The Divide

Chapter I

Clarke tapped her foot nervously. The chairs in this school were stiff, wooden contraptions. Probably pre-World War II ,Clarke scuffed. Her tight, black shoes made loud snaps on the floor as she danced out a rhythm.

"Hey, do you mind?" Some kid turned around with a scowl on his face. Like the worst crime she could've committed was tapping her shoe. It wasn't her fault that the uniform they were required to wear fell out of fashion fifty years ago. Still, she kind of liked the passé plaid skirt and white button up shirt. It fit the archaic architecture of the school. Clarke looked back at the boy sheepishly and slowly pulled her foot back, crossing her ankles. She went back to scribbling down notes.

Biology was a strong suit that Clarke took pride in. Her mother, a doctor, had strong influence over this, but it was the fascination for all living things that deeply embedded Clarke into biology. Her teacher, Mr. Erikson, was a bit of a drag but he taught well. He took Honors Biology intensely seriously, which Clarke respected about him. Currently, he was showing a powerpoint on the evolution of life on earth and what it took to create cells.

Just as she glanced at the clock, the bell rang. You had the normal kids, the ones who slowly processed dismissal, got together their books, and walked out, and then you had the two extremes: the kids who jumped out of their seats and burst out the door and the ones who moved at snail paces. Clarke moved at a snail pace, staring out the window onto the lawn of the school.

A girl with industrial amounts of eyeliner sat leniently, surrounded by a tough looking crowd. Guys and girls alike with piercings, leather jackets, wildly colored hair, and doc martens. They sat around the eyeliner girl and braided her hair intricately. Well that's a screw you to stereotypes, Clarke thought to herself. Still, by the look eyeliner girl had on her face, Clarke could sense the pent up aggression and angst. Ah, welcome to the woes of teenage rebellion. Clarke caught herself smiling and immediately went back to her packing up.

"Clarke, a word before you go to lunch." Mr. Erikson called from the blackboard.

"Yeah?" Clarke responded and, clutching books in hand, meandered to him.

"Let's talk about your grade, I'm worried." That very stern, very serious teacher composure came over his chiseled face. "Riddle me this, Clarke; a student that has out-scored their peers continuously on tests and quizzes even in the first three weeks of school is failing this class." He frowned and Clarke's face took on every shade of crimson. Panic flooded in. Not knowing what to say, she stood there, trying her best not to look like a delinquent.

"If you refuse to do the assignments I give you, I cannot continue having you in this class." He reprimanded. Clarke nodded and ran out the door in an instant, trying to pretend that nothing happened.

Three seconds into the hallway and she slammed into someone, someone very tall. Looking up and rubbing her head, she saw a mop of brown hair coupled with glasses. Behind him was an asian kid looking very concerned and confused. She caught a whiff of their obvious pot smell.

"Woah there." The kid with glasses laughed. Clarke wanted to jump into a lake. It must've showed because next he said, "Hey, no need to feel embarrassed, it happens to the best of us. I'm Jasper," He signaled to his friend behind him, "This is Monty." Monty gave a little sheepish wave. He was endlessly adorable in a shy way. Suddenly, she felt a lot better.

"I'm sorry, I'm kind of new and everything I do just feels like a disaster." She explained. After an awkward moment of silence she laughed nervously, "My name's Clarke."

Clarke was pushed aside to the lockers by another group of kids, lead by a girl with long brown hair in a pony tail and a mischievous looking boy. " You can't just stand in the middle of the hallway, assholes." The girl scoffed.

"Jesus, what's her problem?" Clarke sighed

"The self-entitlement that comes with being supernaturally attractive?" Monty shrugged and Jasper smiled. Clarke tried to smile along too. "No, but really, she can be very friendly once you get to know her, she's just a bit of a drama queen sometimes. Her name's Raven. Raven Reyes."

"And her boyfriend is the Douchebag Supreme: Finn Collins." Jasper added. Clarke laughed and felt embarrassed at her initial attraction. "Last year he was almost expelled for taking a night skinny dip in the school pool."

"Disgusting." Clarke sighed. To that, they walked together to the cafeteria and Clarke's stomach growled.