Beyond The Envy

As Claudia sauntered away, her laughter echoing in the corridor, Cara breathed a sigh of relief. The tension that had gripped the air moments ago seemed to dissipate with Claudia's departure. Carter glanced at Hester, his expression softening with concern. "Are you okay, Hester?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine care. Hester nodded, offering him a small smile. "I'm fine, thank you, Carter," she replied, her voice still tinged with traces of tension. Cara, however, remained silent, her gaze fixed on the spot where Claudia had disappeared. There was a storm brewing within her, one that threatened to unravel at any moment.

As they stood in the aftermath of the confrontation, the sounds of the bustling mall slowly crept back into their awareness, a stark contrast to the charged atmosphere that had enveloped them moments ago. Hester took a deep breath, attempting to shake off the residual tension that lingered in her muscles. "Well, that was certainly unexpected," she remarked, trying to lighten the mood. Carter chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "You never know what to expect with Claudia around," he remarked, his tone tinged with amusement.

Cara finally tore her gaze away from the spot where Claudia had vanished, her expression guarded. "We should probably get going," she said, her voice betraying none of the turmoil that churned within her. Hester nodded in agreement, sensing that Cara needed some space to process the encounter. "Yeah, let's go grab something to eat," she suggested, hoping to distract Cara from the lingering tension.

As they made their way through the mall, the encounter with Claudia lingered in the back of their minds, casting a shadow over their evening. The oppressive quiet was shattered as Hester once more broke the silence, striving to salvage the evening. "So, what exactly did Claudia do? I mean, I know she's been a thorn in Colbar's side—" Cara raised her hand, halting Hester mid-sentence. "It's Dr. Colbar, Hester," she interjected, lowering her hand as Hester let out a frustrated sigh and rephrased her question. "A nuisance for Dr. Colbar. But I never imagined she'd cause trouble for both of you as well." Cara and Carter exchanged looks, Carter shrugging as Cara's lips remained a thin, straight line. "Well, she used to be quite the bully towards Carter, but never insulted him for being Gay, so I can't really label the brat as Homophobic, but it still ain't right." Cara said, rather slowly as she continuously glanced at Carter, who looked straight forward.