Clara, Your Head is Bleeding

Clara James POV

I walked a little away from my house and saw some workers carrying things from a car into the house next door. I ignored it and kept walking. A girl’s voice stopped me. I turned my head and saw her wearing my school uniform, her hair bright orange, her eyes green like the trees.

She said excitedly, standing next to me, "Hi, are you going to Yonsei School?"

I forced a smile, "Yes."

She hesitated, "Can I come with you? I just moved here and I don’t know the way."

I smiled, "Sure, you can."

We walked together.

"My name is Natalie," she said, extending her hand eagerly.

I smiled back, "I’m Clara James. Nice to meet you, Natalie."

We entered the school. She kept talking, so social, so unlike me.

She asked curiously, "Do you have a brother? But he’s in Sweden."

"Yes," I said enthusiastically.

She frowned lightly, "Lucky you. You have a brother who cares about you. I wish I had one."

"No worries, I’ll be your sister," I said.

We laughed together, full of energy. I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned my head and exhaled in relief. It was Ethan Gray.

I placed my hand on my chest, "Damn, my heart almost jumped out."

Ethan chuckled lightly, pretending, "Why were you absent? School was boring without you."

I rolled my eyes, annoyed, "Did you miss me that much?"

He placed his hand on his chest dramatically, "My heart can’t bear being away from you."

I laughed softly, "Mr. Too-Tall, we’ve only known each other for one day."

As we walked to the classroom, I forgot about Natalie and introduced her enthusiastically, "Ethan, this is my friend, Natalie."

"Nice to meet you, orange-haired one," he winked. Natalie lowered her head, shy, "Nice to meet you too, Ethan."

We entered the classroom. Natalie was in the same grade as me. The teacher introduced her to the students. Ethan sat on my right, Natalie on my left. Neither of them could keep quiet.

I drifted off during the lesson, thinking about what happened yesterday, and how I would protect myself while living with him. The bell for the fifth period rang.

Natalie stood up, holding her backside, "Oh my God, my butt is completely numb."

Ethan and I laughed at her honesty.

He grabbed my hand, "Let’s go to the playground."

Natalie and I sat on the front benches while Ethan went to greet his friends.

She asked absentmindedly, "How was life in Sweden?"

"Hell," I replied.

Natalie turned to me quickly, "Why?!"

"The first thing was my mother’s death, the second was my father’s marriage, and the third…"

I stopped as I remembered what happened to me. She looked at me with concern, then came closer and hugged me when she saw tears shining in my eyes.

"Oh my God, Clara, what happened to you?" she said, stroking my back.

"Something happened I can’t say…" I whispered, hugging her back.

She hummed understandingly, "It’s okay, everything will be fine."

Before I could continue, someone pushed me from behind. I fell from the benches onto the floor.

Natalie rushed to me, checking me anxiously, "Clara, are you okay?"

Pain shot through my whole body. I held my head. Blood was flowing.

Natalie gasped in fear. A group of girls approached, one standing in front like a leader, looking at me with a spiteful smile.

"Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to push you," she said, pretending.

Her friends laughed loudly. Students gathered around me. Ethan rushed over, "Clara, what happened?"

He glanced between me and the girl in front. He straightened up, facing her, "Mira, it’s you, isn’t it?"

His sharp tone told me he knew her.

She held his hand, blinking innocently, "Dear Ethan, how could I be so cruel?"

"Natalie, help me get up," I said.

Everyone noticed when I spoke. Ethan helped me up, and Natalie assisted me.

Once I regained my balance, I walked calmly toward Mira, smiling triumphantly.

"Don’t worry, I’ll make my father pay for this," I hissed angrily.

The girl shrieked in fear as I grabbed her hair tightly. Everyone stared.

I whispered in anger, tightening my grip, "If you mess with me again, you’ll be bald."

She looked up at me, frightened. I glared, "Do you understand?"

"Y… yes, I understand," she stammered, tears streaming.

Mira cried loudly. Ethan stepped in to let her go, but I pushed him back. Natalie looked at me with pride.

"Save me from this crazy girl!" Mira screamed.

One of the teachers shouted, "What’s happening?!"

He approached, many students blocking his view, "Everyone go to your class!"

He came closer, looking shocked at me.

Mira cried, "You’re still holding my hair… Sir, please help me!"

"Clara, let her go!"

The teacher grabbed my hand, releasing her.

Natalie winked at me proudly. Ethan tried to suppress his laughter.

I followed the teacher, knowing exactly where we were heading: the principal’s office, the so-called execution room. Mira walked away from me.

We entered the principal’s office. He looked at us in shock. Natalie’s hair was messy. My head was bleeding. My legs and hands were scratched.

"What happened?" the principal asked sharply.

A teacher approached to sanitize my wounds, but I stopped him with a smile, "Thank you, I don’t want it."

The principal said firmly, "Clara, your head is bleeding."

"I know," I replied.

He sighed in resignation, "I’ll call your guardian."

He held his phone. Natalie trembled and pleaded, "Please, sir, don’t tell my parents."

The principal looked at her, "Natalie, this isn’t the first time you’ve caused trouble."

Then he looked at me, "What about you, Clara?"

"I’m fine. My father traveled to Norway," I said coldly.

The principal sighed helplessly, "I’ll call your home. We need to discuss this with a guardian."

He called. Only the witch, Emilia, answered. I imagined she was furious.

A man and a woman in fine clothes arrived. She rushed to her daughter, "Oh my God, my beautiful girl!"

She hugged her warmly. My heart ached. I missed my mother.

"Mom…"

Natalie cried dramatically, "Look what they did to my beautiful hair!"

Her father held her face in his hands, "Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make whoever did this pay."

Natalie looked at me, then opened her eyes wide when she saw my head covered in blood.

The principal spoke gently. Natalie’s parents sat before me.

"You can sit until Clara’s guardian arrives."

Time passed, but no one came. The principal sighed, "I guess your family is busy, Clara… we’ll postpone this until…"

He was interrupted by someone entering. He looked shocked. I turned my head and saw Adrian Cole standing imposingly.

He looked at me, his eyes wide, but hid his shock. He approached, reaching out to check me, but I recoiled in fear.

He said sharply to the principal, "What happened to her?"