The New Kid

Chapter 8

I felt shocked. I wasn't sure if I should say anything back - but Clara would know I read it. I looked more closely at the photo - and then it hit me. Clara was the flirty-one from first period. She was confirming what I already suspected: she wanted Christian all to herself.

I couldn't believe the nerve of her. I was going to clear this up tomorrow, and not over messenger.

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I marched up to Christian in the hall the next day before classes started. He was standing around chatting it up with a few buddies I hadn't met before. That didn't stop me from whipping out my phone and showing it to him, "Hey Christian, what is wrong with this chick? Clara?" A few of the guys around me started snickering at the mention of Clara's name. Christian seemed too dumbfounded to answer me at the first, so I questioned the snickering guys. 

"What's her deal?" I asked, turning to them. I showed them my message from her briefly and they all huddled around me and my phone. It was intimidating how much taller they were than me, but nonetheless, I wanted answers. "Well," began one of the brunet guys, "Clara is...clingy. Particularly, lately, clingy with this guy" - he pointed to Christian. Christian had his hands in his pockets and seemed embarrassed. 

Christian finally chimed in, "Yeah, she was nice at first. But she's not my type. She's too much." I found that odd for him to say. I was basing him on a stereotype. "You mean," I asked to clarify, "you and Clara...aren't a thing?" He raised his eyebrows at me and said, "I know we've only known each other a handful of days, but really? Me and Clara? No. Big fat no. We just talk  sometimes."

 Christian's buddies started elbowing him and wolf-whistling. I may have had bad timing but at least I got my answer. Clara had no right to be protective of him; they weren't dating. "I gotta get to class," I told them all. "Thanks for the answers," I add, not looking back at their faces. 

All the guys but Christian ooohed after me as if I was storming off to go seek revenge on Clara. 

Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't.

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After our first class, and after Clara and her two friends were nowhere to be seen, Christian definitely wanted to get a word in, alone. "Avalon, I'm sorry Clara sent that to you. There's multiple reasons why that didn't even make sense for her to do..." I cut him off with, "Look, she's the one who did it, I think I need to talk to her today at lunch, see what's going on. I've never even talked to her in person! Didn't even know her name until this happened."

Clara had given me a pointed look or two when she came into class and left earlier, but there wouldn't have been much time to solve all that then. Christian shrugged his shoulders "I can't stop whatever you're planning, but I can say that you're better than this. Just ignore it."

I glare at him for not being on my side, not really. He looks at me, disappointment in his eyes and simply says, "Do what you think is best, then."

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At lunch, I set my stuff down by the boys and Christian knew I was about to go try to start up an issue with Clara. She started issues with me. I think he was worried for me, at least the look he gave me when I left the table said so. I could hear him filling in the rest of the table as I walked away and toward Clara and her friends. They were sitting all pretty enjoying salads and diet sodas, of course. Clara flipped her hair and as if she didn't notice me at first. Then she flicked her long lashes up at me and said, "Oh, hi newbie." The girls around her, all slender and snooty giggled at her remark as they eyed me. I was nowhere as stylish as they were, wearing my skinny jeans and an old gray tee. 

I wasn't in the mood for their clique-ish antics. "Thanks for acknowledging my presence," I responded to Clara with sarcasm. "Look, can I have a word?" I say, half-asking, half-demanding. She looked me up and down with her blue-green mascaraed eyes and said, "What? You mean get up and leave my table of friends? No thanks." She proceeded to enter in conversation with the girl across from her and munched on a baby carrot. I rolled my eyes. 

I didn't want to have to be this version of myself, but it seemed she left me no choice. I slammed both fists down on their table, hard, and send half their salads and diet sodas flying in the air. Clara's actually fell to the ground. She stood up quickly, along with most of her friends. Ranch stained her lacey blouse and the floor. Now that they were startled, I said, "Seeing that you're standing now, can I have a word with you in the hall, Clara?"

I heard a few whoops of some boys, and looked around me. All eyes were on the scene, and there were probably 600 students in the room.  I scoffed thinking back to when Christian said it wasn't a big school. Some kids were straining their necks trying to see what the commotion was all about. I was starting to get hot. I didn't normally act like this, I tried blending in most of the time. Seeing as I wasn't leaving anytime soon, Clara huffed at me and said snappily, "Fine, but make it quick."

She followed me into the hallway in a huff and I went straight to the point. "Clara, I only just learned your name. I have never talked to you before, let alone bothered you before. I am the new kid. I am fine with that. What I am not fine with is you telling me who I can and can't like or hang out with. And for the record, I am not trying to 'get the guy.' Christian and I just met." I felt my cheeks get hot, and I hoped Clara didn't notice.

I glared at her as she thought of what to say. She ended up smoothing her mini-skirt, crossing her arms, raising a perfectly-arched eyebrow and saying, "I gave you your warning, whether or not you heed it is not my problem." I wanted to protest," she marched away back into the caf to get coddled by her friends. 

"You've got ranch on your butt!" I called out after her. 

I went back into the caf myself and sat back down with the boys and Christian as if nothing even happened. They were all gaping at me. So were a handful of random kids who apparently liked the drama. They were bored.

I took a bite of the corn-dog I had just bought and looked around, "What?" I asked all innocently. Christian narrowed his eyes and hissed at me, "What was that?" Monty, and the lot of them just started laughing hysterically. Tristan teared up and uttered first, "Oh my goodness, I never would have seen that coming. Avalon, wow! Just wow!" He pounded his fist on the table several times, still laughing. 

Christian seemed very irritated while the rest of the boys were having a hoot. I ate my corn-dog quietly while the boys discussed the lunch phenomenon and the look on Clara's face. Apparently she wasn't well-liked by the majority of the boys. As soon as I had the last bite of my corn-dog, Christian asked me to go to his locker with him. I grabbed my stuff and obliged, even though I knew he was upset with me. 

We walked toward his locker section and he looked at me wistfully, "Did you really have to go and do all that?" I looked back at him, "Really? You're reprimanding me? You saw what she said. She even threatened me in the hall just now!" Christian said in all sincerity, "Avalon, you seem like a nice girl, don't get involved in all of Clara and her friends' drama. I'm not new here, and I've seen what Clara can do to a girl's reputation, let alone her self-esteem. I'm not saying she's right, I'm just saying...honestly, I think you're better than that. Don't egg her on."

We get to his locker and just stand there. "If you're wondering, this is less about you and more about me," I said. "Even though she thinks I'm trying to 'win you over' or something - whatever that means," I add.

"I'm only 'reprimanding' you, Avalon, because I've been the vengeful one before and it's just a vicious cycle. I don't want you to be in that kind of situation because of Clara." I look long and hard at the boy and finally say, "Okay. I understand what you're trying to say. I'll think about it. But will you like...stand up for me and protect me if she tries to kill me tomorrow?" 

He chuckled a little at that and said, "I promise."