Yellow
Molly gets ready for school with a smile on her face and her classic upbeat attitude. She's excited! It's the start of a new year and a new beginning. Sure, she's missed Scratch since they had to say goodbye. But, with the help and support from her friends and family, she's been able to move forward.
This is a new start! So, I'll keep my positive attitude and smile, and I'll be fine! I can do this. I have an amazing family, an awesome best friend, and a super sweet boyfriend. Nothing can ruin this.
Looking in the mirror, Molly can't help but feel like being one year older is both exciting and terrifying. Growing up, change, it's all an unknown and she doesn't know if she's ready for it. Still, she'll take it one day at a time.
Molly smiles, giving herself a pep talk.
"You've got this, girl! Just remember to keep that spark of joy in you alive and well." Molly said.
Suddenly, the lights flicker and Molly looks up at them curious, feeling this spark of energy in her.
Molly then looks back at the mirror and is shocked to see her right eye has turned this bright golden yellow color with an aura of the same color around it.
Molly puts her hand up to the mirror and a small crack appears. She takes her hand away, shocked.
"Wh-What happened?" Molly asked.
Molly hears her Dad calling for her that it's time for school and, all of the sudden, everything goes back to normal. Even the mirror is fixed.
Molly can't help but feel confused. She knows she should tell someone about this.
There were moments when I was really struggling with my mental health that I started hallucinating…But I've seen ghosts and was friends with one, so it's hard to tell what's real and what's not sometimes. I just hope, whatever just happened, was not real.
Molly heads downstairs, trying her best to keep her smile and hope the family doesn't notice how scared she's feeling about what just happened. She's been doing so well lately, and doesn't want them to worry.
Everyone is gathered for breakfast while Molly starts heading out the door.
Sharon notices this and speaks up.
"Good morning, Molly. Aren't you going to have some breakfast with us?" Sharon asked.
Pete then looks away from his newspaper and at Molly with a smile.
"It's the most important meal of the day! And you need fuel to keep up with your own endless energy." Pete said.
Molly smiles and nods as she walks over to the table and sits down with her family. The fear from what happened this morning already melting away.
Molly starts eating her blueberry pancakes with no syrup, of course, and enjoys it.
"Thank you guys. I guess I was hungry." Molly said.
With that, the McGee's continue their breakfast. Talking and laughing together like the happy family they've always been. Molly starts to feel safe again, realizing that she's always got her family to support her, no matter what.
Molly tries to talk about what happened, but is quickly interrupted by Darryl.
"Alright, time to go! I've got to meet June at school early. We're working on this project for science class and we need to start right away." Darryl said.
Pete and Sharon are glad Darryl's finally taking an interest in school, so they start getting up and heading out the door.
Molly follows behind them, a bit quieter than her usual talkative self.
As they all get in the car, Sharon looks back at Molly, noticing how spaced out she's been this morning.
"Everything okay, sweety?" Sharon asked.
Molly thinks about this carefully. Everything's been totally normal lately. She doesn't want to ruin that for the family.
So, Molly smiles. A little sadness behind her usually bright eyes.
"Yeah, I'm good. Just a little tired. I didn't get much sleep last night because I was working on a school project too, but breakfast helped give me some energy." Molly replied.
Sharon nods, accepting that answer for now.
"Okay. Just know, you can always talk to us if something's wrong." Sharon said.
Molly nods. That wave of strange energy coming over her just like this morning when the lights flickered and her right eye turned bright golden yellow. She can't help but wonder if it's her ghostly joy energy or if she's just imagining things again. So she lets it go. For now.
"I know, Mom. Thank you, but I'm okay. Really! Just a bit sleep deprived." Molly replied.
Sharon's about to say something else, but they arrive at school.
Once the car comes to a stop, Molly quickly gets out of the car and waves goodbye to her parents.
As they walk, Molly feels a sudden headache come on and her right eye starts to hurt, badly so she covers it with her hand.
Darryl, stops and starts to worry.
"Woah, Molly are you okay?" Darryl asked.
Molly tries to smile through the pain. Holding her eye and stopping herself from crying.
"Yeah, just a little headache. I'll be okay." Molly replied.
Darryl starts to get a bit frustrated, but tries to help.
"Mom and Dad may fall for your 'everything is totally normal' act, but not me. Come on, let's get you to the nurses office." Darryl said.
Hearing those words, Molly can't help but panic. The last thing she wants is for a nurse to see her like this, especially if it is supernatural. Or worse, if it's all in her head and they have to send her away.
Molly takes deep breaths. Controlling her emotions and numbing her pain to the best of her ability. Then, it stops.
Molly takes her hand off her eye and smiles.
"See, everything's fine! No need to go to the nurses office. Like I told Mom, I'm just a little tired. That's all!" Molly said.
Darryl looks at his sister, skeptical. But, Molly doesn't look hurt, so he lets it go when he sees June waving to him from a distance.
