The Showcase

Chapter Six

I couldn't go back to the apartment after tossing all of my stuff, so I bounced around from shop to shop, reading books and magazines to pass the time.

After a full night of research, I still couldn't find a single book that told me what happens inside the Showcase. No Product had ever mentioned it and no reference ever specified, which made me nervous. There was nothing I hated more than surprises.

***

By 6:30, the streets were completely deserted, and I was so nervous that I felt sick to my stomach. Everyone was already home to watch the Departures, and I knew I wasn't ready to appear on national TV.

I walked slowly down the street, so anxious that I didn't care if I was late. Suddenly, I remembered that Gray Suit hadn't even told me where to go. Wiping my sticky palms on my jeans, I sighed and decided to head to the glass building downtown and see what happens from there.

A couple blocks later, a dark gray car pulled up alongside me in the parking lane. I froze as the window rolled down.

"Where do you think you're going?" Gray Suit asked, leaning out of the window and looking down at me like I was a difficult child.

"I don't know! Maybe if you would've given me some directions yesterday, I wouldn't be wandering the streets while the entire country was waiting for me!"

He jerked his head towards the back of the car. "Get in."

I obediently climbed in, glaring at him as I slammed the door shut.

He shook his head and laughed as he sped away from the curb. "For a Compassion, you definitely have a mouth on you."

"...that's what I always hated about you. That mouth of yours..." Cara's voice echoed in my head.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

***

We went the rest of the ride in silence. We drove through parts of the city I'd never seen before, and I almost wished that I wasn't leaving. I would've liked to explore Philadelphia a little more. Too bad I'd never get the chance.

45 minutes later, he hopped off of the freeway. We drove through the country for a while, and then the airport came into sight, along with the huge mob of people waiting outside of it.

"They really gathered this year. I can't believe it got this big," he muttered, blaring the horn as we got closer. The crowd parted and we inched through, gaping at the car as it passed.

"These people, they're all here to see me?"

He nodded. "Now, when we get out of the car, stay in your seat until I open the door for you. When I open it, smile, wave, kiss babies, whatever; just do it all in fewer than 15 minutes; we're on a tight schedule and we're already running behind."

"Wait! You never told me your name."

"Marshal."

"Of course it is," I muttered.

I saw his eyebrows raised in the rearview mirror. I smirked, and stuffed my sweaty hands into my sweatshirt. I immediately wondered how bad I looked after staying out all night. Before I could have a chance to even look in a mirror, he parked the car and jumped out of the front seat.

By the time he'd rounded the car and opened my door, the crowd was deafening. They waved orange flags and jumped up and down, screaming themselves hoarse.

"They're crazy," I muttered as Marshal opened the door.

I winced as I saw cameramen lined up along the path, their lenses glued to me. I smiled brightly and silently prayed that I looked half decent.

I lifted my hand to wave, and the volume increased. I smirked a little. Wow, this is easy.

"Let's go. Your head is starting to swell already," Marshal muttered, prodding me in the back and urging me forward. After throwing a quick elbow to his stomach, I continued smiling and waving to tons of people, from little kids, crazed teen girls (who reminded me of what I was leaving), to even a couple cute fan boys before climbing the steps and entering the plane.

***

The inside of the plane was obviously designed by a Beauty. The color scheme of the room was obviously orange, and whoever designed this wasn't afraid to be bold. The chairs couch and windowsills were all neon orange, while the curtains and carpet were a paler shade. Everything else was starch white and polished to absolute perfection. Every detail, every fabric, every piece of furniture down to the last screw fit together flawlessly.

Other than the furniture and two doors on either side of the roomy cabin, only a few magazines and a thick manila folder were in the room. The door on my right slid open and a woman came clicking in, without looking up from a stack of papers on her clipboard.

"Marshal, you are over four minutes late! Do you know how far behind you've set us?" she snapped, not bothering to hide her irritation as she quickly ran her fingers through her straight, electric blue hair.

"It wasn't his fault, miss. He was out looking for me. I kind of...wandered off last night."

She lifted her head up and looked at me, shocked. "Sorry, I don't believe I've introduced myself properly. I'm Eleanor Fitz, your new manager," her voice now cool and sweet.

"Amia Daulton," I said, shaking her extended hand. Aside from her blue hair, everything about her stood, so I guessed that she was a Charisma. Her large eyes were a dizzying shade of aqua. Her navy pencil skirt and blazer hugged her curvy frame, and I could tell just by the way that she'd spoken to Marshal a few seconds ago that she was used to everything going her way. "So, I have a manager now?"

She giggled and tossed her hair over her shoulder, sitting in the chair and crossing her legs in one swift motion. "Of course you do, sweetie. You're a Product!"

"What else do I get as a Product?" I asked, as I sat down in the chair opposite her.

She winked at me. "That's a surprise." Then she turned to Marshal, who was standing awkwardly behind my chair. His arms were crossed, and he looked more irritated than I'd ever seen him before. "Everything ready for departure?"

He nodded.

"Spectacular!" She pressed a small button on a keypad on the wall. "Ready for take-off."

"Roger that," what I guessed was the pilot's voice answered back over the intercom.

She looked at me, waving her hands excitedly. "Buckle your seatbelt, darling! It's a long flight to LA."

***

Author's Note: Thanks so much for reading! This chapter's song is 'Blackout' by Breathe Carolina!