THE MOMENT
"I didn't think it was that funny...," Dara gave her new friend a curious look while the girl tried to recover from her fit of giggles. It was the first week of the second semester at school; but, both girls were new and easily clicked over a few days. Now, they sat in the cafeteria in a corner away from most of the ruckus.
"Sorry, sorry," Aqua giggled some more but managed to get it under control. "Not being sure who I am is kind of every day of my life," she explained. "Starting a conversation with that just hit my ear funny, I think."
"Oh, okay," Dara nodded. "Then, you get it," she said.
"More than you can imagine," Aqua smirked.
"So, I didn't expect to make any friends here... but I did," Dara smiled at her. "The thing is, I won't be here next week."
"You're moving again?" Aqua asked. "The semester just started...," Aqua hadn't anticipated making a friend either, but she was glad she did. It was a disappointment to learn she was leaving.
"Uhh, so I'm going to a different school," Dara nodded. "But, technically I'm not moving..," she paused a moment to build her courage, then blurted out the rest. "I'm actually from a different universe, I don't live on this Earth. I'm going to school on a different Earth next week, but I don't have to move."
"No way! I'm actually a shapeshifter myself," Aqua laughed along. She enjoyed sharing her secret openly when she could, especially when no one would believe her. Dara was obviously making a joke and it was fun to join in.
"Hah, that's a good one, but I'm super serious. I can prove it. Right now, even," Dara said. She glanced around the cafeteria but no one even knew the pair of girls existed. Then, she pulled something out from her bag and placed it on the table to slide it to Aqua.
"This is called a node, it's like a smartphone made of nanomachines...," Dara said. She lifted her hand but Aqua only saw a small, card-sized glass rectangle. She reached for it and paused to glance at Dara; her friend nodded and she collected it. The time appeared in bright red numbers as soon as Aqua lifted it. She flipped it over to check the other side; but, the time followed her and kept its front-facing orientation even on the other side.
"No way...," Aqua intuitively slid her finger up and the screen turned bright white opaque to show an assortment of icons. She felt the need to check again and flipped it over one more time; all the icons followed and remained upright.
"That one's yours, they're easy to get," Dara smiled.
"Thank you. So, you really are leaving next week...?" Aqua asked. She had sufficient proof to believe Dara's claim. But, it wasn't the existence of alternate universes that was on her mind. Dara was the first friend she felt like she'd connected with, ever. Aqua was essentially raised by forest spirits until she learned to shapeshift into a human form. She didn't have a traditional upbringing, but a school of possible friends was too tempting to resist. Unfortunately, any time she met anyone knew she was more concerned about keeping her shape than trying to connect. It wasn't until a good while after the first day that she met Dara when Aqua realized she felt like herself. Maybe it was her own awkwardness mirrored; but, she felt comfortable around Dara.
"Uhuh," Dara nodded. "You can come too, if you want. My mom can talk to your parents and explain the multiverse and all that," she said.
"Really!?" Aqua sat up.
"Absolutely," Dara nodded.
"But why?" Aqua asked. "I want to! But, why were you only here a week?"
"Heh, New Year's resolution," Dara chuckled. "It's kind of involved. There's a New Year's event happening at my school; I resolved to learn more about myself. School seems like a good place for that."
"Wait.. your school? This school?" Aqua asked. Dara shook her head.
"It's kind of a lengthy explanation too," she giggled. "oh! What's your favorite number?"
"35!" Aqua answered instantly.
"Coming to this school, and the one I'm going to next week are kind of 'extra-curricular' activities for me."
"Extra-curricular? You're doing more school for fun?" Aqua asked.
"For the experience, " Dara nodded. "And, the rewards at the end if I earn enough points."
"Oh, that's neat... do all the resolutions have to be school-related?"
"No, the AlterNet will give you relevant challenges for any resolution." Aqua didn't know what the AlterNet was, but it looked like she would have a chance to find out later. If her new friend didn't reject her.
"I really want to go!" Aqua nodded. "But..., I need to be honest," she said. "I really am a shapeshifter...," A faint ripple began at the crown of Aqua's head and ran down her dark skin to her arms and down her torso. Dara stared at herself for a second before Aqua changed back to her normal form.
"Oh, that's cool," Dara smiled. "You'll fit right in."
"Really! You mean it!?" Aqua asked.
"You bet; you should start planning your resolution if you want to participate," Dara nodded.
"Oh, that's easy. New is the goal. I want to see new things and make new decisions. I have a new friend, and I'm going to a new school to make even more. Everything's changing and I resolve to change with it! New Year, new me," she said. Then, Dara erupted into a burst of giggles that made Aqua raise an eyebrow.
"I didn't think it was that funny...," Aqua commented while the girl tried to recover from her laughing fit.
"Sorry," Dara calmed down. "It struck me funny. As a shapeshifter, every day could be a new you, right?" she asked.
"Well...," Aqua chuckled as the bell rang and they stood to return to class. "... yeah, I suppose. But, being me is just such a habit, you know?"