➶ ｡˚ CHAPTER THREE !! ° ┊
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✧ ━━ ❛ beggars can't be choosers ❜

✧ °₊ ᴵᴿᴸ !

CORALINE COULD CRY WHEN she finally made it to school. really, this had been the worst morning of her entire life.

she doesn't even stop to look at her locker, heading straight for the second-floor bathroom instead. she knows jasmin will be there, because there's no way her best friend would sit through an entire economics class alone ― and knowing jasmin, when she starts skipping a class, it's a habit she'll keep up until lunch.

the second-floor bathroom is hardly used anymore. with the first-floor bathrooms freshly renovated ― complete with glossy new tiles and fancy lighting ― no one bothers to trek upstairs just to sit on an old toilet or stare into mirrors that look calcified with grime. that's precisely why the second-floor bathroom has become infamous: a spot where students sneak off to smoke, hook up, or hide from teachers. coraline isn't surprised when she pushes the door open and finds jasmin perched on the counter, her usual smirk curling around the joint in her fingers.

"well, well, well... look what the storm brings in!" she greets, smoke curling around her face like some bad indie movie effect. her smile widens as she lifts the joint to her lips. "survived the hostage situation, i see?"

"barely," coraline sighs, plopping down on the counter beside her. jasmin passes her the joint without a word, and coraline takes a slow drag, savoring the burn in her throat. she exhales and stares straight ahead. "i thought you quit smoking these?"

her friend jasmin has never been much of a smoker ― in fact, she isn't really a smoker at all. the only time she pops out a cigarette (or a joint) is for occasions she calls "special." usually, this means parties, but judging by the joint between her fingers, it seems her definition of special has taken a creative turn today.

"it was smoking, or eco class. i chose the one less likely to kill me from boredom," jasmin says with a smirk, gesturing dramatically like always. "besides, this isn't really smoking... it's stress management." 

"right," coraline nods as she takes another drag from the joint, her thoughts drifting despite herself. chris's cryptic comments this morning have been replaying in her mind ever since. she still doesn't understand why he had been rambling about a hockey meeting at oscar's diner, when he clearly had some other meeting this morning. "that'll be eventful," he had said when she mentioned her early shift, but what the hell does that even mean? you'd almost think he's planning a surprise party for her or something ― not that chris sturniolo would ever throw her a surprise party. 

well, it's not like she'd want one from him, anyway. that would be a disaster.

but the way he had smirked when she got out of the car? yeah, that's suspicious. when he yelled, "have a good day at work tomorrow!" with that stupid, self-satisfied grin, she'd wanted to scream. that just couldn't be good, because there's no way he legitimately wanted her to have a good day, meaning that that boy is up to something. god, coraline hates the fact she has no fucking clue what it could be.

even though chris had gotten more tall, mannish and a tiny bit... hot during summer break, he's still the boy who accidently burned down coraline's favorite flowers with a firecracker. the girl doesn't trust a single hair on his body, especially because he spoke about her plans and used the word eventful.

her spiraling thoughts are interrupted by jasmin inhaling sharply, like she's about to drop some earth-shattering news. "i think dave's going to ask me to be his girlfriend," she says, almost shyly.

coraline turns her head slowly, studying her friend's face for any sign of how she feels about this revelation because with jasmin, you never know. she's always been confident and direct about what she wants ― whether it's a serious, trust-filled relationship or something more casual, it's something coraline has always looked up to. 

lately, she's been in her fooling around type of phase, but judging by the light blush creeping across her cheeks, it seems like she's actually into the idea of being dave's girlfriend.

well, this is unexpected.

"really?" coraline asks with a small grin. "so you're locking up whore jas again, hm? i'll miss her."

"fuck off," jasmin chuckles, rolling her eyes as she takes another drag from the joint and passes it back to coraline. smoke escapes her lips in a slow, practiced exhale. "i think dave's a good thing."

coraline nods slowly. jasmin has had a lot of boyfriends before, but none lasted long ― except for the one almost two years ago. their relationship had stretched a little over a year before it ended in heartbreak when he cheated on her. it broke jasmin in a million ways, leaving cracks she still hasn't fully mended, and even though she jokes about it now, coraline knows it still stings. 

since that brutal breakup, jasmin hasn't let herself get too close to anyone, sticking to casual flings or friends-with-benefits arrangements. this is why it surprises coraline that she's genuinely into the idea of dave being her boyfriend, but she's happy. maybe this means her friend is finally starting to heal, and dave seems like the perfect kind of guy to help her do that. 

coraline grins to herself as she finally answers. "i think so too, he's the most decent guy you've ever dated."

"alright, cut the subtle criticism," jasmin shoots her a look. "i'm serious."

