Cadet [Wattys 2016]

The Boiler Room

Sci-Tech, Saturday Night, 11:00

I'm back. I've been back for a couple of hours. Simmons says she has something to show me in the boiler room. I follow her and Fitz across campus, and down a flight of stairs. They open a door, and reveal-not a boiler room- but a giant underground party. "Does Operations have anything like this?" She calls over the loud music.

"I don't think anyone there knows how to smile!" I yell back, heading down the stairs. Simmons laughs. I grab a soda from a bar. "And the uniforms-ugh! They're so itchy!" I add.

"And no parties?" Fitz adds in. "Definitely not in a million years!" I reply. The three of us are laughing, and downing sodas. "Sometimes ya just gotta let loose, ya know?" Simmons and Fitz nod in agreement.

"So is it like this every night, Simmons?" I ask. She shakes her head. "Usually only on weekends. The music is always running, though. No one's down here. And, please, call me Jemma!" Jemma replies. I nod in reply. "I've never actually been to a party. Dance yes, party no! It's really fun!"

I look around. The boiler room is full of young students, all geniuses. All kids society treats as the uptight ones, the ones who don't know how to have fun. I realize just how absolutely wrong they are. We're the ones creative enough to plan the best parties. The ones who will change the world some day.

And with that deep thought, I grab another soda and head out to dance, and by dance, I mean go to the air hockey table. I don't dance. A penguin dances better than me.

There's one person at the hockey table. I grab a puck and the stick, and start playing. I know I'll win. I've been playing this games since I could hold things. The final score is 7-4, me.

I find Jemma and Fitz again. "This is the best!" I yell. It's close to midnight now. Jemma smiles. "Too bad I can only come to one every two weeks!"

"You should try one of these at Operations!" Fitz hollers back. I pretend to look shocked. "No way! What's a party without anyone there?" Jemma and Fitz laugh. It's nice to have friends again, especially so fast. Maybe it'll be good for me.