Chapter Text
Hi, I'm Anne Boonchuy, your typical, normal Thai-American girl living in L.A. At least, I was normal till my thirteenth birthday.
The day started like any other...
Anne is biking her way to school. When she arrives, a girl approaches her while she's putting her lock on the bike rack.
"Hey, Boobchuy! Whatcha eatin'? A puke bun?" The girl cackles at her own joke.
"It's not a bun, Maggie. It's khao niew bing, a traditional Thai snack made up of rice and coconut milk. My mom made it for me because it's my birthday."
"Oh, happy birthday." She grabs at Anne's snack and tries to take it. "Give me that!"
"Hey! Get your own Thai mom. Also, that's been in my mouth." The two struggle over the Thai snack.
"Hey, Margo!"
The two look over to see a blonde girl standing in front of some bleachers. Behind her, a boy with a purple mohawk plays a guitar solo. "Leave her alone! Also, nice guitar solo, Vince."
That's Sasha, she's been one of my best friends since kindergarten.
"Oh, yeah? Or else what?"
"Or else you can forget coming to my awesome house party next week. It'll be really sad when the whole class is enjoying the pool without you."
The girl immediately backpedaled. "Aw, jeez, Sash. I was just playin'. Here." She pushes the snack back into Anne's hands and leaves.
"Thanks, dude."
"No worries. You just gotta speak their language."
She's always looked out for me, even if she get a bit much sometimes.
"But never mind that. Happy birthday, girl!!" The two squeal in excitement. But then the school bell rings "Ugh, buzzkill."
~0~
In class, the teacher announces that it's Frog Dissection Day and all the students groan.
"Ugh! Frogs are the worst." Anne grumbles.
Back then, I found the whole thing gross. Now, I dislike it for entirely different reasons.
"Right? Let's get outta here." Sasha says and starts heaving, pretending to be sick. "Mrs. Virk, the sight of blood... I-- I'm gonna be sick...!"
"Oh, dear. Anne, why don't you take Sasha to the sick room before she desecrates these beautiful frog bodies with her vomit? Thank you." The teacher immediately lets them go without issue.
Anne and Sasha leave the science class giggling and Sasha runs right past the sick room.
"Yo, Sash. Sick room's over here."
"*sighs* Forget the sick room. Forget school! Let's get out of here and celebrate your birthday in style!"
"Oof, skip school? I don't know, Sash—"
"Anne, this is your 13th birthday. You only get one of these. So, let's make it the best birthday in the history of birthdays."
Sasha's ideas for fun usually got us into trouble, but I was too used to taking the easy way out and letting others decide for me to talk back most of the time.
"Well... all right. I gotta be home by 6:00, though. My parents are throwing a big party, and they really want me to be there."
"Right, right, you got it. Now let's get this thing started!"
~0~
The two leave school on Anne's bike and go to the arcade, where they play a game called Super Dance Fun Time Fusion. They get the top score and Sasha kicks the machine, causing it to release a bunch of coins, to Anne's unease.
~0~
In an alley, Sasha graffiti's her name of the side of the building and hands the spray-can to Anne. Anne tests the can, but panics when she hears the siren of a police car go by.
~0~
The two girls ride down a concrete path in a grocery cart, forcing other people to dodge out of their way. While Sasha is screaming in joy, Anne is just screaming.
~0~
It's late in the day, when the two stop at a coffee shop for snacks and drinks.
"*slurping* So that's what a unicorn tastes like. Corn syrup." Her phone chimes and there are two messages from her mom that say, 'Where are you?' and 'Party starts in 15 minutes!'. "Oh, shoot! It's almost 6:00! I gotta go, dude."
"Family party, right? Lame. Let me guess, a clown? With balloon animals?"
Anne blushes in embarrassment. "I know it's not the coolest, but this is important to them."
Sasha is not convinced. Her phone chimes and she gasps. Oh, my gosh. Marcy says she found the perfect gift for you downtown!"
Marcy was my other best friend, who had known even longer. She was super smart but super clumsy.
Sasha shows the picture on her phone to Anne. With three colored gems on top. One blue, one pink and one green. "A frog music box for the frog lover. I wonder if those gems are real. Come on. Let's keep this party train rollin'! Choo-choo!"
"Sorry, dude, you don't understand! I really gotta go."
Sasha becomes stern. "Oh, I understand, Anne. You're a good little girl who's gotta go home to her mommy and daddy. Come on. Hang out with your friends that love you."
"Sasha, I'd really like to, but—" Anne tries to refuse again, but Sasha cuts her off.
"Anne, this isn't cute anymore. We are meeting up with Marcy right, now. End. Of. Discussion."
Anne is shocked for a moment, but ultimately gives in. "I guess it's okay if I'm a little late..."
"Boom! I knew you'd change your mind."
~0~
We met up with Marcy at the thrift store where she saw the music box. And since our allowances wouldn't be enough to buy it, they pressured me into stealing it.
Inside the thrift store Anne stares at the box that's sitting on top of an old cabinet. The only other people in there are an old man looking at shirts and the old lady who runs the store. The old man isn't paying her any attention, and the old lady has fallen asleep.
"Alright, Anne, you can do this." She tells herself.
She grabs the box and glances out the window to her friends. Sasha gives her a double thumbs up. Anne puts the music box in her backpack and walks out.
~0~
Later, it's after sunset and the girls are at a public playground. Anne pulls the music box out of her backpack and opens it.
The box emits light that engulfs the girls and all three disappear along with the box.
And that is how my adventure in another world began.