PART 9:
As soon as she got into the house, Claire took off her shoes at the door, and her first destination was the computer. There was a mild doubt in her mind. She knew that if she really had won, she would have known by now, so maybe there was no need to check the computer, but she wanted to anyway. As she suspected, no new mail. She sighed and double checked her phone. Also nothing. “Just stay positive.” She said out loud. She now wanted to go say hello to Shadow. “Mom, dad? Have you seen Shadow?” She yelled from above the stairs. “No, he’s not down here.” “Okay.” She went to check her room, and there he was lying on her bed. “Hi ya Shadow.” She went and sat on the bed and held him. He meowed. She lied down on her bed, and laid Shadow on her stomach. “Ok, just because I didn’t get an email or phone call yet, doesn’t mean I didn’t win. She looked at her clock on her TV as if it were a person, and said “I’m sure there were thousands and millions- well, maybe not millions of entries submitted. Criss must still have his hands full and still can’t decide. Ugh, what if mine wasn’t good enough?” She looked down at Shadow who at the moment was licking her hand. She could hear her dad coming down the hall, and with the door open she knew he would ask. “ hey hun” “ hi,” she replied back but didn’t look at him hoping he wouldn’t ask. “anything?” he asked. She didn’t say anything for a second, sighed and turned to face the door. “No.” in a sad tone. “Well, if not tonight, remember there’s still tomorrow.” “True,” she said somewhat lightheartedly. He left go into his room.
A few hours later she was ready for bed. She was wiping her face with a light pink towel, and looking in the mirror over the sink, she noticed how much better her face looked, now that she out some effort into taking care of it. When she went back to her room, she saw that Shadow had already found a place on the bed. Unfortunately, he picked the middle of the bed and now she had to move him. She was amused. Comfortable and under the covers with her cat, Claire was ready to go to sleep. She looked out of her window, and there was a full moon. “So if I don’t win, I’m not gonna get to upset. I’ll have another opportunity with Criss in the future, and I’ll get to see pictures and hear some great stories. I’m gonna be happy for other people. Before closing her eyes, she ended with “Goodnight Criss.” As of he was in the room. Claire had such a positive motto for someone who didn’t need to waste time worrying.
At nine am, the sun was shining into the room, bouncing off the white glittering snow, making this hour much brighter. Claire wouldn’t even need to turn on her light. She slowly opened her eyes, and was taken aback by how bright it was, and realized she needed to start sleeping with her back to the window. She noticed that Shadow wasn’t on her bed. She guessed he must have gone to the kitchen. She laid in bed for a little bit trying to slowly wake up. She decided to look at her phone to see who tweeted about what while she was sleeping. She saw she only had one text message in her inbox. Her phone had been acting weird, and all her tweets weren’t coming to her phone for some reason. “ ugh, damn phone.” Alright, who’s this from? She sat up and laid on her right side with her right arm supporting her, as she had the phone in her left hand. She opened the text message. You have an important message waiting for you. She looked at the number, which, in this case was not a tweet, but definitely a text message. She didn’t recognize the number. She repeated what it said. “You have an important message waiting for you.” “what?” Claire wasn’t awake yet. It took her a second to register what it was. “Oh my god!” she gasped. She shot up. “Could this be from?” her eyes shifted. “It’s not a tweet, oh my god, it must be from Criss’s phone!” She threw her phone on the bed, and threw on a hoodie, and raced to the kitchen.
“Morning!” “Morning sweetie” her dad said before taking another sip from his mug. He was wondering why she’s so chipper. She ran over to his side. “Read what that says!” He took her phone,” its not a tweet dad!” her dad read it out loud “You have an important message waiting for you”. He looked at her. She widened her eyes. Her mom then walked into the kitchen. She grabbed the phone from her dad, “Mom, read this!” She shoved the phone in her mom’s hands now. “What? What?” “Read!” Claire said excitedly. You have an important message waiting for you”. “Claire!” “I know!” she said back. “Well what are you waiting for? Go check your email.” “Email, Right!” Claire dashed into the other room.
“Shadow hi!!” he was sitting on the chair next to the computer desk. She gave him a pet, and jumped into the chair at the desk. She was typing her password for her email, and before she knew it, she heard those three little words. You’ve Got Mail. She looked over at Shadow. “This is it”. One message in her inbox was from non other than
casubmission@crissangel.com. The email read :
Hello Claire!
If you are reading this email, it means that you have won the contest for SPEND A WEEK IN CABO WITH Criss Angel. I’m sure you got a message on your phone. Yes, that was a text message from my phone. Shhh, please don’t share the number. Your digital photo that you submitted not only impressed me, but my assistant Eliza, and the graphic designers. You will receive a phone call in two hours to confirm this email and travel information. Congratulations again! Cant wait to see you in Cabo!
