Acolyte

The loud and consistent beeping of my alarm clock wakes me up from my peaceful slumber. This is it, today's the day, the day my fate is decided. I'm finally going to find out what type of Acolyte I'm going to be!

I quickly shut off my alarm, putting a stop to the obnoxious and loud beeping sound, and I quickly start getting ready for the day. My first stop is the bathroom, where I check myself out in the mirror, brushing down my messy brown hair and then just looking at my reflection. My skin is a fair white, my eyes are honey gold, and I unfortunately don't have any muscles, but I still think I'm decent looking enough. I smile at myself and then brush my teeth, change into my white, button up, short sleeve shirt and black pants; my incomplete school uniform, and then rush downstairs to have breakfast with my mom and dad.

"Well, isn't someone hyper today?" My mother giggles as she sets down a plate of french toast in front of me and another with bacon and eggs.

"Can you blame the boy? Not only was he accepted into the one and only acolyte school, but today's also the day we find out what kind of Acolyte our boy's going to be. Of course he's excited." My father chuckles.

"Heck yeah! What do you both think I'll be? A Fire Acolyte? Maybe a Laser Acolyte? Heck, I'd even be happy if I was a Force Acolyte!" I grin.

My mom gently karate chops the top of my head from behind. "I think you're gonna eat your breakfast before it goes cold."

I giggle nervously. "Y-Yes ma'am." I quickly scarf my breakfast down and check the time. "Bus is gonna be here soon, I gotta go!" I hop up and quickly wash my dishes.

"Are you sure you don't want us to just take you to the school?" My dad asks.

"No no it's fine, you've both already done enough." I smile at them both. "I know you both have work soon, so I'll take the bus. Besides, it's a chance for me to make some friends early on!"

They both smile at me and my mother nods her head. "Well alright then. We love you, Genta, and good luck."

"Thanks!" I quickly run out the door and rush toward the bus stop. I make quick friends with the other people waiting at the bus stop, chatting with them about a variety of things as we get on the bus, but mostly about our acolyte exams. This feels like the longest bus ride of my entire life despite the fact that it's only 30 minutes long. Once we arrive at the school, every student quickly rushes off the bus, sits anxiously through orientation, and then it begins: the acolyte exam.

The teachers line up all 500 new students in 26 consecutive lines based on the first letters of our last names. The wait here feels even longer than the 30 minute bus ride, but soon enough, my turn finally arrives. The examiner tells me to stand on a odd, cube shaped device, and I do so. The device then scans me up and down, and I don't budge an inch, even after I'm done being scanned. I patiently await the results of my test, my nerves slowly building and getting worse and worst. And then, the examiner tells me the results. "Well, it looks like you're a booster kid."

My eyes widen, and everything I've been feeling up until this point flies off in the wind. Those three words that I was so anxious to hear, those three words that I didn't want to speak of or even hear to possibly boost my chances and ease my nerves, and those three words that are now going to make my life a living hell: "You're a booster." The examiner hands me a white blazer and a pair of white pants; now completing my school uniform, and he gives me a smile full of pity. "Good luck kiddo."

I don't respond and hesitantly take the uniform. I'm afraid to even put it on, but I don't have a choice. The rest of the school day is absolute hell and painfully slow as I go through seven different classes and lunch. The friends I made on the bus, well, let's just say they're not my friends anymore. When I get home, Mom and Dad are waiting inside, the sad looks on their faces telling me they already heard the news. "Genta..." My mother frowns.

"It's alright Genta, we can get you transferred out of that school asap. It's only the first day of school, so it won't be too much trouble." My dad says quickly.

"No! No..." I respond just as quickly. "It's okay, really... We knew the possibility of me being a booster when we signed up for this school, and you've both worked too hard for me to just drop out because of it. Even if I am a booster, the opportunities for going to this school are far too high for me to just drop out simply because I'm a booster." I smile sadly. "It'll be tough, but I'll survive. Don't make things harder for yourselves just because I'm a booster."

"That's our job as your parents Genta..." My mom frowns.

"Then it's my job to lighten that load as much as possible." I give them the same bright grin I always wear. "I promise, everything is going to be fine. I'll be in my room until dinner!" I quickly dash up the stairs and run into my room, closing the door behind me. The second I'm in my room, my smile fades. I take the white blazer I'm wearing and throw it onto my bed with all the rage I can muster. Afterward, I collapse onto my knees, pressing my forehead against my carpet floor and I silently begin to shake and sob.