SIX

The students looked back at whoever said that. They immediately stopped their steps, clearly unnerved by the owner's sharp look.

"They'll not sit today." Claire stated while glancing towards Alex's direction. She spoke to him with her eyes, trying to say, 'I won and you lost'. Her voice was quite stern. She looked back at the teacher with no expression plastered on her face.

"But-" the teacher tried to reason but was cut off mid sentence by Claire.

Her gaze darkened and she poked her tongue on the inside of her cheek in order to control her anger. Claire said, "I said, they'll not sit." her voice was now low and intimidating, her anger obviously noticeable.

No one dared to go against her. For a moment, Alex was scared as well. He never thought Claire could be so oppressing. She had literally startled a teacher who was double her age, just by a statement and expression. The teacher didn't argue because he knew who she was and what she was capable of doing if things didn't go her way.

The teacher started the lesson and Jessi together with Alex remained unseated. Every time Claire saw them, she couldn't help but feel awfully appeased. The teacher, on the other hand, felt helpless. Even though he was the bigger person there, his powers stayed defeated against Claire.

•••••

The first few classes were over and in all of them, Jessi and Alex didn't get a seat. They kept standing for two straight hours. They were exhausted. Alex's anger had already started bottling up and he was ready to burst out any moment. It was lunch time and both of them rushed to the cafeteria to get a seat.

Unfortunately, Claire reached their destination before they did. She went straight to the lunch lady and ordered, "Make sure these two don't get any food." Claire showed the lunch lady, two pictures. One of Jessi and the other of Alex.

The lunch lady continued her job and when Jessi and Alex approached her, she made an excuse, "I'm sorry, students loved the food today. There's no more left." She portrayed an expression of pity on her face.

"But, the vending machine is still there, right?" Jessi asked innocently. Her legs ached and she felt tired.

"I'm sorry child, but the vending machine needs a repair." saying that, the lunch lady turned around and started packing up.

Far from the counter, in a corner, Claire watched the scene unfold. She sat alone, in her reserved spot. As per her expectations and orders, Jessi and Alex didn't get any food.

Alex understood everything and turned in search of Claire. He spotted her going through her phone. His blood billed. So, he walked up to her and banged on the table top causing her to look up at him with raised brows.

"What the fuck do you want from Jessi and I?!" he yelled angrily. A mischievous grin crept up Claire's face and she put her phone down.

"Yes? Do you have any problem?" Claire asked, smirking.

"Why are you doing this to her? You have a problem with me so leave her alone." Alex answer austerely. No word could explain how eagerly he wanted to smack her head. But, being the nature person he was, he stopped himself.

"Not happening, dear. Moreover, she's paying for what she did yesterday." Claire smiled widely. That statement ticked him off. Alex couldn't be resilient any further.

"What's wrong with you?! Why are you so mean?!" Alex showered Claire with questions while everyone in the cafeteria was flabbergasted at his sudden outburst. Every single individual present there in the cafeteria was shocked. They saw him do something that no one imagined to be able to do. And that was why all eyes were stationed on the arguing pair. Alex asked again, "Why aren't youu normal like the other students here, huh? Don't you have any friends?"

Claire's smile started to fade away and her eyes glinted woefully. Tears started forming in her eyes. Because all the questions Alex asked, just reminded her of all her sorrows. Her mind went blank. The only thing that she could think of was the betrayal and miseries she had faced.

"No one is anyone's friend." her words left everyone who heard her, dumbstruck. She had a somewhat cracked voice. Alex too was struck with an arrow of confusion. Claire left the cafeteria quickly in attempt to avoid showing her tears.

Things had just gotten way more complicated but it was only the start. The unravelling was still left and the worst was yet to come.

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