New Age

An Old Friend

I woke up feeling rather groggy. A lot happened yesterday, and I want to sleep more. I climb out of bed and shower and get ready. I check my messager and have a few missed video calls from people back home. I look for any messages from Max, telling me where to meet him, but see none. I send him one to make sure he is awake and ready for the headquarters tour. He replies: I came to your door ten minutes ago but a girl named Alice told me you were already waiting for me. I'm waiting with the rest of the group.

Who is this Alice girl, anyway? She should've known that I wasn't downstairs already, since she was obviously so interested in who was coming in and out of my door. I tuck my messager in my pocket and head downstairs.

I manage to get to the rest of the group without getting too lost. Only a few people were down here already so I see Max immediately, sitting next to Alice. There were chairs filling the room, unlike the night before. I walk over to him and realize the only empty seat left in the row was next to Alice and a boy I didn't know. I slow down a bit and meet eyes with Max, hoping he would suggest to move. As soon as he was about to stand up, Alice sees me.

"Oh good," she said. "I saved a seat for you!" She pats the empty chair next to her and I have no choice but to sit there. The boy next to me has already dozed off, which is not surprising if he's as tired as I am. I look back at Max, a clear look of distaste pasted on my face. He's frowning too, and silently mouths an apology. The rest of the group files into the room and a lady walks to the front of the room and waits for everyone to be quiet. I shove my elbow into the sleeping boy's side, as he was slightly snoring. He wakes up really slowly and stretches. He didn't seem to notice me until the lady at the front started to talk.

He leaned in by my ear and whispered "Sorry about the whole sleeping thing. I hope I wasn't causing too much of a distraction?" I shake my head no, since his face is to close to mine to turn to. "I'm Will, by the way," he continues, and sticks out his hand. He leans back so I can shake it. I do, and whisper back my name. The woman at the front of the room cuts us off then, by announcing the beginning of the tour, and everyone follows her out of the room.

I stand up and walk over to Max, who is trying very hard to get Alice to shut up. He whispers in my ear, "She was talking the whole time and I couldn't hear a word the officer was saying. Did you?" I whisper back, "No, I got a talker too." I point at Will, who's yawning vigorously. "He was asleep when I sat down."

My messager has been vibrating in my pocket since I sat down, and even though it might be urgent, I ignore it. 

When the tour was finished, the officer passed around schedules. "You are to pick at least 10 hours worth of activities from this list. Breakfast will be served from 6:00-7:00 am everyday, lunch for an hour at noon, and dinner at 5:00-6:00.  After dinner, if your activities for the day are completed, the time is yours to do as you wish."

I walk over to Max, and am about to converse with him about what activities to choose, when Will walks over to us. I smile a greeting and introduce the boys.

"Hello Will, this is Max. Max, this is Will." They shake hands, and Will mumbles a polite hello. He looks back to me, and his face reddens. "So, Lyla... I'm the only Tracker that was assigned from my town, and you're the only two people I've met since I got here, so I was wondering if maybe you could, er, you both could uh, help me pick out some activities so I wouldn't be alone?"  He was stuttering at first but his words kind of slurred together at the end. I was lucky to understand what he said. 

"Sure, Will. we were just about to start picking our activities." He smiles and sits next to us. Thankfully, Alice wasn't anywhere in sight.  I look at the list and see a really large list of things to choose from. Max and Will are already collaborating over a few choices, but I'm scanning the list for something I desperately hope is there.

In the end, one of each of us each pick one activity that we enjoy, and pick two activities we all agree on taking. We sign ourselves up so our schedules are exactly the same.  Will picked target practice, Max picked weight-lifting, and I picked the Old Age gym. I knew why I wanted it, and I'm sure Max and Will would be able to find something they wanted to do there. We all agreed to also take the running course offered, and mock fighting drills. All the classes were two hours long. 

After we chose our schedules, we had the rest of the day to ourselves. Will leaves us, saying he still had some things to do before training started. I assume that meant sleep. I usher Max up to his room, not wanting to bump into Alice again. Once we were inside, my forgotten messager vibrated again. I pull it out and see that I've missed nine video calls from my old friend, Simon. He was probably calling to yell at me for forgetting to tell him about my assignment. I call him back, and he picks up in the first few seconds. His familiar face pops up on the screen.

Simon is a government worker, I'm not sure what he does specifically, but he's really smart and makes a lot of money. He was the only one of my friends older than me, therefore his was the only assignment ceremony I've attended. I was too young to attend my sister's. 

"It's about time you picked up! I've been trying to get a hold of you for two hours! Anyway, I thought I should tell you, I'm needed at your headquarters today to help with scheduling. I'll be at the front door in ten minutes. If you're not waiting for me I'll never forgive you." He frowns in mock exasperation and closes the video call. I squeal and jump off the couch, running out the door, yelling at Max to hurry and follow me. We race downstairs, my heart pounding the whole way. Max repeatedly tries to ask what's going on, but I just shush him and continue to pace in front of the door.

The door slides open, and Simon walks in. When he sees me, we run at each other and hug for a long time. I haven't been able to see him in two years. Three minutes of hugging and crying pass before Max coughs quietly, trying to get my attention. 

"Simon, this is my friend Max. Max, this is one of best friends, Simon. He's here on business."

"Hello, Max." Simon looks at me and nods appreciatively. I laugh and shake my head and the three of us leave to catch up.