Transformed

Chapter One

Chapter One

I quickly scan the still-dark, morning landscape for any signs of other people. Although I see no one, I duck behind a tree just to be safe. I dive forward, picturing an image of an eagle clearly in my mind. I don't have to worry about my feet hitting the ground as I feel my body shrinking, arms elongating, feathers sprouting all over my skin. It's not a painful experience, but it still feels foreign, despite the fact that I have felt it almost everyday since second grade.

See, I can transform into anything, animals and objects alike. It started one day during a family vacation with my parents, or rather, foster parents. I don't know what happened to my real family-I'm positive all of my grandparents are deceased, and I'm assuming my parents are, though I can't imagine I don't have at least one aunt or uncle. If I do, I've never met them.

Anyways, I was in the ocean, swimming around and having fun. I imagined I was a dolphin as I dove forward into the waves, and suddenly I had become one. Luckily, my foster parents hadn't seen, in fact, no one had seen, except for a little boy who thought I was just a normal dolphin. But no one knows my secret, and I plan to keep it that way. I wish sometimes that I could confide in someone, but I know that's not an option. If I told them, they'd think I was insane, and when I proved it to them, they'd just think we were both insane.

My clawed feet leave the ground as I spread my wings wide and soar into the cool air. Every morning when I go out to fly, I tell my parents that I'm on a run, and they seem to believe me. Flying is probably my favorite part of transforming. It's addicting, almost like a drug. A harmless drug. It allows me leave my problems back on the ground when I take off into the sky.

This morning I especially need the stress-reliever. It's my first day of ninth grade, my first day of high school. And since I thought there was too much romance and drama in middle school, I know that I'm going to be in for quite a, um, treat in high school.

Unfortunately, my joy ride eventually has to end as I sink back down to the ground and reality. I change out of my "running" clothes, eat breakfast, all of the every-day details that I don't want to bore you with.

I climb onto the bus at 6:30, wishing passionately that I could just fly to school or something. But as I know most people aren't accustomed to seeing birds flying around with loaded backpacks, I decide against it.

***

The second I step through the school doors, I am enveloped in a bone-crushing hug and a mop of frizzy brown hair. My best friend Christy pulls away and looks me in the eyes.

"I've missed you so much!" She squeals excitedly. She has a tendency to get very girly and overexcited. That's (obviously) not why we're friends, though. I had a difficult time finding anyone to hang out with once my carefree elementary school days ended and drama-filled middle school years took their place. Finally, in seventh grade, Christy had been nice enough to accept me and we soon became the best of friends. We can tell each other everything. At least, almost everything. I haven't told even her of my transforming secret.

We walk through the hallway, filling each other in on everything that happened since we last saw each other in July. After that, I became quite busy and couldn't find the time to get together with her again.

"Guess what?" she says after I finish telling her about my week-long family camping trip.

"Huh?" I reply, knowing I'm not supposed to actually guess.

"Brandon texted me, asking for your phone number!" The one thing that bothers me about Christy is she tends to be a lot girlier than me. She's much more interested in boys and gossip than I'm sure I'll ever be.