Monday 25th. That was the day my life changed forever...

I woke up that morning same as usual, savoring every moment before having to go to school. I felt a bit happier that day though. Why? I was finally graduating from *Kentro Tech and being assigned! I didn't have any particular job I wanted to do and I didn't care as long as I could do two important things. So I tried not look back as I left my lifeless apartment, carefully avoiding the gaze of my neighbors. However, it seemed I wasn't careful enough because I heard my next door neighbor, Mrs. Voile, call out to me.

"Mornin' Tuli!" she greeted.

I stiffly turn around to wave at her, forcing a smile on my face. "G-good morning Mrs. Voile," I replied.

The middle aged woman stepped out of her apartment, revealing herself to be holding a little boy on her hip. She gave me a gentle smile that made me feel a little guilty for trying to escape her.

"I'm glad I caught you! My nephew, Roggie here, came to visit today and I needed a babysitter. Can ya help me out?" she asked.

I resisted the urge to say I couldn't, instead choosing to simply nod. I felt a bit better about it, though, when Roggie stretched his little hands towards me. Sliding a small smile to my lips, I let him hold my index in a tight grip.

"Thanks a lot, Tuli. Oh! Today's your graduation right?" Mrs. Voile questions with an excited tone.

"Yeah." I replied shortly, not sure what else to add.

She smiled widely. "Oh lovely! I'll make sure to watch it on the news! Your sister will be going right? I swear, your parents would have been so proud of you two."

I freeze instantly, breath catching in my throat. Hurriedly, I pull my finger away from Roggie's grip and backed away. I grip my green bag strap tightly, avoiding Mrs. Voile's gaze.

"Y-yeah, s-she's coming!" I forced out in a strangled voice that surprised me.

My tone must have been obvious, because the middle aged woman gave me a sympathetic look. "Oh Tuli, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay!" I said a little too harshly. Not wanting to see her hurt expression, I turn around and run to the stairs, trying to ignore Roggie's whimpers.

Forgive me, Mrs. Voile.

I apologize internally, putting in my ear-pods to drown myself in some random Earthling pop song.

...

Humming to another pop song on my playlist, I glanced around the central city of Weekia, Kentro. There was a flying car passing way too close to my head and some kids were hover-boarding up a building. My eyes then find themselves staring longingly at two girls from my school chatting. I could hear them talking loudly about what jobs they wanted and about meeting our Goddess for the first time. A frown came to my face as I tried not feel the stinging loneliness.

I must have been a bit too in my thoughts because I ended up slamming into someone. We collided so harshly that we both fell back. Rubbing my head, I was quick to look at the person, apology already on my tongue. It was a girl who seemed to be of *virdik-descent by her seemly natural orange hair but her skin was very dark shade of green which confused me. She opened her eyes to give me an emotionless stare, her purple eyes confusing me as well. Her face was very cute which is why her following statement shocked me.

"The f*ck are you staring at?" she snarled.

Blinking, I struggled to realize she was talking to me and that seemed to annoy her more because she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Well aren't you going to f*cking apologize?!"

Feeling annoyed, I went to tell her off but the sound of my piano watch chiming reminded me about my graduation. So I stood up and gave her a flippant apology as I ran off.

"Hey!" I heard her growl but wisely decided not to look back.

Goddess Lunaria, why do I have to go through this? I sighed.

Well at least it can't get any worse.

...

"Well well well, if it isn't Tulips!" a shrill voice shouted from across Kentro Tech's gate entrance.

Remember when I said I had two things I wanted to do? Well one of them was getting as far as possible from this girl, Wendy-Ann Winters. She has been terrorizing me since middle school for some unknown reason.

I grimace as she stomps over to me, trying not to look down at her since that usually pissed her off. Even though I was taller than her. So I stare up at her followers, Rue and Kendall Valli, who had always joined in on the bullying.

"Today's the big day, heh Tulips?" Wendy-Ann said.

I stayed silent, knowing answering would just make it worse. She carried on.

"With your luck, you probably will be assigned as a sewage cleaner!" she taunted, making Rue and Kendall snicker.

"Even that's too good for her." Kendall tossed in.

"Maybe she'll be assigned as carpet. You know why? Because she's so easy to walk on." Rue joked making some of the kids in the hallway laugh hysterically.

Against my will, felt tears come to my eyes but bit my bottom lip to hold them back.

"Even being a carpet I would probably achieve better than you."

I fought the urge to actually say those words, opting to close my eyes and hum a song in my head to block them out. But suddenly, it became quiet as I felt my tie being pulled, yanking me down to come face to face with Wendy-Ann. I felt a creep of fear as she pierced through me with her cold blue eyes.

"Don't get in my way again, Tuli Lu..." she spat. "Or else."

Unconsciously, I nodded and let out a small sigh of relief when my tie is released from her tight grip. She smirked darkly.

"Well I'm going to be a Chosen One so I guess you'll have to listen to me eventually. See you at the graduation Tulips." she chuckled before walking off.

I gulped, immediately getting a bad feeling.

To be continued.

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GotW Notes!

Kentro - greek word for center and refers to central city of Weekia.

Virdiks - race that originates in the south (Merid) of Weekia. They are recognizable for their light turquoise skin due to living in cold environments and natural orange hair and red eyes.

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Thanks for reading the first chapter of GotW! I would love to hear you thoughts on the story so far and what do you think of Tuli. Please feel free to give critiques because they really motivate me! So until next chapter friends! :)