Sprawl

Chapter Two: The Project

I was not the least bit happy for Michael. Though it was completely normal and common for half-brothers and sisters to marry, I felt violated in the sense that Vicki was the closest thing I had to a  friend, and I did not want my brother to marry her. I was angered, yet I blocked it out. It was ludicrous  to mad. I wouldn't do anything to stop the marriage, and even if I wanted to, it wouldn't accomplish anything.

I shook my thoughts away and retrieved my Mind journal from my bedside drawer.  I began to write down everything that happened in the day, and everything that had been on my mind. I debated whether or not to mention my anger toward my brother, and the lack of happiness I had for his new marriage prospect. I decided to write it down.

The Mind journal was a plain, brown notebook that everyone on the Compound wrote in. It was mandatory that they wrote their daily routine, thoughts, and dreams. At the end of every 10 day week, the notebook was handed in at the local Commissioner hall. It was checked and then returned back to you at the end of the day.

I snapped the journal shut and climbed onto my rickety bed.

                                                                                            ******

The next day at school Miss DeMoins announced that we were to do a project on the history of the Compound, in boy-girl couples. We were to research a certain period in the history of the Compound, then make a quick presentation on it. She began to pair the class up, and I waited a bit nervously for her to reach me.

I slumped into my chair and watched as Nicholas was paired with Cathy Louise, a brunette girl with rosy cheeks and bright blue eyes. Despite everyone's plain features, Cathy was blessed fairly well when it came to her looks, much like Nicholas. I openly stared as they sat together and began to chat. I sighed with unabashed longing as Cathy laughed at something Nicholas said. I jumped as someone cleared there throat behind me.

“Ahem, Olivia?”

I turned quickly around to the unfamiliar voice. It was Archer Johansen. A gangly, lean boy who never caused much trouble and was usually very silent.

“Sorry if I frightened you. Miss DeMoins paired us together. ” he avoided making eye contact with me.

I nodded, “Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't hear her.” I turned my head once more in attempt  to see Cathy and Nicholas, relieved when I found them both reading textbooks. I turned to Archer once more and gave him a friendly smile.

"Let's get down to work."

He brought a chair over and sat down at my table. I gazed at his face, for I had never noticed it before. His hair was fairly plain, a light, mussed, chestnut brown, oh but his eyes, now they were something special. They were two different colours. One was a beautiful, deep, ocean blue, while the other was a grey-green like my eyes. They put Nicholas’ to great shame.

“Wow, your eyes, they’re amazing...” I blurted. Suddenly I gasped and clamped my hand accross my mouth in horrific shame. My cheeks burned and I averted my gaze instantly.

"I am... so sorry that was incredibly forward of me. I apologize most sincerely." I still couldn't manage looking at him.

He shook his head and frowned. “No please, don't apologize. I appreciate the compliment. People are usually appalled or revolted by them. They aren’t normal.”

The realization of what he had said dawned on me, and I nodded and sat up straighter. Archer was right, people should find his eyes appalling. What isn’t the norm is always shunned. I shouldn’t have paid him the compliment. I looked back at him and started to work.

I brought over some textbooks and  sat back down into my seat. A disgusted expression crossed his face, for a mere second. 

“I'm sorry Archer would you like to use something else to research the project? I can look for a different book.”

“Oh no they're just fine. Please, let's start.” He shifted in his seat uncomfortably.

“Okay,” I opened the first textbook, the one titled The Compound: The Building of Humanity’s Last Option “Let’s start at the beginning.”