"i know," coraline says, her voice growing louder as the bell rings overhead. "and he is a good thing, jas. i'm happy for you."

jasmin stares at her for a beat, her expression softening. "thanks," she says quietly. then, like a switch flipping, she hops off the counter. "come on, i can't be late again or i'll get detention, and i told mary i'd drop gum by her locker on the way."

they weave through the hallways together, dodging running freshmen and clingy couples making out by the lockers just before they have to split up to go to their class. ew. it's something coraline will never understand. honestly, she would rather not have a boyfriend to make out with than do it in front of the school lockers among all the people, but maybe that's just her.

when both jasmin and coraline feel their phone's buzz at the same time, they didn't even need to guess anymore to know it was emilia. coraline pulls her phone out of her pocket as she waites for jasmin to return from talking to mary.

ems 🦄💖
jake's party tmr?
now

coraline presses her lips together, bracing herself for the inevitable onslaught of nagging from her friends. she already knows they're going to hound her until she agrees to go, and truthfully, she'd love to ― jake's house is massive, and his parties are legendary. but her parents? they'd actually kill her. they're still pissed about her and elijah sneaking out last thursday ― which wasn't even her idea in the first place.

coraballs 🙊
emmmssss ☹☹
i'm actually going to get killed by my parents this time

ems 🦄💖
boo
dave 🙄 better not be coming jas i'm not third wheeling the whole night

coraline smiles to herself as she shoves her phone back in her pocket and enters the classroom. she scans the room for a free desk, finding one in the back, and she sits down, leaving the seat next to her free for jasmin. as she starts taking out her work, a high-pitched voice interrupts her.

"how are you doing?"

coraline looks up with startled look, but she instantly masks it when she notices who the voice belongs to. sitting in the desk in front of her, with a wicked smile playing on her lips, is clementine laurier. 

great. of all the places coraline could have sat, she'd picked the one right behind her. head cheerleader, queen bee, and professional ex-girlfriend to half the hockey team.

she's incredibly beautiful though, it must be her french genes. she has one of those cute noses and her eyes are big like a disney princess's, which is the perfect comparison by the way ― the girl is some kind of disney princess. she has blonde hair, always shiny and soft... the kind of hair that belongs in shampoo commercials. 

it's too bad her personality is the exact opposite of her looks.

despite the stark contrast between her angelic appearance and her malevolent nature, clementine laurier has a magnetic pull. students are drawn to her, ensnared by her beauty and the power she wields with a mere glance or a flick of her wrist. her presence at somerville high is like a double-edged sword ― she could make your day with a smile or break it with a whisper.

coraline doesn't really like her because of the way she treats others and the way they treat her, like she's on top of the food chain. on the other hand, she doesn't really know her either, since clementine never talks to her ― not like she wants her to.

"i'm doing alright," coraline replies hesitantly. something about the cheerleader's tone sets her on edge, and she already knows this is not going to be a nice conversation. where the fuck is jasmin?

before clementine can say more, mrs. lit's voice calls the class to order. clementine tosses her shiny hair over her shoulder and turns back around, and coraline lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding just as jasmin slips into the seat next to her.

"where have you been?" coraline whispers.

"sorry," jasmin apologizes, "mary was telling me about conor ― did you know he got a scholarship for a sports school?"

coraline leans closer. "you will not believe who just put aside all her pride to talk to me."

jasmin frowns. "huh?"

and just when she speaks, clementine leans back in her chair, shifting her arm to rest her elbow casually on the back. her gaze stays fixed on mrs. lit at the front of the classroom, but she tilts her head slightly, making sure coraline can hear her clearly.

jasmin's eyes widen as realization dawns on her. "oh my god," she whispers under her breath, her voice laced with equal parts shock and anticipation.

"i saw you getting out of a car this morning," clementine says quietly, her fake, syrupy smile form earlier dissolving into something sharper and far less friendly. "a car with kenji beckham and chris sturniolo, if i saw that right."

of course. of course, this is about chris. why didn't coraline piece it together earlier? a girl like clementine has no reason to approach a girl like her unless it's about one of her boys ― unless it's about chris.

clementine has a history with him. she's dated countless guys, but chris is her achilles's heel. she'd drop any other guy at the drop of a hat when it comes to him. they've been on and off six times now. six. and ach time, he breaks up with her and she spends a few days "heartbroken" before moving on to someone else, only to crawl back to him months later. it's a never-ending cycle that started back in sophomore year.

"did i see that right?" she presses, her tone deceptively sweet.

coraline exhales sharply, already irritated by the fact that chris ― who isn't even here ― is once again managing to cause problems in her life. even in his absence, he's a magnet for chaos.

"yes," she replies flatly, "you did. afraid your eyes aren't working anymore?"

normally, coraline wouldn't speak to someone like clementine like this. she'd avoid her altogether, sticking to her own corner of the world. but this morning has been hell, and she has zero patience left. so unfortunately, clementine prying into her life because of a car ride with chris is her final straw.

it's none of her business, and she shouldn't make it her business either ― god, there isn't even a business, the only reason coraline was with chris is because she needed to get to school. there's absolutely no fucking reason why clementine should worry, because coraline isn't planning on stealing her man. 

why the hell would she? come on, it's chris.

the blonde crosses her arms tightly over her chest, her eyes still fixed forward on. "never pegged you for a ride-along type, especially not with chris. what happened? did eli throw you out on the highway?"

coraline rolls her eyes, getting really annoyed by the tone in the clementine's voice. she's being ridiculous, because even she knows that the relationship between chris and coraline isn't rose scent and moonshine.

