Borderlines

Chapter Two

Fawn tried to slow Garrett as they headed to the meeting room on the first floor. She was becoming more nervous the closer they got to the room. She was afraid of what the western sections were going to say. Every meeting grew in aggression, especially from Section 8 and Section 6. Garrett stopped as a guard opened a frosted glass door with a gold handle, the meeting room. Fawn and Garrett slowly walked inside. There were eight chairs lining each side of a long wooden table. Eight for the East and eight for the West. At the ends of the table were two chairs that were slightly different from the others, obviously made for the king and queen. Section 1, 3, 5, and 7 were already there. Fawn walked over and took her place on one side of the table beside the male overseer of Section 1, Trent.
"Hello." Trent said, his deep voice naturally louder than he meant it to be. Fawn smiled politely.
"Hello."
"I noticed neither Section 8 or 6 has arrived yet." He pointed out. Trent had always been a bit of a snob sometimes.
"You know those two sections, they always take their time." Fawn said pointedly and dropped the conversation. Fawn could feel someone watching her and looked across the table. Garth from Section 5 was watching her, his dark brown eyes were soft and he seemed to brighten at the sight of Fawn. She ducked her head in embarrassment, Garth had always had an eye for her ever since they both became overseers two years ago. His light brown hair was always neat but not over the top, and his brown eyes were always watching Fawn. They had never actually spoke directly to each other outside of meetings, mostly because she was Eastern and he was Western making it an unfavorable match. Section 4, and even 6 filed in with no sign of 8. Fawn wondered what was keeping them. Other overseers were restless as well, knowing the king and queen wouldn't be summoned until all sections were present.
"Umm well-" Garrett started, but was cut-off as the two doors to the meeting room were swung open, banging loudly against the wall. Fawn looked up and immediately recognized the overseers of Section 8. Ruth, a tall blonde with hazel eyes walked in, gaze raking around the room critically. Travis was close behind her. Fawn could already feel his glare boring into each one of the eastern overseers. Nineteen and well tanned, Travis was tall and handsome, his hair seemingly the darkest shade of brown, but it somehow held a rich red tint to it. He had a strong jawline and his muscular arms were hidden by the sleeves of his suit. Fawn tried not to glare back as he sat across from Willow, the female overseer of Section 1. She felt Garrett nudge her and he whispered in her ear.
"Don't encourage him, he's already looking for a fight, so is Ruth." Fawn was about to answer him, but she saw a few overseer's rise and she hastily stood from her seat. King Marcus and Queen Lily entered the room silently. Marcus was skinny and with strawberry blonde hair. Lily had a small, almost fragile looking frame. She had blue eyes and black hair. Everyone bowed as Lily took a seat at Fawn's end of the table. Marcus pulled Lily's chair out and helped her get seated before he took the other chair. The next part was routine. Willow and Trent bowed again before Trent spoke in a clear deep voice.
"Willow and Trent, Section 1: Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, Hawaii, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire." Section 1 was the biggest section, but the states were all small. Trent and Willow sat down and it was Garrett and Fawn's turn.
"Fawn and Garrett, Section 2: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan." Garrett said, and he and Fawn sat down. It continued around the room this way. Sean and Leah, Section 3: Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Uriah and Abigail, Section 4: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Then it was the West's turn. Garth and Emma, Section 5: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Wyoming. Lucas and Ashton, Section 6: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. Nathan and Leslie, Section 7: California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Travis and Ruth, Section 8: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The king and queen nodded with approval after Travis and Ruth sat.
"Okay then," Marcus's voice was a bit high-pitched, but authoritative,"let's start with a Section report, this will not include complaints or any rebellions. I want to know how well the sections are doing. Complaints will be last." Fawn knew Marcus was prolonging an argument that was bound to happen. She could already feel the hate seeping off of Ruth and Travis. After Willow gave the Section 1 report, Fawn stood up.
