THREE

"What did I ever do to never have that?"

"What did I ever do to be betrayed?"

"What did I ever do to never live like them?" every question she asked herself, made her cry even more. She had blood-red eyes, a puffed nose and quivering lips.

Claire sat alone on the rooftop, sobbing, with no one to support her. Then, a thought striked her mind and she stood up with a sudden resolution. Wiping her tears, she said, "No, I can't expose my weakness. I am the Queen Bee who is heartless, tough and gets what she wants without giving a damn about others."

She didn't attend the rest of the classes. She couldn't. Not in the condition she was in. It would have been too obvious that she had cried. Claire couldn't possibly afford that. Considering the impression the other students had of her. She decided to drive back home.

Upon reaching home, she looked at the exquisite front door of her house from the car's window and let out a long sigh. She unbuckled the seatbelt, got out of the car, and straightened her posture. Claire walked to the front door and checked her face in the small pocket mirror she carried. She didn't want anyone to know about her breakdown. Taking out the keys, she unlocked the door with a serious expression.

"Claire? You're quite early." said her mother as she saw Claire entering. She was perplexed seeing her daughter come early. But then she thought something and her expression hardened. "Did you skip school?"

"Yeah. I didn't feel like staying. "Claire tensed up. Her mother started taking steps towards her. She feared that that her mother will lose her calm again.

"Are these the morals we've taught you? Skipping school just because you don't feel like staying!?"

"I felt sick!" Claire's outburst enraged her mother even more. Mrs. Simpson slapped her daughter as hard as she could. She glared at Claire.

"Don't you dare speak to me like that or else-"

"Or else what?! You'll hit me even more? Or will you kill me?" Claire cut her off because she had had enough. She was fed up. "I'll get what you want me to get. So, just don't bother me."

Claire ran up to her room. Tears welled up in her eyes and she could hear her mom yelling from downstairs. She locked herself. Leaning on the door, she breathed heavily. Claire caressed her cheek. The one she got slapped on. Her hand hurt but her heart hurt more. She slowly went to her bed and threw herself on it. She dissolved into tears remembering what her father said earlier.

"Why aren't you ever cheerful?"

"Why do you always wear an unsatisfied look on your face?"

"What have we not given you?"

Happiness, understanding, support. They didn't give her these. They didn't express these feelings for her. They didn't know who she was.

How could they not?

They never tried to. They jumped up to conclusions about her personality, seeing her tiniest actions. Their perception of Claire was not what she was. Devastation was what she received from home. Mental devastation. It ripped her apart each and every day. Breaking her day by day. Leaving her with no choice but to destroy all her dreams and ambitions. Yet, she had some hope. A very small yet important fragment. Claire kept trying to follow her dream even though she knew she had no chances. She held on to those hobbies, wishing for a miracle to happen; every day.

It was just a small, tiny part of her that hoped. The rest had given up. If it wasn't for that small part, everything would have ended years ago.

•••••

"Can I... ask you something?" Alex asked hesitantly.

"Yeah sure." Jessi looked surprised. Alex was kind of serious and concerned.

"Is she always like that?"

"Who?"

"The girl who was going to hit you."

"Can we please not talk about it right now?" seeing Jessi uncomfortable, Alex nodded. He thought for some while, trying to find a new topic to talk about.

"Hey, I just moved in yesterday, so could you give me a tour of the city?" he asked.

"Why not? At what time?" she replied excitedly.

"I think 4 o'clock will be fine."

"So, meet me in front of the school." Jessi said before parting ways. School had ended and Alex went up to Jessi to see if she was okay. He wanted to make sure his new friend was fine. He looked forward to meeting her.

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