teenage dream

006

Clarissa had decided to skip breakfast that morning and went to the bookstore. "Hello!" Andrew shouts from the front. "Hi." Clarissa calls back as she skims through the shelves.

Her walkman covered her ears as she walked through, trying to find the book she was looking for. "I don't hear Metallica." Jess says as he pops behind her, the girl yelping.

"What the hell?" She questions as she pauses the music, turning to the boy. "What are you doing here?" She questions as raises a brow.

"Looking for a book. You?" Jess questions as the girl held up her copy of 'The Virgin Suicides'. "Unique choice." Jess says as the girl nods.

"Thank you, you can read it after me if you want." Clarissa says as she walks over to where Andrew stood, handing him the book.

When the man announced the price, Jess held his hand with a five dollar bill to the man, Clarissa sending Jess a look.

"You-" "I wanted to." Jess cuts her off, Clarissa sighing as Andrew handed her the book. "Thank you." Clarissa says as she walks out of the store, Jess following.

"You didn't have to buy the book for me." Clarissa says softly as she thumbs through the pages. "I wanted to, and I'll be reading it too." Jess says with a nonchalant shrug.

Silence passed through the duo, Clarissa looking down to her feet as they hit the concrete. "What happened to your mom?" Jess questions, this made Clarissa tense.

"She didn't wanna stick around." Clarissa mumbles as they walk to school together. "Hey, I have this thing coming up. You should come." Clarissa says to the boy, but he was gone.

"Okay." Clarissa says softly as she walks to her locker and getting ready for the long grueling day.

That afternoon, Clarissa sat to the right of Rory as Lorelai sat to the left of her.

"So what does she expect you to do?" Clarissa questions after Rory spoke about what went on at Chilton.

"She said mix it up." Rory complains, Clarissa scoffing in disbelief. "Mix it up, what does that mean?" Lorelai questions in utter confusion.

"I guess that means going up to strange kids at school and saying, 'Hey, mind if I awkwardly butt in where I don't belong and don't want to be?'" Rory scoffed out.

"The whole thing's ridiculous. Chilton is a cult." Clarissa says, pointing a finger as if to prove her statement to be true.

Kirk suddenly interrupted as he tried to fix Lorelai's car. "Lorelai, do you know what this is?" Kirk questions as he holds up a bundle of wires.

Clarissa turned to her godmother who shook her head. "Um, no." Lorelai answered which made Kirk curse under his breath.

"I don't know. Maybe there is something wrong with me." Rory says Clarissa shaking her head in refusal. 

"Oh, don't say that." Clarissa says as she wraps her friend in a hug. "Maybe I am a loner. I mean, you were mocking my backpack today. I might just be one step away from carrying a mysterious duffel bag." Rory rants.

"Oh no, no you don't. Don't you go doubting who you are or how you should be. How dare that woman do this to you!" Lorelai exclaims.

"It wasn't just her. The whole meeting was Charleston's suggestion." Rory speaks softly.

"Well, good. It's time I called on old Schnickelfritz Charleston to tell him to stop messing with my kid's mind." Lorelai says.

"Mom." Rory whines. "No, I'm sorry. I don't like this." Lorelai states as she sends her daughter a look.