The Soul Within...

Chapter 1: New Day, New Life

Just as the alarm beeped, Clara opened her eyes. But unlike many others, there was a smile plastered on her face. To others it may seem like just a new day with the same old routine, but for Clara it was the first day of her new life.

She rushed to the bathroom, brushed her teeth and took a hot shower due to the cold and crisp air of January blowing outside. And as she came out with a towel draped around her, a groan left her mouth.

She immediately picked up her phone and dialed number of her best friend. Even though Julia was thousands of miles away from her, she always helped her in times like these.

“Wassup my girl?” Julia said in her usual way.

“SOS. SOS. Oh my god I just don't know what to do. Please help me Jules,” 

“What happened!? Clara are you okay?” Julia said, her voice laced with worry and panic.

“It's my first day of University and I have absolutely no idea of what should I wear or how should I do my make up.” 

There was silence on the other side of phone. 

“Jules are you th-“

“What the hell Clara!? You gave me a frigging heart attack there!”

“Whoa there tiger. Calm down. I didn't mean to give you a heart attack. Last time I checked, heart attack is very painful and why would I wanna put my best friend in pain?”

This made Julia heave a sigh and emit a laugh from her.

And after an hour of throwing clothes here and there and browsing through her makeup, all while talking to Julia on phone, Clara was finally ready.

Her black hair cascaded down in waves on her grey sweater, which she matched with black skinny jeans and ankle boots. There was only a light pink lipstick and some grey eyeshade on her face. 

Perfect, she thought as she checked herself out in the full length mirror on the side of her room. 

“Clara, honey time to wake u-“ Her mother stopped mid-sentence as she came in her room. 

“Hey mum,” Clara smiled at her mother who was pretty shocked. Clara was a girl who wasn't a morning person and neither did she woke up two hours earlier than her usual waking time so her mother was pretty shocked.

“Who are you and where is my Clara?” Her mother asked.

“Oh she is in the closet, all tied up,” 

This made her mother smile and got her out from her ‘shocked' state. Clara was always like this, all happy and trying to make everyone laugh. She had a happy aura radiating around her.

“But seriously honey, how did you wake up so early?” Her mother asked as she started to clean up her clothes left on the floor.

“Well, today is the first day of University and I just... wanted to change some things I guess?” Clara shrugged at the end. 

“That's good. Now go and eat your breakfast. I made your favorite chocolate pancakes.”

The day is off to a good start, she thought to herself and rushed down the hall.

*~*~*~*~*

“Good luck dear!” Clara's father said to him as she closed the door of the car. She had her bag slinged on her shoulders and a big smile on her face. She was nervous but just as excited for her new phase of life.

Welcome to High King's University Clara, she thought to herself and went inside.

The main hall was buzzing. It was the first day of many students. Some faces were equally, if not more, happy as Clara and some were sad as if they've watched 13 Reasons Why and came to University.

Clara picked out the time table from her pocket and checked her first class. Business English.

Clara smiled to herself. English was one of her favorite subjects. Putting the note back in her pocket, she started to walk towards the English class using the directional boards hanging on the walls.

After 15 minutes of wandering here and there, she finally reached her class. Taking a deep breath, she entered the class.

The class was half empty and the teacher was not in the class. Glancing at the clock, Clara saw that she was ten minutes earlier.

Some doodles later, the teacher came in the class and started her lecture by introducing herself and asking every student to tell his or her name.

The rest of the time passed by in a blur and the next thing Clara knew, it was break time.

As she made her way to the cafeteria, she stopped in her tracks as she notices a group of four or five girls standing in the hall way. With curiosity running in her veins, she made her way to the group.

When she reached there, she saw a fat girl, cowering in fear and tears streaming down her face due to the girls surrounding her making fun of her weight.

“Have you tied some pillows to yourself?”

“I'll punch that two chins of yours,”

“Even my grandma considers that clothes out fashioned.”

Insults were being thrown at her and the poor girl was just standing there, crying helplessly. Clara couldn't bear the sight and spoke up, anger running through her veins.

“Why don't you guys like shut up?”

Their heads whipped in her direction and narrowed their eyes at her. 

“And who are you to tell us that?”

“Well I'm Clara. Clara White. And I'm not a blonde and fake like you guys and I definitely don't wear clothes that hardly cover your womanly things.” 

Their faces turned red and just as they were about to speak, a teacher came.

“Any problems ladies? Why aren't you in Cafeteria?”

The girls, who were bullying, had trouble speaking up but when the teacher saw the crying girl, she took them all to the office. She asked Clara too to come with her but the girl, who was being bullied, stopped her from doing so.

“Thank you,” She mumbled.

“No problem. And learn to stand for yourself. This world is full of mean people like them and not everytime someone will come to save you.”

She nodded and smiled at her and left for washroom to clean up her face. Clara with a smile went into the Cafeteria.

The rest of the day passed by and Clara was very happy at her first day. Even though she didn't socialize and made friends, she was pretty happy with her day.

But little did she know about that there was always calm before the storm.