their family proud (in their different lifestyles) and they both want to be famous (in their different careers); Clara as a fashion model and Claudia as a Robotic Engineer.

Their exams we’re in one word hectic as no one wanted to fail. This was final year they’re talking about. Even bullies took it seriously.

Claudia had been trying to bury herself in her last two paper, French and Chemistry.

She spaced out from time to time looking around her at the library filled to its peak with students buried in books.

Her eyes caught her sister with her

clique. They we’re talking about Mega’s hair. Mega had dyed her hair with some streaks of pink.

It was for the party, the “crossing to senior year” party their seniors organized. Its also a farewell party for the present seniors.

As much as Claudia was excited crossing to senior year, she didn’t have plans for going to any party. Also, she wasn’t invited. But her sister and friends surely where.

Belle caught her staring at them. She wriggled her fingers at her and Claudia rolled her eyes away. Belle snorted a laughter before going back to their talk on the hair.

Soon after, a loud cheer was heard coming I’m from the hallway. Soon giggling joined after. The librarian placed her hands on her ears as she shouted “Be quiet!”. Of course she only added to the noise.

The cheering was outside the library and not even in. Claudia placed her hands on her ears too as she tried to read her notes of Graphite and Carbon again.

The library door banged open and the cheering students came in jumping and shouting and singing. Really, decorum was high at their school but sometimes, people just get wild.

“What! Stay quiet!” but the librarian’s voice was drowned in their screams.

One of the boys had a golden cup, Claudia smiled as she realized. Her school had won the end of term football match against a rival school.

Other students at the library soon realized and engaged in cheerful whispers. Some joined in cheering.

Claudia’s smile wiped off when she saw Mark with the captain’s band on his shoulders.

He had been promoted to captain as the former captain would be leaving that year.

It’s a bad thing. She wishes his downfall not success. He was a freak, everything about hum annoyed her. Also he was an “official boyfriend” to her twin.

“Wow, that’s my boy” Clara had said sweetly and enveloped Mark in a hug. Some of the cheering girls went “Awww” while the boys looked enviously.

While Claudia looked disgusted.

If only everyone knew that Clara and Mark weren’t such sweethearts in real. More like Brock Lensar and another opponent. (If you get what I mean).

Claudia heard someone sigh behind her and her smile returned, at least someone hated the union.

“I wished Mark was single too” the person who sighed muttered. Claudia smiled faded again, like why?Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Mark wasn’t awesome. Not even close.

She turned to the girl who said that, giving her her death stare. The girl shifted in her chair and looked away. “Sick thing” Claudia cursed as she stood up.

She packed her books and struggled her way out of the library. She was sure someone had slapped her back but in the struggle to breathe she dashed past the crowd without turning back.

“That was close” she exhaled when she outside. The school surrounding was a bit scanty. Was it the whole school cheering in the library?

“Hey, Claudia” someone called.

She stopped on her tracks. A twisted smile curved on her lips. She knew that voice, she hated it.

It was Wright Spencer. The only one who once bothered her. With a stupid claim of having a crush on her.

She had politely declined his offer to date. If not he was a nice guy, she’d have rejected with a punch.

“I tapped you earlier but you didn’t turn” he sounded sad. She peered into his eyes steadily. She couldn’t see it properly so she pushed his blonde hair backward and his eyes twinkled abit.

He must still have a crush on her.

“Want to have a revision in chemistry with me?” his cheeks flushed slightly.

She turned back to see the cheering team as they left the library. Clara and her clique joined them.

“It won’t take your time, promise” Wright added.

She turned at him, “I wonder, aren’t you an art student. What do you need Chemistry for?” she smirked and started walking.

He joined her, “I know, but I think you need a reading partner so it’ll stick” he stopped walking when she stopped.

“I need no reading partner. But… you’re cute so I’ll let you tag along” she continued and left him standing there, recovering from whatever made his cheeks turn tomato. He mumbled some words before walking again.