The Close

Thirteen 3/4

Part Three

Claire was now dressed in one of her tracksuits, as she had to take off the red dress that she had worn for a short length of time before it was ruined in a mud scuffle with Beth out in the back garden. Claire looked upset and disappointed that she had ruined such a gift that should've been worn with pride and joy..

Marty suggested, that considering his work profession, he would help sort out the dilemma and relieve some of the strain that Claire must be feeling right now because she is livid.

"You decent?", Claire's cousin, Siobhan said, calling from the other side of the door. "Yeah", Claire said lightly, with a brave look after just been threatened with a knife. Just then, Siobhan stepped into the kitchen and saw Claire upset and crying. Siobhan offered a hug and Claire fell into her arms. "I'll go now and sort it okay?. Few hours tops", Marty said, as he looked at a tearful Claire, with sympathy. "Thankyou", Siobhan said, kissing Marty's cheek. "Anytime", as he grabbed the dress from off the hanger at the top of the kitchen door and walked away.

Siobhan instantly smiled, looking as though she had taken a shine to Marty's kindness and charm. He could be a potential partner for Siobhan..but still early days..

"He seems nice", Claire said, cheering up after a little cry. "Yeah. He's lovely. Met him out last night in Club 47" Then Claire said "Ooh, lucky you!", giggling and playfully nudging Siobhan. Considering its her birthday, she still needs to make amends with her best friend, Caitlyn..

Elsewhere..

13-year old Caitlyn was upstairs in Claire's bedroom. She was reading something that she had accidently dropped onto the floor. It was Claire's private diary, and she never thought that Claire would be livid if she discovered her secrets are out, but that's nothing compared to Caitlyn's face right now..

Just then, to Caitlyn's horror, Claire was stood at her bedroom door having a peak. Claire instantly knew that she had been rumbled. Bursting into her bedroom, her best friend Caitlyn gasped and Claire said "Look!. I can explain!", as she shot over to try and grab her diary. "I can believe it. You are doing that to yourself, but why?", Caitlyn said, looking at Claire. "Because I mean, look at me. Its nothing to be proud of.", Claire said, lifting up her pullover, referring to her weight. "I'm not mad, or judging you, you're my best friend", Caitlyn said. "But you don't understand, no one does!", Claire said. "Ah, come here", Caitlyn said, offering a hug.

Claire didn't seem to be angry or fazed that Caitlyn had discovered her secret that her best friend has been trying to reduce her weight, and Caitlyn hadn't bothered to ask about the red dress. Caitlyn seemed more worried about Claire as its now grown on her that she could be a liability in the long road ahead..

Downstairs..

There was quite a party going on downstairs, with a few board games being played to the music, such as musical chairs & musical statues, which had just been planned by Siobhan, for a little fun, as the party seemed to have dimmed because of Claire's absence. Siobhan noticed, so games were put into place.

Just then, Claire stepped into the front room with Caitlyn and started dancing almost immediately and participating in the activities that had been put together for her and friends that had attended..

Meanwhile..

Beth stepped away from the board games in the front room with her friend Kelly. They both looked a little disorientated as they crept into the kitchen.

Once they were in the kitchen, Beth spoke and said "Hurry.. Get a bottle of WKD.. I got a plan. The stupid bitch won't be in school tomorrow", as she chucked Kelly an evil grin. Suddenly, Kelly went into the fridge and pulled out a blue WKD. As Kelly went into the fridge, Beth was busy snapping the legal high she had in her fingers. "Open it, quick!", Beth demanded to Kelly.

Kelly passed Beth the bottle of WKD. Once she had done that, Beth quickly slipped the legal high contents into the bottle. "Listen.. Go in front room and tell Claire that Beth sends her apologies. I will see you out the front. The party is childish anyway", Beth said, complaining to Kelly.

Just then, the two troubled rebels stepped out of the kitchen onto the downstairs landing. Beth walked towards the front door, whilst Kelly didn't hesitate to do what Beth said of her to do for spite.

Front room..

Kelly was now in the front room, carrying the bottle of WKD for Claire, aware of what she was about to do. Claire was busy playing a game, so Kelly asked another friend to make sure Claire gets this particular drink, and that its an apology from Beth for what happened earlier..

Spiking someone's drink can be extremely dangerous and can prove fatal. This story portrays Peer pressure and bullying, written on behalf of research and for a campaign in the UK.