Strengths and Weaknesses (CURRENTLY BEING EDITED)

Chapter 1

                                                  July 26

Dear Diario (Diary),

        What a day! After grieving for the loss of mi abuela or grandma for hours, I go to get breakfast. And what do you think happened next?

As I walked barefooted in my night gown and wild curls out of place, I tripped over nail on the floor, that caused my left foot to bleed.
"Caramba!", I shrieked, and then I heard a gasp. I looked up from the ground, and saw my great aunt or my Abuela with her church congregation, in the middle of her rant about how great God is. I stood there, shocked, and ran up the stairs as quickly as I can to my room. I quickly cleaned my wound, putting a bandage on it. When I was about to go bathe, my grandma walked in with a nasty glare.

"Que estás haciendo? What are you doing walking around in a daze? You embarrassed me, Clarissa!", my grandma said, almost yelling.

I mentioned to her that she didn't tell me they were coming. In response, she gestured to the front door with an angry glare, whispering loudly to leave the house, and come back when I have the manners.

With that, I stormed out of the room, past my aunt, and went to bathe. I took a quick bath, brushed my teeth, and washed my hair locks, and went to my room to get dressed. I put on a white tank top and flower-printed overalls, with beat up blue converse. For my hair, I combed out my tangled parts, and braided my long black hair. I took a pair of clothes, night gown, my school stuff, diary, my old phone, put it in my green backpack, and stormed out of my room. My grandma called after me, but I ignored her, too angry to fight back.

As I exited the door to the house, I saw my neighbor, Claude, smirking at me, and walked over. He asked me for a favor, saying it was important. Nodding, he asked me if I can go out with him sometime, and I said he was being delusional, and left.

I went to my local job, at a clothing store, and had my boss kick me out, because I wanted to work more than the hard work I already did? Really? Samira was getting worried, and I gave in, telling her I am coming for my early shift the next day. My day was bad so far.

I walked through the beach, to go to (where I am now) my best friend's cottage, Dani. And so that was my day...

                                        Clarissa

I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Clarissa, I am fifteen years old; my parents are separated and not supportive in my life or my decisions. I live in "La Barrahona" with my great aunt, whom I call my grandma, in a small green house. I am a Junior at a gifted high school, and take college classes. I have an admirer named Claude, whom I have no desire to waste my time with. Lastly, I go to work at Samira's Vestidos.

Right now, I was at my best friend's house, dreading to go back home, and apologize to my aunt for my actions, but I resisted because she was wrong in screaming at me for NOT knowing that they were there. However, I still wanted to go home. Anyways, Dani and I were in the middle of watching novellas or dramatic shows, when her phone rang."Hello?... Oh hey Claude!", she exclaimed, looking at me with a smirk plastered across her face. I groaned at the mention of him. He was too flirtatious around me, and I feel uncomfortable around him. "Oh, where is it?... Right on this beach?... OK, we will meet you there... Adios."

After Dani hangs up, she shrieks happily. Perplexed, I ask, "What happened?"

She got up and ran into her room. "Claude invited us to a bonfire party and Ramirez is going to be there!", she exclaimed, walking back into the living room and serenading me to one of Alicia Keys' songs, If I Ain't Got You. I sat there amused, watching Dani, as she struggled to try dancing, but inside I felt a tug of wariness from going to a party that I knew was going to be trouble. I never trust people the way I did with my grandma, who died years ago, and never will. What good could possibly happen at parties? Getting drunk from the over-consumption of alcohol, having sex and getting pregnant; And, better yet, the type of people you could be dealing with. Looks can be deceiving, I thought to myself, as I listed people that can possibly be there. Call me paranoid, but I can't conform to the life of the party, like Ramirez or Claude. Ramirez was my other annoying friend, who was close friends with Claude, and was always up to mischief.

"C'mon Dani, don't you have to get ready for the party?", I told her, as she sat there, on the floor, tired from dancing.

"Oh no Missy, you are NOT staying here! You will come with me and have fun. Or luckily, fall in lo-", Dani stopped talking at the mention of the four lettered word, making me wince.

"Let's just go before I change my mind", I said in exasperation, sighing as I got up from the chair.

After an hour of getting ready, we left for the bonfire party. Dani began talking all the way to the party about how she was going to try to get to kiss Ramirez and becoming his girlfriend.

I scoffed and shook my head at the thought. Let's see that happening, I thought, looking out ahead and tuning out Dani and her antics. As we continued to walk, the sight of fire grew bigger.

I, then cut her off by saying that we arrived. I look around the bonfire for any alcohol and to my surprise, there were none. There were only a couple of familiar faces, which was all of them, from my school. All of them greeted us, and Claude came over, hugged me, and said, "Hola, my Amor, Hi my love."

Everybody chuckled in amusement, looking curious about the new "love" me and Claude shared, which was fake. I stared at him, one eyebrow raised and said, "Get away from me, Claude."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Whatever, I am not going to have you date ME if you are going to be a show-off", I joked, as I walked over to sit down on a log, isolated from everyone. "Please, Clarissa, let me date you. I can be serious. I know what you have been through, and I want to help you get out of it. Please. I like you so much, ever since you moved in with your aunt. Please Clarissa", he pleaded, begging on his knees, hands on my lap. I was shocked by the sincerity of his speech.

I stood there, speechless, looking down at Claude. "Ok, but you have to stop bothering me so much. I accept your request for being mi novio, my boyfriend.", I stammered, scratching the back of my neck.

What did you just do?!, I thought.

Claude ended up hugging me, and lifting me off my feet, carrying me bridal style.

I laughed for the first time in ages at his actions, him smiling in response. I think that Claude will be a change in my life, the turn in my road, and the happiness in my heart.

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Hey guys, so I am going to list the characters mention so far and their characteristics, (there are more to come).

Clarissa- intelligent, adamant, and a serious girl, who still grieves for her grandmother 7 years later. (She looks like Selena Gomez)

Dani- Clarissa's best friend, giggly, out going. (She looks like Lily Collins)

Claude- very romantic, out going, caring, flirtatious. ( No comparison)

Grandma- sweet but bitter at times, caring, commanding.