Nothing

Chapter 15

The picture is of Ella. Just cause :D
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My name was on the list, at the very top. So much for alphabetical order. I tested  positive for O negative blood, and I was going to be stuck here for that much longer because of it.

It was for the best, right? Because now I would have more time to find out if SLOW MOD had Kaylee or not, but that didn't mean I wanted to stay here.

I quickly scanned the rest of the list. Maris Oakely and Elijah Jones were listed under O negative too. They were stuck here just like me. At least I wouldn't have to go through this alone. We would get through this, together.

Those of us who were listed under O negative were ushered to one side of the cafeteria. The others, people who didn't have O negative blood, were silently taken out of the room. They were going home.

I stared wishfully as about half of the teens in the room were removed, wishing I could be in their shoes. I would do anything to have Kaylee back in my arms and to be back at home, reading her her favorite bedtime story.

Ryan sat down beside me. "You wish you were leaving SLOW MOD in their place?" he inferred, watching as the remaining teens slipped from the room.

I nodded, dragging my hazel gaze away from the now empty doorway to his crystalline blue eyes. "They have many things that I envy," I stated mysterious, not actually answering Ryan's question.

"Things you envy?" he echoed, then gave a deep chuckle. Ryan tilted his head towards the door, "I bet the ability to get the heck out of this place tops the list."

I just stared at him in disbelief as he calmly gazed back. Did he know what it was like to be held somewhere against your will, completely helpless to help a loved one who you know is in danger? Or was he just a lucky guesser?

As if sensing the doubt and unasked questions in my eyes, he nodded, saying he understood. "I may not know exactly how you feel," he said, "but I have been in situations close to this many times. And I can honestly say, they were a living Hell."

I was going to ask him how he had been in situations like this before, but before I could, Maris bounced up beside us. "Hey Ella," she greeted. Looking to Ryan, she said, "Ella's friend whose name I don't know yet."

A smile played on his lips as he held out his hand for Maris to take in a handshake. "I'm Ryan," he started his name proudly, seemingly having no reason to hide anything from her.

Maris took his outstretched hand and fiercely shook it, "The name's Maris." She released his hand and plopped down at the table beside me. "So what do we do now?" The question was directed at Ryan.

"We- Ella and I- have some explaining to do," he said with a slight roll of his eyes. He looked over Maris's shoulder, "Oh look, it's just the person we have an explanation to give... and her lost puppy." Looking over her shoulder, I saw who he was talking about, Maya, and the lost puppy, Kaden, making their way through the crowd towards us.

Maris saw this too as she said, "I'm gonna go before the witch gets here. Bye Ella, bye Ryan. It was nice meeting you." and with that she scampered off into the crowd before Kaden and Maya could reach us.

When they did reach us the first words out of Maya's mouth were, "Explain. Now."

"And we will explain, but can we go somewhere a little more," Kaden's green eyes darted to the people around us as he spoke, "private?"

Ryan picked up on what Kaden was saying, "I agree. There are listening ears, and what we have to say isn't something that needs to be overheard."

Maya sighed, a sign that she was giving in, "Okay, what do you suggest? We take this back to my apartments?"

"No..." Kaden said, thinking, "that would seem suspicious, all four of us going into your room right after the test results being announced."

I piped in,"Well? Where do we go? We can't go to my room. I have roommates."

Kaden snapped his fingers, "I've got it!" He urged us to follow him as he lead us out of the lunchroom.

"Where are we going, Kaden?" Ryan asked as we took a few turns and ended up at a set of oddly familiar double doors. I swear this place was just a maze of hallways, closets, and double doors that lead to more hallways and closets!

Kaden knocked, and when no one answered cracked one of the doors open and peeked inside. When he was sure it was safe, he waved us on and we scurried in. I soon found myself in the same room where I had met Elijah and Maris. Also the room where Ryan had first brought me after I had woken up to find myself at SLOW MOD. The place brought back haunting memories.

"Okay," Maya said, her voice taking on a inpatient tone that I had only ever heard her use with Maris, "We're in a private place, now explain." I glanced at Ryan and Kaden out of the corner of my eye. What story were they going to fabricate to cover up the truth?

"Well, you see..." Kaden began smoothly, "I was assigned to help Mr. Nohi, Ryan, move the testing materials from the loading docks to testing site B."

Ryan picked up right where Kaden left off, "We had had a late start to the morning and was running late on moving the test materials because of it. I was taking one of the last boxes in, when I came upon Ms. Penning. She had lost her way getting to the cafeteria. So I decided to help her."

"Is this true, Ella?" Maya asked, trying to verify their story.

"Yes," I answered quickly.

She seemed to believe my answer as she looked to Kaden and Ryan and said, "Continue."

Ryan cleared his throat, "Where were we...? Oh, yes... I told Ms. Penning that before I could help her, I had to take the box, which I was holding, to the testing site. I asked her to follow me. We set off again, and soon met up with Kaden who was coming back from the test site."

Kaden took over the story, "Ryan and Ms. Penning were coming towards me when suddenly Ryan stepped on a wet spot on the floor and lost his balance. He came crashing to the floor, box of materials and all."

The story was tossed back to Ryan, who picked it up effortlessly, "When I fell I didn't have time to catch myself seeing as I was trying to keep the materials from breaking and, therefore, smacked my face off the concrete floor, breaking and bloodying my nose in the process."

For two guys who were just at each others throats not two long ago, they made a great team when it came to making up stories on the spot.

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A/N

Sup to the people out there! I'm back!!!!! And it's only been one day! Life the heck? I know, NaNoWriMo is kicking my butt, and it's only day two!!

So... Kaden's and Ryan's story. Seems pretty legit, right? Well will Maya think so?? Find out in Chapter 16 of Nothing!!!

Alexis is out.... *cue mic drop*

~Alexis :3