Beamed

Chapter 1, New Faces

Just like everyone else, my ring appeared when I was born. Nobody knows where they come from, they just kinda show up. Eventually, they go away, but even scientists haven't figured that out yet. My brother doesn't have a ring anymore, and neither do my parents.

The rings change color randomly, and sometimes they can stay that color for days, other times seconds. My ring has been a dark blue for a week now, and my brother says his ring was a light pink right before it went away.

I usually don't think about my ring very often, but every once in a while, I glance at it to see if it's still there. It always is. I tend to wonder when it's gonna disappear, like everyone says it does. I wonder what it feels like to lose my ring, something that's been a part of me for 17 years. Would I feel empty? Would I be happy? Would I not feel anything? I don't know, but I'm not sure if I'd want to find out just yet.

The next morning

"T, Alex is here to pick you up! Get down here so she doesn't have to wait for you!" My mom shouted as I was getting my backpack together. I slept in and was running a little bit behind this morning.

I walk downstairs and out the door to my best friend Alex's old pickup truck that she got for her 16th birthday. She wasn't one of those normal teenage girls who wanted a jeep or a sports car that their parents can't afford. Alex is a carefree girl who gives the best advice, takes me on night drives, and studies with me after school. Our friendship is a cliche teenage friendship, but who cares? It's high school, it's not like it actually matters anyways.

"Hey T! I see you slept in," Alex jokes with me. She turns on the radio and pulls out of my driveway. "Yeah, late night last night. I stayed up reading," I say. I'm a total bookworm, but not with actual books. I read fanfiction mostly, and right now I'm hooked on this one about Billie Eilish.

"Still on that one fanfiction? How many chapters is this one? Wait, let me guess, 76," she laughs as she makes a right turn onto Reed Street, about 5 minutes away from South Key High School.

"Actually this one is much longer, it's 110 Chapters," I correct her. "And what chapter are you on now?" She asks me. I hesitate, then mumble, "About 64,". Alex chuckles.

We make it into the school just in time for first hour, English. Alex is so good with words, I think she should be a lawyer or something when she grows up. I, on the other hand, can't even write a five sentence paragraph on my favorite color.

The teacher tells us that we have an essay due on the book we just finished, and I already know I'm just gonna bs my way through it. Either that or copy off of Alex's essay. I'm really lazy. Scratch that, I'm just a sloth.

The bell rings, and I turn on my school bops playlist. The first song that comes up is Trust Fall by Wallows, one of my favorites. I tell Alex I'll see her at lunch, and head to my photography class. I may not like to read or write stories, but I think that pictures tell a story that words can't describe. That's why I like it so much.

"Good morning kids, how's life treating you today?" the teacher asks. He always seems to care, I really like that about him. "Today we have a new student joining us, come on up and introduce yourself!" Mr. Whelly says excitedly.

"Oh, hey y'all, I'm Lacie. I'm from Clear Coast, I'm a Junior, and I play softball".

Lacie, that's a cool name. She finds a seat next to me, and I give her a quick smile before working on my next project. We have to capture something that means something to us, but nobody else. It really sucks because I'm an open book. I don't really keep that many secrets. Maybe Lacie has an idea, I'll ask her.

"Hey, do you have any idea how to capture something nobody else can understand?"

"I'm not really sure, maybe the math teachers here know?"

So she's funny. That's a plus, maybe she'd make a good friend. I'm already pretty darn excited that she is sitting next to me. I hope I made a good impression on her. To her? I don't know, grammar is hard.

"So Lacie, I was wondering if you wanted to hang with me and my friend after school today, we'd love to get to know you," I invite.

"I'd love to! I'll just text my dad and tell him I'll be home a little later. Is there any place in particular you wanted to go to?" She asks. I have the perfect idea. There's this park about 10 minutes from my house, it's really fun there.

"There's a park that I love to go to, there are great places to take photos there, too."

"Sounds great! I'll see you then." She gives me a soft smile, and then the bell rings. I cannot wait for after school!