Same Old Sky | Chapter One

I fingered my ears briefly and stepped onto the bus, trying not to look as terrified as I felt.

Ever since I turned twelve that year, things had changed. Not just the things around me. I had changed. And it wasn't normal changes, either.

Not only have I been homeschooled all my life, I've been extremely normal all my life. Well, normally crazy, if you follow me.

This year, I was going to Etheridge Acadamy - A boarding school for girls. And if my guess was right, it would be the most boring semester of my life. At least I got a summer break -- something I never got as a homeschooler.

Anyway, back to the changes. First, Etheridge Acadamy. Second, I had shot up -- not surprising, as I've always been tall, fair, blonde (although I deny it and can't wait until I can die my hair black or something) but also, my ears pointed. All by themselves. Don't know how it happened.

I swear I didn't secretly undergo plastic surgery so that I could pretend I had a dramatic life.

I can't say I'm shockingly unhappy with these changes. It makes me feel like somebody -- with a life.

"Yo!" I glance up because I can for some reason tell that this random exclamation was directed at me.

It's a teenaged guy, no older than me, raven black hair, maybe five and a half feet -- or more.

"What?" I say, trying not to show my braces. Did I mention my braces? Ok, well I got them over the summer -- pure torture.

"Your ears!" he points. I flush, eyes wide, and dash off the almost-stopped bus into the boarding school lot. Across the street is the boys' school. Everything is divided -- there's even two seperate doors for girls and boys! And we have to sit on seperate sides of the bus.

He looks like he wants to say something then files of the bus along with all the other boys. I try to blend in, but I know I don't.

All the other girls have been going here all their lives. I'm homeschooled. I'm a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do and an Assistant Teacher up to High Yellow belt. Also in Tae Kwon Do.
Two Thirds of my friends are boys .. Let me rephrase that. Two of my Three Friends are boys -- (I'm homeschooled, remember?) Anyway, the point is I absolutely do not fit in here.

I keep filing until we've all filed into a big, empty, room. I'm just following the girl in front of me -- I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing.