The Colony

Chapter 3-2

Kyer’s stop was the last one before the monorail elevated into the air above the returning track and circled around the Colony’s business district. Due to its geographical location in relation to our homes, the northern part of the Colony—the place where everyone worked or went to class—was simply referred to as “Up.” Barring illness, everyone in the Colony went Up every day, and came back down when their shift or class was over.

Through the window, I saw a cluster of students at Kyer’s stop. In spite of the monorail’s speed, I could pick my friend out easily from the others. He stood a good head taller than most of the guys in our year, and his blond curls were a shade lighter than Brin’s. He had an easy laugh and a quick grin, and long, gangly legs that always seemed to be at odd angles with the rest of his body. Thinking of his legs recalled my dream, and how close he’d sat beside me, and his hand on my knee.

A nervous tickle started in the base of my spine and I shifted in my seat, suddenly uncomfortable. Keep going, I mentally commanded the monorail, but it ignored me and started to slow as it neared Kyer’s stop.

Speed up, I pleaded. Faster, leave him behind.

Instead, it stopped long enough to open its doors. Students jostled inside, Kyer towering above the rest.

I kept my head turned toward the window, but from the corner of my vision, I saw him notice me anyway. A moment ago, I’d been eager to see him and tell him about my dream, but now that he was weaving through the crowd towards me, I just wanted him to go away. I wiped my hands down my thighs, nervous for no real reason. This was Kyer. We’d been friends since birth. The only person my own age I’d known longer was Brin. Why did I want to avoid him all of a sudden?

I had no time to think. When the train started moving again, Kyer dropped into the seat facing mine, and his Other clambered over his long legs to take the seat beside him, opposite Brin. I’d always thought Lyra was plain—nowhere near as pretty as Brin—and now seeing her take Kyer’s hand so easily in her own made her hideous.

I scowled out the window, biting the inside of my lip to keep from saying anything mean.

With his free hand, Kyer slapped my arm. “Don’t say hi or nothing.”

“Hi,” I muttered. I glanced at Kyer, then back at the window. Then, before I could stop myself, I let my gaze trail back and linger over his features. He had the same large, blue eyes as Brin, and the same full lips, as well. The same damn eyelashes, even, thicker than a boy’s should have been. What looked pretty on my Other looked stunning on him.

Why had I never noticed before?

After a moment, Kyer’s half-c****d grin dropped and he looked across me to Brin. “What’s with him?”

“He woke before the chimes,” Brin explained. She patted my hand where it lay on the armrest between us, and I pulled away. “He has to go to the Health Center after class.”

Kyer frowned at me. “You’re going to miss rec time.”

“I’ll make it,” I assured him. When he looked at me, I forgot how to breathe. When he looked away, the world stopped until he turned back to me.

What was happening to me? Why did my skin feel like it was crawling on my bones? Why did my blood pound in my ears, my temples, my crotch?

Was this from the dream? This rush of feelings was much more intense than the anxious anticipation I’d felt while asleep. No wonder we took the pills, if it meant keeping emotions such as these at bay. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs and hide away in the darkest corner all at the same time. I wanted Kyer to look at me, to see only me, but when he did, I felt as though I would burst into flame.

Did I always feel this way around him? Did the pills blind me to the way he made me feel? Or did not taking the pill make me feel as if…as if he were the only person in the entire Colony who mattered to me?

How would I know? Who could I ask?

And did Kyer…could he feel the same about me?