Summer vacation was just done and it was the start of the new academic year, where I was going to be 16 years old and just entering junior high school.

"Now I shouldn't just sit back and relax like I did in all my other years. I'm going to get good marks this year!" I said to myself.

My eyes were filled with great fire and I didn't touch my dear phone for a whole month. I couldn't read my favorite web novel and webtoon! 

Of course, I was sad but at least I got some progress done, I  finished my summer presentation and am ready for classes.

The first term came and I was ready like a perfect student. I did my hair and neatly ironed my clothes, and for the first time added perfume to enhance my femininity.

"Mom! I'm off to school!!!"

I was so ready to become the school's model student! Here I come first rank, I will fight for this and take notes sincerely and not like the other years.

So on the first day of school, I made sure to write notes and everything, this went on for a week and I was pretty confident in what I wrote and I was proud of it, even though I couldn't read it myself I still managed to write even though I didn't understand half of the class but still, I was confident in what I wrote.

"Yeah! Pft, I know this I will remember it! I don't need to take Nates for this!" is what I said for the next entire month and before I knew it term 1 exam came and my notebook was empty.

"I haven't studied a thing! Wait, I know this one. I remember the teacher telling me to mark something or to remember something, but I'm not sure which. NOOOO! I forgot what to do in this exam!"                                              

Just like that the exams finished and I was there feeling like it felt like an eternity.

*chattering "Hey! The exam was really easy right!"                                 

"Yeah! I didn't even need to open my book and read it! I'm sure I'll get good marks for all the subjects!"

Ugh! What fakers! They both must have studied hard. I was the freaking one who didn't study!!! I wish I could go back in time! I didn't study because I thought I knew the chapter just because I knew one part of the lesson. If I get just pass marks is more than enough.                             

Furthermore I shouldn't have watched Utube and instead, I should have just read!

"Coraline! Zara! How was the exam?" I asked.                             

"Yeah! it was good! like really good!" said Zara whereas Coraline was busy video gaming.

"Coraline! Stop playing!!! If the teacher walks on us, she will definitely confiscate your phone. You have gotten many warnings, not to play video games in the school campus." Said Zara.

These two are my soulmates! Though we have different personalities, but we still fit with each other like a jigsaw puzzle.

Coraline was a high energy video gamer who loved to play games other than physical activities. She had shoulder-length, straight hair and always wore her favorite games merch hair clips with her round glasses.

Zara was the opposite. She was very physically fit and was the nerdy one in the group. She always tied her hair up into a high-pony. Since she was always outside she had a rather darker complexion, unlike our snow-white Caroline.

"Hey, Clara, have you read the latest episode of 'tree of love'?" asked Zara.

"NOOOO, I haven't! I was dying to read the next chapter, after it, they left it in a cliffhanger!"

Zara and I were quite the romance fans, though our motto is,

"We would never date, only third wheel and if we do, we must never break up instead tie the knot!!!"

It is a little too cringey for a group of 16 year olds but, it is what it is, right.

"Whatever, I'm going to text my online friend," said Caroline.

"Hey, we told you to let him go right! You haven't even met this creep. What if you get catfish?" we shouted.

"Hey! I told you guys that I have spoken to him before, and he sounded pretty young, and besides didn't you hear me, I told we were just friends, see my chat with him!" said Caroline.

"I don't trust this dude still, you know people can make their voice young or old. It's actually a talent some people have which they can take advantage of. So always keep your guard up, you don't know from where this freak will pop out from." said Zara as she held Caroline in her arms.

"Got it mom!"

"Jeez, you gave a mom a heart attack. Don't do that to me darling!" said Zara.

"Ewww! Stop it you'll mess you my hair *pushes Zara away. OMG my hair stood up Z,"

We all were having fun. Enjoying our day like usual.

A week passed by and nothing changed, everything went the same, the same café we always eat and the same boring classes.

"Clara Wilson and Ashton Anderson, come to the staff room in the break,"

Uh oh! What did I do?

After the teacher called us, I was pretty nervous.

Is it because I didn't submit my notes yet? But I haven't even completed it yet!

Wait! Nah, if it was that then she would have humiliated me in front of the class, unless she became kind. Nope, that can never happen, she can never become kind, unless she got possessed. Wait is she possessed? Lol, what are you even thinking about Clara Wilson! Now just focus.

I couldn't focus on anything. I overthought throughout the entire class, and now it is time to reveal why I'm going in the dungeon of death.

