Immure

Chapter 3

"Wait up!" I heard someone call from behind me.

Turning, I sighed, of course it was Alyssa. She ran up to me, her backpack in hand.

"Hey," She smiled at me. "I thought you were just going to leave. You're still coming over to my house after school, right?"

I coughed. So that's what she'd asked me? I continued walking, a fake smile plastered to my face.

"No, I'm sorry Alyssa, I can't. I forgot I had plans."

Her smile faded a tad. "What? You promised," She laughed. "I really need help on my homework."

"Homework, eh?" I winked at her.

Alyssa blushed, "Hey! That's not what I meant, and you know it." She frowned at me.

I really wasn't in the mood, though I can pass for happy most of the time. Alyssa never noticed my true feelings though, it felt like no one did. I trudged on, my feet slapping the pavement as I stared down at it in thought. 

The only person I felt close to was Scott Nieves. He was a father to me, more than my real one. My parents just felt like mannequins standing in my house. Hard and plastic, emotions hidden behind perfectly sculptured masks. On the other hand Scott knew me, he knew what I was going through, and he felt like me as an adult, who I'd be. He was so different from my parents. He laughed, he cried, he raged. He expressed emotions I had no names for, and did things that were forbidden for safety from ourselves. He had shown me the searchlight. 

I was so pissed about going to Donna after school. I was supposed to visit Scott and all the others at our usual hide-out in an alley behind the donut shop that Jerald worked at, another Anomaly. Now I had Alyssa to worry about too. 

On the walk to school I tried to convince myself that I didn't need Alyssa, she was just some girl, but if I was honest with myself it was nice hanging out with someone who was truly happy. Other than Felicia, the senior Anomaly, and Mike, the freshman, she was my only friend in school. Felicia was constantly brooding, and Mike worrying his head off over everything. Alyssa was smooth and calm, always collected as if she knew where she was headed her whole life. It was nice to be around that, though her constant happy squawking all day long was a bit annoying. 

"So, which college do you think you're going into? I think I'm going to get into Farman University! I would want to go to Tuscan, but that's against the rules. I wish it wasn't though. You know, Madison said she thinks we're going to be able to go to Universities outside of our City some day? I called her crazy, but she really believes it." 

We had two colleges in our city, Farman University, and Phillips College. We weren't allowed to go to colleges outside of our city for population control, but some people could get lucky and be placed in jobs in other areas.

I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a small sigh. I wasn't interested in this chit-chat at all. I didn't care where I was going after high school, I never really thought about it. I was a junior, I had plenty of time to mill over it.

Glancing to my left I began counting the number of poles in the ground that made up the fence we walked beside. I started idly playing with some change in my pocket as well, making the coins clink their metallic faces together.

"...and she said that we were a perfect match, but I was like--Fredrick? Hey--"

I felt someone grab my shoulder and looked over scowling.

"Woah--"

Alyssa stopped walking and pulled back her hand away from me.

I ran a hand over my face again. I forgot she was there. Why do I keep zoning out? I can't focus in the slightest today. Smiling softly at her, I stepped forwards.