The People Of Avenir (The Avenirian Series)

Chapter 9: Feelings (Irina's Tears)

The next morning, I was still on my bed, looking at the ceiling, once again thinking and thinking, but this time about how Irina was feeling. Even though Lysandre said Irina told him what happened, he still didn't tell me if she said anything about how she's feeling about that situation. I should go see her and talk to her later, not so early in the morning, I don't want to ruin her morning by bringing it up, or any other part of her day, I just wish to help her. I sent her a message saying: "Irina, can we meet at the park in Sector Z-10? I need to speak to you near the fountain... so see you there at 1:00 pm, if you have the time of course." The park was a bit near the facility, but there was a part in it where we could speak without anyone bothering us. Today was our free day, so I rested for a while more.

Finally after a while, I stood up and got changed. I headed downstairs and saw Lysandre sleeping on the couch with a book in his hand. He was in his sleeping shorts so I could assume that he woke up again after we both went to sleep, then came here to read for some reason. There was so much silence in the house; the only thing heard was Lysandre's soft breathing and my quiet footsteps. I walked slowly towards him and took the book, which upon closer inspection; I realized it was about Earth, "Amazing Places in Earth" in fact. I hadn't been thinking so much about Earth in the last few days, since I had been spending so much time with my new friends, and Irina and Lysandre.

I didn't want to wake him so I quietly walked the other way, towards the kitchen. Quietly I took a piece a small pack that had cereal in it and a bottle of water. I made my way slowly to the front door, and put my hand in its knob which was awfully cold. The weather in Avenir is quite in between hot and cold, which is quite different from Earth, in Avenir it's the same all the time, at least it has been for these two years we've lived here. As soon as the door was opened, an intense cold breeze came in and I rapidly closed the door and came back inside. "Why is it so cold?!" I loudly said to myself in surprise, I had completely forgotten that Lysandre was sleeping nearby. I turned around and saw him standing up with his hands on his eyes. His muscles are quite pronounced in his body, especially on his chest. Lysandre looked at me with a smile and he seemed quite tired, even after resting for a while, probably because he was reading the book late at night. He walked up to me and said: "Good morning Donovan. Why was it so cold in here all of a sudden?" I stayed quiet for a while thinking of a plausible answer to his question, but ended up saying: "I really have no clue, but maybe it's something like the seasons back on Earth, after all the temperature has been quite the same for the two years we've lived here."

"Yeah, seems probable. Um... wait here for a second, let me get dressed. We should get some warm clothing if it's that cold outside." said Lysandre heading up the white stairs that were covered by a red carpet. I also headed upstairs and went straight to my room, whose door was opened. The closet's door creaked as it moved revealing various sets of clothing and some shoes on a rack below the shirts, jackets, and jeans that hung above quietly. A gray jacket with black stripes called out to me, and so I plucked it out and put it over the green shirt I had put on when I woke up, also I grabbed a pair of black gloves and put them on. I was wearing gray jeans and black tennis shoes. I quickly headed downstairs after putting the jacket on, and found Lysandre waiting. He was wearing a brown leather jacket with white fur on its hood, blue jeans, and black boots different from mine; he was also wearing white gloves.

We both went outside and felt the intense cold. My NEC device shined, I just got a hologram message from Irina: "I'll be there at the park, at 1:00 pm just like you just said... I would love speaking to you, so see you in three hours." The message cut, and she seemed really sad when saying all of that. Lysandre looked at me worried and said: "Oh, you two are going to meet up later? I hope you can help her with what's happening to her, I don't know why she's still like that even after I talked to her about it. I thought she was already okay... Well, I'm going to the Administrative District to meet with President Aravalli, this climate thing is serious." He left after saying this and I decided to go to the library and spend some hours there until it was almost 1:00 pm.

I made my way to the Avaris Library, the same library that I always go to in Sector Z-9. I've always wondered why all the sectors in Avaris have a "Z" before the number, are the more successful human colonies on Avenir? I really don't know the answer to that question, but I am determined to find out someday.

On the way I bumped into Alex who didn't have a jacket on, or gloves, almost as he was outside and the cold suddenly came. "Alex!" I said while walking towards him. He looked at me and he didn't seem very happy, or mad. He seemed honestly sad and he said: "What's wrong?" I returned the question and added: "Alex, can we talk? Oh and..." I took my jacket off and handed it over to Alex. "...put this on, I don't want you to get sick." I started going on towards the library and he put the jacket on while saying: "Um, Donovan, thank you..." I smiled at his words, they sounded truly sincere, and they reminded me of my past, but not the sadness, instead it reminded me of the good moments that I had, all of them.

Eventually I got to the library, and picked a book from the "Avenir Public Research" section, which showed some places near the Avaris Colony including the beach south of Avaris and some mountains at the east of Avaris. As I read I found that in the mountains east of Avaris, the Hessens, had Aveniorite mines, but only experienced NEST members were allowed to mine and bring their findings back to Avaris. Neo Earth Research, Investigation, and Surveying, NERIS, was in charge of writing these books, which showed biology and topography of Avenir, as well as other facts. Time passed as I read and learn more and more about new findings in Avenir and how somethings are so similar to Earth's, like the gravity, water, and the atmosphere, yet some animals can be so different, like the Razias. There were some experiments with a species called Fexos, which are similar to dogs, wolves, and foxes back on Earth. The Fexos are really cute animals, which were being experimented on to see if they can be domestic animals. Fexos usually have silvery hair, white on occasions, with yellow eyes and are very peaceful creatures, which according to research, can be taught to do many things, some are even key to finding the valuable and rare Aveniorite deposits.

When it was near 1:00 pm I left for the park, Blosse Park, to meet with Irina. I entered the park that had Cherry Blossom trees, which managed to be grown here in Avenir, and headed for the fountain near which a girl in white jeans, an aqua blue hoodie, white gloves, and gray shoes stood by. It was Irina, and I walked to her patiently, then I said: "Glad to see you Irina. I really want to help you with whatever is going on, just tell me and I'll do my best to help you." She looked at me sadly, and kissed my cheek. "Thank you for worrying for me, Sawyer is coming too. Sorry for not telling you." she said sweetly, but with a sad low tone. "Its fine, that doesn't bother me at all. Let's wait for him then." I replied understandingly.

After some minutes Sawyer showed up, wearing blue jeans, a black leather jacket, red gloves, and red shoes. Sawyer was trembling, and said: "H-how is this even cold? B-back on Earth my family and I loved going skiing together. I'm supposed to be used to t-this, and yet Donovan, you are not wearing a jacket and the cold doesn't bother you." I smiled and said: "Well, it does bother me, I am just ignoring it and pretending it's not here, it works you know." Irina smiled and gave a little laugh, even when she was sad. I found it quite cute for her to do this. Sawyer said: "Irina, what did you call us for? I hope it's not to tell him how much you love me!" Irina playfully punched his shoulder while blushing and said: "Oh stop it you hot guy. Weren't you feeling cold?" I smacked my face at the several jokes that had Irina had made, I don't even know if they deserve to be called jokes. Irina had told us that she was being bothered by some old memories, and she told us how she lost her twin brother and her parents back on Earth. I didn't even know she had a twin, but quite probably because I met her here and never got the chance to meet her family. She started crying, but eventually calmed down. "Irina I brought you something that might just cheer you up a little bit more." Sawyer said while taking out a box. Irina got the box from him and opened it, revealing a silver necklace with a yellow stone on it; it shined beautifully. Irina kissed Sawyer, who was blushing of embarrassment, but enjoying the moment. Afterwards she thanked him and we all left, yet I felt that Irina wasn't saying the whole truth about her tears.