Broken Guitar Strings

Chapter 36

(LAY'S POV)

I have worked so hard for this and I am not going to let anyone down, including me. I know my parents are already proud of me. Allie is proud of me. But...am I proud of myself?

This question wracked my brain throughout the past few days when I was practicing. I have been averaging one and a half hours of practice a day, and I do admit that I'm a bit tired, but...the idea of nationals. I can't believe that I've made it this far. I absolutely cannot fail myself; I am shooting at 5th place or above. Medaling would also be great, but maybe that's just a tiny bit out of reach.

                                                                                                 ♪♪♪

The flight leaves at five thirty in the morning and so we had to be at the airport by five. Allie's driver Roy was nice enough to pick me up at my house with my mom, suitcases and all. This was the first time I rode a limo. The car ride had a surprisingly nice atmosphere and Roy was super funny. I don't think chauffeurs normally talk to passengers, but it's not like I would know. Plus, this is the Thompsons' chauffeur.

We boarded the plane at exactly five thirty, so there was a delay by a couple of minutes, but compared to other flight delays, this wasn't bad at all. We sat in a row of three seats towards the right back. Allie claimed the window seat and my mom was behind me, getting the aisle seat, so I sat in the middle. You're going to New York, Lay. New York. I almost can't believe it. It's still dark outside and Allie is sleepy. My mom was even sleepier, and dozed off not five minutes after the plane took off. Allie leans her head on my shoulder, and I suck in a tiny breath so she wouldn't notice. I've never had a girl lean on my shoulder before, but it feels nice. I gently rest my head on hers and we lay there for the rest of the time. As the sun comes up, light strikes the row of seats and I squint my eyes. Then I open them, and my eyes carry me over Allie and out the window. The puffy white clouds, now below us, are beautifully lit up by the sunlight. Wisps of cirrus clouds seem to draw different swirls of white all around. The city below us turns into rural farmland, and as we approach New York City, houses, tall buildings, and eventually skyscrapers dot the land again. Allie wakes up halfway through and says, "We have a week until the competition. I want to see all the wonders of New York with you and take it all in with you by my side." I smile and close my eyes, just as the plane is about to land.