Monster

Chapter 6

They passed by halls filed with offices, training rooms, computers, and last of all, beds. The officers explained that they would be assessed and sorted into groups whose skills fit them best. They would then sleep in that room with people who shared the same skills as them.

Caleb's skill was obviously shooting. He was sent to a room with a green door. a loud roar of welcome came as soon as he entered. Mable was sent to a blue doored room. The problem-solvers. With her sharp mind, Imogene had no doubt that that was where Mable belonged. Catherine and Malcolm were both spies. Bubbling with energy and naivety on the outside, secretive and cunning on the inside.  The officers pointed them to a room with a purple door. they high-fived before going in.

And lastly, Imogene's assessment was reviewed. She was sent to the room with the green door. The shooters and also the same as Caleb. She hesitated before turning the doorknob. As she opened it, someone else flung the door wide open. And there stood Caleb.

"You have a habit of opening doors at the weirdest times." Imogene colored slightly with embaressment.

Caleb shrugged and stepped to the side. Inside, the room was filled with bunk beds and resembled a university dorm. Posters of abstract art and strange quotes hung from the walls.  Beside the beds were desks with small lamps on top of them. People crowded on the beds, laughing and joking. Boys and girls. Man and women. All in one room.

In Prosper Nation men and women didnt share a room unless they were siblings or married. All of these people were obviously not related.

Caleb led Imogene through the crowded room and to a set of bunk beds near the back. He pointed to the bottom where his bags were. Then he pointed to the top. Caleb never talked very much.Imogene climed the ladder and onto the bed. Her bags were already there.

"Someone's not being very chatty." Imogene looked over the side of her bed. Caleb was laying back, hands behind his head, quiet as usual.

"So, you're giving me the silent treatment? I can do that, too."

A girl, eighteen or so, with crazy purple hair walked over. Well, more like strutted  over.

"So 'ou were the best shooter at 'Osper 'Cademy?" she said in a thick accent. She blew a bright pink bubble with her gum.

Caleb pulled out his Shock Gun and aimed at the girl's large gold hoops. It swung back and forth, hypnotically. The whole room was silent, almost in an instant. Caleb stood up. He swung his arm around and with a slight twitch of his fingers, blew the doorknob right off. The girl's mouth dropped open with surprise. Her gum balanced precariously on her tongue. She took out her own gun and aimed at the silver stud Caleb always wore at the top of his left ear. She fired.

At the last moment, Caleb leaned to his right. The air rippled where his head had been heartbeats before. The whole room erupted with applause and cheers. They surrounded Caleb, congradulating him with slaps on the back and high fives. The girl, Pixie, stalked off to sulk in a corner.

 Caught up in the moment, Caleb swept Imogene off the top bunk and kissed her. The cheers ran through her ear along with the pounding of her heartbeat. A flood of joy washed over Imogene and she blushed.

"Who knocked this doorknob off-" Max's angry voice halted.

The noise of the room died down. Caleb grinned at Max and held Imogene's hand as Max turned sharply on his heal and left.

****

Imogene knocked. Quietly, so Max wouldn't hear. But, sadly, Caleb reached around her and knocked louder. He was holding her hand. That was normal when they were friends. If they were friends, what were they now? This question left a bitter taste on Imogene's tongue. It could have applied for Max or Caleb; Imogene wasn't picky.

Max opened his bedroom door and scowled.

"Were you really that mad about the doorknob?" Caleb asked, sarcastically.

A bit of a smirk played across his lips. Max's scowl deepened and he clenched his teeth in fury.

"You know very well the doorknob was not my problem," he growled.

"Oh/ Then what was?" Caleb asked innocently.

Max glared at Imogene, as if blaming her for the current conversation. She squeezed Caleb's hand.

"Max, don't mind Caleb. He's just being an arrogant jerk." Regardless of her scolding, Imogene couldn't resist turning to smile at him.

Max leaned against the door frame. he reached behind him and pulled the journal from his back pocket. Max dropped it to the floor, just outside his door. It landed with a small thud at Imogene's feet.  With a heavy sigh, Max ran a hand through his dark hair and slammed the door shut. Imogene angrily kicked the journal against the closed door. Hot tears threatened to spill out of her eyes. She rubbed her fist against her eyes. Again and again she kicked the leather-bound book.

And once more, until Caleb pulled her away gently. She cried in the dark hallway outside of Max's room. Cried as though his death had been announced to her three years ago. Maybe that would have saved her from the current heartbreak.

(A/N: Well, that was an eventful chapter. I wonder what will happen next...)