I am Clara

To Touch or Not to Touch

I woke with a stir; ears ringing from a piercing shrieking noise. My body shook with the intensity of the sound's vibrations. Slamming my hands up to my ears, I launched the loud object across the room. I only realized when it was too late, that what I had thrown was my alarm clock. It shattered with a loud bang, informing me that I'd soon need to purchase a new one. The Sphere must had released another injection during the night, without my knowing. My ear drums were about to burst. The world was much too loud. Much, much too loud. I swear I could hear Andrews eating his nasty puff cereal in the kitchen.

      "Chew any louder will you? I don't think the neighbors can hear you," I complained as soon as I entered the kitchen.

      Seriously though, his chewing was ridiculous. I may have also been a little cranky from lack of sleep, but I was tempted to throw the kitchen chair at him once he started chewing louder just to annoy me.

      "Not in the mood," I warned.

     "Well neither am I!" he practically screamed.

      "I'm standing right next to you. Is the screaming really necessary?"

      "I'm not screaming!" He complained, voice still very much too loud.

      "Your voice is definitely much louder than it needs to be."

      "This is my normal speaking level, Clara."

      "It is not."

      "It is!" he argued in a very annoying and childish tone. I was being much more civilized. "I don't know why you're cranky, when you're the one who broke into my room at two in the morning."

      "My apologies, that was definitely a big deal."

     "You interrupted my sleep!"

      "It wasn't even two minutes... Easton!" I dared to use his real name.

      He took a sudden intake of breath, upon hearing his name. I've never understood why he's hated the name so much.

      "Do you really think I fell asleep right after you left... Clara Marie-Elizabeth Molino?"

      "I don't just think it, I know it! You were snoring by the time I reached my room."

      "You can't hear me snore from the third floor."

     "If I heard you eating your puffs this morning, I think it's possible that I could have heard you snore."

     "You did not hear me eat my chocolate puffs."

     "I did!"

     Our faces inches apart, both of us gave the other the stink eye. Andrews took a deep breath, keeping his eyes on me.

     "What are we even arguing about?" he finally asked.

      "I don't know, but I'm going to eat in my room. Where it's quiet," I said pointedly. "See you later."

      I could still hear him from my room, but at least the sound was tolerable. I could eat my bagel without wanting to rip out my ear drums.

      "I'm not talking loud, am I?" I heard Andrews ask his father. "This is my normal speaking level, right?"

      "Yes... Is that what you and Clara were bickering about?"

      "Yes, she's unreasonable."

      "I heard that!" I shouted from upstairs.

      "How the hell did she hear that?" he marvelled out loud.