With Or Without You

Chapter Four: Stuck In A Moment

Clare sat down hard at a table in the dining hall, dropping her books and resting her head in her arms. “This time I am really never doing homework again.” It was a week and a half later, and Clare was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work she had. She went all through high school never doing homework and was still ranked number five in her class. She was not prepared for the amount of work that college demanded.

“Having some problems?” Aaron asked, looking up from his pile of pancakes.

“I hate school,” was the reply.

“Clare, you’re in two classes with me, how can you hate it?” Michael chimed in.

She glared at him. “I did not say I hate you; I said I hate school. Have you guys seen Ali?” Ali was beginning to be comfortable around Michael. She could speak in full sentences and didn’t go into fangirl mode anymore. But she still tended to keep her distance, although Clare had seen her hanging out with Aaron on more than one occasion.

Aaron shook his head. “Not since yesterday. But it is only nine AM. And I’m pretty sure she has class at eight on Thursdays.” Clare gave him a look. “What?”

“You know her schedule better than I do,” she said. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Aaron flushed and looked down. Michael sniggered. “No,” Aaron said, a little too adamantly to convince anyone, including himself. When he looked up it was to the scrutinizing glare of Clare. He stared her down.

“Ah, fine. I’ve just seen you two hanging out a lot, that’s all.”

“We have a lot in common. She likes swimmers, and I am...a swimmer,” he said.

“You like her, don’t you?” Michael asked. Aaron sent him a look. “If looks could kill,” Clare muttered.

“Christ, I’m hungry. What’s good?” she asked, getting up and walking away, not waiting for an answer.

“Thanks, Mike. I knew there was a reason I brought you along,” Aaron said.

“You didn’t bring me along. And no problem.”

“She’s very cute.” Michael nodded, glancing in the direction Clare had just gone. Aaron grinned. “I was talking about Ali, but if you’d like, we can change the subject.”

Michael turned bright red and turned his head. “So. You like Ali, huh?”

“I don’t know if I like her. But she is fun to hang out with. And she doesn’t like Clay Aiken, which I think is always a plus.”

“Aww, come on, you have to admit he was better than the guy who won American Idol. That fat guy. Clay had a much better voice.”

Aaron stared at Michael as though he had additional eyes sprouting from the top of his head. “Did those words just come out of your mouth? You, Mr. I-Have-To-Listen-To-Rap-Before-Every-Swim?”

Michael laughed. “Hey, I have a wider taste than just rap.”

“No you don’t.”

There was a pause. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Aaron chuckled. “Are you–” He was interrupted by a tray loaded with food being plunked down on the table. Clare sat down behind it.

“What?” she asked when she saw that they were both staring at her.

“You eat all that?” Michael asked. Clare nodded. “How are you not fat?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “And thanks.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Clare grinned at him. “I know,” she said, putting a McDonald’s style hash brown into her mouth. “Mmm,” she said. “Grease and potatoes. Doesn’t get much better.”

“What about that sky high stack of chocolate chip pancakes you’ve got sitting there?” Aaron asked.

“That’s a close second,” Clare informed them as she dug in.

Half an hour later, Clare was finished with breakfast and they were still sitting there, talking, when Ali showed up. She was carrying a book and a bowl of corn flakes.

“How refreshing to see someone who eats less than Michael,” Aaron said with a laugh as Ali sat down next to him.

“Oh, you saw Clare eat breakfast, I take it,” Ali said. “I told her that’s not a pretty picture and she probably shouldn’t do it in front of humans.”

Michael and Aaron laughed while Clare shot Ali a dirty look. “I’m sorry if I grossed anyone out,” Clare mumbled.

“I really don’t know how you do it. You don’t even exercise,” Ali said.

“I walk across campus. Plus I have a very high metabolism. Oh shut up,” Clare said. She looked at her watch. “I have to get to class anyway. I’m so glad I started this morning off by being made fun of. Fantastic.” She left, leaving Aaron, Michael, and Ali at the table laughing.

A few hours later, Clare was going to the second class she had with Michael. She sat down in her usual seat and looked in the other direction when Michael sat down next to her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Clare, come on. I think it’s great that you eat as much as I do. I hate girls who only eat salads and drink water and never have anything substantial.”

Clare glared at him again. “Ok. Sure.”

“Clare,” he said. “I’m really sorry. Besides, you’re thin and beautiful and your breakfast obviously doesn’t have much of an impact on anything else.”

“You...you think I’m beautiful?”

Michael smiled. “Yeah. I never would have recognized you as the same person I used to see at swim competitions, but she was cute too. You’re a knockout now, Clare. Really. Forgive me?”

She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. “Fine.” She paused. “Don’t tell Ali what you said.”

“What?”

“She...Oh God, and don’t tell her what I said, either...she sort of has a thing for you.”

“No she doesn’t. She has a thing for Aaron, maybe.”

Clare shook her head. “She’s been a Michael Phelps fan for a long time. Since Sydney, I think.”

Michael flushed. “I wouldn’t go there anyway,” he said. “Aaron likes her. Don’t tell him I told you that.”

She grinned. “I knew it,” she said.

He laughed. “Hey, are we ok?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yeah, I guess we’re ok.”