☁ fill these spaces up with days

[forksextras]

Who | Claire Bennet Butler (autophoenix ), Jessica Stanley (yournewbff ), Various Forksians (forksextras ), Lyle Bennet Butler (itsnotlarry ), and Edward Cullen (likealocalgod )
What | The first day of Claire's new life at Forks High.
Where | Forks High School;  Unnamed Twilight/Heroes verse
When | Post S1-Heroes
How | An amorphous road of prose, commentspam, and action-spam, winding merrily from one to

Comments

[autophoenix]

All things considered, it could have been worse.

You know, in the way that it occurred to Claire that it could, quite possibly, be Alaska. Or Antarctica. Iceland, maybe -- or Greenland. Which one was the one with the ice again? Everything about the school reeked of the fact that there were probably 35 kids total in her junior class, from the too-cold breeze from the air conditioning (who needed air conditioning in Washington?) and the fact that kids were, for some reason, wearing shorts and t-shirts while it was 52 outside, to the fact that there was one Spanish teacher in the entire school.

Under the radar was an understatement. What happened to New Mexico? Wasn't that witness protection central? Warm, dry witness protection central? Needless to say, Lyle's scoffing fit was pretty much the best expression of how Claire was feeling for the time being, but at least she was doing better at hiding it. Maybe when they got home, she'd find the time to complain, but for now, she just forced a none-too-convincing smile and

[forksextras]

Wait, you're a cheerleader?

No way. Are you going to try out for the squad?

[autophoenix]

[ She's visibly flustered by the corner she's backed herself into. ] I don't know, I mean, they probably wouldn't even let me this late into the year, and I ... I think I should probably get ... settled in first. Or something.

[forksextras]

Actually the squad's a little short this year. They might still let someone try out.

You should think about it.

[autophoenix]

Right. Of course they're short. [ sigh. ] Well, I guess I'll have to ... give it some thought, then. [ Oh, the bell rings, thank God. Salvation. Claire starts packing her things up. ] Thanks for, uh, letting me know, I guess. Oh, um. I don't think I got your name.

[forksextras]

"It's

[autophoenix]

[ They just keep coming. Claire manages to look a little more genuine in her smile this time. He seems ... well, he didn't look like a hungry shark, which was a step up. ]

Uh ... thanks. [ She chuckled a little, shaking her head. ] Is everyone gonna be this excited about me being the new girl? I was kind of hoping to fly by under the radar. [ The grim look she sent back towards their history classroom made it clear that she meant ESPECIALLY off the radar of girls like Lauren Mallory. ]

[forksextras]

[Yeah, less like a hungry shark and more like a Chinese Terrier. ... I just made those up.]

Well, we don't get a lot of new people here, so it's kind of a... big occasion. [He points at the schedule edging out of the corner of her folders.] Do you mind if I--?

[autophoenix]

I'm starting to see that. [ She scowls a little at the thought, but when she notices him pointing at her schedule, it fades into a helpless smile. ]

Oh, no, go ahead. [ She pulls the schedule out and hands it over. ] Any chance you know where any of them are? I'd like to avoid hiking out in the mud if I can help it. I haven't stocked up on galoshes yet.

[forksextras]

[Eric plucks it from between her fingers, and scans it over, shielding it from the drizzle with a hand.]

English with Mason is in Building 3, which is actually on the exact opposite side of the office from where we are now, so if you follow this back path around, it'll take you straight there. Though I can walk you. [He adds the last part quickly, and stumbles to keep up. It's pretty transparent that he's nervous behind his friendliness.]

[autophoenix]

[ As he gave her directions, her expression morphed slowly into one of helpless horror at the thought of that hike. When he offered to walk her, though, it fell into relief. ]

I don't want to make you late or anything, but I could seriously use the help getting there if you don't mind giving it.

[forksextras]

Oh no, no trouble at all! I know my way around, so I can get you there and back in no time. [He leads the way triumphantly.]

So how are you liking Forks?

[autophoenix]

[ She scampers after him, trying to avoid the puddles that are perpetually formed. Too bad the ground is just ... one big puddle. ]

Oh, it's -- Um... It's nice. Everyone's been [ a beat. ] friendly. Ish. It's just a big change.

[forksextras]

A big change? [His eyebrows shoot upwards into his bangs.] People aren't friendly where you're from?

[autophoenix]

Oh, no, I just meant ... Forks in general. It's usually a lot warmer than this in ... [ :| Another beat. God, she hates this immensely. ] Florida. Dryer, too.

[forksextras]

You get used to the weather. And it makes the nice days that much nicer. We usually spend a lot of the time down at the beach when the sun actually makes its debut. You should come sometime! [He is encroaching further upon your bubble as you walk, Claire.]