Okay?

Okay?

Okay?

Okay?

"Shut up! I heard you the first time!" I shouted.

Then I realized that my grandma impersonator had been my alarm clock.

Ick. Why did I always have that stupid dream?

It's probably so your subconscious won't let you forget the memory, my Voice said.

After all, repetition helps you remember things.

Just shut up so I can go to school, I thought back.

But the last time I left, you got detention from three teachers and a referral, it said annoyingly.

I sighed. It was right, after all.

I thudded downstairs to my mom, who was making pancakes. But I was very careful to hide my wings before I left my room.

"Good morning!" she chirped happily. She had probably dismissed that night as a dream. A horrible dream that I had grown wings and Grandma had gone missing. No, in her opinion I was a normal kid still trying to cope with my grandma and grandpa's death eight years ago.

But only I knew the truth.

"Well, I'm off to school."

"Honey! Don't be so nonchalant. It's your first day of middle school!"

She makes that sound like a good thing, my Voice said tiredly.

For once, I agreed with it.

Stuffing a pancake into my mouth, I shoved some books into my backpack and headed out the door.

"Bye Mom!" I said it fast so she wouldn't have time to reply.

I sprinted outside, feeling the breeze on my face. I had a sudden urge to spread my wings out, to catch the wind in the folds of my snowy sails, and to ride on its back.

Then I remembered that I was in a public area where anyone could see me, so I decided to stay on the DL.

Besides, if I tore any more holes in my shirts, my mom might get worried. Not to mention mad.

And anyway, I couldn't fly. I had never tried.

Eventually, I joined one of my friends on the sidewalk.

"Hey Christie."

"Hi Annie! So, how was your presentation in math class yesterday?"

I groaned. "Terrible. I got a C minus."

"It was probably better than mine. I got a D!"

"Whoa," I said. Then we both doubled over, laughing. Giggling just like two friends, walking to school, neither of us seemingly capable of hiding a deadly secret.

Well, looks can be deceiving.

We walked the rest of the way to school, talking about normal things like favorite singers and boys and stuff. We were having such a grand old time that we were tardy.

Oops.

Plus, the teachers had to rub it in by giving Christie and me separate detentions, ensuring that we would not try to talk to each other.

I stumbled through first, second, third, and fourth period to lunch, where the Voice decided to present one of its infamous "I told you so" speeches

So, how's life going without me so far?

Shut up, I thought back.

After lunch, I tried not to fall asleep in geography, so I concentrated on the window. Suddenly, something caught my eye.

A boy!

He was lurking on the edge of the P.E. field. Well, I had P.E. next period, so I figured I'd find out who he was.

The next period came quickly. I walked over to where I had seen the boy.

He wasn't there, so I thought he had gone into the bushes.

He'd even left footprints!

I followed the trail for a few minutes. But the trail had abruptly ended.

The footprints from this point on had vanished.

I expanded my senses.

I could hear the P.E. girls' feet thudding on the pavement.

I listened to a hummingbird flitting around a tree a few feet in front of me. Finally, I heard the complaining of a tree branch… with someone sitting on it.

When I opened my eyes, I knew at once that I would not be able to see these things- I could only hear them. But I looked where I had heard the branch groaning, but nothing was there.

I guess we'll have to climb, my Voice piped up.

Yeah. A lot of climbing.