Numbered

Chapter 6

The lobby was filled to bursting.

I had gotten in the elevator and pressed the button labeled 'lobby', but when the elevator doors opened one floor above, there was nowhere for me to go. I swear, people actually stepped into the elevator, like it was a supplement for floor space.

I searched those around me expecting to see Tammy grinning widely at me, waiting to hear about what happen with Hunter. But to my surprise, she was nowhere to be seen. She had probably already left with Andrew or something. I wiped my brow. The air in the lobby was thick and hot; It clung to me like glue.

With many an 'excuse me' and 'pardon me' hastily declared I somehow managed to find my way from the back corner of the lobby to the front desk. The tiny receptionist pointed out my family from amongst the throng of people, the fat on her arm giggling with the strength of the gesture. I thanked her gratefully and threaded my way to where my mother, father, and younger brother stood waiting.

At the sight of me Caleb's face lit up like a thousand fireworks.

"Kaytlin!" He ran over and jumped in my arms, holding on to me like a little monkey. I spun him around and he laughed gleefully.

"How was your day?" I asked him as he sat back in my arms.

"Good," he said. "Did you know that I finished my plate in art?" He looked at me shyly from under dark lashes, and continued: "You can have it if you want." A flash of uncertainty went through his eyes, as if I would say no.   

"Of course I want it Caleb! That's a wonderful gift." the doubt in Caleb's expression lifted and he  smiled again. I kissed him lightly and set him on the ground. A took a deep breath to ready myself and looked toward my parents.

My father looked at me and smiled. Then he looked away, staring off in the distance with a thoughtful look on his face. My mother was beaming, though the smile never reached her eyes. The brown depths were empty and plain, and even when she smiled, a shadow of unhappiness was there, etched in the lines of her face. I hadn't expected anything else. I never had.

"You were wonderful! I knew the government was correct when they gave you a 2." My mother said. Her translucent façade threatened to shatter under the strain of a smile. I thanked her, pretending to be grateful, pretending not to notice that her hair wasn't combed and her nails were bitten to stubs.

This is why Caleb had ran to me with such enthusiasm, ran at me like a child seeing his mother after a long day of school. His dad didn't care about anything. His mom cared too much. The only person left was me.

 "Let's go home," I proposed, grabbing Caleb's hand. He squeezed it tightly. The boy was so sweet.

"Oh, yes, I guess we should," my mother said, ushering us out of the lobby. Outside it was sweltering hot. The end of the school year was almost here, and along with it came summer sun.

Three buses were waiting outside, already filling with people. It Mytopia it was forbidden to own a car. Usually, bikes were the primary mode of transportation, but because of the heat, the bike racks were nearly empty.

By the time we got to the bus headed for the seventh ring, it was almost full. Caleb found a seat and I stood next to him, grabbing the corner of his chair to keep me steady when the bus started to move. My parents found seats in the back.  

The seventh ring was the biggest. More people lived in this ring than any other ring in Mytopia.  It was home to the Citizen Severs, those who worked at shops and counters, serving the general population. 

All the houses the bus passed looked the same. Spotless, white-washed boxes with square yards. Every yard contained the same limp, lifeless grass, dead from the heat. Lights were glowing through the circular windows set in every wall, making the windows look like eyes that stared quietly out at us. Dismal were the houses, dismal were the people inside. Dismal was Mytopia.