She Wants Perfection, He Wants Her.

Chapter One.

Clare put on her Catholic school uniform. Perfectly coordinated, perfectly moral. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Some things never change. She sighed and walked past the hallway mirror and stopped. She took a step back and analyzed the reflection she saw. Your not Darcy. She sighed again and shook her head. K.C. can never like this, never like you.

"Clare! Alli is here for you!" Mrs. Edwards called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Coming," Clare replied. "Just give me one second Alli!" She turned to look at herself in the mirror again. She pinched her stomach and buttoned up the sweater. Then she went downstairs where she was greeted by her mother and best friend.

"Clare, it's rude to keep your guests waiting…Are you sure you can breathe in that dress? It looks a little too tight on you…"

"We're leaving Mom. I love you!"

*****

Clare was at her locker pushing books into her backpack when K.C. Guthrie appeared next to her.

"You excited for that math test today, Clare?" K.C. asked calmly.

"You'd expect that, wouldn't you." Clare replied while zipping her backpack shut. She closed her locker and walked into Media Immersion with her eyes tracing the black skid marks on the linoleum floor. If only he knew. She returned to her usual seat and logged on.

She scanned her browser and checked her e-mail. None. How usual. She sighed, as she had often that morning, and repeatedly began to wish for a different life. Darcy's life specifically. She was too busy dreaming while K.C. grabbed the seat across from her. The whole time glancing at Clare attempting to read her innocent face.

"Students," said Mr. Simpson, "Today we'll be starting something new. I don't want to teach you all specifically how to perfect and what Media is- I want you to figure out how it changes you. Specifically our prompt is this: You will be given a specific social occurrence that is impacted by our media in the present age. You are to then give us a Power Point next Friday on your findings. I'll be around in a second to give you your prompt."

How exciting, I just needed more work in my life. Mr. Simpson came around and Clare then pulled her own assignment out of the hat.

HOW MEDIA HAS AFFECTED BODY IMAGE. Just what I need to feel good about myself.

"What did you get Clare?" K.C. questioned. He had seen Clare's face drop slightly as her eyes formed a sudden darkness. He hoped she was alright. "I got 'How media impacts the elderly.' Sounds interesting…not." He smiled hoping that something would return her face back to normal.

"How media affects body image. Stereotypical project assignment." Clare turned toward K.C. and met his eyes. She cocked her head to the side and bit her lip. Her blue eyes deeply connecting along with the hazel eyes that returned the same message. I want to know so much about you, can't you just DO something? Just acknowledge me.

Clare turned her head back to her screen and opened her internet browser. One new email, it responded. She opened it.

C- You up for the mall? Johnny needs something a little more…daring. Luv, A.

She replied: Yes. Sounds like fun. Clare.

She pondered, If I could get something a little more…teenage-ish, would he like me? If I got something a little tighter…No. Your too fat. Even Mom thinks so…Fat. She could see her face reflected from the computer screen. Fat.

Classes continued that day, tests flew by. Especially the Trigonometry test was a breeze. Lunch had come, and as Clare was following Alli to the Cafeteria she suddenly stopped in the middle of the hallway among the hungry herd.

"Oh, Alli. I totally forgot. I was supposed to call Darcy during the day. I'll catch up with you later." Alli nodded, consumed with looking at the footballers around her. She just went into the cafeteria and Clare was eventually left in the hallway alone. She looked around and stuffed her lunch into the trash can and went into the library. No one checks on nerds. She sat down at a computer and began her media assignment.

She pulled up a few sights on anorexia. She slightly shuddered at the disgusting forms of degrading bodies. But at the same time was slightly at awe- how delicate and beautiful these girls were. Clothes fit them at ease, they could be carried by boys. What was there not to love? The glamour, the pure form of bones instead of disgusting fat. And all it took was skipping a few meals and exercising. Something Clare knew she could complete with ease.

Tomorrow. No lunch and tonight I need to do some serious crunches and planks. No dinner tonight!