Chapter Eight: Bob and Joe fight

*Five months later*

Ugh mom has been vomiting so much lately; anyways in the next four months am going to have a little brother or sister. Clara thought to herself.

"Clara stop playing around and come help me down the stairs." Her mom called out.

"Okay mom." Clara said and hurried to help her mother, to the parlour. Then her phone rang in her pocket, she brought it out to see who the caller was and it was Joe! Grace's brother, ever since Grace gave him my number he had been calling me, and that was so frustrating, Clara wondered what was his reason for calling her today. And answered the call.

"Hello Clara how are you, I just wanted to ask you to come over to the park, I have something I want to tell you." Joe said through the phone. Clara was about to decline when he cut the call. 'Very rude.' Clara said out loud. Some minutes later Clara was done playing scrabble with her dad she went into her room and changed her cloth then went back to the parlour.

"Mom, dad am going to the park, I want to see a friend." Clara informed her mom and dad.

"Okay darling." Her dad said.

"Just don't stay out too late." Her mother said.

"Okay mom. Bye." Clara said and left the house. On the walk to the park, Clara was just getting comments from boys but she just ignored them, it got to an extent one boy came and held her on her waist. She just pushed him away angrily; that was so embarrassing. Clara just kept on running and half walking on the way When she reached the park, she was breathless. She stopped for a minute to get some fresh air. Then she went to sit down, and put her head phones on, everything just felt normal. The she shut her eyes to feel nature. Then someone interrupted her peaceful life, by touching her shoulder, which made her open her eyes reluctantly. And her eyes couldn't believe it, it was bob. This was the second time they had met in the park. 'WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON!!' Clara asked herself.

"Are you stalking me?" Clara said accidently, but she meant it.

"Nope am not, I usually come to the park, I just feel myself when I come here." Bob said.

"Oh okay, I hope I didn't offend you with my words?" Clara asked a bit concerned.

"Nope you didn't." Bob said.

"Okay." Clara said to herself.

"So how are you?" Bob asked.

"Am good." Clara replied.

"Okay…." Bob said. "Um…Clara could I ask you something?" Bob said.

"Yes you can." Clara replied.

"Um…" Bob stammered. "Umm…I wanted to…uh…. Ask you if you had a boyfriend." He finally said. Clara couldn't help but chuckle lightly, He was stammering just to ask me if I had a boyfriend, that was so funny.

"No Bob, I don't have a boyfriend." Clara said.

"Oh okay." Bob said embarrassed.

"Why are you asking?" Clara couldn't help but ask.

"Oh nothing really; I just wanted to tell you that I like you. And whether you be my girlfriend." Bob said.

Joe had long arrived at the park, but hid behind a tree listening to Bob and Clara conversation. When he heard Bobs last words, he became furious and came from the back of the tree he was hiding, he didn't want to be in a competition for Clara's love.

"Am so sorry Clara, Mom needed me to do something for her that's why am late, hope you aren't offended." Joe said.

"It's okay, I understand." Clara replied.

"Thank you Clara, so who is this?" Joe asked sarcastically.

"Hey, be nicer he's just my friend, why you acting so rude? Anyways Bob, meet Joe he's my friend." Clara said.

"Okay." Joe said.

"Nice meeting you." Bob said and brought out his hand to shake Joe, but joe didn't even shake him back.

"That was rude." Clara said.

"Nice meeting you too." Joe said ignoring Clara.

"Okay." Bob said and drew his hand back. Clara slowly felt the tension rise between the two boys, when Joe broke the eerie of silence.

"So Clara are we going to, another place or are you going to tell your friend to leave?" Joe asked not taking his deadly glare of bob.

"Um…" Clara was about to say something when Bob interrupted.

"No need Clara, I would just hang around till you are done talking." Bob said.

"Okay." Clara said. And bob walked away, with his headphones.

"That was rude." Clara said after bob left.

"I don't see anything that was rude." Joe said and wrapped his hands around Clara shoulder, Clara just wriggled herself out of his arms.

"Don't you dare touch me say whatever you called me out here for." Clara said disgusted.

"Oh really?" Joe said.

"Yes, what do you have to say?" Clara asked again becoming impatient.

"Well…. I just wanted to tell you that from the first day that I saw you, I have always loved you. Please will you be my girlfriend?" Joe said. Clara couldn't help but chuckle.

"Wait are you kidding me?" Clara asked.

"Nope am not, I love you Clara." Joe said, and Clara burst out laughing.

"Oh am so sorry for laughing, but I can't help it." Clara said.

"And what's so funny?" Joe asked angry.

"You of course." Clara said.

"And how is that?" Joe asked losing his patience.

"We just started talking a month ago now you come to tell me you love me? so funny." Clara said still laughing.

"It's because of that fool right?" Joe asked angry, because he had already had enough and has lost his temper.

"No it's not because of anyone, and you have no right to call my friend a fool. You are not the first boy am turning down, and you won't be the last." Clara said.

"Oh really, how dare you speak to me in that manner?" Joe said.

"What manner? I wasn't shouting neither was I talking to you rudely like the way you talked to bob earlier." Clara said.

"I will show you how." Bob said and slapped Clara with full force.

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR!!!" Clara shouted drawing the attention of most of the people in the park, including Bob who quickly rushed to her. The force from the slap had made her fall to the floor. And her cheeks turned red immediately.

"Hey bro why did you slap her?" Bob asked Joe as he helped Clara up.

"I don't need to explain myself to you." Joe said and reached out to slap Clara again but Bob held his hand preventing the hand from reaching Clara.

"I think you have to." Bob said. "Before you get to her you have to go through me." Bob said. 'Oh no' Clara thought, they were about to start fighting. I have to do something to interfere. Clara thought to herself.

"Bob stop it. We just had a little misunderstanding." Clara said.

"A little misunderstanding you say." Joe said with a smirk. "Well, well, well, your price charming and saviour is her to save you." Joe said.

"Whatever you care to say. But you aren't touching a finger of yours on Clara." Bob said protectively.

"Oh really!?" Joe said sarcastically.

"Yes you got that clearly." Bob said. The joe punched him. Which made them start fighting. 'Oh no what do I do.' Clara thought to herself.

"STOP!!!!" Clara shouted which made the two boys focus her. With the distraction, Joe used that opportunity to strike at Bob but Clara intervened and got hit by Joe, which made her pass out, and then ran off. Bob immediately caught Clara that was about falling to the ground.

"Clara please wake up." Bob said shaking her vigorously. When Clara woke up, she got up with force that their lips almost touched.

"Um…thank you." Clara said.

"You are welcome." Bob said, and helped her up.

"You know what Bob, I thought about what you said, and yes, I agree to be your girlfriend." Clara said.

"Thank you Clara. Bob said and pecked her on the cheek.

"You are welcome. Am also sorry for the way Joe acted." Clara said.

"No need to be, it's not your fault he acted stupidly." Bob said.

"Thanks, I have to be on my way now." Clara said.

"Oh okay. No problem, see you tommorow then." Bob said.

"Maybe." Clara said and chuckled. Then walked away smiling. When Clara got home, her mother noticed that her cheek was red and swollen.

"What happened to your face?" Mom asked.

"Oh my god, mom you scared me." Clara said with her hands on her chest.

"You haven't answered my question." Her mom said.

"Mom a tired good night." Clara said and went upstairs to her room, and chatted with her friends.