Breakout

Chapter 7

Director Tooley's office was very bland-looking. Gray walls, black carpet, a ginormous black desk with gray chairs. She had a black bookcase that took up the entirety of one wall and on the opposite side a thin table with a coffee maker on it. The window behind her desk overlooked the front courtyard and the tram station we arrived at this morning. The room was icy cold, not just figuratively, but literally.
"So. Does anyone want to tell me why a food fight was started," she asks. We sit across the desk from her, shifting uncomfortably. Being the brave one, I spoke up, "Chase was making a disgusting comment towards me so I shoved my plate in his face. He deserved it." I shrugged my shoulders as if it was no big deal, but obviously it was because Tooley was shooting icy daggers at me with her eyes. "His comment was totally uncalled for. His parents obviously didn't raise him with good manners," I continue.
"Enough! You forget your place, and obviously the laws of our society. Men are innocent in everything, the women are the ones who are behind everything their man does. If a man kills another, it is because his wife told him to. There is no other explanation for it. Your claims of his comments being 'disgusting' are false. You started a food fight unprovoked. He did nothing to you," she said matter-of-factly. Elana, Korey, and I stared at her, jaws dropped. She can't be serious. Is she seriously blaming me for the food fight?
"Madame Tooley, are you seriously suggesting that his disgusting comment should be ignored and that I should have just sat back and laughed along," I ask in disbelief.
"I am not suggesting it, I am stating it as a fact. He is to be your husband, you are to obey and agree with him whether you like it or not. You need to start getting used to it, Miss Ramirez," she said, "the punishment I am assigning to the three of you for your actions in initiating the food fight will be for the three of you to be on kitchen duty for a month."
"Does Chase get kitchen duty, too, for instigating it," I ask.
"No. He did not instigate it, you did," she said bluntly. I groaned, but I was also glad that he wouldn't be around me. "You are dismissed," she says, waving us away. She starts up her holo-computer and begins typing at the keyboard that appeared on the surface of her desk.
As we exit the office, the guys are all standing in the hallway waiting for us. "Are you okay," Arthur asks Elana, standing a bit awkwardly. "I'm fine, just kitchen duty," she responds, flipping her hair. He nods and looks away. It's obvious that he's uncomfortable with the situation. "So what did she say? How much trouble are you all in," Jackson asks, wrapping an arm around Korey. She blushes, but lets him hold her. It's obvious that they are going to be good for eachother. "Oh, just kitchen duty for a month. That's it really," I say nonchalantly, waving my hand. "It's still messed up that Chase doesn't get some kind of punishment for his comments. They were totally uncalled for. He should've been taught to not be degrading women like that," I say, totally ignoring his existence.
"Uh, I am right here you know," Chase says, trying to push his way into our circle.
"So do you guys want to go down to the rec room? I hear they have a coffee bar there and that their lattes are the absolute best," Korey says, ignoring Chase.
"Sure, that actually sounds really good. What else do they have in the rec room," I ask. We start walking away towards the elevator.
"Oh, I heard that they have VR sets there, as well as a small theatre with a large collection of films, new and films as old as the 1920s. I think they have old Disney movies," Elana says excitedly.
"1950s? Isn't that, like, a hundred years ago," I ask, "can they even be played on our technology?"
"It's on a video service, since we don't have a way to put in one of those little black rectangle things or discs into the computer. Those things are beyond ancient," Chase puts in.
"They can't, that's why we have streaming services. We just tap on the film we want to see, and it'll project it onto the screen," Jackson says.
"Are you all seriously ignoring me? I'm part of this group, too," Chase whines.
"I'm sure they don't mean it," Arthur says, patting Chase on the back."
"Don't mean what? Who are you talking to," I ask Arthur. Everyone but Chase and Arthur laugh. Chase looks frustrated, while Arthur looks confused.
"Okay, you're coming with me," Chase says, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the group.
He drags me to the stairwell and turns me so my back is against the railing. He puts his hands on the railing on either side of me, keeping me from getting away. "Will you get back? I'd like to have my personal space," I growl.
"Why are you like this with me," he whispers. A pleading look in his eyes has me rolling my eyes.
"Because I don't like you. I never have. You just can't seem to understand it," I say exasperated.
"You haven't even gotten to know me. Give me a chance, please," he begged, inching his face closer to mine.
"You need to stop that already. I don't want you all over me, I don't even want your attention. Just give up on me already. You are never going to have a chance with me," I bit out, my voice dripping with venom.
"Just one kiss, that's all I'm asking for," he says, grazing his lips against mine. A chill went up my spine, and I shuddered in disgust.
"No. Just leave me alone," I say, pushing against him. He refuses to budge, so I, once again, knee him where the sun don't shine. He hunched over in pain, groaning.
"I wish- ugh- I wish you'd stop that, woman. I'm not going -oh shit that hurt- not going to be able to have kids with you... if you keep doing that," he says while trying to catch his breath.
"Too bad, no need to pass down your stupidity," I retorted. I shove past him and stomp down the stairs. "You suck. I can't even go down the stairs because it hurts so much," Chase whines. I keep on walking, flicking him off.
I make it to the first floor and make my way to the rec room. I open the doors to head outside and Elana is waiting for me. "How you doing? Did he try anything," she asks.
"He tried to kiss me," I sigh, "He can never take a hint. It's exhausting me, more than before."
"That's probably because you two are partnered and have to get married," she soothes.
"That's the thing, I don't want to marry him. I'm just going to be miserable."
Elana looks at me sympathetically then holds my hands, "Stella, let's make a pact. If we get out of here and break the system, you and I will get married instead of me marrying Arthur, and you marrying Chase."
"You don't like Arthur? I mean, it's cool if you don't," I say.
She shakes her head. "No, not really. He's too awkward. Totally not my type."
"So who is?"
Elana blushes and bites her lip, looking down at our shoes. "I can't tell you that, at least not yet.," she stutters.
"Aw, c'mon, you can tell me anything. We're best friends for a reason."
"Only friends?"
I just stare at her then blink. Oh. Oh. "I think I know who it is." She looks at me wide-eyed. "You- you do," she stammers.
"Yup. But I won't tell you, not yet at least."
Elana sighs in relief. "Okay. You ready to go to the rec room?"
"Yup. Let's get going."