Born to Fly

Chapter One

I opened my eyes. No smoke, no fire, no mysterious boy. I sighed and glanced at my clock. Four in the morning. I lay back down and stared at the ceiling. I was constantly being haunted by these dreams for the past few weeks now. Every time it was the same. The fire, the boy, the flying. I sat up accepting that I wasnt going back to sleep anytime soon, and ran my fingers through my hair. I threw off my covers and left my room, going downstairs. My dad sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee and reading a book. His work required him to be up early in the morning. "Couldnt sleep?" He asked setting down his book. "Nope." I said pouring myself a cup. "Have that dream again?" He asked watching me carefully. I nodded. "Arent you a little young to be drinking that." He joked a smile forming on his lips. I scoffed. "Considering Im seventeen, no." I joked back taking a drink. My dad glanced at the clock hanging above the table. "Gotta go. Have a good day Gingersnap." My dad said kissing my forehead as he walked out. I scowled at the nickname. I finished my coffee, put the cup in the sink and looked at the clock. I still had a few hours before I needed to start getting ready for school. I opened the cupboard pulling out a bowl and a box of frosted flakes. I poured myself a bowl then went to grab milk. I sighed. "No milk. Ofcourse." I said. I went to put the cereal back in the box when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I yelped and dropped the bowl, cereal flying everywhere. I took a second look thinking that the boy from my dreams had been looking through the window, but there was nothing there. "Your losing your bloody mind Alice." I said shaking my head. I cleaned up the cereal, grabbed a banana and headed back up to my room. As I peeled the banana I powered on my laptop and checked my facebook page. I scrolled through pictures of me and my friend Amanda. I clicked on a picture that was recently added and almost choked. It was a picture of me and Amanda from the previous night. We had been at a bonfire at the lake, and if I looked closely enough, I could make out a boy standing behind us. The same boy from my dream. I rubbed my eyes and looked again to be sure I wasn't imagining it. He still stood there, his dark hair sweeping down over his face. I don't know how long I stared at the picture. Long enough that I didn't realize my alarm was beeping loudly. I shook my head and shut it off and went to shower.

I had just finished dressing when my phone went off. I flipped it open. "Goodmorning!" My friend Amanda yelled through the phone. "Goodmorning yourself." I said balancing the phone on my shoulder while I worked the snarls out of my hair. "You almost ready? Ill be there in a jiffy." She said. "Yeah Im ready." I said giving up on my hair. "Be there soon!" She said and hung up. I stuck my phone in my pocket and quickly applied makeup, slipped on my shoes and a jacket and headed back downstairs. I opened my door just as Amanda was pulling up. I slipped into the car and she smiled. "Seatbelt love. Wouldn't want you getting hurt." She joked. I sighed and lay my head against the window. "You had that dream again didn't you." Amanda said as she put the car in drive and pulled away from my house. "I just wish I knew what it meant." I said. "Who cares! Some lush saves you from a burning building! Id die if that happened to me." She laughed. I cracked a smile.

We pulled up to the school with minutes to spare. "See you." Amanda said as we went our separate ways. I walked into my Biology class and took my seat. I started sketching the boy in my notebook. I had pages filled with them, feeling like I needed to get the images out. "Settle down class," The teacher said entering the room. "We have a new student today. Please welcome Zephyr Lehash." I looked up and my jaw immediately dropped. Mr. New student, was the same guy from my dreams.

"Hes in your class?!" Amanda squealed as we set down our trays. "Yes. Im positive its him." I said taking a bite from my burger. "Wow that's just so.." She tried to think of the right word. "Surreal?" I said dipping a fry in ketchup before shoving it in my mouth. "Yes, exactly." She said her eyes getting wide. I looked over my shoulder to see Zephyr enter the cafeteria and look around. "Looks like Ashley already has her eyes on him." Amanda said and I glanced at Ashley. She batted her eyes and called him over, and smiled what I think was meant to be seductively. "She looks constipated with her face like that." I commented watching as Zephyr moved to Ashley's table. His eyes wandered over to where I was and stared. I felt my face grow hot and immediately averted my gaze. :Oh Em Gee. He totally just checked you out." Amanda squealed. I scoffed but glanced over my shoulder and sure enough he was still watching me. "If that's true then why is he sitting at Ashleys table." I said taking another bite from my burger. "Because he doesn't know how awesome you are." Amanda smirked. "Plus you got the natural red hair going, and guys totally dig that." I laughed finishing my burger. I could still feel his eyes on me as I started on my fries. "Hes still staring, isn't he." I said shoving fries into my mouth. "Yeah and Ashley's getting pissed." Amanda smiled. "God I don't even want to look." I said but couldn't help myself. I sneaked a glance and both of them were watching me, Ashley's look of course being a dirty one. I watched as she scooted closer to him and started rubbing his arm. "Ugh." I said dropping my fries. "Ive lost my bloody appetite." I took a drink of pop. "You know, he's actually very do-able." Amanda commented and I almost spit out my pop. "Hes all yours." I said coughing. Her eyes lit up. "Really?! I mean, if you don't want him!" She grinned. "Hes all yours." I laughed.

Turns out me and Zephyr have all of the same classes. As did Ashley. I walked into English and took my seat, grimly, right next to Zephyr. He glanced at me, his gray eyes skimming my face. I felt my face flush and quickly opened my notebook. "Ohh look if it isn't little miss ginger." A mocking voice said from behind. Ashley moved in front of my desk. My face heated with anger. I hated when people made fun of me because of my hair. "What color is it exactly. Whore-burn?" Her friends laughed at her horrible joke. "At least mines natural." I mumbled looking at the dark roots peeking from her head. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Zephyr smirk. "What?!" Ashley snapped leaning over my desk. "Nothing." I said. "Yeah," She scoffed. "That's what I thought!" The teacher walked in and everybody quickly took their seats. "Clever." A deep voice said. I looked over seeing Zephyr still smirking. "Well she kind of ruined herself with the whole "whore-burn" joke." I laughed. He let out a low chuckle. "For the record," He said his voice getting low. "I love your hair." I felt my ears heat up. "Thanks." I mumbled. I quickly copied down the assignment written on the board.

Amanda dropped me off at home so I could change for a party tonight. I quietly went to my room, knowing my dad was probably sleeping. I rummaged my closet before finally deciding on a crimson V-neck shirt and white jeans. I re-applied my makeup and switched clothes. There was a slight knock on my door. I opened it to see my dad. "Thought I heard you come in." He said looking me over. "Going somewhere?" He asked. "To a party with Amanda." I said opening my door wider. "Well don't stay out too late. School night." He said smiling. I nodded and shut my door. I heard his footsteps pad down the hallway back to his room. I pulled on a jacket as phone vibrated on my bed. I opened it seeing I had a text. The number was anonymous. Confused I opened it.

"Don't get in the way of your own fate. "