066. memories

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Spencer is supposed to go back to work next week, the man currently on his teaching days. He's been doing whatever work he could at home and late at night so that Clara had him during the day every day. He tried to stay out of work longer, but Clara promised she was okay.

It had been almost a month since Izzy died and Clara hadn't touched a single drop of alcohol or one substance. She was fine. All she has to do is ignore the constant stares and whispering she gets at school. Plus, try not to worry about the possibility of having to repeat her grade since she missed who knows how many days of school.

Clara's currently at her locker, attempting to not snap at the people she can hear whispering.

Clara zones out, staring at the inside of her locker, wishing the ground would just swallow her whole so she wouldn't have to deal with any of this.

Clara screams when hands grab her sides and she quickly turns around to find the culprit. She doesn't understand why she suddenly grows so nervous when she finds Brad in front of her.

"Jeez." Greg laughs, walking up, only making her more fearful. "Overdramatic much?"

"Wh-what do you want?" Clara shakily asks. She looks around, thankful most people go back to their own business after her freak out.

"We just, uh..." Brad shares a look with Greg. "Hey, what do you remember about the party?"

"What?" Clara asks, frowning in confusion.

"The party. You know, the one before Isabelle got killed." Greg says making Clara pale as her friend's body flashes in her mind.

"Why do you care? What'd you do?" Clara mutters.

"Nothing." Brad shrugs.

"Yeah, we just, uh... you were pretty out of it." Greg quietly laughs.

"But, uh, nothing wrong with no memory." Brad smiles. "Have a nice day." He squeezes her hip making her tense up.

"You're kinda cute when you look so terrified." Greg comments, patting her cheek a little harder than he needs to. It makes Clara curl into herself and she watches them walk off.

Clara tries to keep herself calm, but the struggle to breathe becomes harder and harder. She quickly slams her locker shut and races to the bathroom. She runs in, locking the door and leaning against it.

Clara gasps for air, choking on her cries. She presses on her chest, trying to alleviate some of the pain. Her eyes squeeze shut, unable to get rid of the icky feeling traveling over her body. Memories start to flood her in broken pieces, her breathing picking up.

She remembers Greg and Brad. Them dragging her to a room, Greg giving her dilaudid. She remembers Brad straddling her and taking her pants off. She remembers both of the boys on top of her. Clara whimpers as she feels phantom pain below her waist, sobbing.

+++

Clara barely made it through the rest of the school day, sitting in the back of her last two classes and skipping the final class of the day.

She plays with the ends of her hair while standing in the elevator. She stands up when she hears the ding and watches the doors open. Clara gulps before she walks out and marches to the bullpen. She pushes the door open, quickly making her way over to where the team is.

"Clara?" JJ frowns in confusion. "Hey, sweetie. What's--" Her frown deepens at Clara's distraught look and slightly smudged mascara. "Hey, what's going on? Are you okay?"

"Where, uh... where's Emily?" Clara asks.

"She went out to get everybody lunch." Matt informs. "You all right?"

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