New Age

One Long Month

At breakfast, we all got our schedules. Max hasn't come in yet, and I'm worried he overslept. Will ate a lot of food, and suggested I do the same. Breakfast ended, and there was still no sign from Max.  

"Do you think we should go find him?" Will asked.  

"No, he can take care of himself." 

Our first class was target practice, Will's choice. Our Officer told us we would be practicing with bows and targets to get our aim strengthened and the idea of holding a weapon burned into our brains. That class was boring, for today at least. All we learned about was safety and how to aim.  

Our next class was our running class, and there was no teaching there. We ran the whole time.  

Max was still missing.  

After running, we had time in the Old Age gym. I left Will, assuring I would catch up with him. I run up to my room, which is a very painful trip. I quickly type in the code and enter. I walk over to the wall that towers over the headboard and grab my gym bag and try to decide what I wanted to bring.  

When I get back to the gym, Will is fascinated with the batting cages. I walk past him, not having any interest in baseball at all. I weave my way around a pair of basketball players, and reach my destination. I do my regular warm ups, and pick up my racquet and a ball. I settled with my favorite racquet, a bright blue and lime green Head. It matched my shoes. I serve the ball at the wall on the opposite end of the court. It feels good to be home again. 

The two hours end more quickly than I had hoped, and I realized that the lunch and dinner times have changed. Sometime during my workout, an Officer came in and handed me the new schedule. She then complimented my taking to an Old Age sport so well and comfortably. Max still hasn't shown up. Will and I head for the dining hall.  

"I saw you took a liking to baseball?" 

"Yeah, actually. The ball moves so fast and I was worried that it would break the bat. It didn't, of course. I'm starving though. What about you?" 

"I guess." 

"You're still thinking about Max, aren't you? Don't worry about it. The officers weren't even worried." 

Will was trying to help, but he really wasn't. He didn't see the way he was acting last night in the library.  

Max is sitting at our table when we walk in. He gets up to greet us.  

"Hey guys. Sorry I missed the morning classes. I had to take care of some stuff with my brother." He looks at my arms that are overflowing with equipment. "Do you want me to take those up for you?" 

"Sure. You can leave this bag on the floor or table or wherever, but there's a spot on the wall where this hangs." I take out a pen and write the code for my door on his hand. He nods and walks away.  

"He seemed a bit off."

*Max's point of view, present time*

I walk up the long staircase, memorizing the code written on my hand. I might need it again. I should probably give Lyla mine, too. I reach her door and punch in the code. The door slides open and I slip inside. The room isn't what I'd pictured it as. It was messy and disorganized, nothing like her old room. I would've thought I had the wrong room if it wasn't for the video images covering one of the walls. They were all happy, smiling, laughing pictures of her and her friends and family. Some images of us were up there too, one she took while we were laughing, one while we were sitting on the hill. A few others I remember filming. I sit the bag on the floor and hang up the racquet on the wall with the others. She had six, probably the entire stock left in the world. I don't stay any longer after I admire the Old Age equipment. Clothes were strewn everywhere and the bed was rumpled and unmade. I felt like I was invading her privacy by staying here. I'm almost to the staircase when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around, disappointed to meet eyes with Alice.

*Lyla's point of view, one month later*

The last month passed by agonizingly slow. The training was long and hard, but we all enjoyed the challenge. The next few days determined what teams we would be placed in for Tracking. I made friends with quite a few more people, but I absolutely despised Alice. Her fake cheerfulness was awful, and she tried one too many times to get with Max. He clearly didn't like her, either.  

I discovered Will was the laziest person to walk the Earth. Running was definitely not his strong suit, and he preferred to work with weapons instead of fists. He ate and slept in his free time. As for Max, we took residence in the library armchairs while Will slept on the couch. We sat and talked while Will softly snored beside us. We did this everyday. Sometimes Max would miss classes to meet with his brother. I haven't seen Sergeant Jackson since our first few days. No more weird things happened with Max since the day we first discovered the library. He kept reading and studying the books, and I helped him take notes sometimes.  

There was no doubt I started to care for him in a more than friendly way. Our time in the library was even better than the times on the big hill. I still wonder if he feels the same thing I do. I couldn't imagine even being here without him. Whenever I try to talk to him alone about it, Alice decided to pop up out of nowhere and deliver a message that Max was needed in some other part of the building. All our classes were over for today, and we were all changing into comfortable clothes. I couldn't take it anymore, and message Max to meet me in my room. Before I could open the door for him, he opened it himself. He must have memorized my code from the couple days he dropped stuff off in here.  

"Hey," I smile. I scoot over so he has room to sit on the bed next to me. He sits down.  

"Hello." He seemed confused that I wanted to sit and talk to him here instead of the library.  

"Max, I need to talk to you. I've wanted to for a while, but there's always something getting in the way.  

This past month was great, probably one of the best I've ever had. I just wanted to see... if you felt the same way?" I cut off lamely, hoping he'll understand what I'm trying to say. He turns to face me and I see a battle raging in his eyes. Before he could speak, a rap sounded on my door. I'd bet anything it was Alice. "Just ign-" I was about to tell him to ignore Alice when he cut me off, with a kiss.