Unmatchable

Chapter One

I've always been known for being quiet.

When I was little I never cried. And to this very day I barely speak a word in front of other people unless spoken to first. 
I owe what confidence I have- though not much- to my mother. She was the one who got me to talk. Telling me stories about birds and trees, and beautiful things of our world that required myself to ask for more. I wanted more. I would wonder about what it felt like to touch the clouds. I would wonder about what grass felt like. I thought maybe if I just got the chance to feel grass underneath my feet and touch the clouds maybe I'd feel complete. I don't wonder anymore. 

I'm grateful at least to have a few friends who understand I don't really like to talk. I'm more than happy to sit in the comfort of my own silence listening to girls from school talk on and on about their Match. From what I've heard they couldn't be more excited to meet him, or her. Those are the parts I usually like to zone out from. When the day comes where I meet my match, I hope he understands that I wasn't looking forward to him. 2 days, 1 hour, and 47 minutes left. That's what my watch currently reads. And every time the minute becomes lower it makes me want to vomit. How are people excited for this?! The more and more I think about it, the more it makes me wish I was never born here in the Society.  But I know I have to cooperate. I have to listen to their little watches. They slap them on our wrists the day we're born, and they determine our future. They count down to the moment where you meet your supposed 'soulmate'. I've never been more terrified about anything in my life.

I'm enjoying the time I have left with my family, knowing I'll barely ever see them once I'm matched. Meanwhile all the girls in school are jealous my times almost up. Jealous of the fact that I have to leave my family. Jealous of this ticking time bomb on my wrist. 

Aren't they at least a little nervous like me? They're always whispering to each other about who it might be. Pointing at people walking by, giggling to themselves. Wondering if its someone they know or not. From what I've seen they aren't scared at all. Sometimes I wish I was more like that. 

My mom says I'm pretty young to get matched. I'm only 18. She told me that she was 23 when she matched with my father. At least I'm not 16 like my sister Rory was. She was matched four years ago. I haven't seen her since that day. She was so excited to leave, so ready. I used to say I was too when we talked. Late night conversations with her had me questioning my hate for the Matches. She used to ask me what I thought the guys were thinking about it. And I always told her that I didn't know. I didn't like to think about it for myself, why should I imagine it from any other perspective.

I cant lie, sometimes I wonder what my Match looks like. Who doesn't? But usually before I can get too deep in thought about the subject I stop myself. I don't want to expect anything great and be disappointed. 

I remember when I was little, me and my friend Hazel would talk about what would happen when we met our match. That's before I learned it was better to stay away from the topic altogether. But I don't regret our conversations. They lasted for what felt like days. But of course we could only stay together until the speakers in our homes would announce the ten minute warning until curfew. 6 P.M. We all have to be our own homes for dinner and such. The Society makes up all the rules. In my opinion the majority are basically pointless. But a few make sense. 

"Evening meal has arrived"
a voice blasts through the speakers. That's how I know its 6:30.
Each of the houses in the Society have one, except for the elders, who have quite a few since their hearing isn't very good.
I walk out of my room into the dining area, where my family sits eating what looks like overcooked beef with a side of raw greens. Lillian, the youngest in our family, shoves a bite in.
One second later a look of disgust spreads across her face.
She's only nine, and she looks to be 7. She's very small.
I take my seat next to Sam, my brother. He's 19.
Reluctantly, I stab the meat with my fork and take a bite. The nutrition department did a terrible job with tonight's meal.
A salty burnt flavor fills my mouth, and I try not to gag as I swallow it.
"Teresa, are you all right?" My mother asks.
"Yes, I think so." I reply. She smiles and we all continue.
"Do we have to eat this?" Lillian asks.
"Yes Lillian, we have to eat this." Father answers her.
She frowns and plays with her fork.
"I think I found a raw spot," Sam says. He shows father.
"Seems unlikely." I tell him. We laugh a little.

All of us finish our food, and we clean up after the meal.
Then we say our goodnights and head upstairs.
My room is painted a dark, dull grey, the same as all the other people in the Society.
When I was little I always wished to paint my room a bright yellow.
I said that when I was older I would become a prime leader and change the law forbidding any change in your home.
I was always daydreaming. I always wanted to change the way we were living.
I was a foolish child.

+ + +

I wake up and suddenly feel sick.
I had a dream last night that I intruders broke through the wall and took Sam and Lillian.
Sweat covers my forehead and I wipe it off with my hand.
It's alright. I say to myself. It was just a dream, no one can get through the wall.
Still, I feel odd.
I'll have to take my calming medication.
I've never liked taking the Society's pills. It makes me feel like I'd become something weird just by swallowing it. When I was 12 I met the prime leader, Vitoria Matthews.
She scared me the moment I first laid eye's on her.
Her black hair reminded me of a crows feathers.
And her eyes stared at me with such great power.
I'd never thought that one's eye's could express such emotion.
Victoria was a born leader, and no one dared to deny it.
Whenever I look into her eyes, I feel uneasy.
Whenever she speaks, I shake.
Mother and father feel fine with her being prime leader, so I trust them.

I get dressed in the usual clothing; Dark grey pants and a light grey tank top.
Then I walk downstairs.
"Morning meal has arrived"
The voice announces the arrival of the breakfast.
I hear doors open as my family heads downstairs.
I exit my room, making sure to close my door behind me.
We all grab our plates downstairs and eat.
Today my family stays hone from work and school.

It's my final day before I meet my match.

Tomorrow I'll go wherever I want, and my match will too. Somehow the Society knows where we'll be in the future when they design our watches.
It terrifying, yet marvelous at the same time.

We eat in silence, all unsure what to say.
Mother and father have dealt with this situation before, when Rory left.
She now spends her life with a man named James.

The scariest thing about meeting your match, is that you never go home again after you meet them.
Once you meet them you get your own home and basically forget about your old life.
Rory told us she'd never forget.

But they all say that.

"Teresa, what do you think he'll look like?" Lillian suddenly asks. I fake smile at her, trying to hide how uncomfortable I was.

"I don't know." I say.
Mom notices how much I dislike this conversation.

"So, Teresa." She starts. "What would you like to do today."

I shrug.
Honestly I just wanted to sit down and be quiet.
All I wanted to do right now was zone out and be done with all of this.

"I just want to relax" I say.

Lillian pouts.
She obviously wanted to go out and do something.

"Maybe later we can do something all together."
I smile at my little sister.
She perks up, and smiles back.
I finish and clear my place.
I take a seat on our couch in the sitting room.
I think about this being my last day here.
It was all too much to take in. I close my eyes, and drift to sleep

A/N how do you guys like it? I'll be updating soon, and will hopefully have a cover either today or tomorrow! Vote and comment. I'll be editing later on, so if you see any grammatical errors please tell me(it would make it so much easier) thanks for reading!