Chapter 2

Flying High

Rating: T (Language)

Warnings: Language

Disclaimer: I do not own anything out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The only thing I own is my imagination and my words. This is the rubbish product of those two things combined.

Theme song for chapter: "Alone In Kyoto" By Air

A/N: I'm going through and updating the chapters again, since I've got nothing better to do. So, here's the updated version of chapter 2. Hope you like it!

The three days passed like minutes. I spent those days saying my goodbyes to relatives and friends and packing last minute things. I became more and more excited as those three days past and by the time they were done, I was a walking ball of nervous energy.

I stood on the sand next to Beth, the waves roaring in my ears and the wind knotting my hair. The beach had always been our agreed meeting place, even in the winter when the icy temperatures froze us the bone. We'd been friends ever since I could remember. When I was four, Beth and her family moved into the house next door. From that moment on, we were inseparable, even when they moved houses five years later.

We were an odd match, really. Beth; blond, tall, athletic, and as social as a butterfly. Me? I was brunette, short, puny, pale and as social as a cactus. She was confident, yet kind and gentle. I was more withdrawn and introverted, yet smart-mouthed and annoying. Prickly. And yet, somewhere in the midst of the chaos of this arbitrary life, we had become friends. Strange, isn't it?

"I'm gonna miss you so much, Ally. What am I going to do without you?" She said, laughing as she unstuck a few blonde strands of hair from her lip gloss. Watermelon, her favorite flavor.

"I'll be back before you know it. You'll be wishing I was gone for longer."

She laughed, but looked at her watch. "I have to get home soon. I hope you have an amazing time. You're going to tell me everything when you get back! Promise?" She held out her pinky.

I grinned. "Promise," And I locked my pinky with hers.

She suddenly pulled me into a big hug and I brought my wrist up to look at my watch.

"I'm being picked up in twenty minutes." I said sadly.

"I won't make you late, then. Don't forget our promise." I nodded and she smiled. "Well, I guess I'll see you in two months."

"You too." I said. She slipped a note into my hand, and turned to leave.

"Bring me back chocolate!" She called over her shoulder. I stared after her, not wanting her to leave. Not wanting me to leave. I'd never travelled much. Never even been out of the country. The nerves were getting to me. The prospect of unfamiliarity was, to be frank, scary. Disorganized as I was, there was always the hint of a routine to my life. After my father died, I clang to every single little thing I had. Furniture, toys, pictures. The stickers I'd stuck on the side of my small wardrobe with Beth were still there. A bunch of random German calendars from 1967-1992 still sat inside my desk drawer, despite them being given to me when I was probably about five. Everything was always the same, and now I was being plunged into a world full of the unknown. Down the rabbit hole.

"But, when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat pocket, and looked at it, and the hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again."

I stood out side my front gate, watching as the cab drove up in front of us.

"Well, I guess it's time to go." I said in a quiet, anxious voice, hugging her as tightly as my arms would allow before letting her go again.

"I'm going to miss you, Mom. I'll call you when I get there though."

"Looking forward to it. Gosh, I'm getting all teary, I'll miss you so much, sweetie. I love you." She gave a silly grin, fanning down her face.

The driver grabbed my two suitcases and put them into the boot of the fancy black car.

I smiled. "You too, mom."

I kissed her on the cheek, and climbed into the waiting car. I wound down my window as soon as I was in, waving at the figure that was slowly disappearing into the horizon, and even after it had.

Within an hour or so, we arrived at the airport. With my stomach churning with nerves and excitement, I was glad I skipped breakfast.

I got out of the car and the driver handed me the tickets. Stuffing them into my bag so I didn't accidentally drop them, I walked into the airport. For such a vast place, it was awfully cramped.

As I stood in the long bustling terminal I could sense the excitement of holidayers waiting to be flown to their far flung dream destination, but I couldn't share their excitement. I was too damn nervous.

Once I was cleared through Security, I followed the signs leading to my designated gate. I sat down in the blue chairs for about half an hour. Eventually, an airline representative announced that the plane was ready for them to board. I lined up behind a few people and waited for my ticket to be scanned. Once they did that, I shoved my larger suitcase up the top, but left the smaller one down. I wanted to get my books, sketchbook and my pencil case out so I wouldn't be completely bored. I already had my iPod in my purse.

I quickly shoved the small suitcase back up the top, and sat down my assigned seat, which was closest to the window. My stomach was churning with excitement and nervousness, so I plugged in my earphones and turned on some music in attempt to ease my nerves. It did help. I felt a little less lightheaded now, listening to some good ol' death metal music.

A young man sat beside me, and he too put on his earphones.

I grabbed my sketchbook and opened the page to my latest sketch, planning on finishing it on this long flight.

If there was one thing that could calm me down, it was drawing. I wasn't the best and I could definitely use some improvement, but concentrating on where to put each line of the paper was a distraction like no other.

After a while, the plane took off. My ears felt blocked up and I moaned, the dizziness getting to me again. Maybe I should have eaten breakfast. I closed my sketchbook and closed my eyes, leaning back against the seat.

