Spread Your Wings

Chapter 1-Party

Izzy frowned at the big suit she was supposed to wear. For her 13th birthday, her friends were taking her to a 'surprise.' But, guessing by the suit she was required to wear, Izzy guessed that they were taking her to indoor skydiving. And maybe she had also seen it when they brought her inside.

She tucked her large black wings under the outfit, and zipped it up. She grabbed her long brown braids and flipped them out. Then Izzy walked out of the changing room, into the flying zone.

"Surprise!" everyone yelled tossing confetti everywhere. Izzy pretended to be surprised, while she was really thinking about how much skydiving took away from the thrill of flying. Just being able to soar across the world was a breathtaking experience. Skydiving was like saying, 'You know, I'm bored. Let's jump from a plane, and hope that a plastic sheet will save us.'

"Thanks so much!" Izzy gasped. "This is amazing!" Then, she looked at the crowd and stopped breathing. Of course. Like the onions on the chopped liver, finishing the torture off. They had invited Jessica.

Jessica was standing with Lilly and Tori on the edge of the crowd intricately braiding her blonde hair. All of the boys were practically drooling watching Jessica, except for one boy, who was starting curiously at Izzy.

When he saw her looking, he flushed red and turned away. Izzy turned her attention back to Jessica, not at all surprised to see her complaining about the helmets they would have to wear.

"... mess up my hair!" Izzy heard Jessica complain. "I spent all morning styling it!"

"Oh, shut it." Izzy heard the words come from her mouth before she could think them through.  "Who cares if you hair gets messed up?"

"I do." Jessica responded.  "And so do Tori and Lilly."

"Yeah." They replied together.

"Find someone normal who cares." Izzy challenged her.

"Says the girl who is probably peculiar."  Suddenly, Izzy was itching to fly.  And, at the same time she was worried about anyone noticing that she actually peculiar.  Even though normal people had lived with them now for--what was it?--70 years?  80?  They still were afraid of them.

"Oooooooohh..." It hissed through all of the people watching.  Then, came the quiet whispering of, "Fight!  Fight!  Fight!"

"Fight!" Someone whispered in her ear.

"Fight!" Someone else hissed.

Izzy looked across the circle and saw the boy who was staring at her before. "Don't." He told her. Izzy didn't know why his opinion mattered so much. It was probably just a stupid crush. But, nevertheless, she walked away from the crowd.

The "awwww,"s of the crowd followed her as she made her way the the flying tube. There, a man with a red man-bun and a beard rubbed his hands together.

"Alright, guys and gals," he began with a thick Australian accent. "I'm Dave, your flight instructor for the day. Some basic rules, keep your helmets on. I know that sounds stupid, but some people take them off during flight. Umm... listen to my instructions. Cooperate and... have fun!

"Let's start with the birthday girl. Where is she? There she is. Come up," he said, waving her forward. Izzy walked up, tucking her wings farther down into her suit. She followed him inside the flight tube, and a fan started. She was lifted off the ground.

"Follow me." He instructed, spreading his arms out and launching up towards the ceiling. Izzy copied him, and she flew up to the ceiling.

Izzy laughed, actually having fun. She then spread her arms out and when she flew towards the ceiling, she flipped, and everyone clapped, making her blush. She attempted to flip again, but this time, when she looked at her friends, their faces were masks of fear and horror. Then, Izzy realized what was wrong. The fan had stopped.

And she was free falling towards the ground.