Right There || Dylan O'Brien

chapter seventeen; chocolate

Clara's facial expression changed into a frown when she noticed Hayley's and her usual table was taken. She had no idea where eat her lunch now, it was the first time someone else was sitting there and it was worse now that her best friend was gone. She was alone in all this, she had no other friends than her at school.

"Clara," Jesse was waving at her from a few meters away. He was sitting with his friends, who appeared to be turning their head at her when he said her name. "Come sit here, there's a spot next to me."

Did she really have to do this? It wasn't her only chance. She could also sit against the wall, she could eat on her own. There would be no one to talk to her, there was even enough time to watch an episode of Teen Wolf on her laptop. But did she really want to sit alone for the rest the year? She had already done that for a week. In that week she had watched two seasons of the TV show. Eventually there were no episodes anymore, no TV shows to watch.

She waved back, walking towards the table to sit down on the chair next to him and Henry. They were smiling at her, one greeting her with a full mouth. "You know, you're one of the first girls to sit at our table who isn't one of our girlfriends."

Laughing, Clara took her sandwiches out of her bag along with a bottle of water. She was nervous, yes, but not as nervous as meeting Dylan's friends. It wasn't just because the boys already knew her a little, but she already met a lot of people she didn't know. Maybe it had helped her, Dylan had helped her get fear of meeting new people.

"But it's totally fine you're sitting here," a blonde said, sending her a wink. She wasn't sure what kind of a meaning it had, but by the Henry was rolling her eyes, it was clear. But was he really flirting? He could be joking. "I heard you're one of the prettiest girls in school."

She kept quiet. There was no reply she could give him, especially when she was unsure about his intention.

"Silent treatment. That's what I got when I asked her about if this guy was going to be her boyfriend." Jesse laughed, leaning his arm over the chair behind her. He then turned to look at her with his dark blue eyes. "But you changed. You seem more... relaxed."

"So, you have a boyfriend?" the blonde asked, cutting Clara off when she was about to ask him for an explanation. Now this guy was asking him about Dylan. The thought of talking about him with guys she barely knew wasn't making her comfortable.

"Perhaps you should shut your mouth until the class starts, Aaron." A redhead with a British accent spoke up, smirking as he went to grab a Snickers out of backpack. He broke off a piece, handing it to the girl. "This is how you win over a girl's heart. My girlfriend loves chocolate." He was talking directly to her, dark green eyes looking at her. "I've told her about you, actually. I'm sorry. She wanted me to do something sweet."

"Aww, that is nice of you both. Thank you, you really didn't have to do that. I can handle everything perfectly." Clara smiled widely, but from the inside she felt so embarrassed. She knew he was in Hayley's class, but did he really have tell his girlfriend. She didn't even know this girl. "I have friends around me who I can talk to." She felt Jesse's hand on her upper back but when she went to look at him, it was gone instantly. Weird.

"How about we all hang out tomorrow?" Henry offered, shrugging his shoulders. "We can get to know each other. I'm sure we all agree she can sit with us if she doesn't want to sit alone for the rest of the year. William can bring his girlfriend, it'd be awesome."

She didn't know what to answer. Maybe it was too early, she wasn't ready to befriend people from school. They would leave eventually too, there was more chance for Dylan, Holland, Crystal and everyone in Los Angeles to stay.

"I don't think I have time tomorrow. I have to do homework, I have to learn for exams. I have a group project to do with someone." She blushed by how focused the boys' eyes  were on her. It made her nervous. "What can I say? School is very important."

"Oh, okay."

 ----

A disappointment. She was a disappointment to everyone. She was a freaking disappointment to everyone that was sitting around that table. You must've had seen their faces. She was never going to talk to anybody else at school or anybody else she didn't know for that matter. Nobody was ever going to like her anyway.

When walking home, she couldn't help but let tears stream down her face. She would be home alone, nobody could be around her to look at her weird or to basically tell her they pitied her. That was also what she disliked. She was strong, so strong. She would never want people to think she couldn't handle it.

She opened the front door, wiping away her tears even though it was useless. They came back, only faster than before. She let herself sit down on the floor, a sob leaving her mouth as she held her bag against her stomach.

Why would Hayley leave her like this? If only didn't realize her wallet was gone in the morning, she would've been there on time to say goodbye. Now they had gotten to spend half an hour to talk about everything, let everything sink and cry in each other's arms. Hayley had been the best friend she had ever known. The friends she had before her didn't get her the way she did, she honestly cared and showed her. There was no one like her.

After a minute of crying, hugging her bag because she didn't have anything or anyone else at the moment, she went to grab her phone. It was time to call someone, someone who would distract her from all her problems. She had to stop crying, crying was going to help.

"What's up, Clara? You're speaking with Chris." She heard the Australian man laugh at the other end of the line. He was probably at work, having a break or he wouldn't have picked up. "But you already know that, of course. Or it was a total mistake to call me."

"Hey," a small smile grew on her face, but it lost itself by how upset she was feeling. "Do you have time to talk out today? I feel like I need someone right now."

"Oh, Clara. Of course, I'll make time for you. How about right now? I can drive to you and we can talk in the car, I have half an hour."

"That'd be nice. Thank you."

"Why are you saying that? Don't be so stupid," although he knew something was going on, he also seemed to be excited to see her again. He had so much to ask, if he wasn't at work right now he would've asked over the phone. But if he thought about it, he wanted to see her reaction. "Also, you can help me prepare dinner. It'd be great."

"You say it like I don't know it is." They laughed before saying goodbye to one another. Only now she had to make sure she looked socially acceptable. She was a mess at the moment.