Control

Chapter 2: The Test

~One Year Later~

"I just don't see why I have to take the stupid test! I'm not a dominant or a submissive, okay? It's not like the test will magically change my personality and find me the 'perfect match,' Leya whined, making her aunt's eyes flash. Teresa loathed whining, unless it was during sex with her wife.

"Young lady, you are nineteen years old. Most people have taken the test twice by that age, and some are even matched. We've talked about this. You are taking the test. End of discussion. If you complain one more time before we get there, I promise you I won't hesitate to pull this car over, take you over my knee, and spank you like the child you're acting like," Teresa threatened, her grip tightening on the wheel. Something in her tone made Leya wonder if she was serious. She had never lifted a hand to Leya before. They had gotten in fights, yes, when her aunt thought she wasn't 'acting how she was supposed to.' Aka like a dominant or a submissive. Leya just rolled her eyes.

Being emerssed in the world of dominants and submissives had made the whole concept almost normal in Leya's mind, but she still didn't completely buy into the whole thing, especially the so-called, match-maker test that paired you with your perfect dominant or submissive. 'Yeah sure, I'm going to answer a few questions and then BAM, I'm paired with my knight in shining armor. Give me a break.' She guessed her skepticism stemmed from the fact that she didn't grow up with the idea being ingrained in her. Although, her aunt and Molly did seem pretty perfect for each other . . . She sighed. Being an outsider had made it extremely hard to make friends in the past year, especially when most people recognized her by name. The story about her family's murder had been on the news for almost a month and half, making her infamous in these parts. Molly and her had become extremely close over the past months. Her aunt Teresa could be a hardass sometimes, with her being a dominant and all, and so naturally Molly turned into a sort of adopted cool aunt, a confidante. Of course, Molly would never dream of disobeing Teresa or going behind her back, but she was someone Leya could openly talk to. Plus, she fascinated Leya.

In Leya's mind, splitting the population up into dominants and submissives seemed like a good idea from a dominant's perspective. They got to control the other half of the population, but why did the submissives go along with it? What did they possibly have to gain? From Molly's perspective, a lot, apparently. She explained how she loved being taken of and pleasing Teresa. It made her feel safe. On the other hand, Teresa needed to be in control, to call the shots and take care of Molly. It was like two halves of a whole, founded in trust and adoration.

Leya frowned in the car as she mused over their past conversations. She was stuck somewhere in the middle. It would be so much easier if she was a naturally shy person who didn't mind being led around, or a fiercely confident person who couldn't stand to be defied. Why couldn't she have a spine AND want to be taken care of? Was that so wrong? No, of course it wasn't, because her parents made it work. Giving in and taking this test, a physical representation of her acclimation into the Society, made guilt bubble up in Leya's stomach. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was betraying her parents somehow, what they stood for.

Before she could dwell further, the car jerked to a halt in the parking lot of the testing center, a huge white building in the middle of the city. More people her age than Leya had ever seen at one time walked around, most heading inside. The seperation of everyone was already painfully evident. The dominants walked with their backs straight, their eyes forward, practically radiating power, while the submissives without fail all had their heads down, eyes glued to the floor. Some were hunched over as if bracing against a particularly strong wind. All of these people knew from birth pretty much, whether they were a submissive or a dominant; the traits just came naturally at a young age, or so her aunt had told her. Leya swallowed when she glanced at the clock. It was 11:15, and testing started at 12:00.