Different

Chapter 1

Sage awoke to the sound of the smoke detector going off and the smell of burning pancakes. She smiled and went downstairs, where she saw her dad trying to flip a blackened, smoldering lump she guessed was supposed to be a pancake.

"Morning sweetie," he said. Her dad's curly brown hair was a mess, pancake batter splattered on his apron.

Sage laughed, "Do you want me to take over here?"

He gave her a timid smile, "It isn't that bad.. Is it?" He saw the look on her face. "Yeah, okay," he agreed.

Sage took the charred rocks off the griddle and started making some new pancakes. After she finished them she called for her brother, Milo. He ran to the table and started scarfing down the pancakes, her dad quickly followed his example.

"Thanks Sage, these are the best!" Milo said between mouthfuls.

"Mhm! Thanks kiddo," her dad said before diving face first back into his plate of pancakes.

Sage rolled her eyes and grinned. They're both such kids. She went and joined them at the table.

*****

Sage got off the bus and saw her friends sitting there, waiting for her. Roxie was dribbling a basketball, her blonde hair brushed back into a ponytail. Her blue eyes always glittered with excitement whenever she played a sport. Fletcher was sitting there, giving her tips.

"If you dribbled the ball about 3.5 centimeters lower your ability to control the ball would increase about 5.73%" he advised, hardly glancing up from his book. His green eyes contrasted his black glasses in a way that made him look like he was always observing everything, which he probably was. She went over and joined them.

"Hey!" Roxie greeted her.

"You practicing for the big game?" Sage asked.

"Yup," Roxie smiled then made a shot for an invisible basket, then chased after the ball.

Sage went over and sat down next to Fletcher and peeked over at his book. He pulled it away for a second before realizing she was just looking. It sent a pang of sadness through Sage. She remembered how her friend said he was bullied before he starting hanging out with them.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Sage jumped before realizing that it was just Zion. "Y-yeah, sure." Sage stammered. She always felt slightly afraid talking to him, his amber eyes so bright it seemed inhuman. She had nothing against him, in fact, he was great company, but something about those eyes gave her the heebie jeebies. Whenever they made eye contact she felt like he could read her mind. She shuddered at the thought as he sat down next to Fletcher silently. There was an awkward silence for a moment, but it was interrupted by the bell.

"I gotta head to class, see you guys later," Sage said before heading off. Another day, same old classes, same old lectures. Sage silently wished for something exciting to happen. She should have been careful what she wished for.

"Bye!" her friends called off after her.