The Fish Fin(Being Rewritten)

Chapter 1

I stared down at the blank sheet. Fiddling with a pencil, already worn from me nervously chewing on it. 

"I need to get this done!" I think, "If I don't, I won't get accepted!"

Even with the deadline looming above me like the sun, I still couldn't think about what to write down.

"To get into the "The Upcoming Adventurers Program", we require you to fill out this sheet. Answer all questions truthfully. While there aren't right or wrong answers, what you put in can affect if you get in or not. We wish you the best of luck." I read through the instructions again. Attempting to figure out what to put as the answers.

"What is your strength?" I read again, trying to spark some ideas.
"What should I put me? I'm just.... average, and if I put average then I won't get in! If I don't get in I won't be able to be with my friends!" I think frantically, "Why is this so hard!? I can name why all my friends are getting in, so why is this so much harder!?" I think as I am frustrated, tapping my pencil against the table. Then it hits me like a train.

"It's because I'm not good at anything like them. I'm not strong and swift like Lillian, I'm not super supportive or a quick thinker like Stormy, I'm not super smart or have any magic that can be a light source like Dani! I don't have useful magic and good observation skills like Cloak, I can't see dangerous future outcomes like Otto, and Cat! And... Cat," I pause, all those memories flooding into my head again, I smile at all of those times we've had, forgetting about what was going on for a second, "he's just amazing on every level." I sigh happily, then I remember who I am, "Then there's me..... Fin, who's just.... average at best." I think sadly, always remembering how I won't amount to anything.

"Ring, ring!" My phone buzzes, on the screen it says Cat.

I pick up.

"Fin, I need your help!" He yells desperately from the other side of the phone.

"What?" I ask.

"I need you to be at the meeting place at six sharp! For a super secret "Adventures Buddies meeting." He whispers not so quietly, I can imagine him smiling smugly on his side.

"Ok." I reply, having interacted with him for ten years, this is normal.

"Thanks! See you there!" He says happily, "Don't be late!" He borderline attempts to hiss to seem jokingly threateningly.

"Bye." I reply.

The call ends. I feel warm inside, it's always nice having a conversation with him.

"Hmm..... it's at six, and it's three now. That should give me enough time to finish this. With enough time to turn it in." I think positively, "Right...... right?"

I look down at the paper, the familiar dread consuming me again.

I take a deep breath, "Ok, let's do this, I got this." I think, trying to motivate myself, "As best as I can." I slip, "...... I'll try." And then fall, the warm feeling freezing away to nothing.

There you go making up lies again! That's the sentence that's repeating in my head. I try to ignore it, try to clear my head.

"I didn't lie, I just... barely stretched the truth." I try to reassure myself, "Oh..... who am I kidding when I did that all I did was prove him right. I'm an awful human being." I failed at even trying to reassure myself, "If I did put the truth I would've just put average. But because I'm not good enough like my friends, I panicked and just put the compliments I've gotten." I'm nearly to the building. "Look, all I have to do is live up to those lies, and it will no longer be lying!" I try to reassure myself again, "I'm looking into this too much. Ok, me, calm down, we don't want anyone to see us freaking out."

I'm finally there.

I stare at the glass doors in front of me, "Ok, I got this." Just turn it in and go to the meeting place. It's sim-"

I hear a thud, "Oh darn it." Someone says from behind me.

I turn around. There's a mess of papers and binders on the ground, and a random guy with dark brown hair and printed fox ears, also on the ground, scrambles to pick them up. His ears were twitching.

I walk over and start to help him.

"Oh..." He's a bit shocked, "Oh!" But quickly gets the idea, "Thank you!" He smiles

"No problem." I smile back.

We stand up. He stands with pride and calmness, the only thing that breaks his cool facade, is his still twitching ears.

We start walking, unintentionally, in the same direction towards the U.A.P building.

"Let me get that for you." I smile, quickly getting the door for him.

"Thank you again." He says happily as he walks through the door, I follow him, "So are you just following me or going in the same direction?" He asks calmly.

"Same place. I have to drop off a paper." I reply.

"Same." He replies, the same tone of voice, this guy is really calm "That's a lot of papers to drop off." I note. 

"Yes it is, I do have a problem with procrastination, I was also helping my father." He replies, "So what's your name stranger?"

" Fin—yours?" I ask.

"Alex." He answers, "Again thank you for the help." He says gratefully 

"Hey, it really wasn't a problem. Really I'm just doing what anyone would've done." I reply simply.

He looks at me strangely, like he's both confused, interested, and annoyed, yet still somehow calm, "Sure." He replies flatly.

We had talked so much that when we stopped we were there. "Well," Alex starts, as we turn in our items, "this is where we need to part ways for now Fin. I hope we can meet again in the near future. Put it there!" He says, holding out his hand.

I shake his hand as I say, "It was nice to meet you as well."

Then I leave as he stays.

"Wonder if we'll ever meet again?" I think, walking out of the building, towards the meeting place.