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Sorry I’ve updated only now! But ha! I’ve updated in three months! A big progress compared to my ‘one year’ update, right?
Okay, here are my individual replies to those who were nice enough to review last chappie!
Happyeverafter: thank you for the review!! this chappie is short, but hope you like! And I’ll try so very hard to update faster, k?
Pixy-dizzy: You really think I can weave ‘drama’ into my stories? Wowee, what a compliment. Nice. Hehe…Thanks for reviewing! AND for putting up with me this long.
S2workppl: read and tell me what you think! Thank you for reviewing! (Oh, and I’m so honored you’ve put me in your favorite list!)
H: thank you so much for your review! hope you still got to read this message!
Pinewarrior: hey! It’s been so long since I’ve seen your nick! (…it has been that long, right? Hehe…) so glad you reviewed!!
Swtazndestiney: wow…that’s all I can say. I had no idea Claire was so similar to you. Your friends must mean a lot to you. Maybe your family will change someday. God can change people…but anyway, excuse my babblings. Thank you for sharing that with me! (And for reviewing, of course.)
Basketball Girl: You know, I’ve got close friends who loves bball too! (you do like that sport, don’t you? I mean…it’s your nick.) thanks for reviewing!
Suhani: Okay, later on you’ll find out why Claire hates Evan so. (that is, if you’re reading this. Haha…) glad you reviewed!
Babixbunny: thanks for reviewing! (Can I ask you what lol really means? Is it ‘laugh out loud’…or ‘lot’s of laughter’…?? It’s confusing me!)
Purebliss90: thank you for reviewing! And I’m happy you think my writing as ‘beautiful’. I like your writing style too! It’s really funny, and not to mention good. Haha… keep up ur work!
No Life: Thank you! (for reviewing!)
Emilyclaire: Ei! You’re nick! It’s Claire too! Like my character! (okay…so a part of it is. I don’t have any Emily. Haha) thanks for reviewing!!
Mandirox09: Checkin out your story already! ü that’s a smiley. Anyway, thanks for the wonderful review!
Depressed-and-bored: are you really depressed and bored? I feel like that too sometimes. You know, like nothing ever happens. (In case you’re wondering, I’m doing some small talk. Haha…) thanks for reviewing!
Sexy-bratz: Okay, you’ll know ‘what happened before’ in this ch! Hope you like! And thank you for reviewing!
Fireangel26: thanks for reviewing!!! Now I’ve finally ‘come back’ (from where I have no idea.) and updated! Haha…
Chinx: what do you think? Tell me, k? And thanks for dropping a review!
Rainyaviel1: yay! A Filipino! Mga kababayan ko! Haha…joke! Where in Canada do you live? My brother and sister are there too, finishing their studies! (in Vancouver.) I actually miss the snow! But sun is good. Definitely good. At least I don’t literally ‘freeze’ here. It’s ironic. I so wanna be there right now, and you want to be here. Oh, and thanks for reviewing!
Garnet-earth-princess: You know, I’ve noticed that when you review, you’re always so…so…enthusiastic? Not that I’m complaining. Absolutely not. It feels really nice coz you seem so excited about everything! Thanks for reviewing!!
Mimi Ghost: Thank you for reviewing! I hope you like!
Forever Ends: Evan and Claire won’t apologize…yet. But it’ll come soon! Heehee…thanks for the review!
Gatepost: your opinion has really helped! Thank you! (I know the story is clichéd. I mean…hello? It’s obvious at first glance.) But it’s going to be so different near the end. And about the ‘ladidadida…’; I’m not sure how to remedy that. But I have a feeling that I’ve ‘subconsciously’ (or whatever) did that and the ‘fairytale atmosphere’ on purpose. I’m a die-hard fairy-tale fan. But, anyway, I’m trying to change it…hopefully, with avail. Thanks for reviewing!
Justcallmebubba: You know, you’re good! Sam did break up with Evan…kind of. Or maybe not. No…but yes? (It’s terribly complicated.) Thanks for reviewing! You’ll find out soon!
Jcyj: This has really little Evan and Claire, but still hope you like! Thanks for reviewing! (Ugh. I sound like those salespersons who say, “Thanks for shopping at tooot, please come again!”)
Now on with the story! But first, I recommend you to flip back to the last chappie and… uh…‘reacquaint’ yourselves. It’ll just take one min. to scan everything. But no matter, go ahead if you don’t wanna!!!
Working for Him
Ch8 Goodbyes
“You have to take care of yourselves, you get me?” Karen told them in a scolding tone, but there was a catch in her voice.
Claire nodded mutely, unable to speak for the moment.
It had been three weeks since Karen had received her letter of acceptance from the fashion school and today she was heading for New York. It was still a month before Karen’s semester officially started, but she had already decided to go earlier so there would be time to acquaint herself with her new world.
Karen frowned when she saw her friends so glum and broken. “Don’t be such killjoys. You shouldn’t be sad for me. You should be happy!” And yet, she herself had tears in her eyes.
Mona, who had been standing next to Claire, threw caution to the wind and literally jumped at her with arms wide open in front of everyone at the airport. “It’s not fair!” She cried. “Why do you have to go? Why are we the ones left behind? It should be us who’re leaving!”