"Alright well, if you're tired, try to take it easy. I'm going to go work on my project, but text me if you need anything." Darryl said.
Molly nods, pulling out her phone.
"Got it!" Molly replied.
With that, Darryl runs over to June while Molly goes inside the school. It's interesting. She feels like her senses are heightened, especially her sight.
Molly zones in on Libby and Ollie who are waving at her in the distance. She waves back, happy to see familiar faces in the sea of people.
Once Molly reaches them, she hugs them both.
"Good morning! I'm so happy to see you guys! I missed you so much!" Molly said.
Libby and Ollie look at one another a bit confused, but smile.
"It's good to see you too, Molly!" Ollie replied.
"We just saw each other yesterday, but it's always nice to see your smiling face." Libby replied.
Molly starts to feel a bit embarrassed. Sometimes she feels being apart from her family or friends, even for a short time, is too much.
"Oh yeah, sorry! I just get a little excited sometimes hehe…" Molly replied.
Libby takes Molly's hand, knowing how her friend's separation anxiety can get the best of her sometimes. Especially after what happened with having to say goodbye to her forever friend.
"It's okay, Molly. We're always happy to see you." Libby said.
Molly starts to tear up a little. She knows getting this emotional over not seeing her friends for not even a day isn't normal, but she's working on it.
Libby gives Molly a quick hug, then Ollie does the same. Both letting her know she's never alone, even if her mind tries to convince her otherwise.
"Thank you both. I needed to hear that…" Molly said.
Suddenly, just as Libby's about to say something else, Tammy comes up to them.
"Well, if it isn't Molly McGee! I transferred schools and now I'm here and I remember you. Somehow you beat our baseball team and got skills seemingly out of nowhere. How did you do it?" Tammy asked.
Molly starts to get nervous. Knowing she cheated unintentionally using Scratch's ghost powers to help her team win, but she can't tell Tammy that. So she lies.
"I guess I just believed in myself and that drove me to use skills I never knew I had! Sometimes, miracles just happen…" Molly replied.
Molly tries her best to stay positive, but Tammy is not having it. She looks Molly up and down and pushes her against the locker.
"Liar! You're a cheater and a liar!" Tammy yelled.
Molly freezes, not knowing what to say or do. She's been bullied before for being, well different, but never physically.
Molly's anxiety and fear take over and she starts to cry. Her head pounding as she covers her right eye which is starting to hurt again.
Libby and Ollie step in immediately to protect Molly. They stand in front of her, ready to defend their friend.
"Leave her alone!" Ollie said.
"Yeah, there's no reason to get violent." Libby said.
Tammy looks at Libby and Ollie, then back at Molly who's clearly afraid and crying.
"Looks like baby needs her friends to defend her! Why don't you fight your own battles, coward?" Tammy said.
Molly feels it. Fear and sadness, but mostly anger swirling around inside of her. It's intense and overwhelming. To the point where her head feels like it's going to burst. Her right eye starts to glow under her hand and everything she sees is covered in a bright golden yellow tint. Like looking at the sun for a moment and seeing spots and bright lights everywhere. It's all too much.
I…I can't take this! It's too painful. My blood is boiling hotter than lava and I feel like I'm burning from the inside out. You. Tammy Myers. You're going down!
Suddenly, in a fit of rage and tears, Molly jumps from behind Libby and Ollie and onto Tammy. She screams and starts punching her, blacking out from intense anger.
Tammy tries to hit back or push her off, but Molly is too fast. Way stronger than both of them realized.
"Get her off of me!" Tammy yelled.
Libby and Ollie rush over to Molly and try to calm her down.
"Molly, stop! This isn't you!" Ollie said.
Libby then grabs Molly's hand, trying to stop her from punching Tammy anymore than she already has.
Molly stops for a moment, looking at Libby with tears in her eyes and burning anger.
"It's okay, Molly. We're here. Just stop what you're doing and everything will be okay. I promise." Libby said.
Suddenly, Molly stops punching and falls into Libby's arms and cries.
Tammy sits up, staring at the three friends in disbelief.
"Did you see what that freak did to me? She's a monster!" Tammy said.
Ollie looks back at Tammy with anger.
"You started this." Ollie said.
In tears, Tammy runs away, not even bothering to stay and explain what happened to the principal, who just arrived.
"What happened here?" Principal O'Connor asked.
Ollie starts to explain to Principal O'Connor what happened while Libby holds Molly close. She can feel Molly shaking in her arms, in so much pain. It makes Libby tear up as well.
Libby looks down at Molly who's still crying. Then sees the bright golden yellow aura around her right eye that suddenly disappears as she calms down.
Molly opens her eyes and Libby sees that one is glowing bright golden yellow. That goes back to normal too as soon as she sees a slightly tearful smile on Molly's face, happy to be in her friend's arms.
Shocked yet fascinated, Libby starts to put the pieces together. Something happened the moment Molly lost control, something ghostly. And she's going to find out what.