EYEconomy (OLD VERSION)

Chapter 3

With the sapphire pendant hanging around my neck, I walk up the steps that bring me to the school grounds and approach the entrance. As soon as I enter the doors, before me are four scanning lanes; two for Economy and two for Capital. I get in line at the far right and scan in when it's my turn. I make a right into the next corridor following that and head for my locker. As I near it, I see my friends are leaning against the lockers next to mine. They look up at my approaching.

"Paige!" Nora calls. "We were waiting for you."

"When did you guys get here?"

"I got here early because I had my QC today. No changes, as expected. This one's with me because I asked her to come along," she nudges Skye. Nora and Skye are neighbors. They're a little closer to each other than I am with either of them, but nonetheless we are still pretty close as a group. My eyes glance at Skye at Nora's nudge, but then do a double take.

"Skye... your hair... is blue?"I lift a strand of her hair in disbelief.

"My folks let me get it done for my birthday. It took a lot of over time, but it was worth it, don't you think?" she asks, twirling a strand of hair.

"Yeah... it looks really good on you," I grinned. It really did look good on her. Hair dye is pretty hard to come by for the Economy. Not only that, (powder) blue is such an unusual hair color, but I guess unusual suits her well. I watch as people passing by eye Skye's hair. Ever since we were kids, I was always jealous of her, just a little. I mean, she has such a pretty name, and a cute face too. At least every other day someone would ask her out. And, her parents have better jobs than most Gray, so she is able to afford things like dying her hair. With her blue locks and positive, free-spirited personality, Skye is really starting to live up to her name.

"Speaking of new things," Nora begins, "what's this?" She picks up the pendant that hangs around my neck. "This looks a LOT out of your price range. Where'd you get it?"

As soon as I am about to answer her, she interrupts.

"Could it be... that Cody did over time for this to give you and confess his love?!"

"No!" I say with a frown. Cody is one of our childhood friends since elementary. Recently, he's been dropping hints that he likes me. And although Nora and Skye joke about it, I try to ignore it. He's a cute guy and has a job and all, everything that any teenage Economy girl would want from a boyfriend, but I never real thought of him that way.

"Speak of the devil." Nora and Skye smirk at each other as Cody approaches us. I give Nora a light, playful punch on the shoulder. She smiles a wide, cheeky grin in response, and Skye giggles.

"Morning," Cody greets them with his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Paige." He gives me a warm smile. Of course, I get my own greeting. Nora and Skye's grins stretch all the way across their faces now, and I shoot them both a death glare. When he looks down at my necklace, his smile fades and his face fills with curiosity. "Hey... where'd you get that? Or moreover, who gave it to you?" he questions, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"It's not like that," I finally say. "I bought this from Fortimers' Antiques."

"Really? You always get the good stuff," Nora whines.

"Yeah, save some for us, will you?" Skye chimes in.

"It looks good on you," Cody states.

"Thanks," I give him an awkward smile.

"You know, he's right. It does look good on you."

"It kind of brings out the blue in your gray eyes," Skye says. I raise my eyebrows.