Karen managed to choke a laugh. “I’ll miss you too, Mona. I know that’s what you’re trying to say.”
Claire took a step forward and joined in the circle of embrace. “Don’t you dare forget us, Karen.” She warned, beginning to feel misty-eyed. “After everything we’ve done together, Mona and I will cast voodoo on you if you do.”
“We’ll curse you.” Mona added. “And make sure your fashion career slumps.”
“You try that and I’ll kill myself.” Karen retorted, her red-rimmed eyes finally crinkling with humor. “Then I’ll haunt both of you forever.”
The tears flowed harder as they continued to joke.
“When I’m famous, I’ll make both of you my models.”
“You’d better.” Mona responded, her voice overcome with emotion. “If you don’t, I’ll sue you.”
“Don’t worry, Karen. I won’t file a lawsuit against you.” Claire wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her right hand, laughing. “Because I know you’ll make me a model for sure. I’m tall enough and pretty too. Unlike her…” She tossed a look in the general direction of Mona.
“Hey!” Mona elbowed her in mock hurt. “I am in no way ugly. In fact, excuse me for saying so, but I’m absolutely more ravishing than you.” She shot Claire a look so smug she couldn’t help put giggle.
Karen suddenly hugged them tighter. “Honestly, guys, I’ll miss you. I don’t think I’ll meet anyone as crazy as both of you.”
“Well, of course. We’re the only ones in the world.”
“There’s always email.” Claire offered tenderly, knowing it was much harder for Karen than it was for them to part. At least she and Mona still had each other. But Karen…
“Or you can call long distance everyday.” Mona quipped.
“And you’ll still be able to show us your gorgeous creations through pictures.”
They all shared heartrending smiles, the reality of separation finally settling on them.
There wouldn’t be anymore petty arguements. No more window-shopping with fashionmonger Karen. No more boy watching in beaches or triple dates during weekends. Soon, she’d be gone.
“No matter how far from each other, we’ll be friends forever.” Mona announced firmly, albeit somewhat hoarsely.
The faint call of the speakers finally boomed, “All passengers heading for New York, flight f937, please proceed immediately to…”
Claire pretended she hadn’t heard, but more tears were suddenly streaming down her face. “Let’s pinkly swear on it. We’ll be friends forever.” She brought out her smallest finger and they did the same.
“Friends forever.” Karen repeated softly as their three fingers linked.
I hope this time it’ll last…Claire thought as her mind evoked another similar scene from her past.
-------------------------------------------------
They had parted five days ago, and even though Karen bombarded them both with emails and phone calls, life had never been the same again.
It seemed as if everyone was getting ready for their higher education. Mona was planning to attend community college, and even Samantha was going to start her 2nd year in a university somewhere in California. Claire didn’t know how her parents could afford it, but they were adamant that Samantha have the best of the very best. They, however, encouraged her to follow Mona’s choice.
To be honest, Claire had gotten very high SAT scores and she had been secretly hoping her parents would let her study in some other state…hopefully very far away where she could be alone. Only that ‘hope’ didn’t seem to have a chance to become remotely real.
Now she was stuck to a college near their home, and she had a feeling she’d still have to continue cleaning both her home and Evan’s.
That night as she lay on her bed, random thoughts began running through her head.
It was odd, but her primary recollections were of her first new neighbors. When she was three and Samantha was four, the Stevensons had moved next door.
And with them came along Evan, also four, his dark hair short and unrulywith a perpetual smile on his young face.
Claire sighed as she remembered their first encounter. Evan had marched up to the drive way, proudly carrying his new train set, and knocked on the door.
“I want to play with your sons, please.” He had demanded confidently to Mama.
“I’m sorry.” She snapped coldly while Claire hung onto the skirt of their mother, peeping. “I only have daughters.”
He nodded understandingly. “That’s okay. Daughters will do.”
Those years had been the best of her life. Samantha had looked down her pert nose at him when they first met, but the afternoon ended with her barrettes missing, her pretty dress ruined and her sides hurting from too much laughter. They shared everything, the three of them, from Samantha’s Barbie dolls, Claire’s kitchen set, up to Evan’s own three-seater bike.
Only when Samantha began showing a particular likeness to Evan at the tender age of fifteen had everything began to collapse. They started leaving her behind to go on dates, and their threesome adventures ended with an abrupt halt.
Another flashback emerged, unbidden, from the hidden memories Claire had already locked inside a long time ago.
“Wow. You look beautiful, Sam. But why are you all dressed up?” Fourteen-year-old Claire wrinkled her brows in confusion. “We’re just gonna go watch a movie with Evan.”
Samantha, wearing a pink spaghetti and the skimpiest skirt, only sniffed. “Because I’m going out on a date.”
“With who?”
“Evan.” She replied calmly, the blonde tresses curled in adorable ringlets around her making her face glow.
“But…but…aren’t the three of us…” Claire stammered, her mouth open. “A date? You’re going on a date with ME tagging along?”
Samantha raised one perfectly plucked brow. “Duh. Of course you stay here. At home.”