"Section 2 has been prosperous. The cool weather hasn't been good to our crops, but we are hopeful for a good harvest." Fawn didn't have anything else good to say about Section 2 so she sat down. She waited as the other sections began their reports, that was until it was Section's 8 turn. Ruth stood up her gaze locking on each of the Eastern overseers.
"Section 8 has nothing to report, nothing good anyways." There was almost a sneer hiding in her voice. She sat down without another word, Fawn saw Travis nod approvingly and rolled her eyes. The tension from Section 6 and Section 4 was almost tangible. Marcus looked across the table at Lily.
"If there is nothing else to be reported then we will move on to complaints. Starting with the East."
Of course....Fawn thought. The West would have countless complaints. Section 1 had no complaints, which was normal, they were safely tucked up in the north. Garrett looked around the table.
"The Circle City Mall in Indianapolis was set on fire Sunday night. It was empty but the fire was no less intentional."
"Do you know who set it?" Lily asked softly.
"No," Fawn answered boldly, "but we have our suspicions." Garrett groaned and Fawn froze, realizing the gravity of her statement. It was all Section 6 and 8 needed to begin an argument.
"And what would that be? Do tell." Travis immediately fixed his green eyes on her, his gaze challenging her. His green eyes were striking and startling. Fawn glared back at him, but said nothing. She could feel Garrett giving the slightest cringe beside her, she knew she had disappointed him, but she felt as if she said what needed to be said.
"Probably the West, that's who you blame all your problems on." Ashton sneered from across the table.
"She never said that." Garth said, his voice was smooth and calm.
"She might as well." Travis glared at Garth. Fawn couldn't take it.
"It was suspicious fire, okay? And with all that's been going on I wouldn't be surprised if-" Fawn tried to stop herself, but Travis was already on his feet.
"Are you accusing Section 8 without proof?!" Marcus watched the arguing calmly, he would only interfere if it started getting out of hand.
"Travis, please take your seat." He said, gesturing to Travis's chair.
"Are you done?" He asked, looking at Fawn. Fawn sighed, she wasn't even close to being done.
"We have had trouble with random attacks on our border coming from Section 5." Fawn held up a hand as she heard scoffs.
"But Garrett and I have talked to Garth and Emma, and they have said 5 had had nothing to do with them." Garth and Emma both nodded in agreement. Garth asked for permission to speak, which Marcus granted. Garth stood up.
"It has come to my attention that the attacks on Section 2 from our borders are coming from smugglers from Section 8." Fawn's arm tightened around her chair as Section 6 and 8 broke into protestant shouts.
"That is quite an accusation, coming from your mouth." Travis said to Garth. Garth looked at the older boy calmly.
"We captured the last band of rebels and they confessed that Section 8 had sent them." Fawn looked between Travis and Garth. Travis was looking like he was about to punch Garth, but he didn't deny the accusation. Marcus looked from one man to the other.
"Is what Garth says true?" He asked. Travis looked at the king, and Fawn could have sworn she saw his anger give way for a second.
"Section 8 has been wrecked with starvation and disease. The food supply truck the crown was supposed to send never arrived." Travis growled, he wasn't answering the question. Marcus and Lily looked at each other.
"We will send another one and this time make sure it gets there." Marcus said, Travis shook his head.
"Like you did last time and the time before that? No, the crown promises too much. They are just empty words nothing more." Travis looked at everyone.
"Section 8 will not be ignored, nor will the West. If the crown does not pay attention to what is theirs it will no longer be." Travis said coldly. Marcus looked shocked and angry at such an outlandish comment.
"It that a threat?" Travis looked at the king, there was little respect for their ruler in Travis's eyes.
"No, it's a warning." Without another word Travis turned and walked out of the meeting room. Ruth was right behind him, soon followed by Section 6. Fawn sat wide-eyed and jumped as the doors to the meeting room slammed shut,
"What just happened?" She whispered. Garrett was too shocked to say anything. Lily looked at her husband, her blue eyes filled with startled realization. Marcus watched the doors for a second, seeming not to believe Travis's warning. He finally stood and cleared his throat.
"This meeting is over."