I brought up my courage and went to the staff room, with my head held high, Ashton and a few others were already there in the staff room.

As soon as Ashton turned to me, I looked at him and turned away angrily.

That moron, is my greatest enemy! He was, and is the most popular boy in school. He is so popular because of his so-called male lead looked and his sexy ass voice, he doesn't seem interested in any girls, and to add on he hates me for some damned reason I myself don't know about!

Whenever I mind my business he always needs to find fault in me then does his annoying scoff.

Like damn! I didn't even do anything to you, but you still hate me! And too top it all, I'm far smarter than him. He always gets lower marks than me.

The teacher looked at both of us and asked, "Are you from class 11-B?"

" Yes ma'am!" we replied in a flash.

Right then she took a bundle of papers and picked up two sets.

"These are your test papers, look at them and tell me how you did," said the teacher.

Shoot! So it wasn't about my homework, well that's a relief.

Ashton and I sighed at the same time. We looked at each other annoyed.

"Why are you both sighing? Can't you see, both of you failed! Clara, you are right on the pass mark, you just got half mark more."

Hearing that for some reason was kinda nice, cus everyone in this room completely failed. He-he I now have a sense of superiority.

Right then the teacher let out the big sigh.

Okay, she is hella disappointed in all of us.

"Haiz! Since it is the start of the term, we decided to put after schools for whomever failed--"

"But I didn't fail Ma---"

"But you are in that category Clara, so you must also attend! Okay from tomorrow onwards stay back you got me, and don't try missing it. Dismissed."

I went in the room head held high, but now my head is only facing the ground.

Whoever came out of the staff room came out like zombies, except Ashton. He didn't seem fazed by it at all.

"Yo! Why did you sigh, when we were in the staff room?" I asked.

Ashton looked around and pointed at himself.

"You know I got a name right? But since you are so eager to know why I sighed let me tell you. Well, I got all the easy, common sense questions right, and you got zero for that, and I saw you rolling your pencil to find the answer, like what luck do you even have to get zero? I was truly disappointed Clara Wilson," he said.

I was boiling in anger and embarrassment. He actually caught me till my pencil to check the answer, please give me a coffin to burry myself in.

"Not zero but one, first learn to read!" I shouted

"right sorry you got zero plus one, but I just round it off, that's all!" he said and shrugged his shoulder.

Ugh! I seriously hate this guy! I wish I could hit him in his---. No, no Clara, not having wild thoughts, he is still young, he doesn't know what he is speaking.

I hit his back and ran off. Now, I'm stuck with this loser! GREAT! What have I done to get this? My life can't get any luckier, huh?!!

Well guess I need to should just accept this and do well next time.

I ran back to class and fell on Zara and Caroline.

"Guys, I have to stay back for after schools, starting from tomorrow! I can't go out and eat or play with you after school!!!" I whined.

"If you just put in a bit of effort you could have passed. Look, Caroline could pass even though she always used to fail. Good job Carol!" said Zara.

"I don't know if that is a compliment or an insult, but thanks anyway Z," said Caroline, giving Zara the side eye.

Well guess she was right, I need to put in more effort form now on, so that I can keep my dreams up.

"Alright guys! I Clara Wilson, will try my very best to get good marks in the midterm!"

"That's the spirit!"

"You go, Clara! Carol and I will always help you!"

"Thanks guys!"

Now, I have got my spirit back, and I'm ready for action. Clara Wilson is back on business and ready for the top!!!

Great! I wished tomorrow would never come, so I tried to stay awake, but I guess, that was a bad idea, the next day came, and now I'm sleep-deprived!

My clear skin was now so oily and my eyes look even more dead, than usual.

"Woah! What type of new zombie is this? Please don't eat my brain!!" said Cain.

"Oh, shut up Cain! You don't even have a brain that any zombie would like to eat. Wait you don't have a brain to begin with," I said.

"Now, now! Both of you stop fighting, it's the starting of the day, don't make my peaceful morning miserable," said Mom.

"It was Cain's fault, Mom!"

"Shut up sis! You don't know anything,"

I have the most annoying smaller brother anyone could ever have, Cain Wilson! He might be annoying, but I can't deny the fact that he is super smart compared to me and all his peers in 8th grade.

"Oh! Your brother is calling. Hello darling? How is collage?" said Mom.

"Collage is going well Mom, I just called for fun, that's all. So how is everything going there?" said brother Carter.

