Right Side of My Neck

Chapter 1

A Long Walk

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"Are you sure you've got your schedule sweetheart?" "Oh and don't forget about all your SECOND binder sweetie, remember more subjects-" "More notes, dad, dad, I got this. I've prepared. And before you ask yes, I have my plastic envelopes too."

It was Claire McBride's first day of 8th grade. Pretty normal except for the fact that she skipped a grade. Most parents wouldn't be this worrisome but the McBrides were more of the "sheltering their kids" type, and not really the laid back type.

"Clyde come on, we're gonna be late!" The young girl shouted to the top of the stairs, hurrying her young brother who was doing who knows what in his room. "Clyyyyyydeeeeee" "Sorry for the wait sis, I was just going over this plan with Lincoln and I slept at 3 am last night..." "Yea it shows." "OH MY GOODNESS, are my eyebags that deep?? Gahh I knew I should've slept earlier-" "Pfft I'm just messing with you, ya look great." She said, ruffling his hair before they got on the bus.

Like always, Clyde was sitting on the row beside where she was seated, probably saving a seat for Lincoln.

Wait.

Why am I on the middle school bus.

Oh.

My.

God.

OH MY GOD.

SHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT

She froze, and by the time she was finally able to move, they were already at the next stop. Great, now she bad to walk because no way in hell was she gonna try to find the bus going to her highschool.

She got off at the next stop and wondered how she was gonna get there. I mean- she didn't know the way and she couldn't just ask for instructions. Then she saw a strand if platinum blonde hair pass by her.

White hair?

She looked back and saw she was at the Louds' house! How convenient! She walked onto their porch, slowly peering into the window only to find a baseball almost hit her across the face. Before it was caught by the same person who threw it. Who threw it? Oh no one, just like the most gorgeous, funny, adorable, jaw dropping, silky haired, raspy voiced, gorgeous, girl Claire's ever seen. If you hadn't guessed, it was Lynn Loud. (junior). As you can see, our protagonist here thinks of Lynn as a goddess to be praised, but no one knew that. No one had to know that. Her kinda creepy staring through the window caused her to miss the bus that was supposed to pick up Lynn, who also now, has missed the bus.

"Ugh Lynn! You almost hit my tiara!!" Lola crued out, trying to readjust the bejeweled thing on her head. "Goddamit Lola, I don't care about your crown you got like 20 more!" Clearly annoyed, the already late Loud slowly hopped down the stairs, playing with the baseball om her hand. "Over a hundred actually." She said in a matter of fact way. Lynn just rolled her eyes, when she caught someone staring from the outside. She already knew who it was though, I mean you think after years of stolen, "quick" glances, Claire would get better at being swift but you'd think wrong.

"Hey creep, what are you doing outside my house? Shouldn't you be at school right now with my dork brother and his dork friends?" Lynn said teasingly, raising a brow at Claire. "Uhm well I uh got on the wrong bus, I kinda uh skipped a grade so now I'm in your grade! So uhm yea thats uh uhm. So I got off at your house hoping for the bus but uhm kinda missed that too so...yeah.."

Jesus Christ,

she was a MESS. Fidgeting her fingers while looking everywhere but the tall brunette's piercing eyes. "HAHAHA that's such a you thing to do. Come on, I'll walk with ya to school." If you didn't think her blushing was bad, it certainly was now. The then subtle pink tint was now as bright as the red of an apple. All she could think of was

Holy shit. I made Lynn laugh.

The walk to school felt long, literally so long. Even more silent. I mean what would they have to talk about? Lynn was the rough, loud, extroverted jock, while Claire was the timid, well-kept, introverted theatre technician. And I mean it's not like Lynn knew much about the girl anyway! She knew her as Clyde's sister and the girl that helps her sisters with their shows.

Clair on the otherhand, knew everything about Lynn, her favorite food (beef stroganoff), her favorite color (red), her favorite sport (all of them), and the color if her eyes (a faint grey, dark blue if the light hits). Anything. It's kinda creepy in hindsight but they've known each other for years, all the connected family dinners, being invited to Lynn's games, and being invited to the Louds' house in general led Claire to getting to know all the sisters, but Lynn just never made the effort to get to know her.

After what felt like forever, they got the building, already 5 minutes late for homeroom.