MisPrints

•Chapter 5•

It's almost 5.00 in the afternoon.

I'm still sat against the wall, my knees tucked under my chin. I hardly notice the cold now, it's just been reduced to just a dull ache under my toes and in the bones of my fingers. 

How am I supposed to explain this? They'll ask why I'm not in my dorminatory. They'll ask me how I got out, when I got out... They'll ask me why I went out. Why did I go outside my dorm, when I know it's strictly against the rules. Then they'll ask how I got out, because it's meant to be impossible and then they'll ask what I went out FOR. As for being in the boys sector...

This isn't looking good. 

I'm going to have to tell them, I think to myself miserably. They'll make me, I don't have a choice. But I can't, I promised to Mia! It's our secret! Her secret... 

I have to get out, I want to get out. I need to get out! 

But there's no getting out of it now, not this time.  Dissatisfied. That's what I'll be. But I'm not. Im not one of the dissatisfied... am I? My instincts says one thing, but my head says the other. I'm confused, I'm freezing, I just wanna go back. I press my hands over my face and rest my forehead against my knees.  

"You ok?" Says a voice breaking the crisp silence. I jumped. I had forgotten he was in here too, sitting beside me. I nod, but I don't turn to look at him.  

I don't want this random boy to see me crying. 

"Are you cold?" He asks again. "It's because you're cold isn't it?" I nod my head again, despite the temperature being one of my smallest problems right now. 

"What's your name?" He tries again, shuffling a little closer to me.

"X-4-E-L...." 

"Not you're code, your name! Your REAL name." He says, interrupting me. "I don't care about your registration number." 

"Ely." 

"Elai?"  he repeats, unsure.

"No Ely. EEL-EYE" I reply, sounding it out for him. 

"Oh." He says. "I get it." He adjusts his position so that he's sat like me, hugging his knees. "Nice name." 

"Thanks, I pretend it's short for Elysia...that name's much prettier, but it probably doesn't suit me." I lift my head and look at him. He's looking away from me, his face turned to the opposite wall. "What's your name?" 

"W-5-Z-4-K-6...." 

"No your name,  your REAL one." I say, imitating his tone of voice. He laughs, and shakes his head. I've never heard another MisPrint genuiney laugh before. It's a nice sound, the sound of happiness.  

No wonder no ones does it here.  

He turns his head "Zak." He says, "nice to meet you Elysia" 

"It's Ely." 

"Ok." In the glow of the lasers I see his eyes sparkle for a second in the light. Green eyes... 

"I'm guessing it's your eyes then?" I say to him. 

"Huh? Oh, Yeah...You?" He nods, still looking at me. "No wait, I can guess.. Your hair, right?" 

"Uhuh."  

"Is it black?" He asks, reaching out and poking a strand of it. 

"Yeh." 

"Never seen another girl with black before..."