Where the Butterflies Hide

*}|{*Chapter Two*}|{*

Bending down, Claire places a kiss on top of Gracie's head as Gracie complained about her hair being messed up. Her little sister was dressed in style for her very first day of second grade, whereas Claire couldn't have cared less about what she wore for the first day of her final year of school.

The less people who notice me, the better, Claire reasoned.

"Ok Gracie, do you have everything?"

"I think so" her sweet and small voice replied. "I have the lunch you packed me and all of my supplies in my backpack..."

"And my number in case you need to call me on the school phone?" Claire asked.

Gracie rummaged through her fairytale princess backpack before producing a slip of paper with Claire's phone number scribbled across it "Got it!" She beamed.

Claire smiled encouragingly, "Okay then, go have a good first day and make lots of friends" Gracie turned and skipped into the school building. Having already registered, Gracie knew where her classroom was and the name of her new teacher. Claire turned to the high school across the road and sighed. She knew her education was important, but why couldn't she just get her education online.

Because you had to sell your laptop to get money for you and Gracie.

Claire's shoulders sagged. It wouldn't have mattered much anyways; she couldn't stay home, just in case... No, she told herself. She wouldn't think about that now. She had to focus on getting through the day, and searching for a job later.

Throwing a hood over her head, Claire walked briskly across the street and paused at the front steps. Why did the front of this school have to look so intimidating? Like every step was taking you closer to the belly of a beast and were hinting at the horrors hidden within, ready to swallow you whole within a moment's notice.

Derailing her train of thought, Claire took a deep breath and forced herself up the stairs and through the squeaky hinged double doors.

The inside wasn't as bad as it had appeared on the outside. Another set of low stairs inside gave way to a hallway, with a few hallways branching off in the distance. Long lights illuminated the hallway as did the sunlight streaming through the big windows on the left. Claire fidgeted with the strap of her backpack and hesitantly pulled out her class schedule.

Locker Number: 2048

Locker combination: 31-19-10

Claire mentally shrugged, simple enough.

Claire peeked at the lockers numbers on either sides of her until she located her locker and briskly spun the combination until the locker opened with a click.

After shoving her unneeded books inside she resumed scanning her schedule.

Homeroom: Mrs. Kelly, Room: 237

Pulling out her map of the school, Claire located her Homeroom which was on the second floor.

She took the right stairwell up to the classroom where she could already hear the boisterous laughter and screaming coming from the kids inside. Sighing and mentally preparing herself once more she tiptoed inside, looking for any available sear in the back.

After finding one near the windows she strode down one of the aisle's and quickly took her seat, the sun momentarily glaring in her eyes as she situated her bag over the back of her chair and pulled out her notebook and pen.

Claire stared out the window. The football field and bleachers were just visible behind a few trees near the window and Claire wondered what it would be like to be able to stand in the bleachers with a group of people she could call her friends, cheering on with the rest of the crowd for her team to be victorious.