He is king in this town. Oh, how he rules the world. People fall at his feet, the chosen one with his power. God, it is so inconvenient. My name is Arla Ball. I look exceptionally average, but I could dye my hair orange and green, and people still wouldn't notice me. I have normal talents. My magic isn't particularly strong, but it's not weak either. I have normal interests, too. I scroll endlessly through social media but any other teenager. I am in my senior year of high school. And Augustus Edwin Weatherhead is ruining my life. See, we live in the town of Evernever, where the impossible, like world-ending prophecies, is possible, and the possible, like me graduating, is decidedly not. Augustus Edwin Weatherhead is the subject of the aformentioned world-ending prophecy, and he thinks he can get whatever he wants. He is also hopelessly in love with me. He also has decided to sit next to me in all my classes. "I slayed a dragon the other day," he says casually, like he's not showing off. "The past tense of 'slay' is 'slew,'" I reply, trying to focus on what the teacher is saying. When I was younger and still enthralled by him, I missed information about several tests just listening to him talk. He was so intoxicating back then. "Third one this month," he continues, like I hadn't said anything. "The attacks are getting more frequent. It's a sign that the prophecy's about to take hold." I know this. He's said it before. 'When beasts rain on the town of possibility, the child of light will save us all.' We've all heard the line. "Aren't you listening to me?" Augustus asks. I ignore him further. "Arla," the teacher clucks, "I know Augustus is the 'chosen one,' but I still need you to be focused on me." See how he's ruining my life? After class, I drag him outside to the soccer field. Literally. "Ow," he complains, rubbing the arm that I dragged him by. "You slew a dragon. You shouldn't be hurt by a little tugging," I reply harshly. "What do you want to talk about?" he asks, his voice hopeful. People stare at us as we talk. The child of light and that girl... what's her name again? "Look at me," I say. "I want you to move away from me in all of our classes together." "What?" "Were you hoping I'd say something else? You're so full of yourself." "But I'm the chosen one. The child of light. You should be grateful I'm sitting next to you." "I would be grateful if you let me graduate. You don't even realize what you're doing to me, do you?" he looks confused and I laugh. "You distract me in class. You invite me to all of your after-school events that I can't miss, because you're the chosen one, and I don't do my homework. I want to get out of here. I hate this stupid town. I hate its possibilities. And I hate you! Do you know why?" "N-no?" he stammers, even more confused. "Because it could have been me. If you had been born a few seconds later, I would have been the 'child of first dawn.' I would have had your fate, and your popularity. I wouldn't have been a useless girl." "But you're not," he says, because he's in love with me. "I am. And I'm glad I am. But I can't stand having you rub your fame in my face. So get out of my life." The next morning, my house is covered in eggs. I can't wait to get out of here.
