Chapter Seventeen

The school bell rang which was then immediately followed by a mixed chorus of the students’ excited cheers and frustrated groans. Their chemistry teacher pounded her tray on the table, wordlessly instructing the students to place their test papers there. Claire, confident in her answers, stood up and did so, shoving her body against the wave of rowdy students.

It was officially winter break. Clare didn’t have any concrete plans besides hanging out with Jay and Jess every now and then since the library won’t be open again until next month, but she was fine with that.

“Hey hey”, Jess greeted her as she approached her desk. Claire looked up from arranging her books and pencil case in her backpack to return her smile. “Let’s go home together today!”

“What about Greg?” she asked, tilting her head a little in confusion. “He’s not accompanying you today?”

“Nah, I told him that I wanted to come home with you”

“Oh, okay, then”, she nodded before slingi