"Mom, I really think we should reconsider this idea, how is it going to be functional?" I asked and was sitting in the backseat of my mom's car.

"Amara, we've been over this! You should be thankful that your school bumped you up to sixth grade. You get to see how kids will react to you since you're supposed to be in fifth grade," my mom said, I scoffed. I'm Amara Shine, and I'm supposed to be in fifth grade with my BEST friend Farrah. You know, the classic best friend, sassy and funny. And seems to be better than you in qualities that you lack...

I'm told by teachers that I'm brilliant for my age, but who cares about that? I'm a nervous kid, and my school can be pretty overwhelming like most schools. I care about how people think of me, speak about me, and look at me. My mom doesn't get it, like how most parents don't. I feel panicked and scared when meeting people or even family members. My mom always said I should make friends other than Farrah. And puts me in an empty void where I think deep thoughts. Vile and cruel thoughts. Then I lose my grasp and then I'm lost in reality. She wants me to act like normal kids, brave kids, and social kids. Which is what my mom wanted me to be, and that was not what I am. Life sucks sometimes and it likes to see you suffer. Yep, that's life for you.

"But Farrah's going to be in a different class and it is just weird for us," I explained, "and the other kids in the class are going to think I'm a weirdo..."

"What did you say? I couldn't hear," she said, I rolled my eyes.

"Nevermind," I muttered. I got out of the car and went to the school's doors. Yesterday was the last day of March Break, today was the start of school again. But only now, the teachers decided to place me in a grade six class. They claim I am special and gifted. The bell rang and everyone started to rush inside. No one wants to be late on a Monday.

I went to the stairwell and walked up the stairs. It was so crowded, with a lot of people that probably knew me in the past. I held my head low and tried to find my classroom, room 224. I didn't find it on my first try. I followed a group of seventh graders by mistake because I thought they were my new classmates going to my new class. I feel dumb now. After pushing through the crowd for five minutes, I found room 224. Yay, I'm so happy. By the way, I was being sarcastic. I found an empty locker and shoved my backpack inside. (People in sixth grade and up get lockers, but my school lockers are really small and slim)

I walked inside to see a whole class of girls and boys talking and chatting, wow. It was LOUD. At some point, I had to cover my ears.

"It's only for a few more months until school ends," I muttered to myself, grade six looked like a nightmare. Yikes. I took a seat by the window and waited there. Then a young lady in a whitish dress and a gray scarf wrapped around her hair walked in.

"Hello, students, my name is—um, hello? I'm speaking, hello?" the lady chuckled, and her soft gray eyes turned slightly bitter. The class kept on talking and you could barely hear the lady, who must be the teacher, speak a single word.

"The noise level needs to go down," she said calmly. This time, a couple of people listened but it was still pretty noisy. It's going to be a long school year.

"Okay, my name is Miss. M to any new students. Any questions?" she said, and a boy who sat in front of me raised up his hand.

"Yes?"

"What subject are we going to be learning, Miss. M? History? Math?"

"I'm glad you asked, Greek mythology is the name. I just convinced the school board to let us do this as a special course. Can anyone tell me the basics of Greek mythology?" Miss. M asked, and only got a few stutters in return. She took a deep breath and turned to me, opening her eyes, "How 'bout you? Can you tell me, and what's your name?"

"Uhhh," I mumbled, and played with my thumb. I wanted to show how smart I was to everyone, also since I've been reading about different kinds of mythology lately. But I didn't want to just make it seem like I show off and well—I'm a bad public speaker. Even in my old class, I was still a bad public speaker. Ugh, do I have some kind of bad luck?

"Uhmm, there are twelve Olympians and they formed a family of minor gods and demi-gods? And m-my name is Amara Shine. Yep."

"Anything else?" Miss. M asked, and the class's eyes turned to look at me. Oh my god, this is like my worst nightmare.

"N-no?" I stammered and rested my head on the desk. Miss. M seemed disappointed and continued to talk about the Titans and the Golden Age. I listened very closely, mostly since I was scared that I was going to have a pop quiz about this later in the week.

But other than that, no one else was listening to the teacher talk. I guess they were all just bored and were staying quiet. Wow, that's a first. It was so quiet that you could literally hear a girl, named Betty, snapping her bubblegum. Kind of annoying. The class flew by and the recess bell rang.

"Okay, class, you all may—oh. You already left, great," Miss. M said and exhaled sharply. I was about to leave when the teacher called my name.

"Amara?"

I stifled a curse and turned back to face her at her desk.

"Hey, what's up?" I chuckled nervously and scratched my head. Act dumb, Amara.

