Tunnel Vision

Chapter 6- New Feelings

Gray hopped out of the Hover Car before it came to a complete stop. He didn't know what was making him feel this way, but he had to find Rowan. Just as he turned the corner to exit the garage, he ran into somebody with a hard thud! As he regained his balance, Gray realized who he had run into. "Principal Brown!" Gray exclaimed as he looked at the old man before him who was adjusting his thinning, mud-brown hair.
"Gray, you need to be more careful," he said as he looked at his apprentice. "By the way, have you printed your speech yet?"
"Speech? Oh, the Life Award Speech. No, but I'll get right on it-"
"You know how important that is Gray. Remember, I'll be bringing my colleagues from the Board of Education. And you also know how important that award is to the school. It is only for those who change society for the better-"
"Yes sir, I have to go. Have a good- uh, fine day, sir," Gray said as he bolted upstairs to his chambers.
When Gray reached his room and flung the door open, he was relieved to see the girl he had been looking for. She was lying on the bed, face down, her hair hiding her face from view. There was something wrong, Gray noticed, as he observed her trembling shoulders and heard soft whimpering noises. "Rowan?" he said softly as he walked tentatively towards the bed. He said her name again as he sat down next to her.
"Leave me alone," Rowan said shakily as she turned on her side away from Gray.
"Rowan, what are you doing?" he said as he grabbed her shoulder and rolled her over so that he could see her face.
Gray could feel his eyes widen as he looked down at Rowan. Her face and eyes were red, her chest was heaving as she continued making soft noises. Gray could also see what looked like water coming out of her eyes. "What are you doing? Are you okay?"
"Am I okay? What am I doing?! What does it look like I'm doing?! I'm obviously crying you idiot!" Rowan exclaimed as she sobbed and attempted to roll over again. Gray held her shoulders so that she could not move.
"Wait, calm down. What does 'crying' mean?"
Rowan looked at him a moment, as if remembering something, then said in a calm voice, "Crying is when water comes out of your eyes. It usually happens when you're sad or disappointed. I'm experiencing sadness because I can *sniff* never go home again."
Gray took his hand and wiped a tear off Rowan's face with his thumb. "Don't do it anymore. It's upsetting," he said. "What can I do to make it better?"
Rowan sat up as Gray positioned himself so he was sitting on the backs of his heels. "Can you take me to the Confiscation Room so I can get my music?"
Gray was immediately taken aback. "Music?! Confiscation Room?!"
"Well you want me to stop crying, don't you? And you're authorized personnel, so you would have no trouble taking me there and- hey," Rowan stopped as she looked at Gray's face. "You're displaying anger!"
"What?"
"You're making the face I make when I'm angry! You're using the same tone of voice, too. It's the first time you've shown any emotion since I've been here."
"Emotion?"
"I'll explain it more when I get my music."
Gray considered what Rowan was saying. Curiosity had been circulating around his head ever since he had met Rowan and maybe this was an opportunity to put it back at bay. "Fine. We'll get it tonight." Gray said.
"Yay!" Rowan exclaimed as she threw her arms around him.
"Hey!" Gray said in surprise. Rowan looked up at him and then immediately put her arms back to her sides.
"Sorry, I forgot you were unaccustomed to hugs," she said, awkwardly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Gray continued to look at her for a moment, still captivated by those all-knowing hazel eyes. Then, he slowly rose and walked out the door to get back to work until he had to come back to take Rowan to the Confiscation Room.