Death

Chapter 8

Clara went to bed around 10:30 p.m. exhausted after her day of fun at school. She dreamed of the fun things her and Janice could do tomorrow, and about the dreaded detention that isn't so dreaded anymore.

  Janice went home watched TV, ate dinner, and did her homework. She had tons of makeup work and didn't get to bed until 12:00 a.m.. She didn't have time to get anything ready for school tomorrow and would have to get up at 5:00 a.m. to finish her homework and get to school on time.

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Clara almost jumped out of bed, she was so excited for today. She couldn't wait to see Janice. She put on her nice clothes she laid out and brushed her hair and teeth. New friend, new me, Clara thought. She ate a piece of toast and dashed off for school as fast as she could. She took the shortcut without even checking the time, she knew she was really early but she didn't care. She liked school now. She waited at the end of the secret path for Janice. It seemed like forever, but Janice finally showed up ten minutes before the first bell.

They rushed in through the back door and ran to their lockers. They were barely going to make it.

As long as we don't run into Alissa...  Clara thought, looking around. She saw Alissa at the opposite end of the hallway, waiting. For what? Clara had no idea. She could be waiting to steal Clara's lunch money or maybe for her posse so she could walk to class.

  "What is she doing?" asked Janice.

"I don't know... but it doesn't look good. We better hurry."

Just on cue Alissa turns and looks down the hallway, right at them. Clara slams her locker shut and turns to Janice, "We have to go. Now." she whispers nervously.

"Hold on, I have to get my L.A. assignments."

"HURRY!"

Alissa starts walking towards them smirking.

"Found them!" yelled Alissa down the hall.

"Run!"

Clara and Janice sprint off down the hallway, up the stairs, down the hall, left, right, up more stairs, around the corner, and into Ms. Grosse's first period class. They sit in the middle row since their seats from yesterday are already taken. Ms. Grosse gives them a dirty look and walks over to them.

"Don't forget about your detention after school. You better not be late."

"We won't," they say together, sharing a look of suspicion, "we'll be just on time."

Mrs. Grosse walks away rolling her eyes.

"Glad she's gone." whispers Janice."Tell me about it, you've only had her for a day."

Clara and Janice make it through LA without getting yelled at. They got a few dirty looks, but that was it. Mrs. Grosse is just about done with them talking and laughing all the time. Mrs. Grosse gives the class homework, they have to do a vocabulary packet and write a three page essay about anxiety. The essay should be easy but the vocab is stupid, Clara thought.

The other classes of the day fly by, Clara and Janice surprisingly don't get yelled at all. They go to their lockers at the end of the day, get their history and science books, and go to detention in Mrs. Grosse's room. Mrs. Grosse is waiting at her desk for them to come. Only two other kids are there, Nate and Cameron.

  "Cameron's really cute!" says Clara.

"I know", whispers Janice, "You should get his number..."

"Yeah, right! He's popular, I'm not. He would never date me."

"We'll see about that", says Janice as she pulls Clara over to where the boys are standing.

"HEYYYY", Janice says a little too cheerfully, "I'm Janice and this is Clara."

"Hey." replies Cameron.

"Sit down. No talking. Detention has begun." says Mrs. Grosse sternly.

They sit down. Janice in front of Clara and Clara next to Cameron. Nate sits behind Cameron.

"You may do your homework, but that is all, nothing else. I have to go to the copy room. When I come back I expect you all to be working quietly."

And that was that. As soon as Mrs. Grosse left the room they started talking again.

"So", Janice asks Cameron, "what do we do now."

"Now you guys wait. I'm gonna go lock the copy room door. If I come back, we leave. If I don't come back... well let's not think about that."

"What?" asks Clara, "you're gonna lock her in the copy room?"

"Well I'm not gonna sit here for two hours."

"Okay, better hurry before she gets back."

Cameron rushes out the door with a ring of keys and leaves Nate, Clara, and Janice sitting in the room waiting.

"Do you think he's gonna get caught?" asks Clara.

"He's done this before. She's never caught on. She just thinks she accidentally locks herself in sometimes." replies Nate.

Janice gets up and looks down the hall. After a few minutes she sees him coming back.

"There he is. We can leave now." she says.

"Are you sure about this? What if someone lets her out?" Clara asks nervously.

"Nobody likes her, they aren't gonna do that. Let's go." says Nate.

They leave together through the backdoor of the school.

"Hey do you guys wanna come over to my house and hang?" asks Janice.

"Sure" replies Nate and Cameron.

"What about you Clara? You wanna come?"

"Sure... let's go!"

They walk to Janice's house, and, as Janice said, it only takes a few minutes to get there. As Clara goes inside Nate's hand brushes against hers and makes her shiver. Nates pretty cute too... Clara thought. They go to the kitchen and eat popcorn and apples. Nate keeps looking at Clara the whole time and Clara thinks she might like him, he seemed like a nice guy. They go to the basement and watch a movie and Nate sits between Clara and Janice. Almost the whole movie Nate sneaked glances at Clara and, at one point in time, Clara thought he brushed against her hand again.

When the movie was over Clara went home. Nate offered to walk her, but Clara didn't want him to know where she lived, not yet. Clara skipped work for the second night in a row, she really hated going now. Her mom had stopped at the store earlier that day and had gotten more milk, cereal, bread, cheese, apples, and granola bars. Clara grabbed a granola bar and went upstairs to do her homework. She had lots of fun today and wished she would get detention more often.