Loyally Yours,
Criss
Claire didn’t even get a chance to read the whole email. The minute she saw that she won, she spun in her chair, picked up Shadow and made her way to the kitchen. Holding Shadow in front holding his paws out, she pushed the swinging door open and sang” I win, I win ( pause) I win, I win, you lose. Second verse, same as the first, I win, I win you lose.” She was animating Shadow’s paws swinging him left and right. “You won?!” her mom’s eyes widened staring at her. Her dad looked at her the same way. “ Yes!” Claire said and spun in a circle. “So what happens now?” her dad asked. Claire stopped dumbfounded “ I don’t know. I didn’t read the whole email.” “Well go find out.” Her dad was so practical with everything. Claire turned around and sang the song again in a whisper while she danced her way back into the computer room. Before she sat down she could hear her parents whisper “ Can you believe she won?” She still had Shadow in her lap as she decided to read the email over from the beginning so she could soak it all in. Her parents heard her laugh. Claire read the part about the phone message. In a few minutes they then heard “ oh my god, two hours?!” “what Claire?” her dad asked. Claire got up again and went back to the kitchen and said “ the email said in two hours someone is going to call me, what the hell I’m I gonna say?!” “Relax Claire”, he looked at his watch, you still have one hour left. “ let’s rehearse.” They’ll probably start out with telling you congratulations.” Claire sat down at the table, and put Shadow down. “They’ll ask you for information; hopefully whoever calls will be nice and make conversation.” Claire just remembered the 6 other loyals who needed to get their phone calls to. “Dad, they probably won’t spend that much time, they’ve got six other people to call.” “Well, you don’t know that,” he tried to reassure her. “So they’ll want your full name, where you live, they’ll want to hear your voice.” “ Ok” Claire put her hands out. “I’m Claire Epidavros, I’ve been a loyal for almost four years, I’m from New York, I am honored to be picked for the contest” saying that last sentence in such a dramatic way. She looked at her dad who raised his eyes at her. “A little bit too much.” “You said rehearse.” “You’ll be fine, just be yourself, and relax.” Claire let out a sigh. “Ok, time to go tell everyone!” She went back to the computer room to update her social networks. She was shocked when she found out 6 of her good loyal friends won to! They were all excited because they had already gotten their phone calls. Now it was just Claire. She looked at the clock and it was now only five minutes. “Claire” her mom called out. “5 minutes”. “I know” Claire hollered back. She closed the browser, and went into the kitchen where her parents were waiting. She sat down on one of the bar stools. “Your gonna answer the phone.” She pointed to the phone all confident, looking at her mom. “ No, I’m not.” “Yes, ya are.” Then, the phone rang. Claire pointed for her mom to pick up the phone, and her mom did the same. On the third ring her dad took the phone. “ hello?” “yes, it is.” “yes, she’s right here, one second.” Claire was smiling. “It sounded like a female” he whispered to her, and handed her the phone. Her voice came out easier than she thought. “ hello?” “ hi, your Claire?” “Yes.” “hi, I’m Eliza, Criss’s assistant.” While she was saying that, Claire motioned for her parents to leave. “Well this is a phone call I never expected to get.” Claire felt better and Eliza laughed. “ Well, hi, its nice to talk to you.” “You too.” Eliza seemed like a really sweet woman. “So I’d just like to get some basic information on you, and then I can give you the travel information.” “ Sounds good.” Claire said now prepared. After a thirty to forty minute conversation, Claire hung up the phone. It might have taken less time, but Claire had to ask questions. She would be flying out of JFK. She was happy to know that it would be a direct flight to Cabo. She looked at the phone. She had no choice, she would have to fly. Mind Body and Spirit. Criss’s words exactly. She had a feeling her parents would be in their room. She went and stood in the doorway. Her parents turned to her. “So?” her mom questioned. “I’m going.” With a smile on her face Claire said confidently. Both her parents congratulated her with a “yay” and indicated a group hug. “Your first time flying alone.” Her dad looked down at her. “Yup.” She replied. “Guess this must be really important for you.” Her dad said softly looking at her mother.
