Zoe
You're going to think I'm crazy. But okay. I just tried to talk to my best friend, and he acted like he didn't even know who I was. Right before that, I tried to open my locker. Even though I'm sure I had the right combination, it wouldn't open.
Smoking Girl
That happens.
Zoe
No, not like this. Things were weird before I came to school too. My dad was home—that's a long story too—but also, at the bus stop, there was this weird kid who asked me these weird questions.
Smoking Girl
Did you know the answers?
Zoe
No. They didn't make any sense. Nothing makes any sense, nothing since last night. This is going to sound completely crazy, but—I found this glass thing on a beach. And when I looked through it, I think I had a religious experience or something—
Smoking Girl
So you are new here.
Zoe stopped and looked more closely at the girl. She took a long, slow drag from her black cigarette. Weirdly, the girl didn't exhale any smoke.
Zoe
What do you mean new here? That's what the kid at the bus stop asked.
The girl took another long drag from her cigarette. She closed her dark eyes as she sucked in the smoke, and the whole cigarette fell away in ashes.
Zoe
Who are you, exactly?
Smoking Girl
Do you have a cigarette?
Zoe
No, I don't smoke. You know. It's bad for you.
Zoe laughed faintly, to break up the sudden chill in the conversation.
Smoking Girl
I know it's bad for you, but obviously that's not the case for me. You really don't have one?
Zoe started to slowly back away from the girl. For some reason, her eyes started to water, as if the bathroom was filled with smoke.
Zoe
No, I don't. Who are you? Are you ... human?
Smoking Girl
No. Duh! I'm an aurisha. And what are you—a traveler or a wanderer?
