Them

.

She was the girl they loved to hate...

He was the boy they hated to love...

They were so close, yet so far. She was smart, witty even, but her mouth got her in even more trouble than she could probably handle, but she was strong and never asked for help. His obvious disinterest in all of them made the girls scoff and flip their bottle blonde hair, trying to convince themselves that he wasn't worth it. His resonating charm, though, had them falling in love, fast and hard. Their free fall was only met with the cold hard ground, instead of his arms. They had no idea that he was waiting.

Their first meeting, unexpected.

Their first impression, not so great.

Their first date, how awkward.

Their first kiss, probably just as awkward.

Their first fight, stupid.

Their first, 'I love you', priceless.

So many firsts, each one better than the last. But all good things have to come to an end, right?

Clarissa Lark cared about exactly three things; her one friend, her younger brother, and everything else... which is apparently more than three things, but who is really counting? She is basically a big ball of fluff, but there is a pretty solid exterior to get through before the fluffiness can really be achieved. She didn't really mind it, sure it could get a little heavy, but nothing she couldn't handle. There really wasn't any room for anyone else, but she doesn't get lonely so it also isn't a problem. Life for her is pretty great... totally...

She manages to fly under the radar at school most of the time, her face just a flat, empty expanse with no real defining features. The few times that she did fly above the radar, it was more of a rocketship flying into space than a nice commercial flight to Florida. A jerk trips her in the hall and makes some degrading side comment, or the Holy Trinity of Hell deem her messy ponytail and unique style of clothing simply to atrocious that they have to "accidentally" spill their designer lunches to match their 'designer personality' down the front of her shirt, she only sees red. Yea, yea, yea "the bully will only continue if they can get a response" but they deserve that response. She likes to think that she is the victor of her verbal showdowns with the ditsy and picky of her school, but in reality, the only reason she has come home mostly unscathed is her friend, Lysander. Friend may be too strong of a word, probably more like her flakey bodyguard, pulling her away just before the first claw embeds itself in her forehead. To be fair, her bodyguard Lysander has gotten her out of some pretty intense situations.

Like today for instance, Clarissa got a face full of clam chowder and . The engines in the rocket ignited as the leader of the Trinity, Melissa threw the gauntlet down. "Oh, is there a little something on your face? The chowder may have actually given you more color than you already had. Maybe we can help you out with another chowder facial." Melissa's second in command, Hilary, then proceeded to drop her bowl in Clarissa's face as well.

There was no turning back as soon as Clarissa's fists were clenched and she licked her lips, "I gotta say, Melinda, Hilaho," Okay, maybe witty was a little too nice... "your lunch reminds me all too well of the waft of your BO I get in the locker room after PE. I am baffled at how such a small bottle of chemicals and animal byproducts can mask such a rank smell."

The look of horror they shared and the bright red red faces that accompanied the look was almost too good and the ripple of laughter ran through the cafeteria that was now all looking that way. Speechless with fury, Melissa barely managed to spit out, "Its Melissa! You ungrateful little witch! And for your information, that 'little bottle of chemicals and animal byproducts' costs more than your whole life is worth!"