“Lola, where did you hide my shirt?” Claire snapped, making Lola raise her head from her deep slumber which was accompanied by a low whiney noise.

Claire sighed before bending down to ruffle the head of the tiny Jack Russell and lowering her voice to speak to it affectionately, “I’m sorry, baby. Just a little stressed for the first day, you know? Plus, I’ll be seeing Lucy there, so you could say a little excited too.”

Lola tilted her head in understanding, making Claire’s heart melt and give it a loving kiss.

“Nobody understands me like you do, baby.”

She stood up with Lola tucked underneath her arm and grabbed her phone off the bedside table. She scrolled through it, only to find multiple missed calls from Dan. Claire swallowed down the lump in her throat when she read one of the many messages he had left her.

‘Dan: Baby, I love you! Please don’t do this to us! Come back, please! I beg you!’

She switched her phone off, threw it into her purse and swung it over her shoulders before heading down to the kitchen. She walked in to find her mother busy eating breakfast.

“Mornin’!”

Claire grabbed the toast off of her mother’s plate and headed towards the cabinet containing Lola’s food.

“Someone’s in a cheery mood!” Her mother remarked, grabbing herself another toast.

“Yup! Cause daddy’s gonna be here any min- What?” Her smile slipped when she saw the sympathetic look on her mother’s face. Her mother remained silent and looked away, confirming her suspicion.

“He called to cancel. Didn’t he?”

“Honey-“

“Rita?”

“Yes.” Her mother’s voice was barely an audible whisper. So, the twisted little bitch who had split her family 6 years ago was responsible for this.

“I told you it was a bad idea shifting all the way here for your father.” Her mother groaned, putting her face in her palms.

“Mom, don’t do this, okay? You know he would’ve cut us off completely if we didn’t move here. Orlando already told you. Think of what would’ve happened to Cassie!”

As if on cue, her 14 year old sister made an entrance, grabbing Lola away from Claire and asking, “What would’ve happened to me when?”

“Huh?” The mother and daughter responded simultaneously, pretending to be busy with the dishes.

“God! Are you guys ever going to tell me what you two talk about so secretly all the time?”

“Nope!”

“Not really.”

The two replied simultaneously, making Cassie roll her eyes, and walk out of the kitchen.

“Are you coming or what? Dad’s gonna be here any minute!” Cassie poked her head in to ask.

“Umm- yeah. Listen, Cas, we’re gonna be taking a walk today.”

“Why?”

“Well, we need the exercise. It’s been too long since we went for a run so I figured you’d wanna stay in shape!”

Her sister had been on about losing weight even though she was skinny. Claire knew it was the teenage hormones speaking but she hoped it would be a good enough excuse to get her sister to stop asking questions about their dad not showing up.

“Not today, I don’t! We gotta make a first impression, remember? First day of school!”

Claire watched her mother roll her eyes and begin washing the dishes, mentally thanking her for leaving Claire to deal with the wonderful job of explaining such a complicated situation to the hormonal teenager.

“Look, Cas, I-“

She was cut off by the door bell ringing and Cassie ran to the door excitedly.

“Who’s that?” Cameron wondered, heading for the door as well.

“Oh. It’s just Orlando!” Cassie announced, and sank down on the chair disappointed.

“Hello to you too, Cas!” Orlando greeted, giving Claire and Cameron a hug.

“What are you doing here so early, O?”

“Thought I’d walk to school with you guys today. First day and all.”

Claire smiled; knowing Orlando had probably skipped on the ride her father would’ve offered him and not his daughters. Orlando was closer to Claire even though they were step-siblings. He was the brother Claire never had and the guy best friend every girl needs.

“So, you guys ready or what?”

The two sisters nodded their heads and followed Orlando. They were stopped mid-way by their mother’s voice.

“Hold on! You guys are wearing that to school?”

Claire looked down at her outfit and then at her sister’s, before looking at her mother in confusion. What was wrong with plain denim jeans and a t-shirt? Cameron rolled her eyes and explained herself.

“You two look like you need to swap your clothes. Cassie’s outfit screams ‘Come get me, I’m desperate’ and yours…” Cameron sighed, before continuing. “Claire, you really need to start dating again!”

“Hey!” The two sisters protested, looking down at their outfits one more time and glaring at their mother. It was true that the three of them shared everything but it seemed to Claire that her mother had been taking advantage of that liberty lately and criticizing them a little too much these days.

“Alright! Alright! Just get going or you’ll be late! And Orlando dear, take care of them, won’t you?”

“'Course, Cameron! See ya!”

The three headed off for their first day at school, scared out of their minds on what was awaiting them there.

---

Notes

David Archuleta as Orlando Mathers

Taylor Momsen as Cassidy Rowland

Claire's Outfit

Cassie's Outfit

A/N: A little background on Claire's life. Harry will be introduced in the next chapter!

Please vote, subscribe and comment for the next update! Thank you to those who already have! :) x