You know what's weird? According to FanFiction, Chapter 9 and Chapter 13 have the exact same number of words… I wouldn't recommend counting, though.
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The next few days went on without problems. They didn't see much of Charlie, and when they did, they were always interrupted by people coming for autographs, or asking Charlie to sit with them at lunch. Charlie always said yes, but his excuse was 'he had to please the fans.' This made Claire angrier. But when they asked if she was okay, she would kindly respond, 'yes, thank you.'
"I can't believe its New Year's Eve already," Shannon said excitedly. "It's my favorite of all holidays."
"Why?" Kate and Claire asked curiously. They would think that someone like Shannon's favorite holiday would be Christmas, for presents.
"My dad and I would spend the whole day together," Shannon told them. "Doing anything we wanted, without the interruption of Sabrina or Boone. But that was when he was alive."
"Well Shannon," Claire said boldly. "Just because your dad is… not here anymore, doesn't mean it can't still be your favorite holiday. What do you want to do?"
Shannon shrugged. "Whatever fate wants us to do."
Claire gasped suddenly. "I can't believe I forgot to tell you!" She said. "You know that team we played at the beginning of the year? The only ones we lost to? They were invited to celebrate New Year's with us!"
Shannon and Kate groaned. Ana, who just arrived there, moaned, "You have got to be kidding."
Claire shook her head. "I overheard Coach complaining about it."
"Well, then," Ana said. "I am so spending the whole evening with Sawyer then. Unless he goes to talk to one of them. Then I would be gone in an instant."
Kate laughed. "I really doubt he would do that. He hates them as much as you do, Ana."
"I'm telling him already," Ana said, texting. "He says 'I guess I'm spending the whole evening with you.' That is so weird! I totally just said that!"
"That just proves you're a perfect couple," Shannon said. "If you think the same thing, say things at the same time, or finish each others' sentences."
Ana shook her head, laughing. "If you say so."
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They stood at the door watching the 'Hostiles' poor through the doors. Sometimes they would recognize people from the basketball team, and the ones that they saw at the park in Claire's neighborhood. One of them, Juliet, spotted them and walked over.
"Hi, guys," Juliet said. "I like your school. It's really nice, from everything I've seen of it."
"Thanks," Jack said kindly. "I'm glad you like it."
Juliet smiled and wandered off. Once everyone had gathered, the crowd started chanting 'Drive Shaft!' No one joined in for Claire's sake. She understood this and was grateful for it. Charlie ran up onstage and everyone cheered.
"Drive Shaft is unable to play tonight!" He yelled over the crowd, who 'awwed' loudly. Many people began to shout 'why?'
"We're lacking a singer," Charlie answered. "And we don't take volunteers either. And also, our guitarist says to leave him alone. And so does our drummer. And so do I, as a matter of fact."
Claire smiled to herself. Libby was right. But Claire knew that all along.
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"Hey," Juliet said, approaching Jack. "Who are they?" She said, pointing to a group of five people in the back of the room. "They've been standing there that entire time, refusing to talk to anybody."
Jack looked over. He didn't know, and he knew everyone in his grade. They all looked about his age. "They're not in your school?"
Juliet shook her head. "No. And I know everyone in my school. They look our age, don't they?"
"Yeah," Jack replied absentmindedly.
"Jack!" Jack heard Charlie shout his name. One person of the group looked over. "Have you seen Claire? I can't seem to find her anywhere."
"No," Jack said, concerned when the guy looked over. He didn't seem to look away. "Sorry, Charlie." Charlie sighed and left.
Jack glanced over again. The guy who was looking over earlier was now talking to someone else, and pointing in Jack's direction. All five of them began walking over.
"Hey there," The man who was looking over earlier. "Are you Jack?"
"Yeah," he answered. "I'm Jack. And who are you?"
"I'm- uh," He stammered. "I'm… I'm Daniel Faraday."
"Daniel…" Jack remembered. "Like on the computer?"
"The very same," Dan answered happily.
"Hold on," Jack said. "Just one second." Jack pulled out his phone and texted everyone to come over there. They all came over quickly.
"Hello," Dan greeted.
Jack told them everything.
"And who is this?" Sayid asked, indicating everyone else.
"Uh… well…" Dan said. "This is- here- this is Charlotte Lewis, Naomi Dorrit, Frank LaPiduz, and Miles-,"
"Don't tell them my last name!" Miles warned.
"-Well I guess this is just Miles," Dan finished.
"And what might you be doing here?" Sayid asked.
"Well- that's the thing-," Dan stammered.
"Forget the small talk, Dan," Miles said. He pushed past Dan and went right up to Jack. "Where is he?" He yelled in an in-your-face type of way.
"What?" Jack asked. "Where is-?"
"You want to know why we're here?" Miles asked. "I'll tell you why we're here! We're here for Benjamin Linus." He whipped out a photo.
"Benjamin Linus?" Jack questioned. "He doesn't go to this school-."
"What?" Miles interrupted. He turned to Dan. "You said that he'd be here!"
"Well- I-," Dan said. "I-uh- thought that- Miles, it must be that other-."
"Wait," Jack said. "Just because he doesn't go to this school, doesn't mean he's not here.
He's one of the people that came from the visiting school."
"Where is he?" Miles asked, but kinder this time and yet still demanding. Jack pointed to Ben who was standing somewhere else, talking to Alex and Mikhail. Miles stormed past Jack and to Ben.
"This'll be good," Frank said, and they all left to see what would happen. Jack, curious, followed.
"Do you know who I am?" Miles shouted at Ben. "I know you know who I am! My name is Miles Straume. Do you remember now? You owe me 3.2 million dollars!"
"Miles-," Dan said. "Just let him-,"
"Let him do what?" Miles yelled. "Let him manipulate his way past it again? No way, Dan. I've been waiting for this for years. He owes me, and you know it!" Dan silenced, and nodded slowly.
A teacher came by. "Someone says you're not supposed to be here," The teacher said. "Come on. You five- you're leaving."
"You have one week, Linus!" Miles shouted. "One week! You hear? Or I'll send them after you!" They were dragged from the hall.
"What was that about?" Alex whispered. "Ben?"
"I'll tell you later, Alex," Ben said, glancing at Jack. Jack headed back to his friends.
"Let's just ignore this," Jack said, before they could ask any questions. "We can talk about it later. Kate, may I have this dance?"
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This one may be a bit short too… you never know! Alright there was my fair share of Dan and Miles for now… next, is mostly the rest of New Years Eve. Happy New Year!