Clara's smile

Chapter 1: The Package.

POV Narrator.

The alarm clock rings 7 am and Clara gets up eagerly to go to her class at Oxford University, where she was awarded a scholarship 4 years ago for her excellent projects on the development of the human body and science. As the little rays of sunshine stream in through a window, the brown-haired, grey-eyed girl allows herself to be touched by them as she heads to the shower only to discover a note on the bedside table.

'Hey gorgeous, last night was good, but next time bring more alcohol tolerance to have a great time, love Sam'.

'I hate drinking' she mentions. Her carefree expression changes as she notices a wet umbrella under Luci's bed to her roommate, but she proceeds to get ready, she avoids putting on eye shadow just showers and combs her hair up in a bun, then dresses in her uniform of white blouse and dark skirt. Then she hurried taking her purse and cell phone, even though her classmate maintained a strict discipline at class time, Clara had her methods to be one of the first to arrive.

"I must hurry if I want to get there first." Class did not start until after 7:45, but Professor Emily, who taught anatomy, had students line up outside the classroom and anyone who didn't follow her rules was banned from entering. On her way out, she stumbles over a small box, but she is in such a hurry that she puts it in her bag and leaves for the university.

Once in the hallway, Clara is ready to take off her heels to run after ignoring a call from her brother, her hands were loaded with books and at a fast pace. Some see her running with a certain charm with her uniform of dark skirt and white shirt with a nice blue ribbon on the neck and her lips painted pink, of course she is a young woman of about 19 years old, that made her the youngest among her classmates of course she graduated at 15 years old from high school, she was a bright young girl who apparently had all her future written in the palm of her hand.

With a quick gesture, Clara grabs her small handkerchief and dabs her forehead to stand behind the last young lady in line who was already rolling into Professor Emily's classroom. She could not help but stand up straighter when she caught the teacher's eyes on her, already in her seat her thoughts were outside of class solving math problems under her desk as the anatomy book rested on top of her legs, of course she understood that subject perfectly.

"Miss Spencer", called the teacher. Clara felt a small twinge in her stomach.

"Yes, Professor Emily", she replied instantly with serenity.

"Can you illustrate for us how the heart does its function in the whole body?". With a half-smile, she steps forward.

"Yes, professor", replied to Clara. As she walked to the front with a sheet of paper.

"I did an essay on the heart and how it works in the human body, can I read it?" asks Clara.

Professor Emily could not hide her surprise, and that was because Clara did pre-essays on all the simple topics she found in every book. She was so intelligent that she did not need long sleepless nights to finish a project or an exposition because she observed the topic once and already had a complete analysis; while she read her essay, there was an air of disapproval from the teacher and her classmates in the atmosphere. Envy that everyone could hide in Clara's eyes because they always pretended to love her except the teachers, when she finished reading the class was already ending, then Clara took her things and left.

Having some spare time, Clara sat down in the library to finish her theory about DNA, a work she had devised while she was eating a chocolate with her older brother during the last vacations. Tomas, her older brother, wild and without a career, was in Spain undertaking a party business there, but his constant gifts and money transfers to their grandmother Felicia, grandfather Andres and younger sister, said he was dedicated to more than just parties, he was an open book with his expensive gifts, but very reserved with his business and personal life.

'Strange dark green' Clara suddenly thought as she looked at her little ring that of course her brother gave her, but the ring itself reminded her of what mood she was in, dark green? She had her thoughts scrambled when she remembered the package on her doorstep, but immediately she was transported back to the night before where Sam, and she were dancing, and he was carefully touching her bottom, at that she reacted and opened her purse to look at the package.

'From John' a shudder ran through Clara completely, this was not for her because her brother's assistant never sent her any shipments, she didn't open it and just put it away. Her concentration had already gone to her brother, so she called him, but he only sent it to the mailbox. She immediately got up, grabbed her things, and went to her room.

"Love, there you are!" Sam, her boyfriend, was suddenly chasing after her.

"Hey, what's up?" answers Clara.

"Not a kiss for your love, baby".

"I'm busy, love, so why don't I see you later?"

"Wait, is it because of the 9 o'clock thing?" says Sam to her.

