So I made an amazzzzzing new friend named Julia and she likes Beyblade too. Julia, if you're reading this, it's for you. I got this plot bunny and here I am writing it. I guess she inspired me. Juli, if you're reading this, yes, I put you in it...probably everybody'll even skip this note...I am just rambling because I don't know if I've ever started a story with no author's note...here we go!
Written from my perspective. This is in my universe where Beyblade is a show, but trust me, it gets better ;)
Before leaving the house, I take one last look out my window and reflect. It's a thing that I do. I'm not even sure why, but it's always been there. So here I am, and my ride is idling at the end of my driveway, but I am distracted as usual, staring out the window.
It's rained like crazy these past few weeks. The grass is waist-high, tall enough to lose a couple of cats or a small child. Julia tells me that her father is very irritated, that the lawn is so overgrown and just won't stay cut.
Then I catch sight of the calendar taped to my window; I've put it there specifically for this purpose. I look out this window more often than I look in the mirror, and my forgetful mind needs a schedule reminder just about constantly. My eyes fall upon the Beyblade sticker at the bottom.
About one month until Shogun Steel opens. Excitement rises in me like it has every morning, along with uneasiness. The stars align on that day. I'm only hoping me and Julia's hard work has paid off.
Only time will tell.
Juli's mum honks at me from the end of the driveway and I hastily turn from the window, forcing myself to focus. (Not an easy task, mind you.)
As soon as I catch Juli's eyes through the window, I can tell that she's thinking the same thing I am. "Three weeks", she mouths at me.
We get to the University and Marley is waiting for us on the front steps. We hurry in; it's time to push aside the doubt and let the day begin.
I expect mornings to pass as they always have; a text from Zippy waking me up screaming my name in all caps. Coffee-soaked cereal gobbled down hastily. Books in the bag, a glance out the window, and Mrs. Alvarez honking at me from the end of the driveway. Because for the longest time, they have started this way. All this summer, the same morning.
Juli, Marley, Zippy, and I have all-summer Junior Uni Arts programs. The University brings in high school kids and educates them in the arts. We go there every day. It's almost like being in school.
Of course, nature has a different plan for the four of us. Because today, as I mark off another day towards the prospect of Shogun Steel and aligned stars, I see a twitch in the overgrown grass outside. Like I said, our cats go in there all the time to play Ferocious Predator, so at first I'm not worried. But then I see grey fur.
We do not have a grey cat.
I throw open the window and banged on the wall loudly. This normally scares away the raccoons. When you live in a rural area, you just learn things like this.
"HEY!" I yell. "Get outta here!" I can almost feel Juli's mum squinting at me from the car window. Honk. Honk.
Something in the grass startles, and then I am the one being startled as a human sits up.
No, no, no...
I whirl, grabbing the calendar. Is it possible? Did we calculate wrong? The stars are not supposed to line up for three more weeks. But nothing else can explain the appearance of this human in my front yard. Because he is spookily familiar. Because this has happened every single year.
I dig around under the bed and find what I'm looking for: one leather jacket, one baseball cap, one pair of jeans, and one grey t-shirt, pilfered from my dad's closet as of last year. I am so thankful right now for how messy I tend to be.
Within moments, he is dressed as a normal human, looking unfailingly confused and very very lost. I manage to shove him into Juli's car, telling her mum that he's my friend. Juli gives me a confused look, and I know she's not comprehending this, but she'll understand soon enough. For now we just need to get going.