Chapter Text
April 2nd | Math | Zip
BANG!!
A loud noise jolts Zip awake, not even a second later she identifies it to be a book slamming against her desk.
"Sleeping in class? Again??" Miss Circle practically growls the words.
"Sorry.." I said, reflexively. It wasn't really genuine, I just wanted to end the interaction.
Miss Circle walked back to the front of the room mumbling about something to do with my rich parents. Everyone was looking at me but I only had to glare at one person before everyone turned back towards the board.
Math has got to be the most boring class in this whole building. Oliver and Edward have art class during this period. I wish I art 2nd but I'm not thaat lucky. Instead I have math at 8:45 AM. Uhgggg. And it's not like there's even anyone fun in here. I could throw a bowling ball at any one of these losers in here and they would ignore it. Plus Circle wouldn't put up with paper airplane even on a good day. Last time a kid put a paper dart in the ceiling she had a talk with him outside the class and he came back in crying. This class sucks. Language is next though so-' My internal monolog is interrupted by the bell. Even still, I'm the first person out of the room, wanting to avoid a conversation with Ms. Circle.
A moment later I spot my friends in the hall.
"Zip look at this!" Edward is practically radiating joy as Oliver shows me a note he made pretending to be Abbie professing his love to Claire.
"I'm putting this in Claire's locker before lunch. The fallout will be legendary!" Oliver smirks, clearly proud of his plan.
"Diabolical.." I giggle. My friends always seem to cheer her up. I'm still tired from yesterday after all, April fools is always a big day around here.
"I almost feel bad for Abbie.." Edward fakes a guilty face before bursting out laughing.
"You? feeling bad? Well I never!" I tease as we make our way to language class.
I take my seat beside Ruby who awkwardly moves her chair farther away. The seating chart has been changed about 6 times since the year started but it doesn't make a difference to me and my friends. At this point we can communicate using just hand motions and facial expressions. If anything. being split up across the room just makes it easier to cause chaos since it becomes impossible to keep an eye on any one of us.
"Psst!"
I turn to see who is trying to get my attention and see Oliver pointing at Edward who is holding a huge paper ball that must be the combination of both of their assignments. The sight alone is almost enough to make me laugh. Edward clearly doesn't know who best to throw it at so I step in to save the day.
"Claire." I mouth the name and point at Claire who is still diligently working on her project from yesterday.
Ms. Thavel is paying all of her attention to a conversation she's having with Ms. Grace at the front of the room making it the perfect moment for dumb happenstance. Edward lobs the projectile at the back of Claire's head and instantly puts his head down so as not to look suspicious.
April 2nd | Language | Claire
"OWW!" I quickly turn around to see what just happened and see a classroom full of annoyed looking students with only 3 outliers, Zip and Oliver whom are both laughing, and Edward with his head down on his desk, undoubtably laughing himself to tears.
"Uhgg! You're a jerk Edward!!" I shout in his direction before turning back around to continue my work, Only now Ms. Thavel and Ms. Grace are staring at me.
Ms. Grace says something along the lines of "I'll come back later.." before leaving. Ms. Thavel just lets out and exhausted groan and sits back down, apparently too tired to do anything about the bullies today.
"Idiots.." I mumble unable to focus on my work now.
I was quite happy decorating my paper before but now it's just impossible. I look up to see Engel giving me a understanding smile, which is calming enough to keep me from embarrassing myself with some uncharacteristic retaliation. Weirdly enough it seemed like Engel was even more upset than I was because he gave Edward an especially intense glare, as if he expected better of him or something. Weird. I take a couple deep breaths and try continuing my work. Lunch is next period anyways and I'll get to vent my frustrations to Engel and Lana soon enough.
20 or so minutes later.
The bell rings and I gather my stuff and set out towards my locker to grab my lunch. Engel and most everyone else is apparently fine eating whatever is for lunch today and they head straight to the cafeteria.
I'm so fed up with the bullies. Seriously how does doing the same thing every day never get old? And it's not like the teachers ever do anything about it either. uhgg! Oliver and his 'gang' wouldn't get away with any of this if it weren't for Alice. Must be nice to have a partner that keeps you from getting walked all over.. ... And great my locker has a note inside... I read the note, it appears to be a 'love letter' from Abbie...