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PART 10:
Claire had a week ( few days?) before she had to leave. She started preparing her clothes and what she would take. Her floor was covered with neat piles. She wasn’t crazy about her body, but she took what she knew would look flattering on her. Tank tops, a few long sleeve shirts in case it got a little chilly, pants, and skirts. She was looking in her closet, when she saw a skirt she hasn’t worn in a long time. She took it out, and admired it. It was a rufous red, which is a dark red, but lighter than maroon. It went straight down, and then had ruffles at the end like a gypsy skirt. She knew it would look great on her while she stood on the sand, watching the gorgeous sunset. “Is that gonna happen?” “Will I have time?” She said out loud standing in the middle of her room. “Well I’m taking it” and put it down. “How’s it going Cabo girl to be.” Her mom at her door asking. Claire scanned the floor. “Prettty good.” “Do you want any help?” “No, no, I’m fine.” Casually, but in a tone of please don’t come in my room. She didn’t care if her mom saw what she took, but she didn’t want any side comments like: your taking too much or too little, why are you bringing this? Her next dilemma was what bikini she was gonna bring. The idea of Criss having to see her in a bathing suit was weird. She respected him too much to have him looking at her almost naked body, and that certainly was not the point of this trip. But she knew she needed something. She would want to go swimming. She looked down at the floor, before asking “So what bikini do you think I should bring?” “Bikini?’ her mom was a little curious. “ I know, I was thinking the same thing.” Claire agreed. “But I’m gonna wanna go swimming?” “True, and besides Criss isn’t interested in you that way.” She paused, but decided to step into Claire’s room and go over to her closet. “I hope.” Ma! she said shocked. “He’s a man.” Ma, he has a girlfriend.” Her mother found a bikini for her and held it up. “There’s gonna be six of his loyals in Mexico in bikinis.” She gave one stare at her mom. “Her name is Brooke.” Claire was defensive. “Is she coming?” “I don’t know.” Claire said with an attitude. She took the bikini from her mom’s hands, and turned around to her clothes to put it down. “He’s Criss Angel,” He’ll probably be staying at another hotel, who knows?” “ Wouldn’t be surprised.” Her mom said obviously. She remembered that she was cooking lunch on the stove. “Lunch should be ready soon. I’ll call you.” “What are we having?” “You’ll see.” and she went back to the kitchen. Lunch was gonna be a surprise.
“Oooo”. Claire came into the kitchen and sat down at the table. “Tacos?” she questioned. “ Since your gonna be in Mexico soon, might as well start you early on the cuisine.” Even though Claire had Mexican food before. Claire was hungry. “Where’s dad?” “He should be coming home soon.” Just then she heard the garage door open. Claire started to take some food now that she knew her dad was home. Her mom was setting the salsa and sour cream down. “ Hi dad” Her mom turned around and gave her dad a kiss. Her dad looked at Claire. “ Would you eat before Criss got to the table?” her dad questioned sounding serious. Claire stopped chewing and put her fork down. “ I’m kidding, go ahead.” “Don’t worry, I wont do that when I’m in Mexico.” Hehe, Mexico” Claire giggled. Her dad started to take some food on his plate, and her mom sat down, and now Claire could put some sour cream on her plate. “So do you know who else won?” her dad curious who these loyal friends of hers were. “Oh yes, let see: LeAnn, Arianna, Zoe, she paused. Kate, Xesca, and, Rhiannon.” Smiling, and taking another bite of her taco. “ I hope non of these girls are psycho”. “True” her dad agreed. “mom, dad!” Claire was annoyed. “What is it?” “First mom, thinks that Criss is gonna be interested in me, and now these friends.” “ We just want you to be careful”. Claire imagined that she could hear the sounds of Mexican music summoning her from her room. “Ok, well I’m done.” Claire excused herself and went back to her room where she was safe. She shut the door and leaned against it. “ugh” She then looked over at her wall where her Criss pictures were. She then started to smile.
It was still cold outside, but Claire knew that soon enough she was actually going to stand outside in a tank top. Whenever she and her mother went to do errands, and spoke to her friends, she tried not to yell: I’m doing great, I am going to Cabo to spend quality time with a celebrity! Telling them would have been nice, just to make them jealous. She just said she was going on “vacation.” “Hey honey..” Claire’s mom yelled out. “ Ya?” “ Could you get the mail?” “ Ya sure” Claire looked at her clothes once more before leaving. She was almost done packing and ready to get the luggage. As she pulled the mail out, she could tell it was all typical stuff: magazines and letters. Snail mail is so nice sometime, but Claire could see that not using it was good because its saving paper. When she went back into the house she put the mail down and sat down on one of the bar stools. “ thank you honey.” Her mom started going through it. Claire gave a sigh. “You okay?” “Ya, tired. I was just trudging through the snow.” “hmmm, whats this?” sounding as if she knew, her mother held up a letter, and Claire looked at her a little confused. “ To Claire Epidavaros” as she turned the envelope facing Claire. Claire took it. “ ooo, for me.” “ Looks official” Claire started opening it. Her dad walked in. “ What did you get?” he looked over her shoulders. Claire slowly lifted out the contents. Inside was her plane ticket for Cabo, and a note. “ oh my god, look, its my plane ticket!” Claire’s face lit up. Her dad looked at the ticket, while Claire read the note : Don’t loose your ticket and have a safe flight! xoxo Eliza. “ and his assistant wrote me a little note!” “ well that’s nice of her.” Her parents were impressed when she handed them the note to see. Claire grabbed the note and ticket after a few minutes and held it close. “Claire give it to me to hold. We know how your room gets messy and then you can’t find anything, remember like when you almost lost the tickets to Believe? I don’t want the day to come, you have to leave, and you cant find your ticket.” Claire kept the note, and went to her room, grabbed a clear mounting square, and posted it with her Criss pictures so she wouldn’t forget it.