LIFE RUINERS ( ongoing - first five chapters !! )

chapter 8: the escape room

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Flashback

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"cute.. you should buy it." Gia said to Clara  who is looking at this beautiful pair of sunglasses. Clara quickly nodded. "no no I can't." She said with a hesitant voice.

She took them off her face and put them back on the shelf. "Why?" Gia scoffed. The others all split up among the store. "Well they're $1500. I only brought $200 with me." The introverted girl replied shyly. Gia giggled slightly at this comment and then went to whisper in her ear. "I'll buy it for you." She said. Clara smiled gratefully.

It wasn't everyday that any of the girls would offer to give her money for any reasons. So she was excited.

She didn't know why she was willing to pay for her. And frankly she didn't want to question it. "Oh wow. Thank you!!! I promise I'll pay you back." Clara thanked her for the favor. Gia put on the fakest smile before walking  away. Not even a single you're welcome which should have been a red flag. She even heard her laugh from a distance when she walked a way but surely she was just going this to be nice right?

"Hey. Ready to go?" Corinne said approaching Gia. Gia smiled slyly and nodded. "Let's go." She said before handing the glasses to Clara trying her best to hide the fact that she was giving her them.

"Thanks again." Clara said with an innocent smile.

Little did she know is that this was only apart of a plan to humiliate her once again. The girls started to walk out of the store but as soon as Clara did, immediately beeping. The store police rushed to the front. "Can I check your receipt for that?" He asked Clara. She looked down at her new sunglasses and back at Gia. "Um my friend bought them for me.. where's the receipt?" She asked.

Gia gave her a smile before looking at the police officer and put on an act. "She's lying officer. I told her that she had to pay for it but she didn't listen." She said.  The look that Clara gave her friend was so saddening. She felt betrayed. Which wasn't an unusual feeling for her. She knew she should have went with her gut instinct and said no when she offered to buy the glasses. She knew there had to be a catch that her oblivious self was unaware of.

The officer stood before her looking as angry as ever while the girls laughed and left the store while she had to stay behind.

Now this isn't why Clara killed herself. It was a prank yeah but it also got her in trouble. Luckily she was able to not go to jail but she had to do community service for 6 weeks and her mom grounded her during that time. The day after she saw the girls at school.. as she approached them, Gia gave her a smile. "I thought you were arrested" she laughed, the others did as well.

"I have community service for weeks.. Gia what is your deal?" Clara asked her.

Gia just laughed without actually answering at first. Just giggles. "It's not my fault you're a kleptomaniac." She finally did answer.

"But you know I'm not. You said you were gonna buy them for me." She said. But this was pointless of her to say because Gia wasn't going to admit to what she did to her. Clara quickly glanced at Jocelyn who stood right behind Gia. Somehow she expected her to stand up for her but she did not utter a single word in her defense. Jocelyn just stood there and laughed at every statement Gia had made about her.

This hurt.

"It's where trashy girls like you belong.. picking up well trash. Be grateful that you aren't in juvie." Gia said and laughed once more with the girls who were all gathered there with her. "Hey!! That was harsh." Ashley said in a sarcastic sounding tone before they all walked away leaving Clara to stand there alone.