"Nothing much, but please do tell a bit more of your knowledge of Greek mythology,"

"W-w-why? Is it because of earlier? I swear that I know a lot of Greek material and—yeah, I also like other types of mythology too,"

"Amara, is there anything you'd like to tell me? Did something happen in the last few days?" Miss. M asked and set down her glasses.

"Nope, not really, I guess, pity right?"

Miss. M sighed and laid back on her spinny chair.

"Oh well, that's a shame. Go on, I wouldn't want Farrah to wait for you," she smiled, I nodded and walked away. Then I stopped, realizing something.

"Wait, I never told you I was friends with Farrah,"

"Ah, you're a clever girl. I just see you two hang out a lot, now go on,"

Okay, that was not weird at all. I walked away to my locker to change my indoor shoes. I grabbed something out of my pocket, it was a silver coin with some weird etching. My mom said my dad wanted me to keep it but before he left. (I swear I'm not trying to make this into one of those cheesy movies) But I'm not sure what it's worth since I can't find it anywhere on the internet. I shoved the coin back into my pocket and tied my shoelaces.

I walked down the stairs while dodging a basketball at the same time. Don't ask.

"YES! SOMEONE NORMAL," I cried and rushed to Farrah when I spotted her.

"Amara? Girl, where have you been? All the swings are taken," Farrah teased and nudged me on the shoulder. " So, how are all the classes going?"

"Okay, it's just so weird and Betty is in that class. I really hate her, "I groaned.

"She sounds nice though, Amara. Don't blame her,"

I twitched my eye. WHAT?! Betty may seem nice but she is not nice. As I said, schools are toxic sometimes, and the teachers do nothing about it. The last school year was a mess. Huh, do I sound crazy? We walked over to the local school park and saw all the swings taken.

"Aww, man,"

"Told ya so, Amara," Farrah laughed and pointed to a boy that was hanging near the swing, "let's go ask him if he's using that swing or not,"

"Fine, but you better do all the talking," I insisted and we walked over. Farrah tapped his shoulder. No answer. Well, that's rude. I tapped his shoulder harshly.

"Hello? Are you—"

"He is back for you," the boy gasped in a raspy voice before falling off the swing and closing his eyes. OH MY GOD. The boy started to gasp for air and his breath sounded shallow. Teachers that were outside on duty quickly noticed this and jumped into action.

"Oh my gosh, is he okay?!" Farrah yelled as more staff pushed the crowd of people away. Why did I feel helpless? Was it my fault?

"Stay back, kids!"

I tried to push my way into the area, what did the guy mean by, he is back for you!? I wanted to know.

"Stay back!"

"No, wait, I need to find out," I cried and gripped the teacher's arm, "please!"

Then something drastic happened. No wait, drastic isn't the right word, let me try again. WE WERE SCREWED AS HECK. The same teacher fainted and fell onto the sand(we have sand by the way, on the playground), and the last word she said was:

"It's so hot," the teacher muttered before she closed her eyes. I gasped and stared in horror.

"Someone, quick, help this teacher! She passed out on the sand!!!" I shouted as I felt a wave of heat on my forehead. I looked up at the sun and it looked as if it was moving toward me. As if the sun was a human being. It felt tingly and like a trance.

"Amara, I don't know what is happening but I know that we should go! Amara?!" Farrah shouted, but I could only hear a tiny fraction of her voice. It was like a whisper, and I heard a woman's voice that put chills down my spine. My eyes widened as everything disappeared and all the swings, trees, and people turned into a black void, like a weird state of my mind, creepy. It was so dark but so peaceful.

"Wake up," the voice said softly. It sounded ever so sweet and calm, I felt comfort I never felt before. But who was the person? I quickly turned around but the black void was gone and I turned to find Farrah grabbing my hand.

"F-F-Farrah?" I stuttered as she tried pulling me away from everyone else. I stared at the sun again, it was so beautiful. Then I got pulled to the ground and with a THUD, I rubbed my eyes. I coughed and fixed my eyes on Farrah. I gasped in shock and panic. Farrah blacked out and her eyes were fluttering.

"No! Someone call for help! Get more teachers! Somebody!" I screeched and bent down to drag Farrah to a teacher. Then red bumps started to form around her arms and I screamed at first sight. I instantly let go and Farrah fell to the ground again. Whoops. I tried to wake up Farrah as the red bumps spread throughout her arms. How is this possible?! Farrah isn't allergic to anything!

Then I heard thunder and a drip of water down my forehead. You gotta be kidding me—a rainstorm?! Then pouring rain and nasty clouds shooed away the sun and the bell started to ring repeatedly. No one left. Everyone wanted to see what happened to that boy, that other teacher, and... Farrah. I got help from Miss. M who was in the area. She helped me make Farrah sit up until the paramedics came to help. I took a deep breath as some people carried off. Oh dear god, I hope no one is dying today, it's only the first week of everyone going back to school.