Being

4 - Fear

definition of fear is brought to you by dictionary.com i love you dictionary.com

Fear (n) - a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined

A few weeks pass, and the circles underneath Tanner's eyes became more prominent. He worked nonstop. The fifth week hits and he finishes the last part of the simulation. He falls to his desk chair, relieved. He has been harvesting this piece of technology for five whole weeks, poking and prodding, for Fern.

Now, it was no surprise that Tanner fell in love with Fern and the way she thinks. Even though she was younger - three years to be exact - her brain was a machine. Her intelligence to him surpassed many. But, knowing that she didn't return his feelings made her incomptent in his judgement.

What about him didn't she like? Well, for starters, he was extremely annoying, clingy and overall a loud person. But it was the fact that he would stick around and not leave the girl who hasn't spoken to him in years that Fern appreciated.

It was Paige leaving that made her quiet and Tanner knew this. He even considered going on a mute streak with Fern. But he couldn't keep his loud mouth shut. Fern and Tanner weren't even good friends before Paige left; it was the common friendship they had with her they caused them to meet. In any other circumstance, Fern would've still been the quiet little Fern she is and Tanner would've gone off to do so much better. Not to say she drags him down, but she has hindered him from discovery because of all the nights he has thought about her.

He came onto the school grounds, nearly collapsing on the steps into the building. He has been waiting all night to tell Fern about the simulation. Even if it wasn't properly tested or had any other copies.

It was lunchtime by the time he arrived. He began to skip school the past few days because he was so determined.

Each day though, which was what really made him skip, was Fern's sad face. She would speak more than before, but the desperation on her face to leave this world usually deterred the conversation.

Tanner opened the doors, trying to get himself into the courtyard where Fern usually was. There she was, in her school uniform, munching down on her lunch. He almost wished she didn't see him so he could just stand there for a while. But, Fern picked her head up and waved her hands manically.

He went over to her, falling to the bench in complete exhaustion. She smiled at him with her mouth full of food. He loved the way she closed her eyes when she smiled. She swallowed her bite, and beckoned him to tell her what happened.

"I did it," He gasped, out of breath.

She sat up straight. "Why were you gone from school? Why are your eyes like that?" Her fingers seemed to outline his dark circles.

"I've been working non-stop."

"For me?" She said with surprise. This could be it, he thought. She would finally realize his hard work. He just nodded. "You're the best," she whispered. Fern almost went in for a hug, but she wasn't one for emotional interactions. Smiling was the best she could manage.

She had it plastered all those weeks. Sometimes, her true longing expression showed, but she quickly reprimanded herself. Tanner noticed, but he couldn't mention it.

"Come with me. For real, this time," Tanner mumbled, making sure no one could hear them.

Leave school when it wasn't over? Preposterous, Fern thought. Unthinkable, unimaginable.

"Let's go," she replied. Fern threw out her lunch, taking the chance to run ahead of him around the school. Going through would be plain suicide. If the computers caught them, it would be a harsh chastisement.