Well, I Haven't Gone Mad Yet

The First Part

The sky is darker than usual today. Usually I know it's just the man made clouds shot into the sky to shield us from the suns powerful rays in order to preserve our skin. However today it's dark, almost inky in the sky. The air outside smelt of smog a pollution. Some may think pollution doesn't have a smell, but believe me, it does. 

My name is #P0-3. But I go by Drexel. It's easier than going by my segment code. Everyone has a segment code, it's how he, Governor Kelser keeps track of us. It's not against the rules to make a name for yourself, so I did. A lot of people don't make names for themselves, but it gets confusing really fast with things like this being said all the time. "D2-9! Q8-1 and I are going to the old incinerator!Are you coming?" You get my point. Anyways everyone also has a segment number. A segment number is something none of us actually know what they mean or why they were assigned, I personally don't trust them. The segment numbers are 01-00. I myself am an 09, but according to everyone else, I am an 05. Now look, I wouldn't be lying to everyone if my supervisor back in learning days didn't give me that look. You know that look someone gives you when you have a leech hanging out of your nose? Yeah well neither do I, but it was like that. We were told to state what our segment number was, and I replied "09." She stared at me for the longest time with this pale and astonished look on her face. To this day, I have yet to find out hat her deal was, I also have yet to find anyone else labeled "09." On very rare occasion I run into an "07." So, to avoid it all, I claim that I am an 05.

Perhaps I should tell you about what we call "learning days." Learning days are days people under maturity go to sanctuaries to learn basic knowledge. How to breath through smog, when and where to wear a mask, stuff like that. They are completely optional. My former nurse, though he's not around anymore, decided it would be best if I went while I was a child. Nurses are beings who take care of you as an infant and child until you are capable of taking care of yourself. They decide when that is. They normally leave in the night without a word of any kind. Learning sanctuaries are where most people meet people so spend time with, friends, I guess. I personally have stopped going to them for the most part. We have a library you see, old books from the outside. Most of stuff they don't want us to know had been blacked out. But I managed to get my hands on a dictionary with no black-outs. Don't ask me how. Anyways, i'm usually there I don't really like people very much.

"Drexel, I didn't know you were here today." A pretty voice said.

Correction, I don't really like people very much, except for her. "Her" being Claire, #K6-3. She was an incredible lady. She had this perfect naturally silver-like hair, blended in with occasional white strands. Purple eyes that can only be described as magic because when I look at them I feel like i'm flying. This perfect button nose, her sweet half-smile. My, she was just the most tantalizing thing i'd ever laid my eyes on. I stared up into this familiar face from my nook in the wall where I sat. It was just a little place I had carved in the wall all those years ago.

"Well I came to read about-" Before I could finish Claire responded.

"Boris Evergreen." To my surprise, she was right, I was trying to read about Boris Evergreen.

"Yeah, actually, Boris Evergreen.. how'd you know?"

"Because you have good taste. So do I." Clair pulled out another copy of Boris Evergreen, the same issue I was currently reading. Was she not the most perfect thing here?

"I see, you're reading it to then?"

"Returning it, actually. I finished it already." She said shoving it back into her back pack.

"Oh."

"Come by my place once you finish it. It'd be nice to have someone to talk about it to." She said popping in hear earbuds as she walked away.

"Right! Bye! I'll- I'll just see you then! Yeah.."

I just had to sound so pathetic in my goodbye didn't I? I practically can't function around Claire sometimes. Maybe if she wasn't so damn attractive, we wouldn't be having this problem. She's also just so smart... and she reads, she draws, she's an artist can you believe it? Nothing could possibly make her better than she is. I respect her view on life as it's similar to mine. When I asked her what her segment number was when we first met at the library, she simply responded, "Why? You want to put me in a box like everyone else here does?" Truthfully I had thought i'd blown it then and there, I started to fumble my words and try to explain that's not what I meant. Then, she let out this.. life changing laugh, it was like music that made my heart flutter.

Claire and I have been hanging out for some time now. I've had my eye on her for a long time, not in a creepy way of course I was just.. observing is all. The entire time I had been to nervous to try to talk to her. Until one day, I noticed was book she was reading. One I had been dying to get my hands on for so long. She must have noticed my gawking, because before I knew it there we were. Sharing the book. We read at similar pace so there wasn't confusion on when to turn the page. It was to perfect. She herself was to perfect. Hair always at her shoulders. Hiding behind her side bangs which she had cut herself. She was and IS a dream come true. 

I checked out my book and sighed as I exited the library. I walked down the stone streets as those two idiot know as Branner and Bass fumbled into view. I raised my eyebrow at them. They didn't seem to say anything though it appeared they very much so wanted to. Losing interest, I silently excused myself and tried to walk around them. They both moved back in front of me. Annoyed, I glare up at them.

"What is your deal?!" To that, Bass looked at Branner. Branner finally spoke up in his stupidly deep voice. They were both big guys, and they were stupid. 

"Everyone's going down to the old incinerator, you haven't been around much so we thought you might come" Bass and Branner both looked at me eagerly. I shook my head and started walking away. Clearly this is some sort of joke. They followed after me.

"Come on Drex, You're never around anymore!"

"No."

"Just come to see all the people from the learning days! Everyone's gonna be there!"

"I said I'm not going."

"What are you? Scared of a burnt rubbish? It's not active anymore!"

"I know damn well it isn't active anymore, I'm not scared of burnt rubbish, I'm staying away out of respect for those who died there and avoidance of idiots like you, no method you use or anything you could say would make me want to come with you guys!" I say, quite heated by now. My voice may have raised slightly.

They were finally quiet. They'd finally leave me alone! 'I can go home and drink tea in peace and sit in my bed. I can finally finish learning words i'm not supposed to know! Finally, I can finish reading my book so that I have a chance you hang out with-' I thought excitedly until my thoughts were cut off by Bass's voice. 

"She'll be there." He said simply.

I froze. Did he mean what I had assumed? "Who will be there..?" I ask slowly.

"Don't act like you don't know who i'm talking about. I'm talking about HER. K6-3." He said.

My heart pounded a bit as I felt my face get that warm feeling that happens whenever she's around. Claire? There's no way Claire of all people would be there. They would have to be lying. Then again, what if she was there? I couldn't possibly miss out on seeing her. Even if we didn't talk and I admired from a distance i'd be fine with it. My palms were soon sweaty as I thought about her more. Her silver hair. Her lavender eyes. Her sense of style. I would do anything to see Claire. Then again, the old incinerator is where all of the people my age hang out. It would be packed. The wrong crowd also tends to be there. I probably should still decline. Though I meant to say no, what came out was:

"She'll really be there?"

"Yeah. Course." Bass said with his jagged tooth smile.

I thought about it for a while then, finally I spoke again.

"Well... alright."