"You got blocked ears too?" Said the guy next to me, somewhat sympathetically. I opened my eyes and looked at him. He had light brown hair and wide brown eyes. He was tall and skinny, wearing a stripy top and skinny jeans with a closed laptop on top of them.

"Yep." I said grumpily.

"I hate that part. Want a piece of gum? It helps."

"Thanks." I gave a hesitant smile and took a piece of gum in my mouth. It did help a bit. "I'm Alice, by the way."

"I'm John. Nice to meet you. You're a really good drawer, by the way. I couldn't help noticing." He flushed ever so slightly. "Can I see?"

"Sure," I passed the book to him.

He scanned through the pages with those big brown eyes.

"Wow. You're really good. I'm impressed." He gave a lopsided grin.

"Not really. I just draw a lot when I'm bored. But thanks."

"No really, you're amazing.' He suddenly groaned. 'I feel sick.."

"Me too. Haha." I closed my eyes again, trying to concentrate on the words of the music and not my churning stomach.

Eventually, I dozed off. I couldn't say how long I was asleep, because I was asleep. How would I know? I do know that I was awoken by the Airhostess, pulling that little table thingy filled with food and stuff.

"Sorry, miss. Would you like anything?"

I blinked, still groggy. "Uh.." I was pretty hungry, actually. "Yes please." She passed me the menu. "Er.. Can I get a...hm... Chicken Caesar salad?"

The airhostess nodded. "Of course." She bent down and picked up a pre-packaged Caesar Salad, and passed it to me. I gave her the money. "Thank you."

"Would you like anything else?"

"No thanks." She nodded and pulled the trolley slightly further up to serve the people in front of me.

When I got off the plane and I collected my luggage before venturing outside. I found a man dressed in one of those extravagant driver suits, holding a piece of paper that said my name on it. At that point, I was practically shivering and jumping with excitement. I couldn't believe that I was actually here in London. Although, I think the shivering was partly because of the glacial wind that beat my cheeks red. The ground was covered in snow.

"Hi. I'm Alice." He shook my hand, and we rode together to the hotel. He seemed extremely serious, as I tried to make a conversation. In the end, I simply just jabbered on happily, not caring if he was listening or not and not minding that he never answered.

By the time we got back to the hotel, night had fallen, the last rays of the sun evanescing below the horizon. The driver helped me carry my bags into the lobby, and checked me in. I carried the bags into the elevator and went to find my assigned room. When I found it, I dumped my suitcases on the bed, and collapsed in an exhausted heap onto the sofa, before ordering room service. Even though I was mentally and physically weary from the long trip, I found it difficult to go to sleep, so I just watched TV until I was tired, which was about 2:00am. Before I dozed off, I managed to get myself into a shower and change into my pajamas, setting my alarm for 7:00am.

I hoped to dear god that I would wake up to it.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Ugh. Shut up, you stupid alarm.

Oh crap.

I sprung up, throwing the covers off my and began rummaging around in my suitcase, struggling to find something decent to wear. I should have planned this beforehand, but it'd never really crossed my mind.

I hurriedly tore apart my suitcase, eventually deciding on a navy skirt, a white top, a red cardigan and tights.

I cursed out loud when I couldn't find my cheap black slip-ons, so I settled for my mid-calf length lace up boots that didn't match my outfit at all. Oh well. At least they were comfy.

I ran the brush hastily through my hair and tied it up in a messy bun on top of my head, brushing my bangs out to finish my hurried look.

Next, I dug around in my toiletries bags, trying to find the products I would usually wear. Mascara, a bit of eyeliner so my eyes didn't look so small and lip gloss. Cherry flavored, my favorite. I would wear foundation if I could, but the problem was that I'm pretty sure foundation didn't even come in my shade unless it was Halloween face paint. I was too pale, a product of staying in my room all day with the curtains closed, staring into a computer screen. Not even the lovely pale, either. The type those glamorous vampires and models had. No, I was stark white, or maybe grey, with an uneven skin tone. I got my dad's hair and my mom's skin, which wasn't the greatest match. My mom was pale, not quite as much as me, but it matched her blonde hair. My dad's hair was dark, but it didn't look so harsh with his skin tone. Damn you, genetics.

I stuffed everything back into my suitcase once I was finished getting ready. Luckily, it only took a few minutes. I put aside my military styled coat and leather gloves to wear outside. I wish I'd brought a scarf or some gloves. Maybe a beanie. It looked freezing outside.

After brushing my teeth, hurriedly making the bed and running downstairs so fast I almost tripped, I made it to the front doors.

Looking at my watch, I discovered it was 7:56am. Phew. 4 minutes early. I quickly looked in my small suitcase to make sure I had grabbed the toiletries bag. I did.

I looked at my watch again. It was 8 now.

A long, shiny black limo pulled up beside the hotel. It had a W on it. I assumed it was my ride.

The driver got out, and looked at me. "Miss Hatts?"

"That's me."

He opened the door. I thanked him, and climbed in while he put my suitcases in the boot of the car.