Claire Traymore

Intro CRACKS IN THR PORCELAIN A Cordelia High Story Claire Traymore was the kind of student who planned every detail before the first bell. Her locker door held a rotating list of weekly goals—academic and personal. She arrived early to every class, corrected her posture in reflective surfaces, and smiled with practiced ease. Her speeches were memorized, solos flawless, and committee work precise. At Cordelia High, she wasn’t just respected. She was expected to be perfect. Her heels clicked softly as she slipped into the library’s back corner, planner open, sticky notes fluttering like warnings. She set it down gently, but the sound echoed too loud. Her phone buzzed again. Recommendation letter still pending. She’d meant to follow up with Mr. Gutierrez last week. She always followed up. This time—she hadn’t. Claire sat slowly, fingers clutching her backpack strap. Inside, her smooth sea glass pebble rested in the front pocket. She almost reached for it. Almost. The study guide on her screen blurred. Hours earlier, she’d led the council meeting flawlessly, smiling as she outlined Winter Formal logistics. Everyone nodded. Always. But after choir, Mr. Knowles gave a rare sympathetic smile. “Don’t stress one off day,” he said gently. Then drama rehearsal—she blanked on a line she’d known for weeks. At lunch, Naomi, the council secretary and her rival, spoke loud enough for half the cafeteria: “Claire, why schedule Winter Formal setup during AP Chem lab? Half the volunteers can’t show.” Heads turned. Claire had no answer. Each event alone was manageable, but together, they felt like a tidal wave. Alone in the quiet of the empty library, Claire’s hands shook. Her usual confidence cracked, revealing the deep fear she kept buried: the fear of being ordinary, of losing control, of falling behind. The world she’d built with perfect grades and flawless performances seemed to be tumbling down, and for the first time, she wasn’t sure how to stop it.