“But…but…” Claire started to protest, but could only stare at her sister when the truth dawned on her. “Does Evan know about this?”
Samantha flashed her signature mega-watt smile. “He’s about to. Soon…”
The doorbell rang just then and Sam turned around to face her sister. “Now run off to your room and make sure he doesn’t see you.” Her sapphire orbs glinted. “Or else you’ll answer to me when I get back. Got it?”
She nodded dumbly and automatically headed for the stairs. Midway up, she heard Sam open the door.
“Evan! Boy, you look really nice.” Her sister’s voice sounded like the sweetest siren. “C’mon, why don’t we go now? If we don’t make it to the movies in time, I’ll blame it on you.”
Claire couldn’t steal a glimpse at him, but she heard him laugh. “You look nice too, Sam. But…where’s Claire?”
“Oh, she told me she couldn’t go. Not feeling so well.” A giggle from Sam. “She told us to enjoy ourselves, though.”
“Is she okay? Nothing serious, right?” The concern was evident from the way he asked and Claire smiled, glad he didn’t forget her…at least not after looking at her beautiful sister.
“Yes, she is. She’ll be fine tomorrow.” There was a hint of irritation in Sam’s voice, but it quickly became seductive again. “Now…can we go already?”
“Sure.”
Samantha stepped outside, and just before the front door closed, Claire heard Evan say, “You look wonderful, Sam. You’re becoming prettier each day. Have I mentioned that?”
The door closed then, but it couldn’t quite muffle the pleased laugh that erupted from her sister.
Claire sat on the stairs alone, her eyes bleary with tears and her heart unexplainably hurting.
After a series of dates, Sam and Evan officially became an item. And if the first snub had been painful, the coldshoulders that came later on were even worse.
Claire felt completely left out.
She would have understood if Evan had stopped spending time with her, but even her sister changed too.
First she was blissfully happy, bragging to Claire almost every minute and sharing to her every mushy detail until their sides hurt from giggling.
Then, overtime, Samantha began making cold remarks, insults that had a huge impact on both her emotions and her self-image…like how ‘ugly’ she was.
Perfect alienation followed soon after. Sam slowly stopped talking to her, as if there was a distance neither could breach.
Now they treated each other civilly, like strangers.
Many times I’ve tried to figure out why. Claire reminded herself as she lay on her bed, her comforter enveloped around her. Only to find out later that Evan broke her heart by two-timing.
Of course, the words didn’t come out of Samantha’s mouth directly, but the school’s grapevine was pretty efficient.
A fresh wave of anger shook Claire.
Evan. It was the name that used to mean so much to her; the one that used to fill most of her pre-teen dreams.
Now it only inspired hatred.
And maybe a little disappointment.
Claire sighed, rolling over to her side. She gazed at the open window of her room, where the sky was inky blue, the stars sparkling gold.
Karen and Mona…
She had met them in high school. They became her instant friends. Like adding water to instant oatmeal, she only needed to add a little of herself. It was as if fate had given them to her for solace and relief.
They were her life jackets; the ones that constantly made her forget through bickering and laughing. They filled up the hole left by her former best friends.
She owed so much to them, although they’ve never really known.
Tomorrow she would treat Mona a triple fudge ice cream and make a collect call to Karen if she had time.
She reached for the purse below her pillow and peered inside, then tucked it safely back. As expected, she was low on cash…she always was. But it didn’t matter.
Claire settled deeper into the bed, smiling softly to herself. Money is nothing when friends are concerned.
End of Chapter
Okay! How did you people like it?? Please read and review!
Sorry if I’ve burst any bubbles. There wasn’t really any Claire-Evan thingy here, but I’ve finally managed to put in the reason for her hate. And the reason is plausible, right? Right?
I mean, it’s a reason with depth and…uh...err..- sense?? Does anyone understand what I’m trying to say? (C’mon, think. A guy hurts your sister. You’d hate him terribly, wouldn’t you?)
Oh. And everything that happened here plays a significant role to the development of the story. Especially Karen going away. (Just so you people know. Hehe.) This is the kind of chappie that really needs to be put in sooner or later. Just made it sooner.
What else…? Read and review please!!!!! I’d appreciate it a lot.
AND it’ll help me update faster…(# raises both brows meaningfully. #)
I want feedback, readers! I want constructive criticism! I want…err…opinions and whatever else you’ve got there! R/R!!!
The next portion is strictly ADVERTISMENT: (Paid by me for me. ü) Please scroll down if you want to skip this part.
‘Not What It Seems’. By Cassandra26 (Me.)
It’s not half so bad.
And it’s funny…-I think.
Pretty pretty please? With lotsa cherries on top?
If you don’t like cherries, there’s always ice cream…-or chocolate, anyone?
Thank you! Merci! Gracias! Danke! Grazie! (I’m giving you all my advance gratitude for your splendid reviews! And in different languages too!)
Now push that small ‘Go’ beside the SUBMIT REVIEW sign!!
Love lot’s!
– cassandra26
p.s. I’m feeling happy 2day! That’s why I had time to advertise myself! Haha..
