The Golden Ring

I don't know what was different, but when I woke up that morning, there was a strange feeling in the air. I stood up, and stretched, looking at myself in the mirror. I ran my fingers through my hair. I looked closer in the mirror and saw something I had never seen before. Around the pupil of my eye there was a fine, old ring. I rubbed my eyes and looked closer. I hadn't imagined it, there was a gold ring that was glistening back at me.

"John, you're going to be late for school!" I heard my mom shout. I quickly tossed on a long-sleeved shirt and khakis and grabbed my books. I ran down the stairs to where my mom was holding out a napkin with a piece of toast. "Have a good day, birthday boy." She said as I grabbed the toast. In all the commotion I had forgotten that today was my eighteenth birthday. I hopped out the door and into my car, and sped away towards the high school.

I pulled up to Matt's house, and honked the horn. Matt had been my best friend since kindergarten. Like usual, he was late getting up. After sitting and waiting for about ten minutes he finally came out.

"Sorry I'm late, I woke up late," Matt apologized as he hopped into the passenger seat.

"Could you wake up about ten minutes earlier tomorrow," I replied as I did everyday. But today, Matt kept looking at me after I said it. For a second, I saw the same ring of gold that I saw in my eyes flash in his eyes.

"Okay, I'll wake up ten minutes earlier tomorrow," he replied in a monotonous voice. He continued staring for about ten more seconds, and then looked forward, blinked three times, and then looked back at me. "Yeah, I'll be sure to do that," he said, like he did every time I told him to wake up earlier.

What the hell had just happened? He acted like I was in control. And what was up with the old ring in his eye? Something weird was happening, but I didn't know what. Should I try to see what else I could do?