Alive Again (English Version)

2.Hard

2.

Looking back at the past, and why we couldn't make it last
And why you ever had to go
Hard to shake it now
(Fuel-Hard)

Clarke was sleeping deeply, when the cell phone began to vibrate, a sign that it was time to get up. She tried to ignore the alarm and turned around in bed, burying her head under the pillow. In the end, however, she could do nothing but surrender. She reached out to the bedside table and picked up the phone. She turned off the alarm and stretched well, between yawns. She got out of bed and, gone to the bathroom, entered the kitchen. She opened the cupboard and took a cup, then filled the kettle with water and waited. After few minutes, the water boiled and Clarke poured it into the cup, and then added some tea leaves. She took some cookies from the pantry, sat down at the table and began to have breakfast. As usual, she didn't look at the phone, nor watched the television. She loved to have breakfast in silence, without social networks or TV news. She already lived a quite chaotic life and she wanted to at least enjoy breakfast without having too many thoughts. She sighed. She checked the time and finished drinking her tea. She got up, washed the dish and the cup and finished getting ready. It was a very intense day ahead of her and, although unwillingly, she found herself forced to leave her house. She got into the car and drove off, headed to the headquarters of Wallace Movies. Arkadia had just been renewed for a further season and Clarke had to evaluate the terms of the contract and discuss with the producer and screenwriters about the fate of Eliza, her character. Finally arrived, she got out of the car and walked towards her destination. Dante Wallace was one of the richest and most powerful producers in Hollywood and the Wallace Sky, the skyscraper he had built in the center of Los Angeles, consequently was one of the highest of the city. Clarke entered the building and headed for the elevators. While waiting, she looked around. There was something strange in the air, but she just couldn't understand what. She felt observed more than usual, as if the people passing by knew something that eluded her and that, however, concerned her. In front of her, two secretaries had stopped to stare at her and then started talking to each other and Clarke was starting to be quite annoyed. Finally, the elevator arrived. Clarke didn't think twice and slipped in. When the doors closed, she breathed a sigh of relief. The notes of an unidentified jazz symphony started spreading into the cab, while the lift raised up floor after floor. Clarke prayed that no one would have called it, in vain. Soon the doors opened and several people followed each other, both on the way up and down. Every time someone walked into the elevator, the same scene was repeated. They stared at Clarke and, if in the company of someone else, glared or, worse, whispered something to each other. The actress was at the height of despair. She had never experienced such a long trip in the elevator. When she finally arrived at her destination, she joyfully waved goodbye to that steel cabin and ran towards Wallace's office.

"Clarke!" Octavia called her, standing between her and the door.

"O, what are you doing here?" the blonde asked, surprised to find her in front of her. "I thought Dante only wanted to see me. I mean, from what I know you've already renewed the contract and ... "

"It is so. I'm not here for the contract. Not mine, at least.". Clarke glanced at her, confused.

"And for that of whom? Bell? No, it wouldn't make sense, he decided to call himself out already two years ago. Speaking of him, how is he? I haven't heard from him in a while and maybe I should..."

"Clarke, stop. You're giving me a headache." Octavia shushed her. Clarke bit her lip and sighed.

"Sorry." she muttered. "It's just that I don't und-...". She was about to finish the sentence, when the door of Wallace's office opened. A girl of Latin origin, brown-haired and hazel-eyed, walked out. Clarke froze. Raven. She hadn't seen her since they finished filming. She turned to Octavia, with a angry gaze. She felt mocked.