"What? Hey, I am leaving yes" she gave him a quick kiss and left, leaving Sam grimacing, but still looking handsome with his blond hair and slender figure.

Clara opened her locker door to put her bag in and leave for math class. As she walked, she could see the package lying on the floor behind her, and she was in such a hurry that she did not notice that she dropped it when she was putting her books in and taking out the math book. Two hours into the class and the midterm was over.

"There, you have to help me with my science project, I'm lost", said an urgent Luci.

"I told you I would help you where were you after 9 o'clock last night? I didn't see you in bed." But Luci's expression became expressionless as lost.

"I went horseback riding, you know I love it, come on let's have lunch" that did not make any sense.

After lunch Clara watched all afternoon advisories and projects for her thesis she already had in a few months, after a quick shower at 3 pm Sam found her again to give her a note and a kiss as she said she had to go with the team to train. Already past 8 pm, an exhausted Clara could be seen from a full and busy day; out of her thoughts and somewhat fluttering the package shape became visible in her thoughts and she thought about how strange it was.

Already out of the shower and not feeling like dinner again she found herself alone and in the dark in her room, as she threw herself on her bed she tucked herself in and tried to recreate what the soft feel of Sam's hands on her skin felt like, but tiredness was stronger than her curiosity and she slowly closed her eyelids.

Again, the sunlight made its opening in her window, and she was startled to see a bewildered Luci sitting on the edge of her bed.

"What is this?" asks Luci.

"A note from Sam" Clara replies to her.

"Oh, well, hey, the guys are asking if you want to come to the lake" Luci said as Clara stood up.

"Yeah, okay Luci" as she looked at the piece of paper from Sam, she discovered that Luci had a slight smack on her cheek.

"This was nothing, girlfriend, I was on the bleachers of the field, and suddenly, I looked straight ahead and fell, haha" sounding zero convincing Luci picked up her makeup and began to touch up.

"Don't let any man take advantage of you, Luci, in any way, ok?" said Clara, as she sat on the bed after putting on her shoes and taking her friend's hand.

"Of course, friend, you know I don't let myself be touched".

Then she looked at her watch, and it was already 7:30, late enough to get to chemistry class.

"We should go, we're going to be late!" with a blink they both left the room and in less than two seconds, Clara came back for Sam's note, as she was usually running, she was carrying her chemistry books and her little purse. On the way, she notes Sam's words.

'I want you to be mine at the lake, tell me yes, beautiful.'

An air of warmth came over her face and even more so as she sees Sam in front of her taking her in for a hug and lifting her up, then gives her a light kiss on the cheek. At that instant, she smiles at him and leaves hurrying, it was obvious she was living in a little fairy tale with Sam who she was very fond of after 1 year of dating.

"Did anyone see me?" says a little blushing Clara.

"No, cutie, just me, don't worry", answers Luci.

Already in Chemistry class and at her desk very concentrated writing, Clara looks up when she sees the dean's assistant come in and says something to the teacher.

"Miss Clara, could you come to the front please?" says the teacher.

"Yes, tell me", she says as she stands in front.

"The dean requests you, please go with the young lady", Clara nods as immense concern takes over her.

Once in the dean's office her face hardens as she sees several people standing around the dean's desk and as she sits down, she cannot help but look at the package she received yesterday at her residence, what was that package doing in the dean's possession?

"Mr. Arthur, good morning", Clara spat, but the dean's countenance was not good.

"Miss Spencer, can you tell us what this package was doing in your possession?"

"It was on my doorstep, sir, I always receive mail from..."

"Open it, Luisa", says the dean without letting Clara finish, suddenly the secretary opened the package to reveal some handcuffs, a vibrator, and a small bag with a white powder that the secretary took.

"That's not...", Clara tried to say.

"Quiet please, yesterday we did a drug test on your package, and it came back positive", exclaims the dean. Clara's expression and countenance became rigid and pale.

"But, sir, that package", says Clara.

"It has your name on it says: for Clara Spencer, then isn't it yours? I do not know what you wanted to play at, but it wasn't at all profitable to you. We will wait for you at the admissions office at 4 pm to finalize your expulsion" says the dean and a stomachache invaded Clara, then without saying anything she took her things and left to the campus courtyard, she was in shock.