In the hallways of the school Clara clutches onto her books as she and Raya walk to their classroom. "And then I turned around and threw coffee on his shirt because I could obviously see him staring at my ass in the glass window," Raya says, stopping at her locker.
"Holy shit no fucking way, Raya you badass." Clara says, nudging Raya and grinning "Was the coffee hot?" She asks mischievously.
"Fucking…Piping" Raya says as her and Clara laugh when opening her locker. As soon as Raya puts her books in her locker and is about to close it Etien appears from the other side of the locker.
"What are you two giggling about so creepily?" Etien says with a disturbed look on his face "Actually I think I'll be just fine not know".
"What do you want, Boy Brain?" Raya says, slamming her locker shut.
"Woah chill, I just wanted to make sure our lovely Clara hasn't bailed on the party tonight" Etien says shifting his gaze from Raya to Clara. Clara had given it a lot of thought in the last 24 hours of whether she wanted to go or not. She had already said yes, so backing out now wouldn't be the best option.
"You couldn't have just texted her?" Raya says interrogatively.
Etien starts blushing and stuttering over his words "Well…I- um-"
"Of course I'm still going" Clara says, clutching the books in her arm even tighter "Besides if i backed out now you'd just annoy me until i go"
Etiens eyes light up with excitement "Perfect then I'll see you there." Etien walks away. As soon as he turns his back Raya and Clara give each other a weird glance and shrug their shoulders before walking the other way.
Already in the classroom Isaac and Charlie were talking about more personal things. "What's your favorite thing to bake? I don't even recall you ever saying you have a favorite." Charlie says questioning Isaac on his urge to own a pastry shop.
"Do I need to have a favorite?" Isaac says "You don't want to do something in life because you like something specific about it, you do it because you like it as a whole."
Charlie pats Isaac on the back right as the teacher walks in "How motivational buddy" Charlie says before taking out his notebook from his bag.
After school the air was electric with anticipation as Clara stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her hair one last time. She glanced at Raya, who was putting the finishing touches on her own outfit. The two girls had transformed Clara's room into a makeshift dressing room, their laughter filling the space as they prepared for the night ahead.
"Do I look okay?" Clara asked, smoothing down her shirt.
"You look amazing! Like, seriously, Clara. Tonight's gonna be fun" Raya replied, flashing a confident smile. She twirled in her casual shirt and jeans, her energy contagious.
Clara felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. "Yeah, I just hope the boys are ready. We should probably check in on them. I really hope Isaac isn't coming"
As if on cue, Raya pulled out her phone and texted the group chat.
Raya: Hey boys! Are you ready to party?
They waited, the minutes stretching on as silence filled the room. Clara bit her lip, glancing at her phone every few seconds.
"Nothing yet?" Raya asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope. Do you think we should just head to the party without them?" Clara suggested, her apprehension bubbling to the surface.
"Absolutely! They'll catch up. We can't let them hold us back," Raya declared, her enthusiasm infectious. "Let's go!"
With that, they grabbed their bags and headed out, the thrill of the night pulsating in their veins.
Meanwhile, at Isaac's house, the atmosphere was decidedly different. The living room was filled with laughter and the sound of music pumping from a speaker. Etien stood by the counter, eyeing the shot glasses lined up before him.
"Okay, maybe we should slow down a bit," he suggested, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.
"Relax, man! It's a party! We're just getting started, besides I did promise Isaac I'd get wasted tonight" Charlie replied, already raising another shot to his lips.
Isaac, slightly less enthusiastic about the party, followed suit, feeling the familiar flutter of nerves in his stomach. "Damn right you did"
Etien looked down at his outfit—jeans and a casual t-shirt. "I don't know, I feel like I'm too casual for this. What if I look ridiculous?"
"Dude, you look fine!" Isaac assured him, clapping a hand on Etiens shoulder. "Trust me, no one is going to care about your outfit once the music starts. Plus, it's about how much fun we have."
"Yeah, man! You're gonna kill it on the dance floor," Charlie added, grinning as he took another shot.
After several rounds, the boys were feeling the effects. Charlie was practically buzzing with energy, while Etien was still trying to shake off his self-consciousness.
"Alright, let's hit the party!" Etien declared, as he grabbed his phone to check the time. "We're running late!"
They stumbled out of Isaac's house, the cool night air hitting them like a refreshing wave. The three of them made their way to the party, laughter echoing in the night.
When they arrived, the scene was chaotic yet vibrant. Music blared from inside, the sounds of laughter and chatter spilling out into the night. Clara and Raya had clearly beaten them to it.
As the boys walked in, they were met with a flurry of movement. People were dancing, drinks were flowing, and the atmosphere was thick with excitement. Raya was across the room, engaged in a spirited game of cup pong.
"There she is!" Charlie shouted over the music, pointing at Raya.
Etien nodded and, without another thought, dashed into the crowd, eager to join the fray. Charlie and Isaac hung back for a moment, surveying the scene.
"Looks like everyone is having a blast," Isaac said, his gaze running wild through the crowd, almost as if he was looking for someone.
"I'm gonna go join Raya in cup pong. Don't get too wasted without me" Charlie said, giving Isaac a reassuring pat on the back.
Isaac hesitated, feeling the weight of his nerves settle in his stomach. "Yeah, I'll catch up with you."
Charlie shrugged and headed toward Raya, who had just won a round of cup pong. Isaac took a deep breath, scanning the room. He could see Clara through the throng of bodies, her laughter ringing out like a beacon.
