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CLARA SPENT THE REST OF the night shackled up in her room after the Parkers left. Her father was already furious she hadn't listened when he told her to stay at the dinner table, which was reason enough to be away from him. In reality the brunette wanted to collect her thoughts on going to a protest with Theo — which was tearing her apart on the inside. Listen to everything she had been ever taught by her parents and stay home? Or finally accept that she was capable of making her own decisions now?
Leaving would mean the possibility of being caught. Her father and mother both had a dislike towards the elder Parker brother, not to mention their opposition to the protests. If Clara was caught sneaking out with him, everything would be over. She would lose her phone, her car keys, all communication to her best friend and her parents trust on top of all that. Summer had just started, and the girl didn't plan on spending it grounded because of him.
But if she were to chicken out of it right now, Clara wondered what she would miss.
The people around her constantly told her that before college, to live her life to the fullest. Because soon, her schedule would be crammed with classes, homework and study dates with friends in the library. The brunette, when thinking of living her life to the fullest, often imagined running in the rain, or screaming loudly to the music in the car with the windows rolled down. Jumping off of high cliffs into the water; pulling harmless pranks on your neighbors like ding dong ditch.
Rebelling against her parents and attending a protest seemed like a first step into that world of bliss.
Her whole life had been spent following the rules.
If Clara got grounded, she got grounded.
When Theo would come to her tomorrow, Clara decided that she would accept his offer. No questions asked.
Whatever tomorrow would bring, the brunette hoped she would be ready for it.
•••
CLARA WOKE UP TO A soft knocking at her bedroom window. As her eyes fluttered open, they glanced towards her alarm clock. Four in the morning, which had given her six hours of successful sleep. She was startled by the noise at first, her thoughts immediately going to horror icons such as Slender Man or Pennywise. But monsters didn't knock on bedroom windows.
It was Theo.
She got out of her bed quickly, drawing back the silk curtains. Theo hung onto the edge of the window, a hoodie pulled up over his head. On his back was a black bag, the zippers on the poor thing about to burst open.
"Are you going to let me in?" The boy asked, his voice muffled through the glass.
Clara nodded, unlocking it and lifting it up. She then got rid of the protective screen, leaning it on the wall. Theo climbed through quietly, dropping his bag on her unmade bed. His searching eyes scanned the room, taking it all in. "Are you ready to go?"
