Outsiders

Chapter 1

I was woken up by my mother yelling my name from downstairs. Her voice was sharp and insistent, cutting through my dreams and pulling me into the reality of a school day. I looked at the time and realized I was going to be late for school. Panic set in, and I quickly grabbed some clothes: a purple shirt and blue jeans. After looking in the mirror, I brushed my shoulder-length bluish-white hair and smiled, seeing my blue eyes sparkle with excitement. The excitement of another day at school and the adventures it promised. I ran downstairs, grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl, kissed my mother goodbye, snatched my backpack from the kitchen chair, and headed outside, eating the banana on the way.

The cool morning air hit my face, waking me up fully. I glanced around to make sure no one was watching. Once I made sure the coast was clear, I transformed into my ghost form. My body became translucent, a shimmering outline of bluish-white, and I felt light as a feather. I flew into the air toward the school, the wind rushing past me in a refreshing rush.

As I soared above the neighborhood, I felt my phone ringing in my pocket, a strange sensation when in ghost form. I grabbed it and saw that it was my best friend, Ali, calling. I answered, and she turned on her camera, revealing Ali, Michael, and Nash.

Ali had long brown hair fading to purple, dark blue eyes, and wore a black and purple striped shirt with brown pants. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she grinned at the camera. She had the ability to control fire, turn invisible, and teleport, which she often used to play pranks or help us out of tight spots. Michael, her twin brother, had the same abilities. He had short blonde hair, blue eyes, and wore a white tank top with blue shorts. He was the more serious of the two, always watching out for us and keeping Ali in check. Nash, my boyfriend, could control technology, manipulate fire, and run incredibly fast. He had medium-length black hair, brown eyes, and wore a black shirt and brown pants. His smile was warm and reassuring, and just seeing him made my heart race a little faster.

As for me, I had more than just ghost powers; I could also control ice and snow. I felt a thrill of excitement as I thought about the day ahead and the possibilities it held. Together, we were an unstoppable team, ready to face whatever challenges came our way.

I smiled at my friends. "What's up, guys?" I asked in a serious tone.

"Where are you? School is about to start!" Ali said, her voice tinged with worry. I glanced at the skies, weaving around towering buildings and avoiding the morning rush of commuters.

"I slept in, flying to school to make it quicker," I said, laughing. I saw Nash move more into the frame of the phone, his eyes wide with concern.

"What! Babe!" he shouted, his voice echoing through my earpiece. He glanced around anxiously. "What if someone sees you?" Nash whispered, his tone a mix of panic and protectiveness.

"Don't worry, I'm keeping an eye out. No one has seen me," I said, rolling my eyes at his overprotectiveness. I heard Michael sigh deeply, the sound of his exasperation clear even over the phone, and saw him checking his watch with a frown.

"Well, sis, she's fine. Can we please get to class?" Michael said, his annoyance palpable. Ali sighed in defeat, her shoulders slumping.

"Fine, Snow, just get here in five minutes, okay?" Ali said seriously, her voice dropping to a no-nonsense tone. I laughed, a bit awkwardly this time.

"I'll try my best!" I said. Suddenly, a blue wisp of smoke escaped my mouth, signaling the presence of another ghost nearby. I had a sneaking suspicion I knew who it was. "Sorry, guys, gotta go. I have some butt to kick," I said, my mood shifting to anger.

"Be careful, babe," Nash said, his worry evident. They hung up, and it pained me to see Nash so worried. I placed my phone in my pocket and floated in the air, assuming a fighting stance. Laughter echoed behind me, and as I spun around to see who it was, I was hit by a bright lime green ray of ghost energy—an ecto ray—slamming me into the side of a building. Luckily, the office building was empty. I pulled myself out of the debris and saw Chloe, my sister, hovering in the air. She was in her ghost form with bright white hair tipped in black, bright green eyes, and a white undershirt with a black jacket. In her human form, she had black hair with white tips, blue eyes, and wore a black undershirt with a red jacket. My own appearance had changed too: white hair, lime green eyes, a white shirt, and black pants.