colors and crossroads

Ash - 10/27/19

The drakon roared. It coiled around, knocking Annabeth of its back. I reached her just as she hit the ground. I dragged her out of the way as the serpent rolled crushing a lamppost right where she had just been.

"Thanks," she said.

"I told you to be careful!"

"Yeah, well, Duck!"

"Ash, get up!" My mom's whisper yells where barely muffled by our thin floors.

As if on que, my 7th alarm goes off telling me that I'm currently 5 minutes behind schedule. I slam my head into my pillow and groan.

Why does August 27th have to be today? I emerge from my thick blanket already fully clothed and stumble to my mirror in a daze. I look at my reflection and gasp.

I HAVE A BOOK SHAPED DENT IN MY HAIR.

"Why does it have to be the first day of school," I mumble to my self.

Well, I guess today is a pony tail day. I grab my bag and head out of my room. I walk down the stairs in the middle of trying to do my hair and simultaneously trying not to slip on my brothers crap and get a concussion. At this point, my brothers clothes are a fire hazard, judging from the bio grade fumes coming at my face in full force.

"Jason, pick up your stuff," I yell in the general direction of the gremlin that my parents insisted is related to me.

I glance at my phone to see 14 unread messages from "flower power", aka perri one of my best friends. I sigh as I see that all but 1 one them are covers she probably found on Instagram. Dang I love that girl, but she is one heck of a theater kid when she wants to be. Not saying that I'm not either, because trust me, I am. I look at her last message, the on thats actually a text.

"I'm on the bus, text me when u get here."

I glance at the clock. Crap, I'm gonna be late! I pause as I hear my stomach growl. I'll just eat at school. I run to the door as I yell goodbye to my parents. Why do I have to live in the middle of nowhere.😒

I make it to the bus stop right as it rounds the corner. The doors slowly open and I walk to my seat to find mel with her knees in her sweatshirt and her hood drawn tightly around her bowed head.

"Another?" I inquire, referring to het constant stream of significant others.

I honestly don't know why she puts het self though this. I think its kind of pointless to date before you find out your colors. I expressed my opinion to Mel before and she told me her reasons.

"that's the point, because for all they know, I could be pan, so they don't view it as their issue ," she stated

I get where she is coming from though. Everyone knows at least one person who's life has been ruined by their colors. Some have even been murder. I shudder just thinking about it.

"who was it this time?"

"Evan. Heater. Dumped him."

"Fair enough."

I pull up Netflix on my phone and grab my airpods. I put on her favorite show,the office, and give her an earbud.

"Thanks," she says gratefully and we ride in silence.

Mel isn't my closet friend, but since we're the only teenage girls in a 15 mile radius, we are kind of friends by default. Over time we became each others support system outs side of school. Inside of achool is a whole different ball game. We act as if we don't even know that the other one exists. I don't want to be a part of her drama, and she wants to " live a little." Its just how we operate i guess.

"I'm here." I text perri as I step off the bus.

Suddenly, I slam into a soiled force. So, by newtons laws, I'm forced to rebound onto a hard and wet street, right as a pair of headlights round the corner.

Well, I'm screwed.