SIGNS

Chapter 1: Celebration

"Compatibility:
Leo/Aquarius
Scorpio/Taurus
Capricorn/Cancer
Gemini/Sagittarius
Virgo/Pisces
Libra/Aries"

"Liv, Livia!" Wake up!"
I open my tear stained eyes to my lilac themed room. My best friend, a natural Pisces, Willow, was staring back at me. My pillow had the familiar smell of tears, the smell I usually woke up to.
"Did you have another night terror? Doesn't matter, today's the big day!" Willow was a small female with a flat chest and long white-grey hair. Her freckle covered face and circle wire framed glasses were looking rather brighter today. She excitedly held out her hands and showed me very faint marks of scales.
"Today we learn to transform! Aren't you excited?" She jumped up and down on my hardwood floor. Wearing the traditional Pisces school girl outfit, a white sailor uniform with purple lines, bow and skirt, she looked very cliche. I could understand why a natural born would be excited to learn to transform. Being a normal child, Willow has spent the first 10 years of her life in isolation, just like any other child. Now, being 14, we would learn to transform into half mermaids, a Pisces celebration.

Of course, me, being a loner child, doesn't observe this holiday very well. When I was a baby, I was left on the doorstep of the government. For the first 10 years of my life, I was thrown into the different countries, changing my adopted parents about every half a year. Last year, me, a fit brunette with no knowledge of what I could transform into, was placed in Pisces. Taylor, my brave, redhead Scorpio agent who has been in charge of me my whole life, says that this was our golden chance.
"This is our golden chance, Liv! I can feel it, you will love Willow! You are a born Pisces, I can feel it!"

        I sighed and heaved my heavy body out of my warm and fluffy comforter that Willow's family lent me, no second thoughts. The Pisces custom. Willow backed up, almost tripping on the trim dividing my room from the hallway. I grabbed my wrinkled uniform off the dresser and got undressed right in front of Willow. The quick thing you learn about Pisces is that nobody minds if you decide to, say, share something abruptly.
"The ceremony starts in 10 minutes! We will only be able to catch the P Train in..
4.32 minutes! Let's go!" Willows worried face made me chuckle.
"Calm down Wil, it's not a big deal. They always let late passengers on..." I snorted and rushed out the door, Willow trailing behind me. I rushed past Ms. Mer in the white furnished kitchen.
"Honey, make sure to eat something! I made tuna omelettes!" Ms. Mer's bright voice cheered me up, but I kept running, while Willow surprisingly stopped and grabbed a plate.
"Sowwy, Sorwy!" She mumbled with her mouth full. "I couwld't reswist the fish!"

     I sat down on the hard plastic chair, and quickly jumped back up.
"Eww, it's wet..." I shook my hand out in disgust. I wiped the water off the seat and sat down. Willow bounced in her seat excitedly beside me. I glanced at my hands. No scales seemed to be forming, while Willow gladly shoved her hand in my face.
"Look! Look! My first scale!" A blond beside her gave her a confused look.
"Hon, you just got your first, I have my fifth!" Then she looked down. "Sorry, didn't mean to burst like that..." She rubbed her hands together and smiled. "The pressure is real!"

"Good morning, students of Hēmîna, the capital city of Pisces. Today is a great day for you, and for many of your type!" The headmaster of my academy stool at the front of the grand hall, a hall only used for special  occasions. "Today is a birthday for some of you," The blond girl raised her hand and waved. "but today, for all of us, is the day you become adult Pisces people!"
The crowd cheered. I just rolled my eyes. I knew I didn't belong here, but I was sure I would get caught if I were to sneak out.

Basically, what the headmaster wanted us to do was to 'embrace our inner sign' and then they poured a bunch of water on us.
"Eww, we're drenched!" This time it was Willow screeching. "Now we have to go home and wait? Awww..." I patted her back.
"It's ok Willow, I don't even have any scales." I showed her my palms. "Or, anything for that matter..."
Willow had a worried look on her face. If you didn't show any signs of transformation for the first week, the government came for you. And if you weren't acting like your sign, you were kept somewhere secret. Switching signs was very rare, that's why every time I joined a new one, the stares and funny looks were unlimited.

A week later and nothing happened to me, but Willow was lucky. She was walking down the hallway to let me know dinner was ready and a heard her fall down. I rushed out into the hall, and she was half mermaid. To outsiders it may seem weird, but almost everyone in the world can transform into something. Scorpio, a half scorpion, Taurus, a centaur, Capricorn,  half ram, Aries, a sheep, and Gemini, well, they're just born in twins. Aquarius and Pisces share some aspects, but they're  are very different people. Aquarius are manipulators of water, the show people to Pisces. The difference between the bodies of the signs are great too. Pisces are small people with wider hips to help support their tail, while Aquarius have stronger arms to support their works of water.

"Hey Livia, I think you should see the doctor. You still haven't shown any signs of transformation..." Willow's voice made me jump. I had been sitting at my piano studying for a music test that was required of all Pisces.
"What do you mean, Willow?" I tried to keep my voice as innocent as I could. "It's probably nothing. I bet you tomorrow it's going to happen." Willow gave me an uneasy look. "Sigh, fine, you caught me. I'm going to sneak out of Pisces..." I sat down on my bed.
"It's going to be hard, but I can't stay here. Not like a loner child. You know I don't belong here. I hate piano! And why does everyone have to be so selfless? It's so boring!" I immediately took back my words when I saw Willow's face covered in tears. Sensitive. Of course.
"Sorry Willow, but you know I can't do it here. I'm going to Leo again. They're the farthest away from the government central."
"When are you leaving?! How will you stay secret?! Tell me Livia!" I had never seen Willow this hysterical.
"I wish I didn't have to do this Willow. I'm sorry."

"I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

{{Authors Note}}

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