Chapter 5: Rainbow's Edge: The Departure

Just as she reached for her backpack, a soft knock on her bedroom door made her freeze. Mia's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the tentative pattern. Mom.

"Mia, honey? Are you ready?" Her mother's voice, muffled by the door, carried a mix of concern and forced cheerfulness that made Mia's stomach clench.

"Yeah, Mom. Just a sec," Mia called back, her own voice sounding strained to her ears. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the inevitable. With a resigned sigh, she opened the door.

Her mother stood there, a picture of barely concealed anxiety. Her eyes, so much like Mia's own, darted around the room, taking in the kaleidoscope of colors before settling on her daughter's face.

"Oh, sweetheart," she said, reaching out to smooth a stray lock of Mia's hair. "You look... colorful."

Mia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Thanks, Mom. I was going for 'walking rainbow chic.' Nailed it, right?"

Her mother's lips twitched, caught between a smile and a frown. "Remember, sweetheart," she said gently, her hand moving to Mia's shoulder, "try to keep the color-changing to a minimum. We don't want to overwhelm anyone on your first day."

And there it was. The familiar mix of frustration and understanding washed over Mia. She knew her mom meant well, but the constant reminders to hide her power, to be "normal," stung more than she cared to admit.

"Right," Mia nodded, forcing a smile. "I'll do my best not to turn the school into a Picasso painting. Can't promise anything about the cafeteria food, though. It might be an improvement."

Her mother's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly. "Mia, please. This is serious. We just want you to have a good first day, to fit in and-"

"And not freak everyone out with my amazing technicolor dream touch?" Mia finished, unable to keep the bitterness from her voice. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll keep my hands to myself. Wouldn't want to embarrass the family by being too extraordinary, right?"

The hurt that flashed across her mother's face made Mia instantly regret her words. "That's not- We just want you to be safe, honey. To be happy."

Mia sighed, the fight draining out of her. "I know, Mom. I'm sorry. I'm just... nervous."

Her mother pulled her into a tight hug, and for a moment, Mia allowed herself to sink into the familiar comfort. "You're going to do great, sweetie. Just be yourself."

"Yeah, because that's worked out so well so far," Mia thought, but she kept the comment to herself. Instead, she pulled back and gave her mom what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Thanks, Mom. I'd better get going."

Her mother nodded, stepping back. "Your father and I are so proud of you, Mia. Remember that."

As her mom's footsteps faded down the hallway, Mia turned back to her room, suddenly overwhelmed by the enormity of the moment. This was it. The last time she'd stand here as just Mia, the girl with the weird color-changing power. After today, she'd be Mia, student at Evergreen Academy for the Extraordinarily Ordinary. The thought was equal parts thrilling and terrifying.

Her eyes roamed over her sanctuary, taking in every detail. The walls, a patchwork of colors from years of accidental touches. Her bookshelf, each spine a different hue, creating a rainbow of literary adventures. The ceiling, still bearing the glow-in-the-dark stars she'd put up as a kid, now a constellation of ever-changing colors.

Mia's throat tightened. For all its chaos, this room was her safe haven. The one place where she didn't have to hide, didn't have to be afraid of her touch. And now she was leaving it behind.

"Get a grip, Harper," she muttered, shaking her head. "It's not like you're leaving forever. It's just high school. With a bunch of other freaks. No big deal."

She grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder. The weight of it, filled with her colorful school supplies, felt like armor against the unknown. Mia took a deep breath, her hand on the doorknob.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered, stepping out into the hallway. The soft click of her bedroom door closing behind her sounded impossibly loud in the quiet house.

As she descended the stairs, each step felt like a countdown. Mia's mind raced with possibilities. Would she make friends? Would her classmates accept her, rainbow touch and all? Or would she end up as the outcast, too weird even for a school of extraordinary misfits?

"Only one way to find out," Mia thought, reaching the bottom of the stairs. She could hear her parents in the kitchen, their hushed voices a reminder of the weight of their expectations.

Mia paused at the front door, her hand hovering over the knob. This was it. The moment everything changed. With one last deep breath, she squared her shoulders and opened the door, stepping out into the morning sun.

Whatever Evergreen Academy had in store for her, Mia Harper was ready to face it. Or at least, she was ready to fake it till she made it. After all, if there was one thing she was good at, it was adding a little color to any situation.