Torn Apart Hearts

Chapter One

Clara sat up in bed and groaned. She leaned over to turn off her alarm and fell face-first back on the bed. Just a few more minutes. She thinks. She regrets staying up so late on the phone with Melody last night. It seemed every time she tried to go, Melody kept thinking of reasons to keep her talking.

If there's one thing Clara could never resist, it was talking.

Just as Clara could feel herself drifting into the darkness of slumber a hand smacked her hard on her exposed back.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" She shrieked and sat up immediately.

"Mom said to wake you up!" Her brother shouted as he scurried out of the door.

"Little twerp." She mumbled as she rubbed the sore and soon to be red spot on her back. She sat up fully and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She grabbed her phone and squinted to see the screen with the low brightness setting it was at last night. Surprised at having no messages, she put it down and tossed her legs over the side of the bed. She contemplated for a moment whether it was really worth it to get out of bed today.

"Come get breakfast, Clara!" She heard her mom shout from the kitchen. I guess my mind has been made for me.

She climbed out of bed and sleepily sauntered over to her dresser. Her outfit for the day had been picked out for nearly a week and she stared at it knowingly.

"Now, Clara!" Her mom called again.

She quickly threw the purple blouse over her head and adjusted it around her waist. The top was a bit too short on her tall figure but it was still her favorite new article of clothing. She took off her pajama bottoms and threw them in her overstuffed laundry basket. She pulled on her new black skinny jeans and hopped around to fit them comfortably. She glanced sideways into her full body mirror. She saw her perky butt in the reflection and smiled. She sat in front of her vanity and stared into the mirror.

What to do with my hair? She thought. She tugged at the long blonde locks on her head. She threw it up into a ponytail and examined her face. No. No, please this cannot happen. She thought as she moved closer to the mirror. After moving the her side swept bangs from her face she could see clearly a zit forming on her forehead. She had not broken out for quite some time, her skin being always clear and glowing. I guess this means the bangs are down today. She covered the spot with some concealer, just in case, and let down her hair. She put the back of her hair in two braids going down the side of her head and straightened her wavy bangs. She put on a small amount of eyeshadow, a thick line of black eyeliner, and a nude lip gloss. She examined her face once more and nodded approvingly. She stood and grabbed her bag off of her bed and hurried out of her bedroom.

"Took you long enough!" Her mother, Denise, stated with a tired smile. Denise placed a plate with a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg in the middle with two pieces of toast and a slice of bacon. "Hurry, or you'll be late."

Clara stared down at the yummy meal and instantly felt her stomach grumble. She picked up her fork and just before it made contact with the plump yolk of the egg she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She stared at her food for one long second before pulling out her phone.

2 New Messages.

Melody: Good morning, grandma!

You getting ready for the first day back?

Clara smiled at her phone and typed back a quick response.

Clara: Yup! Are you excited?

Clara set her phone next to her plate and hurriedly took a bite of her eggs and toast. She smiled at how tasty it was and thanked whatever higher power there might be that her mom was a chef. She paused her eating when her phone buzzed again.

Melody: No. Who would be?

Clara giggled and typed back before continuing to devour her breakfast.

Clara: Well, I am. It's my last year, might as well make the most of it.

Melody: Well, I'm still stuck here for another three years. When are you gonna be here?

Clara finished her last bite of bacon and stared confused at her phone.

Clara: You're not there already, are you?

Melody: I am... You know me, I just want to be prepared.

Clara looked at her phone to check the time. 7:30.

Clara: You're an hour early on the first day of school.

Everything okay?

Melody: Yeah

Just wanted to beat you here, grandma.

Clara: Alright, young one, I'm on my way.

Clara took her dishes to the sink and washed them quickly. She ran to her parents' bedroom and knocked.

"I'm heading to school, I'll see you later! Love you!" Clara called through the door and turned to walk away.

"Wait wait wait!" Her mom called back and Clara internally groaned. She turned back with a big smile plastered on her face. Her mom opened the door and gave her a big hug which Clara gratefully returned. "You're father would wish you a good day but, you know-"

"I know he works late, mom. It's okay." She said truthfully. She looked past her mom to see her dad, Jim, sleeping peacefully on their bed.

"Okay, have a good day, sweetie." Her mom kissed her cheek and Clara turned and left with a smile.

She climbed in her car, a black bug, and drove to school. She turned up the radio to 101.1, the hard rock station. She bobbed her head to the intense tunes and laughed at herself.

She made it to school within fifteen minutes and parked in the student parking lot. She was lucky to get a spot close to the building. She grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and made sure her key was in her purse before locking her car and going inside.

She found Melody easily, always sitting in the same place, the bench by the media center, alone. Clara snuck up next to her as she obliviously stared down at her phone with her headphones on. Clara got close and pulled her headphones down.

"Mel!" Clara screamed in Melody's ear and she flinched away. For a split second she looked terrified but then she noticed it was Clara and turned angry.

"Dude! You scared the hell out of me!" Melody yelled and punched Clara in the arm. It didn't hurt but Clara rubbed the spot like it did.

"Hey, watch your mouth, child." Clara joked and Melody rolled her eyes. The smile soon returned to Melody's lips and she turned to Clara.

"So, you are excited for your senior year?" Melody stated, wrapping up her headphones and tucking them and her phone into her pocket.

"Of course I am. It's my last year of hell, why would I not enjoy it?" Clara declared loudly making Melody giggle. Melody's smile quickly faded and She looked away.

"Have you decided what to do when the year's over?" Melody asked, concern in her voice.

Clara knew why Melody was worried. They had been friends for over 10 years. They had gone through everything together since they met. Every birthday, every Christmas, every heartbreak. They were there for each other through thick and thin, they relied on each other. Now, Clara's choice could affect their entire friendship and being the shy little girl that she was, Melody was worried about being without her.

"Hey," Clara said and placed a hand on Melody's shoulder, making her look up, "no matter what, we are still best friends. You're not gonna be alone, I promise." This seemed to make Melody feel better. Melody smiled and sat up a bit straighter. Clara knew her decision would not only affect her, but it would also affect Melody. Clara loved her best friend too much to leave her all alone but she also had to think of herself and her future. Still, it was hard for Clara to look into Melody's big green eyes and not tell her what she wanted to hear.

For the rest of the hour before classes started they just walked around and chatted about summer. They laughed and talked louder than anyone in the hallways and people stared but they never cared. As long as they had each other they didn't need anyone else.