Claire

Closing the door to her new Mercedes, Claire sighed in frustration. Her parents had bought the car as an 'early' graduation gift, in hopes of making her summer brighter. The 'gift' couldn't fix her broken pieces, and honestly, she became more frustrated with her parents that they thought it could heal the growing guilt she felt for her sister. Claire had spent most of her summer alone, lying to her parents about being with friends, and lying to her friends about being deep in summer training. Truth is, Claire enjoyed a couple of months without having to be what everyone expected of her, yet, the summer left her wondering who Claire Raymond even was.

Claire stood outside of Brook Hills where she would begin her senior year. The last three years played as a constant loop in her head. Memories she shared with friends, memories of people the teachers pet, and the all-star athlete who led her cross-country team to victory every year. Yet, her reflection only left her feeling empty. Seeing her peers laughing with each other, Claire had never felt as much as an outsider than she did in that moment; she was thankful for her Top Ten Senior reserved parking, as it kept her separated from the pit below. The laughter grew louder as crazy student, Justin Reed, came flying into the pit, spinning tires, boasting his Class of 2009 flag from his jacked-up Toyota.

The bell rang, ushering all the students to their homeroom prep period. Tossing her backpack over her shoulder, she stared one last time at her reflection in the car window before turning to the school entrance. Claire hoped she could wear the façade she had practiced, but after her summer of revelation, she knew it would be a much harder job, for she was too aware of how unaware she truly was about life.

"Claire!" the exclamation from the group of girls in front of her brought her back to realty quicker than expected. The girls huddled around her in a screech of laughter and questioning.

"You are alive!" Tori said.

"Yeah, we were beginning to think you and Kanon decided to run off together." Savannah says with a sly grin. Though they were friends, Claire always felt a tinge of jealousy from Savannah at her off and on again relationship with Kanon. She felt a bit of guilt for not letting her friends know what was wrong, but it was the tiny, blonde wrapped around her neck that made her feel the most guilty.

"Don't do that to me again, Claire. I missed you!" Charlee says, deepening the hug.

"I missed you too, Charlee." She whispers to her friend. Charlee was Claire's sweetest, and dearest friend. She had typed several messages over the summer to her, but could never bring herself to send one. Char had a different childhood than Claire, and she always told Claire how she admired how strong she was, and that she kept her motivated during the darker times. Claire couldn't bring herself to change the image Char had of her. Even if this idea of a perfect Claire drained her, at least she was helping someone in the process of drowning.

"We will see you at break-time, okay?" Charlee says, walking backwards down the hall to her homeroom.

"Same spot as usual, princess." Savannah says, curtsying before making her exit. Claire laughed to herself. How had she never noticed how catty Savannah could be?

"She's much more dramatic now that she has a new heart throb." Tori says, interlacing her arm into Claire's. "Some punk she met down at the Fight box," she says, rolling her eyes. Claire only smiles, as the two girls walk into their shared homeroom.

Any comments and/or critiques are welcomed as it will help me in the editing process.