As the night wore on, drinks flowed, and the atmosphere became even more electric. Clara, dancing in the crowd, unknowingly became the center of attention for Isaac. He was up to his height in drinks and his mind was so clouded. He wanted to talk to her but he knew that even the slightest knowledge of his existence at this party would ruin her night.
That's when it happened. The moment their eyes met, a jolt of recognition passed between them. Clara felt her heart race, a mixture of excitement and dread at the thought of finally confronting their unresolved tension. But before she could think too much about it, she made a quick excuse to slip away from the crowd.
Slipping through the bodies of people until she found a quieter corner of the house. She hurried upstairs, feeling a pull to find solitude before the inevitable encounter. Isaac, feeling the familiar urge to calm his nerves with a drink, headed toward the bar area where Charlie had already settled in with a couple of drinks. He grabbed a beer and downed it quickly, the cool liquid soothing his anxiety.
"Hey, did you see Clara?" Isaac asked, his voice barely cutting through the din of music.
"Yeah, I saw her when we walked in. I think she's been keeping an eye on you," Charlie replied, a teasing grin on his face, clearly wasted keeping his word to Isaac.
Isaac chuckled a bit at Charlie and his burning red face but underneath felt a strange mix of hope and uncertainty. "I think I should talk to her. I mean, really talk," he admitted, his voice low.
"Go for it, man. You've got this!" Charlie encouraged, raising his glass in a mock toast.
With a nod, Isaac steeled himself, glancing back toward the stairs where Clara had disappeared. He made his way through the crowd, feeling the tension building inside him.
Clara had found a small room upstairs, a stark contrast to the chaos below. She took a moment to collect her thoughts, pacing the floor and trying to calm her racing heart. She knew that whatever conversation was about to happen, it wouldn't be easy.
Just as she was about to step back downstairs, the door opened, and Isaac walked in. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
"Hey," Clara said softly, the weight of their shared history hanging in the air.
"Hey," Isaac replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
"How…are you doing?" she asked, noting the tension in his shoulders.
"I don't know. I mean, thinking about you that's for sure," he confessed, taking a step closer.
Clara felt her heart flutter. "Me too. I just… it's been complicated."
Isaac nodded, swallowing hard. "Can I just start this by asking, Why?"
Clara turns away and walks further into the room ""Why" what?"
"You know what i mean Clara don't play dumb with me" Isaacs tone slowly rises. He notices it and corrects it for his next words "The controlling behavior, Rude attitude towards Charlie, who you've barely even made the effort to get to know. What was it all for? Was it worth it?"
Her expression shifted, surprise flickering across her face. "What do you mean? I'm just trying to make sure we're on the same page. I care about us!"
"Caring doesn't mean you can dictate me and define others, Clara," Isaac countered, frustration creeping into his voice. "As much as I want to I can't just keep going along with whatever you want me to."
Clara's initial surprise turned to defensiveness. "How is that fair at all! I'm just trying to protect us, I'm trying to protect myself. If I didn't take charge, who would? Would you just go blindly running off with him like you did with Lance?"
For a split second it didn't feel like Clara was talking to him anymore. It felt almost as if she was talking to someone else, herself perhaps. Isaac was offended and disappointed that Clara would even mention Lance "We both can't be in charge?" Isaac challenged, trying to keep his tone steady. "Why can't we both make decisions together?"
Clara's face flushed with anger, and she stepped back, crossing her arms. "Now isn't the time for this Isaac."
"Because I can't keep pretending that everything is okay! " Isaac exclaimed, his frustration bubbling over. "It feels like I have absolutely no clue what you're thinking but you know everything I am. How is that fair, Clara? What's really going on?"
"Nothing is going on!" Clara yelled, her voice rising. "You just don't get it, Isaac! Just leave me alone"
The words hit Isaac like a punch to the gut. "Why are YOU so angry?" he asked, making sure to add emphasis in his words, bewildered by the sudden shift in her demeanor.
"Because I'm tired of this! You're always pushing me, everyone's always pushing me" Clara shouted back, her voice raw with emotion.
The heat of the moment felt suffocating, and Isaac stepped back, feeling the weight of her anger bearing down on him. "I don't want to fight," he said quietly, disappointment creeping in.
"Then just go! Leave me alone!" Clara snapped, turning her back on him, the finality of her words echoing in the small room.
Isaac stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt more certain than ever that she was hiding something, but he didn't want to push her further.
"Fine," he murmured, his voice barely audible. He turned and walked out of the room, the vibrant sounds of the party growing louder as he descended the stairs.
Isaac rushes through the crowd of people. Pushing and shoving he passes Etien on his way to the door. "Hey ma-" Etien tried to call him over but he was sourly ignored. Etien figures he and Clara must've seen each other and it didn't go well. Etien looked towards the stairwell and then back in the direction that Isaac left, and started making his way towards the stairs.
Outside, the cool night air greeted him like an old friend. He stepped onto the porch, the stars twinkling overhead, a stark contrast to the turmoil in his heart. He wandered down the steps and found a quiet spot by the dock, the water reflecting the moonlight like a shimmering canvas.
He sat on the wooden walkway, trying to catch his breath. The night felt heavy with unresolved tension. He didn't understand why Clara had reacted the way she did, nor did he grasp the depths of the emotions swirling within her.
As he sat there, the laughter and music from the party faded into the background, and all he could feel was the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. He pulled out his phone and texted Charlie.
Isaac: Need some air. I'll be by the docks.
He sighed, looking out over the water, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. The night was supposed to be a celebration, but for him, it had turned into something far more complicated.