Brother Carter was studying to become a doctor, and it was his second year.

I still remember walking to school with him. Hah! How days go so fast!

But I'm glad he is gone, I even remember being surrounded by girls older than me to get to my brother, still his name is being chanted by girls and how he is the perfect ideal boyfriend material. Ugh! This is why I don't like him taking me to school or let him drop me off, girls will just crowd over me and ask for his number.

But luckily Carter has an amazingly, cool girlfriend Grace who is so nice, and kind and she always takes my side not stupid Carter's. I wish she was my girlfriend. Grace and brother were classmates in High school and Grace had many rumors stating she was a former Yankee. But it was nothing like that in reality.

She had an excellent sense of fashion and was very sporty and had a nice figure to top it all off.

"Yo Carter! Tell Grace I said hi! And don't be a brat to her!" I shouted.

"Aren't I suppose to be your brother, why are you always supporting Grace?"

"Because you never listen to me Brother!"

"Yeah right, I never? What do you even ask me?"

"MONEY!!"

"Oii! Shut up, I myself is broke, on top of that I need to help you too? No, thanks."

I knew it, my brother is a leech, always leeching on Grace. I need to save her.

"Gra---"

"Enough now, go to school Clara! You're running late!"

I took my bag and went off to school. The day started kinda nice, well it was not the best but still good enough.

I reached school safe and sound without getting a scratch. As I head towards the classroom, I see Ashton coming from the opposite direction.

"Hey, what's up tiny?!" he said smirking.

"I'm not tiny Ashton! You just happened to become tall! And ugly tall giraffe!" I said.

"Anything you say, Pitt squeak!"

"Pit-pit-pit squeak!!! I am of average height okay! I'm freaking 163 cm. Not my problem you grew so tall."

"Aww! You're 165, how cute. I'm 180."

Why is he like this in the morning? He got and choose violence, but go do this with someone else. I was too tired to even get angry anymore, this much arguing is enough for the day.

I went to my seat and laid down.

"Damn! Someone catch this panda! It came out from the panda sanctuary!" said Caroline.

I see her play every day and night but never tell her with dark circles, only nice and flawless skin.

"Give me your skin!"

"Eek! Mom! Clara is scaring me!" said Caroline dodging my attack, and she ran towards Zara.

"Stop, both of you. The teacher will come in soon," said Zara ignoring both of us.

"Aww, come on Z. Don't make us sad!" we said showing our puppy eyes.

"Damn! Clair, you look like a zombie puppy!" said Zara.

"That's rude! " I said as Caroline laughed at me.

"Sorry, sorry, here take this fruit juice, I bought it will, I was coming here since you both like this, and have this coffee candy."

"Thanks mom!" We shouted and ran back to our seats.

right then our teacher came in and called out our attendance.

"Let's continue with what we studied last class, Jasmine, can you please give a summary,"

This is the world most boring class. I wanted to sleep so badly, I opened a wrapper of a coffee candy Zara gave and put it in my mouth.

" Ahem! Ms. Clara, do you have candy for the entire class?" asked the teacher.

"Nu-No, no I don't have Madam,"

"Then why are you eating in the class, do you see anyone eating?"

"No ma'am"

"You too Ashton, don't think I didn't notice you chewing gum! Both of you go and spit it out!"

" Ma'am but this is just can--"

"Get. Out. Clara. Wilson."

Damn but I was just eating candy! It wasn't gum! And why does everyone seem to cut me today! Like is this day called cut Clara day or something? At least now my sleep is gone. She removed my sleepiness.

"You seriously got caught eating a freaking candy? Shame! Shame!" said Ashton.

Oh! I lost it, my hand was already in the air before I could even stop it, my hand hit his stomach.

"Is that all you got?" he said and then scoffed.

I didn't want to cause a big fight so I stopped and went ahead.

*Ashton's mind

"Oh My God! That hurt so damn much! I thought she would be a weakling, but turns out she wasn't! I think I need to go to the infirmary after this, but let us act strong. Ugh! I think I'm going to be sick.

Why an I always stuck with Ashton! Ashton out of all the creatures! Why this monkey? Is this some type of new curse? Well, if it is then give me a time-out!

I went back to class and Ashton didn't seem to come yet. Guess I was a little too powerful. Heh! I mean, I am strong, not gonna lie, I did carry 5-10k of rice, so maybe I built up muscles.

The day went by and it was time for my extra classess.