Question Everything

Gia's Latosh

I walked into the dimly-lit room bursting with color from flashing party lights and the hair of previous Latoshinas.

A Latoshina is someone celebrating their Latosh, which is one's thirteenth birthday. In Rofertium, where I lived, on one's Latosh, two things would happen: the Latosh's hair color would change according to their personality, and they would get a zodiac tattoo. The strangest thing about it was that there was no dye or ink involved; it just happened. Throughout these events, there was a completely unsupervised party that everyone in Rofertium from ages eleven through fifteen, and you didn't have a choice as to whether or not you attend. Also, if you questioned these things aloud, you would disappear and never be seen again.

I felt something heavy push onto my shoulders. I turned around, and saw Gia in her white lace dress and high-heeled boots, a small gem hanging from a string on her forehead. She was grinning that wide, eyes-closed smile she does and was super jumpy.

"Hi, April! I'm so glad you came!"

"Well, it's not like I had a choice," I said, raising an eyebrow.

Gia rolled her eyes at me. "I knew that. But... you did want to come, right?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss my best friend's Latosh for the world." I glanced at her still-brown hair. "I see I haven't missed much."

"Yeah," she said. "My hair isn't supposed to change for another hour, so we've got plenty of time before anything happens."

I grabbed a strand of her hair and rubbed it between my fingers. "I'm gonna miss this. Brown hair looks good on you."

She smiled, but it faded quickly and was replaced with a queasy look. "Oh, God, I'm hungry. I'll be back in a little. You just... do whatever. I'm gonna be a while."

I watched the back of her disappear in the crowd, and she was gone.

I turned around and started walking. As I passed people, I stared at their brightly colored hair and longed for the day my auburn hair would change.

As I stared at a girl with yellow hair, I ran into something large and heavy, and fell over. My eyes squeezed shut, i felt the large thing on top of me. I opened my eyes, and there was a boy who looked about fourteen with green hair frantically trying to get off of me, but his jacket zipper was caught in the seam of my red dress.

Once he finally unstuck himself from me, he stood up and reached a hand down toward me. I grabbed his wrist, and he pulled me up onto my black flats.

"Listen, I am so sorry about that," the boy said, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "The lights were getting in my eyes and-"

"No," I cut him off. "It was my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going." I held out my hand. "I'm April."

He stared at my hand for a moment, then shook it. "Greson." He smiled.

"Oh. My. God." I turn around and see Gia holding a cup of punch, gaping. Suddenly it changed to a sly smile directed towards Greson, and I noticed his nose was flared and his face was red. I had no idea what was happening.

Gia suddenly turned to me, still smiling. "So," she said, freakishly calm. "I see you've met Greson."

"You know him?" I was surprised. Usually the only boys she ever talked to were her weekly boyfriends. I suddenly wondered if he was one of them, and my cheeks burned red at the thought, for some strange reason.

"Yes," Gia replied, glancing at Greson again. "He's an old friend of mine."

"What do you mean 'friend?'"

"He was my friend, April. Nothing more." She glared at me. "We met at his Latosh."

Smiling, Greson responded, "I missed you, you know."

"I missed you, too." Gia smiled warmly, then once again turned to me. "Hey, the food is really good. You need to come try it." She grabbed my arm and dragged me away from Greson. I glanced back over my shoulder, and saw him smiling wistfully and walking in the other direction.

Gia stopped.

"What's happening?" I said, confused. "I don't even see the food table."

"We aren't getting food." Her face was blank.

"What?! How dare you! I was really looking forward to eating."

She smiled slightly. "Do you like Greson?"

My face burned red. "What?"

"Do you like him?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because I already know." I stared at the floor, and blushed harder. She smiled again.

"You know, I'm pretty sure- OH MY GOD!" She was now gaping at the ends of her hair, which were glowing. Everyone crowded around to see.

The glow was soon replaced with bubblegum-pink that slowly crawled up her hair until it reached the roots. "I'm pink!" She was grinning.

Tears seeped into eyes, and I hugged her as hard as I could.

"Ow!" Gia grabbed her arm. She slid up her sleeve, and a V-like shape faded into view. Aries.

The whole room cheered, and I saw Greson wiggle his way to the front of the crowd, clapping and smiling.