Chapter 2, Time For Me To Fly

It was midnight and Claire was lying wide awake on her back, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't sleep, mostly because she was nervous about the next day. The only two friends she'd had, had literally moved to the other side of the world. One to India, and the other to Australia. Claire was listening to her mp3, hoping that after a few songs, she'd be tired enough to fall asleep. As soon as a Jonas Brothers song came on, Claire smiled, and looked at the poster hanging nearest to her bed. It showed all three brothers, back when Joe still had the hair he has in Camp Rock 2. Claire closed her eyes and silently sang along to the song she of course knew every sentence of.

"The earth can be a heavy ride

When the clouds are in your eyes

But I feel a calling

I will rise, I won't be falling

And I'll escape the gravity

And I'll reach my destiny

And I'll fly away-ay-ay"

Claire opened her eyes and immediately felt them slipping closed again. Finally, sleep was taking over. She waited until the song was done and pressed the pause button. Slowly she climbed out of bed, to put her mp3 away. As Claire was on her way back to bed, she paused at the window. The sky was black, no moon, no stars. She was just about to turn around and go back to bed, when an airplane with flashing lights passed by. The first thing that came to mind was the song Claire had listened to on the radio today. She mumbled a piece of the lyrics under her breath. 'Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars? I could really need a wish right now, wish right now.' Claire bit her lip, trying not to smile. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Softly she muttered to herself: 'I wish..' Claire thought it through for two seconds, but there was only one thing she actually wanted most. 'I wish..' Two more seconds passed and Claire's smile faded. Wishing did no good, only leaving you with false hope afterwards. She opened her eyes again, but the airplane was long gone. 'Who am I fooling?' she said as she climbed back in her bed. Airplanes were no shooting stars, no matter how hard she "pretended". She glanced at the Jonas poster again, but quickly looked away this time, hugging her quilt closer. A single tear tried to escape, but she frantically rubbed her hand over her eye. Stay there, you mean drop of water. Claire took in a deep breath and, as she drifted off into sleep, whispered to herself: 'I wish I knew The Jonas Brothers, it would make life so much easier.'

Claire woke up with a shock at the loud, annoying *beep* sound filling her ears. She reached out her arm from under the covers and turned her alarm off with a single hit of her fist. Shut it and let me sleep, thank you very much. Claire shifted in her bed, ready to continue her nap. But her mom had other ideas about that. After two minutes, she softly shook Claire, who'd fallen asleep again by now, and whispered: 'Bonus Jonas, first day of school after summer break, wake up, sweetie.'

Claire groaned and flashed a smile. Bonus Jonas. Hah. She opened one eye, muttered unwillingly 'Mkay', and sat up straight. Her mom ran her hands through Claire's long, thick, black hair. Her daughter had grown so fast. Claire sighed and stole a glance at the deep blue skies waiting for her. She swung out of bed. New day, new life and she was so ready for it.

Claire sat down at a desk for two. She was the first to arrive from her new class, the first to meet her terrific teacher (also known as over-excited creep), and therefore also the first victim of his on-and on-going chattering. After five minutes listening to how "superb" he thought this new year was going to be, the rest of the class started filling up. No one came to sit with Claire, probably because Mr. Brown was still talking to her. And well, he wasn't the kind of teacher you would like to get in a conversation with. It was endless, literally. When he started class, Claire was relieved she didn't have to fake smile anymore. But if he was introducing himself, that must mean that everyone was here. And the table next to Claire was still empty. She looked around the room at the other kids. It seemed like most of them already knew each other and were talking about their vacation. Claire stared at the door, desperately hoping for one more person to walk through. Sure enough, the door swung open at that exact moment. A girl with long, tangled, dark-blond hair was standing in the doorway. Her face was red from running, and her expression apologetic. Mr. Brown looked at her.

'Who do we have here? It's your first day of school and your late?'

'I'm so sorry,' the girl said. 'I missed my flight, I came all the way from L.A.'

'It's okay, I'm just joking,' Mr. Brown laughed. 'Have a seat, miss.'

Her eyes searched the room, looking for an empty seat, and finally fell on the place next Claire's. She showed a bright smile and crossed the room towards her. The girl dumped her bag next to the table and reached out her hand for Claire to shake.

'Hi! I'm Kaylee Torello.'