the latter | andrew clark ✅

ten

"What's your name?" John wonders, turning his attention to the redhead.

"Claire."

"Ka-Laire?"

"Claire, it's a family name!"

"More like a fat girl's name," Jamie mumbles.

Claire glares daggers at the girl. "I'm not fat!" She rolls her eyes dramatically as John continues.

"Well not at present but I could see you pushing maximum density! You see, I'm not sure if you know this...but there are two kinds of fat people. There's fat people who were born fat, and then there's people that were once thin but they become fat...so when you look at them you sorta see that thin person inside! You see, you're gonna get married, you're gonna squeeze out a few puppies and then.." John places his arms by his sides and starts to make some indescribable noises. He moves his arms away from his torso as he does so, mimicking someone getting fat.

She then flips him off. "Oh, obscene finger gestures from such a pristine girl!" Jamie grins, butting into the conversation.

"I'm not that pristine!" she scoffs.

Jamie leans in close to her before asking, "Are you a virgin?" A grin forms as she shifts in her seat. "I'll bet you a million dollars right now that you are! Is it gonna be a white wedding?"

"Why don't you just shut up?"

She raises a brow in amusement. "Have you ever kissed a boy on the mouth? Have you been felt up? Over the bra, under the blouse, shoes off? And just hoping to God your parents don't walk in?"

"Do you want me to puke?" she questions, shifting some more. Jamie gives her a once over, her grin growing as time goes on.

"Over the panties, no bra, blouse unbuttoned, Calvin's in a ball on the front seat past eleven on a school night?" The expression across Jamie's face is one the Andrew has not seen before. He has seen others have similar expressions, but none have ever made him go into a daze. He snaps out of it though, needing to defend Claire.

"Leave her alone!" A quiet groan passes her lips. She uses the last of her energy to walk over to Andrew.

"You gonna make me?" she wonders.

"Yeah."

"Thought you wouldn't do it on school grounds."

"Changed my mind."

"You and how many friends?"

"Just me, just you and me. Two hits. Me hitting you, you hitting the floor! Anytime you're ready, pal!"

Jamie grins like a mad man, her shoulders shaking as she laughs before giving a tight-lipped, a loud breath leaving from her nose. She turns her sight to John. He gives the shake of the head. She scoffs quietly before throwing her arm in Andrew's direction.

Andrew grabs her roughly, spinning Jamie around to where her back is against his chest. He pins her elbow, forcing a hiss to pass her lips. "You don't have to do this for your brother, Jamie," Andrew whispers, his voice so soft she barely caught it.

"How about you fuck off?" she whispers back. She doesn't give him a moment to respond, catching Andrew off guard. She kicks him in the shin before twisting her arm, allowing her enough space to push Andrew away. "You think I'm weak or something? I can handle myself you son of a bitch." She walks backward as she speaks, her voice becoming a growl by the end of the second sentence.

"Chicken shit," he mutters, shaking his head in disappointment.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Jamie feels herself beginning to fume, for no particular reason. Maybe because she wasn't taken seriously? Or maybe because Andrew just pities her? Either way, Jamie reacts by pulling her switchblade from her back pocket. The sound echoes in the silent library, making all heads turn with scared expressions. Hell, even John looks at her like she's insane.

"Stop acting stupid, sis." Jamie bites the inside of her cheek, a stinging sensation in her chest. However, she follows (somewhat) obediently, by stabbing the knife in a chair.

"Let's end this right now. You don't talk to her...you don't look at her and you don't even think about her! You understand me?"

She doesn't respond, only giving the roll of her eyes before glancing at John. The look on his face makes Jamie wish she stabbed herself with that blade. However, she keeps a straight face, giving a quiet scoff before sitting at the farthest table to the left, away from her brother.