"he's sick," coraline answers curtly, hoping to end the conversation. "and for the record, i drove with matt, not chris."

clementine snorts. "cut the crap. i saw you get out of kenji's car this morning, with chris right behind you."

"well, beggars can't be choosers, clementine," coraline fires back as she loses her last bit of patience. "i needed to get to school, chris needed to get to school, and kenji drove us because matt's car broke down. end of story. no drama, no scandal, just basic transportation."

"oh, please," clementine says, her tone dripping with mockery. she finally turns to face coraline fully, her blue eyes gleaming. "everyone knows chris can't stand you, and that's how it'll always be. so what's the real story? trying to get cozy with him?" her voice drops into a conspiratorial whisper as she leans closer, invading coraline's personal space completely. "hate to burst your bubble, but you're not his type. he's into cheerleaders, not... whatever category you fall into."

what the fuck is this girl's problem?

coraline can't believe she's even having this conversation. it's totally absurd. still, she manages to keep her voice steady, even as her fingers grip the edge of her desk. 

"believe whatever you want, but there's no story," coraline says, her tone cool and measured. "but there's no story. it was just a car ride, not a declaration of love. maybe focus on your own love life before you start creating drama in mine."

clementine's lips press into a thin line. she leans back in her chair, clearly annoyed that her taunts didn't get the reaction she wanted. "watch it, coraline," she says, her voice low and warning. "you're playing a dangerous game. stick to your thrift shopping and leave the boys to me."

and with that, she flicks her chair back into position and starts fiddling with her annoyingly perfect blonde hair. from her bag, she pulls out a cherry-red lipstick and applies it with practiced ease, like she hasn't just turned coraline's morning into even more of a nightmare.

"jesus christ," coraline mutters, finally turning to look at jasmin, nearly vibrating with excitement. "that was fucking amazing, cora!" she whispers.

"sure," coraline mumbles, pulling out her phone and unlocking it under the desk. she's just relieved that clementine has finally turned her attention elsewhere. 

her phone pings with a new dm, and she focuses on the screen, trying to shake off the lingering frustration of the earlier exchange.

✧ °₊ ᴵᴳ !

coralicious123 added a photo to their story! - 6h ago

↳ kenji 💥 replied to your story:

no wayyy, dominic fike?

yesss
wait ur my uber from this morning, right?

yep, that's me

cool
great transport
thanks again

of course
can't leave pretty girls on the side of the road
liked by coralicious123

what's your fav fike song?

ouch we're starting off wrong 🫤

ah fuck

NEVER ask me that
i can't pick 😭😭

oh no
you're not one of those girls who only knows him 'cause he's hot, right?
and your fav song is like 3 nights or smt

BRO WHAT
...
i mean he's hot though ngl

HA
that's insane
this kind of wounds me tho

ok no calm down it's not like that at allll
i mean sure he's my husband but his music and me are 🤞🤞

mkay

STOP
i'm being fr
like so so soooo fr

sure

i swear 😔
WAIT
did i catch a subtle hate on 3 nights???

huh?
nah

um yes i did!
shitttt that's a BIG red flag that song's amazing

i'm not saying it's bad

😐
well... you kinda did though

noooo
it's just a basic answer

it's just a basic answer 🤓
what do you meannnn tf 3 nights is amazing
it's one of my go to shower songs i do not respect this hate

lmao glad to know what music you shower with 

fuck yeah sorry
when she overshares in the first text conversation 😬😬

it's fine 
i lowk fw oversharers

you do?

yes

well! 😊

is that enough to surpass my big red flag?

mehh... ur coming close though

gotta fix that
wyd tmr?

oh ur gooooood
very smooth

i have no idea what you're talking about, cory

cory?
are we already in the nickname phase?

welllll 😁
do you like it?

sure it's cute

cool
so wyd tmr?

uhhh
not much
i gotta work

when do you need to start?

idk MADDD EARLY
i got the morning shift sooo
concidering killing myself 😔

nahhh don't i'll pick you up after

oh

when's your shift done?

uhhh idk tbh
depends on how busy it gets
usually around 10:30 i think

cool
text me when you're done and i'll pick you up right after
you work at oscar's right?

yes
but wait like right after??

well sorta
i'll get in my car when you text me so prob 10 min later

but i'll still be in my work clothes

dw about that
we're just grabbing some food together
we'll eat it in my car

hmm okay

great
i'll see you tmr, cory :)

yeah cya tmr!
liked by kenjiiiiix

ᵣₒₓ !!

don't hate kenji, hate clementine instead ❤