"Abbie isn't even here today... Who is this supposed to fool?" I sigh and crumble up the paper before heading to lunch.
"Hey Claire!" Lana smiles extra warmly, Engel must have filled her in on what happened in Language class.
"Hey Lana, don't worry I'm fine." I say, reassuringly.
"I swear if I had the chance I would have really long conversation with Edward!" Engel says angrily? It's often vary difficult to tell when he's upset since he's so nice about it.
"I don't think any amount of conversation with him will ever allow you to see eye to eye." I laugh a bit.
"You're probably right, but I just can't understand why he acts like that.." Engel says, somewhat sad.
"They all act like that.. Always.." I say.
"Well not always heh.. You know what, you should try being super nice to them, just to throw them off a bit." Engel says.
"Of course your solution is just to be nice." I say, poking fun at him.
"Who knows it might really work, I think I read about it in some book last quarter.." Engel retorts.
"I'll think about it.. Oh by the way how is Abbie doing?" I ask, turning to Lana who is drawing food in her notebook for whatever reason.
April 2nd | Lunch | Zip
"Dead and buried! That's what I what I told him!" Edward says, finishing his anecdote from art class.
"Omg Edward, did you see the LOOK Engel gave you earlier! I don't think he's ever even gotten that mad me!" I say steering the conversation back towards something I can engage with.
"Whaaat?" Edward takes a second to finish chewing his lunch. "He always glares at me like that?"
"No way, he looked actually angry!" I say.
"Why don't we talk about that satisfied smile you make every time we pick on Claire? " Oliver adds.
"Wait what? Do I really do that?" I reply, actually confused.
"Oh no yeah totally. I almost asked about it yesterday actually." Edward seconds Oliver's observation.
An awkward laugh escapes me from seemingly nowhere. "No way I haven't even noticed that.."
"Do you two have history or something?" Oliver quizzes.
"No." I say
It's true though I really only know her through things I hear about her. I haven't even really noticed how often I pick on her either.
"So why do you hate her so much?" Oliver asks
"I don't know.. Do I hate her? Uhg now I'm all mixed up!" I reply.
A loud bell noise lets everyone know lunch is over, sparing me from the rest of an increasingly annoying conversation.
I spend the rest of the day thinking about Claire for whatever reason. What is so special about her anyways? Why can't I get her out of my head? It's not like I feel guilty or anything... I mean, I don't think I feel guilty? I feel like I'm trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces it's infuriating! I just wanted an easy day and now I have to figure this out! Why am I even angry!?
April 2nd | Dismissal | Claire
"Bye Engel, bye Lana!" I say as I wave bye to my friends. They are both staying for art club, I would too but I'm a bit behind on my language work today so I'm heading home now.
I still can't believe Ms. Thavel didn't even try to do anything about Edward after that.. I guess Ms. Grace was right there but- My thought process is interrupted by someone crashing into me causing both of us to fall on ground in front of the school building. As I'm getting back up I notice it was Zip and think back to what Engel said at lunch.
"Oh sorry Zip, I should have paid more attention!" I say, sounding sorry. It's a bald lie, I was completely minding my own when she crashed into me.
"Well maybe you- w- what?" Zip stutters, her 'mojo' interrupted.
"No really I should have been more careful, are you okay?" I say, breaking the silence.
Zip seems even more surprised and seemingly flustered by my apparent concern for her wellbeing, and I'm sure the small group of people watching the interaction aren't really helping her think either. Actually I kind of wish they weren't here either.
...
"UHGG! I HATE YOU!!" Zip yells suddenly before grabbing her back and running off teary eyed.
"W- Woah I didn't mean to-" I apologize, this time genuinely, but she has already run off.
I didn't know she was gonna start crying! I guess I shouldn't have pushed it but I really didn't think that was gonna happen.. I guess she had a bad day or something? I can't believe Engel was right about the whole 'being nice' thing.. Now I feel like a jerk! I have to make it up to her! ... Or do I? I mean she sort of had it coming.. But still that went way worse than I expected. I definitely need to make it up to her somehow...